Eminent Farmer
County: Clark
Harold Hurlbert has been a leader in South Dakota agriculture all his life. He has the ability to work with people and the vision to see changes that would benefit agriculture.
Harold and his wife Mary farm nearly 1,500 acres in Clark County, where they raise wheat, barley, oats, flax, millet, sorghum, corn, Angus cattle and hogs. He still farms the land that his grandfather homesteaded in 1881. He designed and built his elevator for his seed cleaning operation in 1973.
Hurlbert is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a degree in plant science. He is a strong advocate and supporter of the Cooperative Extension Service and the Agricultural Experiment Station. He has held many leadership positions in agriculture, including the Dean's Review Committee for the SDSU College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences; the Ag Experiment Station Advisory Committee; the Board of Regents Agricultural Advisory Board; the Clark County Extension Board; and the State Extension Advisory Board. He is active in numerous agricultural improvement associations.
He also was a member of the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association for 38 years, served as its president for three years, and was named Premier Certified Seed Grower in 1980. In addition, he has been a member of the State Seed Certification Board for 10 years. He recommends planting certified seed and has been a Group One grower for 25 years. Each spring, he also takes time to help plant the small grain variety test plot in Clark County. He served on the Foundation Seed Stocks Board of Directors, was a charter member of the Flax Council, and presently is serving on the South Dakota Oilseed Council. He is a member of the Clark County Livestock Improvement Association.
He has been on the Codington-Clark REA Board for 23 years and has been a 4-H leader for 10 years. He is an active member of the St. Michael's Catholic Church and served as president of the parish council. He has been a member of the American Legion for 38 years and a member of the Clark County Farm Bureau for 30 years. He has served as township treasurer for 32 years.
Harold and his wife Mary have two daughters: Karen Kopriva of Raymond; and Ann Schmidt of Watertown.