Rushmore State News

Huron, SD – The South Dakota State Fair is excited to announce that BankWest has made an $85,000 contribution to The SHED as the sponsor of the wool wall. 

The SHED will be the new home for Open Class Sheep at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron and serve as a multi-purpose facility showcasing the South Dakota sheep industry and expanding the versatility of the fairgrounds.

“At BankWest, we are deeply committed to investing in partnerships that support South Dakota’s ag economy and the development of our future ag leaders,” said BankWest Chairman, President and CEO Charles H. Burke III. “It is our privilege to provide sponsorship to the SHED to benefit citizens across our entire state for generations to come.”

Founded in 1889, BankWest is a full-service community bank headquartered in Pierre. The bank provides banking, trust, insurance, title, and investment services at 17 full-service branches in 15 South Dakota communities, as well as stand-alone insurance agencies in five additional communities. 

The planned 40,000 square foot multi-use facility will include a show arena, room for up to 1,000 head of sheep, an educational center, concrete flooring, and restrooms. The indoor educational center will provide a place for interactive learning, information on the sheep industry, opportunities in agriculture and our state’s rich agricultural history.

The former Open Class Sheep Barn has been demolished and project planning and design for The SHED is underway. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned to be held during the 2023 fair.

For additional information about the project or questions about the ‘Raise The SHED’ campaign please contact Peggy Besch, South Dakota State Fairgrounds Manager at 605.353.7340 or peggy.besch@state.sd.us or Fundraising Campaign Chairman Larry Tidemann at 605.690.8353. A complete list of fundraising committee members and campaign information can be found at www.sdstatefairfoundation.com

Original source can be found here.