South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Meets with SDSU Students

Hunter Roberts discusses leadership, agriculture, and conservation with ECON 319 class.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:54am

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An abstracted, out-of-focus photograph in soft, warm tones depicting a group of college students engaged in discussion, with the blurred silhouettes of a speaker and audience members.A casual, intimate conversation between South Dakota's agriculture secretary and SDSU students offers a glimpse into the university's efforts to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders.Brookings Today

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Secretary Hunter Roberts visited South Dakota State University to speak with students in the ECON 319: Seminar with Industry Leaders course. Roberts discussed his career path, the relationship between agriculture and conservation, and offered advice to the students as they prepare to enter the workforce.

Why it matters

The ECON 319 course provides SDSU students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with high-profile industry leaders across a variety of sectors, including government, agribusiness, and nonprofits. These interactions give students valuable insights into leadership, decision-making, and the real-world challenges facing different industries.

The details

During his visit, Secretary Roberts spoke about his journey to his current leadership role and emphasized the importance of being intentional, building relationships, and solving problems. The ECON 319 course, taught by the Ness School of Management and Economics, features an informal, conversational format that allows students to ask questions and have open dialogues with the guest speakers.

  • Secretary Roberts visited the ECON 319 class on March 27, 2026.
  • The final three seminars of the ECON 319 class will feature Vance Thompson, M.D. on April 17, Jay Debertin of CHS Inc. on April 24, and Mark Mickelson of Mickelson & Company on May 1.

The players

Hunter Roberts

The Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Joe Santos

The director of the Ness School of Management and Economics and the professor for the ECON 319 course.

ECON 319: Seminar with Industry Leaders

A course at South Dakota State University that provides students the opportunity to engage directly with leaders across various industries.

South Dakota State University

The public research university located in Brookings, South Dakota.

Ness School of Management and Economics

The school at SDSU that offers the ECON 319 course.

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What they’re saying

“There are many pathways to success. Be intentional. Be nice. Be a problem-solver. Create relationships and value them.”

— Hunter Roberts, Secretary, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources

“Students learn about leadership and — perhaps most importantly — students learn they have a place in leadership. Students learn about and analyze the challenges and opportunities that confront different industries and how leaders in the industries think about and make business and economic decisions.”

— Joe Santos, Director, Ness School of Management and Economics

What’s next

The final three seminars of the ECON 319 class will feature Vance Thompson, M.D. on April 17, Jay Debertin of CHS Inc. on April 24, and Mark Mickelson of Mickelson & Company on May 1.

The takeaway

The ECON 319 course at SDSU provides students with invaluable access to industry leaders, allowing them to gain firsthand insights into the challenges and decision-making processes of various sectors. This unique opportunity helps prepare students for future leadership roles and demonstrates that they all have the capacity to lead, which is crucial for the next generation.