Dakota Layers, a family-owned egg farm north of Flandreau, has donated 900 dozen eggs to Feeding South Dakota.

On Tuesday, April 11, the donation was formally made at the Feeding South Dakota office in Sioux Falls.

For the first time, Dakota Layers partnered this year with South Dakota State University to determine the number of eggs donated.

For every free throw made in Frost Arena by both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, Dakota Layers donated a dozen eggs.

This year, 632 free throws were made and the company increased their total donation to 900 dozen or 10,800 eggs. That amount of eggs will feed approximately 900 families.

“We are so happy to help make a difference in fighting hunger in South Dakota,” said Jason Ramsdell, vice president of Dakota Layers.

Tracy Ramsdell, Dakota Layers marketing director, said the partnership with SDSU will continue in the coming years as well.

The idea for the partnership came up when the company began to think of ways to get their name out and let people know they are the local egg company.

“We were looking for more creative ways to get the Dakota Layers name out there,” Tracy Ramsdell said. “And protein goes really well with athletics.”

In another connection to SDSU, the university’s football purchases eggs from Dakota Layers during spring training as well as the regular season, ordering one box a week.

Since 2008, Feeding South Dakota has relied heavily on donated eggs from Dakota Layers to help serve quality protein to hungry families.

"Protein is probably the most difficult nutritious product for us to get our hands on and so much of it has to do with just the fact that most protein is perishable," says Matt Gassen, CEO of Feeding South Dakota.

Through their relationship with Dakota Layers, Feeding South Dakota has received over 35,000 pounds of eggs over the years.

There were smiles abound at the presentation of 900 dozens of eggs from Dakota Layers just

before Easter to the Feeding South Dakota organization in Sioux Falls. Picture from left, are Matt

Gassen, CEO of Feeding South Dakota, “Jack,” Tracy Ramsdell, Marketing Director and Jason

Ramsdell, Vice President of Dakota Layers, Jennifer Stensaas, Development Associate of

Feeding South Dakota, Matt Wright, General Manager, Jackson Freidel, Coordinator of

Partnership Services and Zach Vos, Manager of Business Development, all at Jackrabbit Sports

Properties.