Generosity of a South Dakota farmer results in 16 scholarships

Sully County farmer Maynard Klingbeil never attended SDSU or went to a Jackrabbits sporting event in his lifetime. In fact, it is not even known if Klingbeil ever stepped foot on the Brookings campus.

But Klingbeil was no stranger to SDSU, having worked over the years with SDSU Extension, the school’s agricultural research efforts, on his 2,683 acres of land that he nurtured, conserved and worked to improve crop yields on for decades.

Klingbeil led a simple life that began in 1935 on the same farm just over 5 miles east of Onida, South Dakota. His only sibling, Doris, died before him and left behind no children. When Maynard died in February 2020, he left his land to the SDSU Foundation.

In addition to farming, Klingbeil was involved with the Sunday school at Onida Methodist Church, donated to the Crazy Horse Memorial and was involved in a local organization to fight cancer and other needs for the Onida community.

Maynard’s land was appraised conservatively at $6.7 million. It sold for almost $17 million, a gift that represents one of the largest and most impactful philanthropic commitments in SDSU’s 141-year history.

The money is supporting annual scholarships of $10,000 that can be renewed for four years. Currently, 16 students received the scholarship. In addition, the gift will be used to endow three new leadership positions in the areas of agronomy, plant science and precision agriculture ensuring Klingbeil’s lifelong career in agriculture will continue to have an impact on students and educations at SDSU.

2022–23 Klingbeil Scholars

• Caden Bottum – Tulare, South Dakota – Ag systems technology

  
• Brooklynn Fiscus – Crofton, Nebraska – Precision agriculture
• Caleb McGregor – Webster, South Dakota – Agronomy
• Chase Thiessen – Larchwood, Iowa – Ag systems technology
• Annaliese Goehring – Mound City, South Dakota – Agronomy
• Matthew Weyl – Henderson, Minnesota – Agronomy/precision agriculture
• Leah Wynia – Luverne, Minnesota – Precision agriculture
• Colten Scheldorf – Chokio, Minnesota – Ag systems technology
• Colby Crabtree – Luverne, Minnesota – Ag systems technology
• Ellen Fitzpatrick – Brookings, South Dakota – Agronomy
• Anna Karels – Nya, Minnesota – Precision agriculture
• Charles Tesch Henderson, Minnesota – Agronomy/precision agriculture
• Rosalyn Madsen Franklin, Minnesota – Precision agriculture
• Regan Heine Vermillion, South Dakota – Precision agriculture
• Cutler Michalski Willow Lake, South Dakota – Ag systems technology
• Connor Ruen Lanesboro, Minnesota – Agronomy