A pair of Spearfish donated South Dakota State University Department of Animal Science Chair Cal and Mary Hayenga.
Cal, a 1969 agriculture graduate, and his wife, Mary, a 1967 sociology graduate, used a land donation to make a difference at their alma mater. By investing in the department chair position, the Hayengas are fostering opportunities and resources for both staff and students.
Cal and Mary met at SDSU, finding common ground at the Wesley Methodist Student Center on campus. The two had even more in common than just their shared faith, as they both came from agricultural backgrounds. Mary was raised on a dairy farm and attended SDSU through a scholarship funded by Betty Crocker; Cal grew up in a farming family, coming to the state based on his parents’ ill-fated hopes of becoming a minister – his farming roots won out instead.
After graduation, Cal took over and expanded his family’s farming operations. Meanwhile, Mary enjoyed a decade-long career as a social worker before turning to farm accounting work as the business became a full-time job for much of the family.
After decades of hard work, the Hayengas’ acres of land had become a tax burden, and they turned to the SDSU Foundation for ideas about philanthropic giving at the university.
“We gradually ended up acquiring a lot of land,” Cal said. “That in itself wouldn’t have been a problem, but then land values quadrupled and property taxes began to decline. We couldn’t get rid of it fast enough.”
When choosing to donate land, the Hayengas can prioritize both the heir – in this case, the couple’s nephew – and the university. The decision to appoint the head of the animal science department also serves as a tribute to one of Cal’s favorite professors from his years at SDSU, swine expert Bob Seerley. Although Cal never raised pigs, he valued the critical thinking skills he learned from Seerley, crediting the problem-solving mindset with helping him face the many challenges of leading a farming operation.
“The Lord treated me well and everyone was a winner,” Cal said. “SDSU receives the ground rent, and that serves both the university and me.”
The Hayengas’ gift marks the 58th commitment in effect for endowed faculty and leadership positions at the university. Bold and Blue: The Campaign for South Dakota State University had a goal of securing commitments for 50 endowed positions by the completion of the fundraising initiative in April 2024; the university reached this milestone in fall 2023.
The perpetual nature of endowed funding ensures greater resources that the holder can allocate at their discretion, elevating learning opportunities and program experiences for Jackrabbits following in Cal’s footsteps in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
“Cal and Mary’s generosity has already had a significant impact on the educational environment for our students,” said Joe Cassady, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. “Through their new gift, we will be able to continue to help students by providing scholarships and educational experiences that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive.”
Mary cited the couple’s belief that their donation could strengthen the university’s recruitment and retention efforts, helping prospective students find their career paths and potentially bolstering the local economy. In effect, by donating land, the Hayengas are supporting the influential leaders who are training the next generation of South Dakota land stewards.
“I hope this helps students stay in South Dakota long enough to realize what a wonderful place it is,” Mary said. “If they go somewhere else, they will come back here in the future because they will really remember it. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t gone to State.” -South Dakota State University
