SD legislators to ride combines this fall

Talk about it

PIERRE (AP) — There will be some fresh faces in combines this fall across South Dakota as 18 state legislators trade their suits for cowboy boots.

Eighteen willing state legislators have been paired up in their districts with farmers to ride along during the harvest to hear about the challenges and opportunities in agriculture.

The state Department of Agriculture developed the program, called Harvesting With the Ag Stars.

Secretary of Agriculture Walt Bones says the legislators will get a chance to see the new technology used in combines today.

He says that although many of the legislators grew up on farms, they may not be aware of the new technologies.

Agriculture is South Dakota's No. 1 industry, employing more than 143,000 South Dakotans.

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