I admire farmers and ranchers who don’t get tongued-tied when someone asks them tough questions about agriculture. Bruce Burkhart, Dell Rapids, S.D., is one of those people.

He was recently named AgVocate of the Year by the board of directors for Agriculture United for South Dakota. The AgVocate award recognizes South Dakota farmers and ranchers for their work in sharing their story of modern farming with the public.

Burkhart, 58, who operates a diversified grain farm and raises cattle and hogs, says he doesn’t use social media. He doesn’t blog or post things on Facebook. A couple of ag advocacy things that have worked out well for him include:

Burkhart and his wife, Julie, own and operate a diversified crop and livestock farm, raising hogs, cattle, corn and soybeans on land that has been in their family for 99 years. He was involved in chores on his family's farm throughout high school, and began farming full time in 1981 with his father, Wayne, and brother, Brian. In the mid-1980s, the Burkharts began a 125-sow farrow-to-finish operation, then built hog finishing barns in 1998 and 2008. Currently, Burkhart is farming with his sons, Brandon and Jase. They raise 250 beef cows and calves each year in a hoop barn and operate two 2000-head hog barns.

Burkhart was one of the first Ag United volunteers and supporters, appearing in television advertisements introducing the organization in 2005.

"I started volunteering with Ag United in 2005 because I knew I wanted to be part of the team doing this important work for South Dakota's farm families," Burkhart says. "An organization takes everyone's participation to be successful. It's all about teamwork."

Burkhart and Julie have five children: Brandon and Jase; Katie, who was an officer in the U.S. Navy and now works for a U.S. senator; Jenny, who will graduate from South Dakota State University in May 2017; and Abigail, who began college at SDSU in fall 2016. Julie worked with Burkhart on the farm for 20 years, then earned LPN and RN degrees and works at Avera in Sioux Falls.

"Bruce and his family are tremendous advocates for South Dakota's farm and ranch families," says Richard Vasgaard, a Centerville farmer and president of Ag United. He is always willing to answer any question that comes his way from elementary students, college students or teachers."

Ag United recently marked its 12th year of supporting South Dakota farm and ranch families and rural communities at the event. Since its founding, Ag United has enabled more than 24,500 consumers to visit South Dakota farms and connected with nearly 10,000 students though Adopt-A-Farmer and National Ag Week programs. In addition, Ag United staff has assisted families in 32 counties with permitting and zoning issues. Visit agunited.com, South Dakota Farm Families on Facebook, or @SDFarmFamilies on Twitter for more information on the annual luncheon or Ag United's activities.

Ag United was developed through a collaboration of farm organizations that support livestock production and development. They include the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, South Dakota Dairy Producers, South Dakota Farm Bureau, South Dakota Pork Producers Council, South Dakota Poultry Industries Association and the South Dakota Soybean Association.

Ag United contributed to this article.