Jordan and Samantha Scott are not shy about bringing people to their farm. Whether legislators or local residents, the couple makes a point to engage with the public to bring more ag awareness to South Dakota.

The Scotts open up their Valley Springs farm for events like Farm to Fork, which gives non-farmers a firsthand look at production agriculture. For the Scotts’ work on behalf of farmers and ranchers, the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce named them the 2023 Farm Family of the Year.

“We didn’t even know we were nominated,” Jordan says. “It was kind of cool to get that phone call and be recognized for something we’re really passionate about.”

Farming with family

Jordan is the fifth generation on the family farm. He raises soybeans, alongside his father, Kevin.

Jordan says taking the chance to farm together is the best thing he ever did. “I was doing other jobs before I had the opportunity to come back to the farm,” he says. “It was kind of a big jump to come back to farm, but I’m happy I did, and it’s pretty fun to be farming with Dad every day.”

Kevin says he had the chance to farm with his father and is happy he now can farm with the next generation. “I’ve been farming for 40 years, and the years I got to farm with my dad were kind of the gold standard,” he says. “Now I have Jordan on the farm, and it’s been excellent — kind of gives you a reason to continue and expand, to look towards the future.”

Making time for policy work

The father-son duo is heavily involved in local and national associations, saying those groups can make a large impact on the future success of their farming operation. “Policy is not going to make our farm, but it can take it from us,” Kevin says.

Both served on the South Dakota Soybean Association board of directors and for the American Soybean Association. Jordan is the immediate past president of the South Dakota Soybean Association, and now sits on the board of directors for the ASA.

As Kevin recently finished his own tenure as chairman of the ASA, he says he’s happy to be on the farm while Jordan takes on similar leadership roles. Kevin just completed a 10-year term and understands the commitment Jordan made to further policy for agriculture.

“I know where he’s going and what he’s doing, and it’s always good to have the next generation understand that the sacrifices we did for agriculture were worth it,” Kevin says.

The award offers the Scott family more opportunities to share their story. “It’s a nice thing that gives us interviews and visibility, but that’s not why we’re farming,” Jordan says. “We farm because we love it, and we’re passionate about it.”

The honor was awarded during the Sioux Empire Livestock Show in January. Another aspect of the award allows the Scott family to continue serving agriculture by sitting on the chamber’s Agribusiness Division Advisory Council.