Speakers

Kurt & Val Loudenback of Grand Prairie Foods will discuss workforce development.  Mentoring has been an important element of acclimating new people to Grand Prairie Foods.  It is their philosophy that all people should have access to someone who cares about their personal and professional well-being.  Mentoring helps young people accelerate their learning efforts, aiding them in personal and professional development.  This helps them become better contributors to society by reducing mistakes and/or advancing their knowledge.

Networking and lunch from 11:30 am - noon with the program beginning at noon. Lunch costs $15, payable at the door. Programs are open to Rotarians and their guests. All programs are recorded and Facebook Live Streamed. Local media are invited to attend to record the session.

Rotary International is one of the premier service organizations in the world. The Rotary Club of Downtown Sioux Falls is among the largest 40 clubs in the world.

About the Speakers:

Kurt & Valerie co-founded Grand Prairie Foods in 2003, and have grown the business at a 25% annualized clip since then.  Our Ready To Eat foods are distributed in all 50 states and Canada, and are consumed by more than 6,000 hotels nationwide.  If you have eaten scrambled eggs at any Hampton Inn in the nation since 2005, you have supported a local business!

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem will address the club.  The governor will discuss her experience in the first 10 months is serving as South Dakota’s first female governor, she will provide an update on the natural disasters or state experienced this year and the impact that will have in our budget, and she’ll talk a little bit about some of her priorities for the coming legislative session and the rest of her term as governor.

Networking and lunch from 11:30 am - noon with the program beginning at noon. Lunch costs $15, payable at the door. Programs are open to Rotarians and their guests. All programs are recorded and Facebook Live Streamed. Local media are invited to attend to record the session.

Rotary International is one of the premier service organizations in the world. The Rotary Club of Downtown Sioux Falls is among the largest 40 clubs in the world.

 

About the Governor:

Kristi Noem was elected in November 2018 as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota. Kristi is a wife, a mother, and a lifelong rancher, farmer and small business owner. Now bringing her experiences to Pierre, Kristi is improving education and workforce training, taking on the drug crisis, improving mental health, and increasing transparency - all without raising taxes.

Kristi was born and raised in rural Hamlin County in northeastern South Dakota. After a family tragedy, Kristi took over the family's farm and ranch, stabilizing the operation and providing leadership when it was needed most. An avid hunter, she later started a hunting lodge as well.

In 2006, Noem was elected as the 6th District Representative to the South Dakota House of Representatives. During her second term, Kristi was elected to leadership by her peers, serving as Assistant Majority Leader.

By 2010, the day-to-day challenges South Dakotans faced were primarily at the hand of a broken federal government. Kristi's commitment to common sense values earned her the opportunity to serve as South Dakota's lone Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. During her time in Congress, Kristi helped to pass a Farm Bill, which included strong livestock disaster and crop insurance programs. She also led the way to crack down on human trafficking, improve school meal regulations, and fight back against an overreaching federal government. Her work helped to triple the size of the Black Hills National Cemetery, increase support for the Lewis & Clark Rural Water Project, and protect the Hot Springs VA from closure. In 2015, Kristi earned a seat on the Ways & Means Committee, largely considered the most powerful committee in Congress. There, she played a key role in writing and passing historic tax cut legislation that put $2,400 back in the pockets of the average South Dakota family.

Kristi and her husband, Bryon, have three children: Kassidy, Kennedy, and Booker.