Eminent Homemaker
County: Brown
Donna Sharp is an active promoter of the beef and dairy industries and a full partner in the family's fourth generation farm which includes dairy, beef and crop enterprises. She and her husband Gary and their family milk 375 registered and grade Holsteins, sell and lease springing heifers and registered bulls, background feeder cattle, raise and custom grow nearly 1,000 dairy replacement heifers and crop 1,700 acres of land.
She was recognized as the 2005 World Dairy Expo Woman of the Year. She has held major leadership positions in: the National Dairy Board, the National Cattlemen's Beef Board, the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, the United Dairy Industry Association, the United Dairy Export Council, the National Dairy Council, the Midwest Dairy Association, the American Dairy Association, the Northern Area Dairy Promoters and the Associated Milk Producers, Inc. Sharp served as an intervener in support of the National Beef Checkoff, and was present at the U.S. Supreme Court for the beef checkoff suit. She was one of four U.S. dairy producers to appear on the "Emeril Live" cooking show to promote real dairy products.
In addition to her agricultural interests, she is active in the Aberdeen community including: the Ag Committee of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, the Aberdeen Board of Education, PTA, Brown County Fair Board, P.E.O., Avera Saint Luke's Hospital Board, Brown County and South Dakota Health Advisory Councils, Northern Electric Cooperative and First United Methodist Church. The Sharp family was recognized as the South Dakota Outstanding 4-H Family of the Year. The Sharp family farm received the Northeast South Dakota Agri-businesses of the Year (ABBY) award. She has been an active 4-H Club Leader for 18 years.
Donna and her husband Gary have three children. All are graduates of SDSU.