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Sheep have been a part of nearly every chapter of Patty DeZeeuw’s life — first as a Custer County 4-H member, then as a Ģ������Ƶ wool judge. And since 1979, she and her husband, Rufus, have raised purebred Suffolk sheep.

Ask DeZeeuw what it is about sheep that has held her attention all these years, and her response is all about the people who make up South Dakota’s sheep industry.

“The relationships we’ve built with the people of the sheep industry mean the most to me,” DeZeeuw said.

And these relationships are deep rooted.

DeZeeuw explained that it’s the relationships she built through 4-H and FFA that helped her successfully transition from the one-room rural Fairburn School to Rapid City Central High School.

“I went from a class of two to 600, so it was culture shock. But I got involved in FFA and we went everywhere doing judging contests, and this involvement gave me a sense of self-confidence and accomplishment.”

Participation in FFA judging contests at the FFA State Convention held on the SDSU campus introduced DeZeeuw to the university.

She majored in animal science with a research option — but quickly discovered she needed more of a challenge. “It wasn’t quite hard enough science for me, so I got a double major in microbiology and a master’s in biology.”

Her passion for agriculture and science led her to a work study position in the Animal Disease Ģ������Ƶ and Diagnostic Laboratory and eventually her first career as a laboratory technician at ADRDL and then management of the SDSU Nutrition and Food Science Lab. “I love the exploration and the details of research,” said DeZeeuw, who worked in research until she decided to stay home with her young sons, Adam and Austin.

As a student, DeZeeuw competed on the SDSU Meats and Wool Judging teams and showed sheep in Little I.

Little I is where Patty Smith met her husband-to-be, Rufus DeZeeuw. Rufus was the Little I sheep superintendent.

Shortly after they married, the couple bought their first purebred Suffolk ewes. Together they began farming near his family’s Elkton farm. They began showing sheep at the South Dakota State Fair and attending South Dakota Sheep Growers Association meetings.

“The other sheep producers were our role models. We were these young pups just getting started in the purebred sheep business, and they encouraged us.”

Through South Dakota Sheep Growers Association, DeZeeuw became engaged in promotion and advocacy. Together with her good friend, Mary Held, they organized several of the association’s annual meetings in Brookings. They decided to expand the meeting’s format, inviting industry experts to present educational seminars and making it a two-day event with industry-related tours.

“We wanted to make the Sheep Growers Convention something that would appeal to the whole family. Because if you don’t get the young people involved, the organization will not continue.”

By this time, DeZeeuw’s sons were in school. She put her passion for details and agriculture back to work — but this time instead of research, crop insurance was her focus. In 1996 she opened D & D Crop Service, a business Adam continues today.

When Barry Dunn became the dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at SDSU, he asked DeZeeuw to assist in developing the SDSU Signature Wool program to sell curated SDSU wool products designed by SDSU students with the proceeds funding scholarships for animal science and fashion merchandising students.

“It was a full-circle kind of project that makes a difference. I got to work with a lot of great people to help make it happen.”

Actively involved in South Dakota’s purebred sheep industry for almost 50 years, the DeZeeuws are no longer the “young pups.” Today, they find themselves serving as role models to the next generation in the sheep growers organization and as superintendent (Rufus) and co-assistant superintendent (Patty) of the Open Class Sheep Barn at the South Dakota State Fair. The couple were instrumental in getting a new sheep facility constructed on the fairgrounds. And DeZeeuw made sure the SHED included a designated education space to support the future of the people and industry she loves.

“If we don’t tell our story and get kids involved, there will not be a sheep industry in South Dakota.”

Celebrate Patty DeZeeuw during eminent leaders banquet

For her service and leadership, DeZeeuw will be recognized by the Ģ������Ƶ colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and Education and Human Sciences with the 2026 Eminent Leader in Agriculture, Family and Community honor. The banquet will be held Sept. 18 at McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center. DeZeeuw will be honored alongside Mary Duvall, Pierre; Jerry Schmitz, Vermillion; and Kevin Scott, Valley Springs.

For tickets, visit . Tickets need to be purchased on or before Sept. 4. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by a banquet and recognition program at 6:30 p.m.

To learn more about the award or to nominate an individual for the award, contact Angela Loftesness, Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community chair, via email, at 605-688-6732 or visit Eminent Leaders.