Eric Kroupa

Eric Kroupa

South Dakota Corn Utilization Council

District 9

Eric Kroupa of Pukwana has spent many years working on behalf of the state’s corn farmers.

Kroupa brings a strong background in both production agriculture and technology to his role on the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council. He graduated from Mitchell Technical College with a degree in Agricultural Technology and has built his operation around innovation and continuous improvement.

Kroupa farms near Pukwana with his parents, two brothers and his wife, Dana. Together, they raise corn, soybeans, rye, cover crops and hay, and manage a cow/calf operation. In addition to the family farm, Kroupa operates a precision planting dealership, reflecting his long-standing passion for technology and troubleshooting to help advance modern agriculture. He began farming in 2002 when a neighbor retired and offered him the opportunity to rent farmland and pasture, launching what has grown into a diverse operation.

Kroupa says one of the most important issues facing his operation today is educating non-farmers about agriculture. “The public misperceptions around GMOs, water and air pollution, along with increasing EPA regulations, are a large challenge in today’s society,” he says.

In his spare time, Kroupa enjoys hunting, boating and spending time with his wife, Dana.