In support of our veterans, military personnel, and their families, the South Dakota State Fair offers numerous events throughout the week.
The Fair will host a “Salute to Veterans” program on the Northwestern Energy Freedom Stage at 10:30 am on Thursday, August 29. Colonel Stacy Kooistra will serve as the keynote speaker. Governor Kristi Noem and Lieutenant Larry Rhoden plan to attend the Salute to Veterans program. All veterans and military personnel will receive free gate admission on that day.
Colonel Stacy Kooistra has over 26 years of military service within the active-duty U.S. Army, South Dakota Army National Guard, and South Dakota Air National Guard. Stacy enlisted in the Army in 1996 and served a tour in Baumholder, Germany, after which he was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer at Ft Benning, GA and served with the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division. Upon leaving active duty and entering law school, Stacy served with the 147th Field Artillery Regiment, South Dakota Army National Guard and, since 2007, has served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer with the 114th Fighter Wing and Headquarters, South Dakota Air National Guard. Stacy is currently the State Staff Judge Advocate for Air Guard.
In his civilian capacity, Stacy serves as the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for the Dakota State University Applied Research Corporation (DARC), South Dakota’s public/private partnership focused on bringing the cyber industry to our state.
Staff from the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs will be at the fair all week in the Expo Building at booth #5A. The SDDVA team will be manning the booth from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Wednesday through Sunday and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Monday. Staff will be able to update veterans on state and federal benefits, programs, and services.
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