Floyd Hansmeier of Bristol is 2024 Eminent Leader in Agriculture, Family and Community

By Lura Roti 

More than a century ago, Floyd Hansmeier’s Grandpa Henry hopped on a train in Iowa seeking adventure out West. As family lore goes, when the train stopped for the night in Bristol, South Dakota, Henry Hansmeier got a hotel room for the night, overslept, missed the train and never left Bristol. 

“He wanted to be a farmer, and he was not afraid to take chances, so he would go down to the courthouse and buy up land for the price of back taxes — 50 cents to $3 or $4 an acre — and that’s how he got started,” Floyd Hansmeier explained. 

Grandpa Henry began growing seed on his farmland to sell to area farmers. This is how Hansmeier and his brother, Keith, came to be third-generation Day County farmers and owners of Hansmeier & Son Inc. along with their sister, Louise Oakland. The family has also been in the registered Polled Hereford business for many years. 

At 113 years old, Hansmeier & Son Inc. is one of the oldest seed companies in South Dakota. In addition to seed purchased from other growers, the family also continues the tradition of raising and selling its own certified seed. And while the siblings are partners in the family business, Keith leads the farming operation, and Hansmeier leads the seed business. 

With the knowledge that success in the field begins with seed quality, Hansmeier, like his dad and grandpa before him, has spent his career working tirelessly to maintain Hansmeier & Son Inc.’s legacy of quality seed through genetic selection and testing. 

“My dad, Ralph, taught me the ropes of the seed business — I know enough about seed testing to be dangerous,” said the 1968 graduate of South Dakota State University. “I think South Dakota farmers are the best. Testing seed to ensure it is quality and free of weeds is No. 1 because farmers depend on us. If we did not test our seed, we could end up selling seed that would not germinate or a bag of seed that could introduce a noxious weed — untested seed could hurt a farmer’s yields and profits.” 

Recognized for their dedication to quality, in 2004 Hansmeier & Son Inc. was named a Premier Certified Seed Grower by the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association. Before a shipment of seed is sold by Hansmeier & Son Inc., it undergoes rigorous testing. When it arrives in the company’s Bristol facilities, random samples are drawn from a large percentage of the seed and most samples are sent to the SDSU Seed Testing Lab. 

Understanding the importance of seed testing, Hansmeier built a strong relationship with the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association and the SDSU Seed Testing Lab as a customer and supporter. 

Investing in the future of plant scientists, breeders and testers, Hansmeier donates to the SDSU Collegiate Crops Judging Team and created the Ralph and Wanda Hansmeier Scholarship to support plant science students and honor his parents. Hansmeier advocated for and, through Hansmeier & Son Inc., contributed to the building of the Seed Technology Laboratory at the Research Park at SDSU. In 2002, Hansmeier was named a SDSU Friend of Plant Science. 

Even though Hansmeier, 79, is a self-proclaimed workaholic — in his younger years beginning most days at Hansmeier & Son Inc. by 7 a.m. and ending them at 11 p.m. — over the years he made time for three additional priorities: family, the community of Bristol and seed industry organizations. 

“When it comes to family, what else is there,” said Hansmeier, who prioritized 6 o’clock supper with his wife, Jill, and daughters Becky, Amy and Bethany. When their daughters were growing up, Hansmeier also made time to attend most of their events. 

In the rural community of Bristol, Hansmeier is known as an employer who takes good care of his employees. Before it was commonplace, Hansmeier & Son Inc. provided employee health insurance and a profit-sharing program. 

“We have a number of folks who have worked for us for 30 or 40 years, so taking care of employees was always important to our family business. It was something that my dad instilled in me,” Hansmeier said. 

Hansmeier has given back to his country. He is a Vietnam veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He was also recognized as the top military history student in his class as a cadet at SDSU and recognized as the top student in the Subsistence Officer’s Course at Fort Lee, Virginia. 

He has given back to the Bristol community: donating to 4-H and FFA programs, maintaining the local cemetery, participating in Veterans Day programs, donning a red suit for Santa Saturday and serving as treasurer of the Bristol Methodist Church. He also served as secretary/treasurer of the Bristol Commercial Club and on the board of directors for Sun Dial Manor. 

Throughout his career, Hansmeier has served on the boards of directors for Foundation Seed Stocks, South Dakota Crop Improvement Association and South Dakota Seed Trade Association and as president of the Northern Seed Trade Association. He was a charter SODAK genetics seed associate. 

Celebrate Hansmeier during Eminent Leaders banquet 

Hansmeier is the third generation in his family to be honored for his contributions to South Dakota. His Grandpa Henry was recognized in 1961, and his dad, Ralph, was recognized in 1982. 

Hansmeier will be recognized during the 2024 Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community recognition banquet held at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center on the SDSU campus Sept. 20. 

Hansmeier will be honored alongside Brad Greenway, Mitchell; Pam Geppert, Kimball, and Steven Rommereim, Alcester. During the banquet, portraits of the award recipients will be unveiled. These portraits will be displayed in a virtual gallery on the Eminent Leaders webpage. 

Honorees are selected by the SDSU colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and Education and Human Sciences. 

To attend the Sept. 20 recognition banquet and program, visit the Eventbrite event page or go to the Eventbrite homepage and search for Eminent Leaders events in Brookings to purchase tickets. Tickets need to be purchased on or before Sept. 7. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by a recognition program and banquet at 6:30 p.m. 

To learn more about the award or to nominate an individual for the award, go to the Eminent Leaders webpage or contact Angela Loftesness, Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community chair, via email or call 605-688-6732.