2025 Program


REGISTER FOR AG EXPO


January 15-16, 2025 Sioux Falls Convention Center




Ty Eschenbaum

Keynote Speaker

Ty Eschenbaum grew up on a seedstock Charolais cattle operation in east central South Dakota, where he remains actively involved today. As a teenager, he faced and overcame leukemia along with various medical complications, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Ty went on to become a Briggs Scholar at South Dakota State University and is now a managing partner at A1 Development Solutions, a consulting and advisory firm based in South Dakota.

In 2011, he founded the Ty Eschenbaum Foundation, which has contributed over $313,000 to Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana, funded impactful missionary work globally, and provided scholarships for young cancer survivors like himself. Ty continues to share his life story to inspire others to live fully, embracing his mantra, to always Earn the Gift. 



NEW! SDABA Showcase Stage

New this year will be the SDABA Showcase Stage located inside the exhibit floor. Various leading speakers will address pressing issues within the industry throughout the show. 

Make sure to stop by and listen to CropLife America, StoneX, and your companies providing innovative insight on new and upcoming products while at the show!




2025 Applicator of the Year Award

Join us at Ag Expo 2025 where the winner of the Applicator of the Year will be announced from the nominees below at the luncheon on January 15, 2025.  The winner will receive a plaque and jacket along with a $250 cash prize.



Silent Auction for Tomorrow's Ag Leaders

This year, SDABA will take donations for a silent auction to benefit its Tomorrow's Ag Leaders (TAL) Program.  TAL is a leadership development program sponsored by the SDABA and designed to improve leadership skills of South Dakota professionals working in agribusiness.  All silent auction items are be displayed inside the exhibit hall and are promoted during the show.  The silent auction will be held during Ag Expo on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.  All proceeds go to supporting the Tomorrow's Ag Leaders program.  



Get Your Team Together for the Applicator and Agronomy Olympics!


The Agronomy and Applicator Olympics are conducted at the annual Ag Expo and are your chance to win some cash (and maybe learn something?)!

Get a team together, then visit participating booths and answer the questions. There are two categories: Agronomy and Applicator.

The challenge is open to all employees of Dealer and Branch members of the South Dakota Agri-Business Association (SDABA). Two person teams must be from the same company, however, they can be from different branches.

Are you up for the challenge?? Get your two-person team together, then register at the Olympics booth at Ag Expo. Exhibitors will be working to try to stump you with their questions!

  • Gold Medalists will win $1000 in cash, a plaque and official Olympics jackets.
  • Silver Medalists will win $700 in cash and official Olympics jackets.
  • Bronze Medalists will win $500 in cash and Olympics jackets.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15TH FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM. 

Click here for more information!



Annual Meeting 

All members please join us at this meeting for beer and snacks, and hear updates from the Board of Directors. Members will elect a new industry board member, hear from your Executive Director and learn what the 2025 Legislative session will hold.



Commercial Applicator Recertification

Attend the 2025 Professional Ag Applicator Recertification Training on the second day of Ag Expo on January 16th from 8:00 AM to 12:45 PM. This session will fulfill the biennial training requirement
to maintain a Commercial Applicator license in South Dakota. The training is sponsored by SDSU and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). Please pre-register on-line at: NOT AVAILABLE YET (not included in the Ag Expo registration fee). For questions regarding registration or licensing, please email SDDAAgronomy@state.sd.us. 

Registration link will be available in December!



NEW! Grain Grading School

Grain Grading School is a cost-effective way to provide hands-on grain grading training for your staff. The class will feature the latest information on grain quality, addressing and displaying many different grain samples with an emphasis on corn and soybeans. Presentations on the grading and appeal process will be given and participants will learn what the official U.S. grades are and how to obtain a representative sample. Attendees will also learn how to recognize major grain damage factors.

The School is designed to provide each attendee with individual attention and hands-on grain grading experience. To assure quality individual attention, class size will be limited to 30 participants. Attendees must register for Ag Expo and select the Grain Grading School add-on while registering. Total cost per person is $75, which includes access to the entire Ag Expo program.            

Register Here!




Wednesday Evening Social

The Wednesday evening social is an opportunity to network, interact, and relax with other attendees and exhibitors in an informal setting. Join us for food, beverages, and entertainment! We are taking our Happy Hours (4 to 6 PM) to the max this year with doors open between the ballroom and tradeshow floor, as well as gun raffles and a silent auction!  And, as usual, the best heavy Hors D' Oeuvres, and cash bars!




Register for Ag Expo 2025!





Schedule:

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

  • 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Registration Desk Open
  • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 2025 TAL Class Seminar I
  • 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM SDABA Board of Directors Meeting
  • 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Welcome and Exhibitors Reception
  • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM TAL Alumni Gathering

Wednesday January 15, 2025

Thursday January 18, 2024 (Also Student Career Day)

  • 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM Trade Show Open
  • 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Applicator Recertification*
  • 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Grain Grading School*
  • 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Showcase Stage: "What's Hitting the Market in 2025?", Ag Expo Exhibitors
  • 10:00 AM - 11:45 AM Tradeshow Bingo for Students
  • 12:00 PM Exhibitor Move-Out

*Additional Registration Required

Anchor

Student Career Day 

The importance of keeping youth engaged in agriculture is behind the creation of the Student Career Day during Ag Expo. With the decline in interest for agriculture as a career, this is an opportunity for youth to see all of the different ways they can use their education and talents outside of traditional farming, and help them see the relevance of their career choice. This is a chance for exhibitors to show that agricultural careers can be intellectually stimulating and economically sustainable, and visit with prospective future employees.

Thursday

  • 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Panelist of Professionals in the Industry (Ballroom A)
  • 10:00 - 11:45 AM  Bingo in Tradeshow
  • 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM Students Only Lunch (Ballroom A)