PIERRE - Two South Dakota lawmakers have been honored for their work in the state Legislature on behalf of the agriculture industry.
Sen. Shantel Krebs, R-Renner, and Rep. Mitch Fargen, D-Flandreau, are the recipients of the Outstanding Legislative Leader Award from South Dakota Farmers Union for the 2011 session. The lawmakers were honored during the Farmers Union's Legislative Day activities in Pierre Tuesday, Jan. 24.
Sen. Krebs, who is in her first term in the state Senate representing District 10, previously served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2005-2010. The Republican chairs the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and is a member of the Senate's Health and Human Services and Transportation committees.
“I've been impressed by the leadership Sen. Krebs has shown on the Senate Ag Committee,” said SDFU President Doug Sombke. “Sen. Krebs led several efforts during the last legislative session that Farmers Union supported, and we're happy to be able to honor her hard work. We look forward to working with her in the future to make agriculture in this state even stronger.”
Rep. Fargen, in his second term in the state House representing District 8, is the assistant minority leader. He serves on the House's Commerce and Energy, Legislative Procedure, and State Affairs committees.
“Rep. Fargen has been a champion for renewable energy in South Dakota, particularly ethanol in his time in the Legislature and has had a major impact,” Sombke said. “His bipartisan efforts to pass ethanol legislation have led to several more ethanol blender pumps being installed in South Dakota which gives consumers more choice and gets more ethanol into the market. He's also been a leader in protecting landowners when it comes to wind energy and helping to enhance that industry in South Dakota.”
Each year, South Dakota Farmers Union honors two legislators who have shown exemplary work in the previous legislative session on behalf of the agriculture industry. State Senate Majority Leader Russ Olson, R-Wentworth, and Rep. Steve Street, D-Revillo, received the honor last year for their work during the 2010 session.
