News

(Pierre, S.D.) Student athletes from 47 South Dakota high schools and eight universities will benefit from the Build Your Base sports nutrition program for the 2025-26 school year.

The comprehensive sports nutrition program utilizes beef as its premier protein to prepare athletes and their families for a successful sports season through ready-to-use materials, best-in-class sports nutrition education and high-quality protein to support optimal performance.

Build Your Base is part of Beef Logic, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, that works to strengthen families, communities and ensure the positive benefits of beef for the future.

“We are excited to be working alongside our partners to deliver the program to students and their families across South Dakota as we show them how beef can be a premier part of their training program,” said Suzanne Geppert, Executive Director, Beef Logic Inc. “Our program Build Your Base makes nutrition approachable and practical, helping people build healthy habits that fuel performance on the field and well-being beyond it.”

Partners participating in the program include: South Dakota Beef Industry Council, Sanford Health, Jorgensen Land and Cattle, Western Legacy Foundation, Monument Health, Faith Booster Club, MML Cattlemens, Prime CattleWomen, Southern Belle CattleWomen, Dakota Land Feeds, as well as multiple individual beef producers, drive the success and direction of this community-based initiative, added Geppert.

Each participating school receives ready-to-use materials and resources that lead to overall success on and off the playing field. The Build Your Base program strives to ensure student-athletes are hydrated, replenished, and live a healthy lifestyle.

"Spearfish School District has been involved with the Build Your Base program for six years, and it continues to amaze us. This program teaches our student athletes not just about nutrition but also sportsmanship," said Dalton Wademan, Spearfish Activities Director. "The night before all home football games, we feed the team a steak dinner. We help prepare our student athletes for the game through nutrition and continue to build on team camaraderie."

About BEEF LOGIC Inc.

BEEF LOGIC Inc. works alongside beef farmers, ranchers, medical and sports professionals, nutritionists and community partners in creating a larger body of understanding and support for beef! Visit www.beeflogicinc.org.

High Schools and Universities Participating Include:

High Schools:

Alcester-Hudson

Baltic

Bon Homme

Brandon Valley

Bridgewater-Emery

Britton-Hecla

Brookings

Chamberlain

Clark

Colome

Custer

Dell Rapids St. Mary's

Douglas *

Elkton

Eureka

Faith

Gayville-Volin

Harding County

Herreid *

Hitchcock-Tulare

Howard

Huron

Ipswich

Irene-Wakonda

Iroquois-Lake Preston

Jones County

Kimball

Lemmon

Leola

McCook Central

Mount Vernon

New Underwood

Northwestern

Philip

RC Central

RC Christian *

SF Christian

SF Jefferson

SF Lincoln

SF Roosevelt

Spearfish

Timber Lake

Webster *

Wessington Springs * White River

Winner

Wolsey-Wessington

Universities:

Augustana

Black Hills State

Dakota Wesleyan

Mt. Marty

Northern State

South Dakota Mines

South Dakota State

South Dakota

*Awaiting Final Paperwork