For Krystil Smit of Centerville, S.D., going to work for the South Dakota Farm Bureau is a culmination of her past 20 years of work experience.
Smit, who graduated from Lennox High School in 1991, earned her degree in ag journalism from South Dakota State University in 1995. After getting married in 1994 to her husband, Phil, she graduated and moved to her current home southeast of Davis, S.D.
Her work as the office manager for the Cenex agronomy plant in Parker, S.D., as the editor for the Tri-State Neighbor, as communications director for South Dakota Corn and as public relations director for Paulsen Marketing, all in Sioux Falls, has prepared her for the new role of executive director of South Dakota Farm Bureau.
“I’m very excited to be back working with producers. I started with producers and moved into agribusiness and clients,” Smit said. “I’m excited to be part of an organization that is dedicated to moving our industry forward. I’m looking forward to listening and learning about the priorities of the organization and finding ways for us to amplify Farm Bureau’s presence in the state.”
State Farm Bureau president Scott VanderWal is excited to welcome Smit to the organization.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Krystil Smit to the South Dakota Farm Bureau team,” said VanderWal in a statement. “She brings a wealth of experience, many talents and the personality to work successfully with a wide variety of different people and stakeholders. Krystil also has the vision and foresight to look at the big picture and see what’s coming next. I’m confident she will help position South Dakota Farm Bureau to be influential and relevant for many, many years to come.”
Smit grew up on a dairy and crop farm east of Davis where she was an active 4-H’er. After getting married, she and her husband milked with his family until they sold the dairy herd in 2001. Today their family farm consists of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and a cow/calf herd. They have three children, MiKayla, 17; Kaleb, 14; and Mariah, 11, who all attend school in Lennox.
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