SDCGA present Fargen with Legislative Leadership Award

The South Dakota Corn Growers Association (SDCGA) has presented its annual Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award to Rep. Mitch Fargen of Flandreau.
The award was given Jan. 22 during the association’s 25th annual meeting and banquet in Sioux Falls.
“Rep. Fargen has made a big impact in the Legislature and we truly appreciate his strong commitment to agriculture,” said Garry Duffy, president of the SDCGA. “He devoted considerable time and effort to important causes, particularly in the development and passage of a blender pump incentive bill. Blender pumps provide South Dakotans with more choice as they fill their vehicles with fuel produced right here in their home state.”
Fargen was elected to the House in 2008 and was re-elected last November. He represents Lake, Moody, Miner and Sanborn counties. He will serve as the assistant minority leader in the House during the upcoming legislative session.
As a legislator, Fargen’s work often targeted renewable energy, economic development and education issues. He helped develop and pass a number of bills, including a $1 million ethanol blender pump incentive bill. The legislation provided gas station owners with a $10,000 per pump grant to install equipment needed to sell higher blends of ethanol
He also wrote the landowner portion of the wind-generated energy bill, which was enacted during the 2010 session and ensures continued protection of landowners' rights in South Dakota.
Fargen is rural development director for the South Dakota Farmers Union.