SD Legislator traces roots of success to SDSU, scholarships

Some would contend that Jason Frerichs was destined to serve in the State Legislature.

It’s in his DNA. His father, Kent, served in the Legislature. So did his grandfather, Bert Ellingson. So did his great-grandfather, Nels P. Christensen. In all, those three served 19 terms in the State House of Representatives. It was only a matter of time for Jason to follow the path they blazed.

The only surprise is that Jason’s election came less than two years after graduating from South Dakota State University in 2007.

Frerichs returned to his family farm and ranch near Wilmot after graduating. Shortly afterward, at the age of 23, he became a candidate for the State House. He won in November 2008 and made a strong enough impression on his Democratic colleagues to secure a position as House Minority Whip.

Twenty-four-year-old legislators are rare in the 105-member body. A 24-year-old legislator in a leadership position is almost unheard of.

Frerichs says the roots of the success he’s enjoyed at a young age can be traced to SDSU.

“I’m living my dream and it’s because of those scholarships,” he says now. “I want the donors to know that their money was well-invested. I want to make them proud.”

His journey to Brookings began as a high school freshman. Jason set his sights on attending State following a trip to Brookings for the state Future Farmers of America convention as a ninth-grader. “I really felt comfortable with the campus. Every year it seemed like I made more and more personal connections” to SDSU, he says.

Frerichs graduated with honors from State in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and minors in animal science and speech communication. He credits his mentor, Tim Nichols – now dean of the Honors College – with helping secure a $500 scholarship from the Animal Science Department. It was the first of several scholarships that Frerichs would earn during his years at State.

As a student, Frerichs was involved in a whirlwind of activities: president of Alpha Gamma Row, an ambassador for the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, member of the AgBio Proxy Council, the collegiate Farmers Union, a Student Senator and a member of the speech and debate teams.

Frerichs continues to multi-task in his professional career. He teaches at Lake Area Technical School in Watertown, while also tending to the family’s four-generation farm.  Added to that now is a responsibility to represent District 1 in Pierre.

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without those scholarships I received at SDSU,” Frerichs said.