Volunteers from across the state cut and tied 100 blankets during the recent South Dakota Farm Bureau Centennial Convention held in Sioux Falls and donated the tie-blankets to a local hospital. Members of the SDFB Women’s Leadership Team (WLT) and Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee made the fleece blankets to benefit others in honor the organization’s 100th year.

“When the opportunity was discussed for the WLT and YF&R to partner on a project creating 100 blankets for 100 years of SDFB, we knew it was a great idea,” said Bekah Ihnen YF&R co-chair. “The blankets will be shared with local hospitals to help comfort a sick child with a blanket made with love.”

In addition to the blankets, the group will also be donating children’s books to share with the young patients.

“We wanted to have a project at the Centennial Convention that everyone could participate in as time allowed,” said Shawn VanderWal, WLT member, who led the session. “This seemed like a perfect fit and allowed SDFB to continue showing that spirit of giving back to our communities.”

Over the past year, SDFB also donated over $180,000 to local community projects during the SDFB Centennial Community Initiative.

More information about WLT and the YF&R organizations can be found by visiting www.sdfbf.org.