Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community Honorees

About the Program

The Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family, and Community program began in 1927 with the recognition of two Eminent Farmers by South Dakota State College, now South Dakota State University. The following year, the program was expanded to with the addition of two Eminent Homemaker honorees. In the early years, the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker awards were much like honorary degrees. In the 1950s, the purpose of the program was clarified and the awards were designated as a very high honor, uniquely different from honorary degrees.

This program has been continuous since 1927 with the exception of 1942, 1943 and 1945. In 2011, the name was changed to Eminent Farmer/Rancher and Homemaker. In 2018, the full name of the award program was changed to Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community. The program is sponsored by the South Dakota State University Colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and Education and Human Sciences.