How Stockyards Ag Experience is working to become a year-round destination

Megan Raposa -

Simplified: New renderings unveiled Thursday night give a glimpse at what a year-round, expanded Stockyards Ag Experience building could bring to Falls Park. Here's what you need to know.

Why it matters

  • The Stockyards Ag Experience was initially founded in 2012 as a way to pay tribute to the stockyards, which helped shape the local economy for nearly a century. The museum at Falls Park opened in 2017 and has since seen more than 40,000 visitors.
  • Plans to expand have been in discussion for several years, but were delayed somewhat by the pandemic and the city's ongoing master planning process for Falls Park. That pause helped establish the need for year-round programming, Executive Director Abby Bischoff said.
  • The new facility will also further the mission of the existing museum in connecting people with agriculture, letting them know where their food comes from and raising awareness of career possibilities in the agricultural sphere.
"We know that our younger generations are interested in careers that help solve social problems as well as spark their creativity," Bischoff said. "So we’re really excited to be able to show kids they can solve big problems like hunger and sustainability right here in South Dakota, and they don't have to leave to do it."

Tell me more about the new facility

The new building will be adjacent to the existing Farmers Market on the north end of Falls Park, and it'll have both indoor and outdoor programming.

  • The outside will be Woster Plaza, named after Jim Woster, who helped found the Stockyards Ag Experience. That'll have space for things like native plants, opportunities to garden and other ways to experience nature.
  • Then, inside there will be more exhibits and learning opportunities, though largely the details are still being determined.

What's next?

The organization has raised about $3.5 million for the project so far – including a $1.5 million contribution from billionaire philanthropist T. Denny Sanford.

The plan is to break ground on the new facility in early 2027.