Professional Ag Marketing gift to SDSU promotes risk management education

Story by Don and Kay Norton

Professional Ag Marketing of Luverne, Minnesota, has made a significant gift to the Richard Wahlstrom Endowment Fund at South Dakota State University to enhance students’ knowledge of risk management for grain and livestock producers. 

Since 2006, Professional Ag Marketing has advised grain and livestock producers across the country on alternative risk management strategies for their operations. The firm has established itself as an important industry partner with SDSU by offering internships in risk management and “returning to the family farm,” which emphasizes ag risk management and the need to develop a marketing model for the intern’s farming operation. Professional Ag Marketing staff members also are featured guest speakers in SDSU classes. 

“Risk management is an incredibly important resource that could possibly save a family farm or business, or even a long-standing developed operation,” said Pat VonTersch, owner of Professional Ag Marketing. “Our goal is to reach SDSU students who will return to their grain and livestock farms with an understanding of the need to manage risk.” 

SDSU will recognize this gift by naming a classroom in honor of Professional Ag Marketing in the Raven Precision Agriculture Center. 

“We’re very appreciative of this generous gift from Professional Ag Marketing and the opportunities it will provide for our students,” said Joseph Cassady, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. “This will move us closer to the funding goal for the Wahlstrom Endowment.” 

In 1988, the late Richard “Rick” Wahlstrom retired as professor of animal science after 36 years of service to SDSU. His tenure produced numerous awards for outstanding undergraduate and graduate teaching, worldwide recognition as a swine nutrition and management researcher, and wide acclaim as a true gentleman. He received the first “Distinguished Professor” designation from the South Dakota Board of Regents.