Chamber Positions Agribusiness for Stronger Regional Impact
Agriculture has long been a leading economic driver of the Sioux Falls region, fueling our economy, supporting thousands of jobs and strengthening businesses across every sector. As the agriculture industry continues to evolve, so must how the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce supports, connects and elevates agribusiness. Over the past several months, the Chamber undertook a comprehensive strategic planning process to ensure its agribusiness efforts are aligned with today’s realities and tomorrow’s opportunities.
Facilitated by Maximizing Excellence LLC, the 2026 Agribusiness Strategic Planning process brought together a diverse task force of agribusiness leaders, Chamber stakeholders and regional partners. Through surveys, interviews and a strategic planning retreat, stakeholders consistently highlighted the need for greater clarity, connectivity and integration between agribusiness and the broader Chamber membership.
“As a result of recent changes related to agribusiness, the Chamber had an important opportunity to step back and evaluate its approach,” said Sarah Carnes, 9 Clouds, a member of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors who serves as the Board’s liaison to the Agribusiness Committee and was deeply involved in the strategic planning process. “This refreshed direction will help bring the importance of agriculture to more Chamber members and elevate agriculture as the key economic driver that it is within the Chamber community.”
At the heart of this evolution is a renewed Agribusiness Purpose Statement: To elevate agriculture as the leading economic driver in Greater Sioux Falls through promotion, connection and collaboration. This purpose reflects the Chamber’s broader mission to be the leading business advocate in the region by building consensus and creating strategies that advance economic health and quality of life for all.
To better deliver on this purpose, the Chamber is reshaping both its structure and approach. Central to this effort is the re-envisioned Agribusiness Manager position,
housed within the Chamber’s Member Relations team. This role is designed to strengthen relationships, drive engagement and serve as a connector between agribusiness, partner organizations and the broader business network. By integrating agribusiness more fully into Chamber programming, communications and member experiences, the Chamber is reinforcing agriculture’s visibility and relevance across all industries.
In tandem, the Agribusiness Committee is being reset with greater focus and intentionality. Guided by the strategic plan, the committee will concentrate on three key priorities:
• Elevating agribusiness members within Chamber activities, events and communications
• Celebrating agriculture’s economic impact on the greater Sioux Falls region
• Facilitating meaningful connections between agribusiness and non-ag Chamber members, partners and policy leaders
Equally important is a new emphasis on regionalism. Agriculture does not stop at city or county lines, and neither should our approach. By strengthening partnerships with commodity groups, educational institutions, rural communities and regional organizations, the Chamber is redefining how it builds relationships, focusing on collaboration rather than duplication and value over volume.
“Every business in Greater Sioux Falls benefits from agriculture, either directly or indirectly,” Carnes added. “If agriculture is doing well, the regional economy is doing well, and vice versa. Chamber members will benefit from strengthening their connection to agriculture and understanding its role within their own organizations.”
This strategic shift reflects the Chamber’s core values of Community, Connection, Collaboration, Vision and Service. It also reflects the reality of modern agribusiness: Agriculture today is not only production, but also an interconnected ecosystem of innovation, finance, manufacturing, technology, logistics and talent.
Julie Hammer, Sioux Empire Fair Association and chair of the Chamber’s Agribusiness Committee, shared, “What is most significant is how this new direction positions agriculture not merely as a tradition, but as a leading economic driver shaping our business community moving forward.”
Together, we are redefining how we support agriculture and build business, ensuring agribusiness remains not just part of our past, but central to our future.