Apply by March 28 for the See for Yourself Tour

A group of South Dakota soybean farmers will travel this summer to the Pacific Northwest to see for themselves what happens to soybeans once they’re harvested and delivered.

“When a farmer dumps his grain at a local elevator he doesn't think a lot about it, but this [tour] kind of focuses on a line A and B,” explained Derrick Scott, treasurer of the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. “You know, this is A and this is B and once you can go out to the Pacific Northwest and see those train cars being dumped and loaded on the ships, it kind of gets farmers thinking, well gee whiz, you know, this is a great thing to see where their products ultimately end up once they leave the farmers' hands.”

Scott, who farms at Geddes, South Dakota, near Platte, by the Missouri River, encourages curious producers to register for the July tour by the deadline on March 28^th. Says Scott, “it’s a great trip.”

“If there's a producer that's thinking, ‘Gosh, I'm free July 6th through the 10th,’ which are the dates, just get on our website, sdsoybean.org. Register by March 28th, that's our due time,” he said. “We're going to be taking 12 producers this year. That's how much money we've rationed out from the checkoff to pay for and get these guys to go out there…and women. We've had lots of women tour with us and they've been great spokespersons for the checkoff once they get home, when they realize all the good that we do.”

The South Dakota Soybean website says the tour program is designed to give South Dakota soybean farmers a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn about their customers beyond the elevator. Farmers selected to take part in the program will attend checkoff-sponsored activities to gain a better understanding of how their checkoff dollars are being invested to build demand domestically and internationally.

The tour showcases the full soybean supply chain from South Dakota to global markets and provides hands-on learning and educational experiences for soybean farmers.

Farmers on the tour will also learn about biofuel initiatives and emerging markets.

“Sign up,” Scott urges interested farmers. “You might not get picked this time because it is only 12 producers. It just depends on how many people apply. So just put your name in the hat. I'll guarantee you it's the best four days that you're going to have as a farmer. Just to get away from the farm, see something that you will never have the opportunity to see other than being on a See for Yourself trip, going out and seeing these loading facilities. This is your one chance to go do it. So please sign up.”

Click here to apply : See for Yourself PNW 2026

The See For Yourself travel expenses are paid by the South Dakota Soybean Checkoff.