Eminent Farmer
County: Lake
Ron Alverson has shaped South Dakota's corn industry. He is the founder and president of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, founder of the South Dakota Corn Check-Off Program and founder and president of Dakota Ethanol LLC, which is South Dakota's first producer-owned ethanol production co-op. In 2002, Dakota Ethanol was chosen to host President George W. Bush and Alverson had the honor of introducing the president to the crowd. He is a member of the National Corn Growers Association board of directors and promoter of the South Dakota Ethanol Producer Incentive Program.
He farms approximately 3,000 acres with brother Larry and son Keith. It is a highly productive corn and soybean operation, which specializes in ridge till farming. He was one of the first farmers in South Dakota to utilize GPS technology.
Alverson is a member of the South Dakota State University Foundation Council of Trustees, member of the Franklin Township Board, Chester Booster Club president, Chester Area Foundation president and has raised nearly $500,000 for local school remodeling projects.
Alverson received the South Dakota Corn Growers Excellence in Agriculture Award, and has been the South Dakota corn yield contest champion in both irrigated and dryland corn production. Alverson and his family were selected as the Sioux Empire Farm Family of the Year.
Alverson graduated from SDSU with a bachelor's degree in agronomy. Ron and his wife Sue have two children. The entire family holds degrees from SDSU.