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Story by Lura Roti

Reid Christopherson was swimming with his Boy Scout Troop in a northern Minnesota river when he and a friend got caught in some undertow. 

Christopherson was able to make it to shore, but his friend did not. 

“Another Scout and I grabbed a canoe. We were able to get to him, pull him into the canoe, and I did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation out in the middle of the river. Fortunately, my friend lived,” Christopherson said. 

The quick thinking, collaboration, preparedness and care for others Christopherson exhibited as a 15-year-old Boy Scout remain evident throughout his academic, military and civilian careers and the many leadership roles he has embraced in service organizations. 

“At the root of everything, I believe in times of crisis it is important to work with people and encourage collaboration to seek out opportunities together. Answers do exist,” said Christopherson, who was recently recognized by the South ��ֱ���� State University colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and Education and Human Sciences for his service and leadership with the 2025 Eminent Leader in Agriculture, Family and Community ��ֱ����. 

Introduced to the Boy Scouts as an elementary student, Christopherson explained that along with lifesaving strategies, Boy Scouts taught him about what could be achieved through goal setting. 

He earned his Eagle Scout shortly before enlisting in the Air Force because he knew he needed the GI Bill to pay for college. Inspired by time spent on his grandparents’ farm, Christopherson’s goal was to become a large ��ֱ���� veterinarian. 

“I grew up believing the only thing a city kid could do in farming was become a veterinarian,” Christopherson said. 

Perhaps because of his Boy Scouts experience, the Air Force assigned Christopherson the title of aircrew life support specialist. In this role, he worked on and inspected survival equipment. 

When his four-year enlistment was up, Christopherson enrolled in the preveterinary medicine program at SDSU. 

A few things happened after classes began that inspired him to change his career goal. 

“I learned about all the different jobs that were out there in agriculture, and I discovered that even though I was a good student, I did not enjoy chemistry, so I switched to an ��ֱ���� science degree.” 

With the help of ��ֱ���� science scholarship dollars and the GI Bill, Christopherson remained at SDSU long enough to pursue a master’s in swine nutrition. 

After graduation, he was hired by Zip Feeds in Sioux Falls to provide nutrition support to local feed dealers and area dairies, feedlots and swine units. 

“SDSU allowed me to fulfill my dream of finding a career in agriculture. It also connected me with amazing professors who became my friends,” Christopherson said. 

While working for Zip Feeds, Christopherson received an officer commission in the Air National Guard. At the same time, he and his wife, Ruth, were raising their young children, Nathan and Rachael. And somehow, Christopherson found time for Boy Scouts. 

He served as a Scoutmaster for a troop of men with physical and developmental disabilities. Under Christopherson’s guidance, several of these Scouts earned the Eagle Scout ��ֱ����. 

Christopherson went on to serve Boy Scouts in leadership roles at the local, regional and national levels. In addition to Boy Scouts, Christopherson served in leadership roles for more than 30 organizations including Lions International and South ��ֱ���� Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 

Serving others during crisis 

In 1987, Christopherson was asked by the South ��ֱ���� Air National Guard to make a full-time commitment. Christopherson accepted the offer and served in many positions including as a public affairs officer, tasked with guarding the outward-facing interests of servicemembers as well as ensuring the public’s confidence. He was deployed to serve in 10 countries as well as in response to four hurricanes in Louisiana, including Katrina. 

Christopherson said a 39-year military career spent serving in areas of crisis prepared him well for the role he accepted in 2014 as executive director of the South ��ֱ���� Wheat Commission. 

“Our industry was going through a farm crisis, and I saw myself as the farmers’ hired hand, working to tell the story of South ��ֱ���� wheat producers and safeguard their checkoff, investing those dollars where they could make a difference.” 

Since retiring in 2024, Christopherson has unsurprisingly not sat idle. Instead, he calls upon his extensive experience in crisis management and agriculture and serves as a synod rural ambassador and lay minister for rural ELCA churches facing consolidation or closure due to declining membership. 

Celebrate Reid Christopherson During South ��ֱ����’s Eminent Leaders Banquet 

Christopherson will be honored for his contributions to South ��ֱ���� during the 2025 Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community recognition banquet held at McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center on the SDSU campus Sept. 19. 

Christopherson will be honored alongside Wallace Knock, Willow Lake; Jeff Lakner, Wessington, and Greg Moes, Goodwin. During the banquet, portraits of the award recipients will be unveiled. These portraits will be displayed in a virtual gallery. 

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

To attend the Sept. 19 recognition banquet and program, . Tickets need to be purchased on or before Sept. 5. 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, contact Angela Loftesness, Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community program chair, via email or 605-688-6732.