The Governor’s Agricultural Summit takes place here in Aberdeen Thursday. Actually, we’ll have to call it the Lieutenant Governor’s Ag Summit this year, since “prior obligations” will keep Governor Daugaard from attending this year’s event. The Ag Summit will likely continue the pattern it established in 2011 of focus on bigger corporate ag—and yes, Monsanto is a sponsor.
Lt. Gov. Matt Michels will present the Governor’s Ag Ambassador award at the summit lunch Thursday. Past Ambassador awards have all gone to individuals (past winners: Dr. Dan Gee, Jim Woster, Mike Held, Brad Greenway, Dr. Bob Thaler, and Michelle Rook), but this year the state is giving the award to Lake Area Technical Institute.
Yes, yes, Lake Area has all sorts of good programs supporting agribusiness. But since it already receives state tax dollars and is now run by a state board, isn’t this award just sort of a pat on the state’s own back?