Belle Fourche FFA members gather together before serving the public.
The Belle Fourche FFA Chapter in South Dakota is seated at the center of both the nation and rodeo culture, drawing thousands of tourists to its community. With so many citizens, the chapter looks for ways to serve them and local businesses. The number one way it does this is through an annual Burger Bash event.
“We love to attend Burger Bash to show support to Belle Fourche FFA,” said event attendees Dave and Kim Nelson. “We love seeing the FFA members there.”
Gabe, Ben and Matthew Raba enjoy their burgers at 2023 Burger Bash.
Burger Bash is open to the community, and newly-elected FFA chapter officers serve burgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies and sodas. The downtown event entices people to support other local events and businesses.
However, the chapter can’t do this alone. It works with the chamber of commerce to help pay for supplies and businesses to supply essential equipment like a grill. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the community as a welcoming place, and the chapter wanting to engage with the community, Burger Bash feeds more than 200 people every year during the Fourth of July.
Dave and Kim Nelson show off their FFA jacket from the Hendricks FFA Chapter in Minnesota.
According to Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michaela Horn, the event is sponsored by local businesses who are always wanting to help out the youth in the community. It also helps draw people downtown to visit and shop at the businesses while attending the Butte County Robbery Reenactment.
“Burger Bash is a fun activity for members to connect with others as well as our community,” said Belle Fourche FFA Chapter President Taya Kirstine. “We also get to learn how to make great burgers, too!”
