Two join SDCGA board of directors

The South Dakota Corn Growers Association has added two new members to its board of directors.

Dave Ellens, 33, who farms near Wentworth, represents District 2, which encompasses Lake, Miner, Minnehaha and Moody counties. He succeeds Keith Alverson of Chester, who completed his eligibility after serving three three-year terms on the board.

Taylor Sumption, 43, who farms near Frederick, is director for District 5, which includes the counties of Brown, McPherson, Campbell, Walworth, Corson, Perkins and Harding. He succeeds Troy Knecht of Houghton, who also served a maximum three three-year terms on the board.

Dave Ellens

Ellens said he chose farming as a profession because of the extreme pride he takes in being able to continue the family farm that his grandparents and parents have made. He hopes to be able to pass the farm on to his children someday.

He and his family raise corn and soybeans. As owner of Lakeco Crop Services, he also is a third-generation Pioneer dealer.

Ellens said one of the most important issues facing today’s farmers is dealing with the way that the media influences young people on agricultural issues.

“We need to educate our youth on food safety so they can make their own educated decisions on what food safety is, and other agricultural issues,” Ellens said.
He also said as farmers continue to get better at growing crops, it will be vital to find more markets to use the increasing supply.

Ellens, a graduate of Rutland High School and South Dakota State University, serves on the ag committee of the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce and is active with the Prairie Historical Society of Prairie Village at Madison. In his spare time, he likes to camp with his family, restore antique tractors with his dad and cheer on the SDSU Jackrabbits.

He and his wife, Karli, have two daughters: Juliet and Luella, with another due in May.

Taylor Sumption

Sumption manages his family’s farm in partnership with his four brothers and his parents. They produce corn, soybeans, wheat and oats in combination with operating a cow/calf operation and feedlot.

He said he chose farming as a career after attending SDSU for engineering. “It wasn’t until I moved off the farm that I realized how much I missed both farming and living in a small community,” he said.