New swine facility draws students, funds into S.D.

PIERRE – College students and dollars are flowing into South Dakota from neighboring Iowa and Minnesota, boosting the state's swine industry.

Industry groups from outside the state have pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars toward a new $5.5 million swine facility at South Dakota State University.

The Legislature earlier this year gave final approval and a $3 million blessing to the project.

The SDSU dean of agriculture says the donations indicate a broad network of alumni supporters in the region.

Dusty Compart is a junior at SDSU studying animal science. The Minnesota native says he chose SDSU over other swine programs in neighboring states. He says the program he is enrolled in is presenting new opportunities for students while other schools are trimming their offerings.