It’s not often that the titles of cattleman and lawyer are used to describe the same person, but they perfectly capture Todd Wilkinson from De Smet, South Dakota. Other fitting descriptors for Todd include servant leader, dad and advocate. He recently served as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and is a principal in the Wilkinson & Schumacher Law Firm in his hometown.
Although Wilkinson didn’t grow up on a farm, his grandparents did, and he spent a lot of time there from a young age. “When I was 9 or 10, I started feeding heifers in the winter, and for the first couple years, they paid me with a heifer calf,” he says. “That was the genesis of my cowherd.”
Today, Todd operates a commercial Angus-based cow-calf operation with about 400 cows. He and his son, Nick, own Wilkinson Livestock LLC and also manage a stocker operation. “We buy between 800 and 1,000 calves and bring them into a yard that Nick and I run,” Wilkinson explains. “We background them and sell them in January and February.”
Todd oversees about 1,900 acres of pasture ground and approximately 1,400 acres of crop ground, where he grows corn and soybeans using Case IH tractors (see sidebar). “We also grow either wheat or oats for the ability to harvest the crop and go back in with a cover crop,” he says. “We get the straw off it and also graze cows on that ground. It reduces the carrying costs of the cows through the winter.”
Strong Work Ethic
Wilkinson’s dad, Ellsworth “Wilkie” Wilkinson, served as a master sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and later joined the United States Army Air Corps during the Korean War. He then played a pivotal role in establishing the South Dakota Air National Guard, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.In 1952, the family moved to De Smet, where Wilkie joined the law firm that Todd now operates. Todd’s mom, Bette, served in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II and later became the bookkeeper for her husband’s law firm.
Wilkinson considers it a privilege to have worked alongside both his parents in the same law firm for more than 25 years. With their military backgrounds, hard work was a core value in the Wilkinson household. Todd and his brothers were taught not to expect anything to be handed to them, a mentality that has benefited Todd in growing his operation.
“When you start out on the farm and you’re getting paid a ridiculously small amount for hauling thousands and thousands of idiot cubes [small square bales] and putting it up in hay mows, you learn to appreciate hard work,” he says with a chuckle. “And you appreciate your assets more when you’ve worked hard to acquire them.”
Ag-Based Practice
Wilkinson’s two businesses complement each other, because his multi-state law practice is deeply rooted in agricultural issues.
“I do a lot of work with ag issues, whether it’s confined animal feeding or transition issues for family farms and ranches,” he says.
His agricultural background, active involvement in cattle organizations and legal expertise have created a symbiotic, cohesive relationship that has served him well throughout his 42-year legal career.
The cattle business provides a refreshing break from the courtroom. “When things are going well — not just financially but otherwise, too — there’s a sense of reward you get from working in the cattle business,” he says.
Advocate for Producers
Livestock producers face many challenges, and Wilkinson feels it’s important to give back to an industry that has given so much to him. He started with involvement in the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association (SDCA), eventually becoming its president. Wilkinson then spent six years in leadership roles with the NCBA, recently completing his term as president.
“The industry is way bigger than what’s in your pasture at home,” he stresses. “We’ve worked on legislation to prohibit meat grown in a bioreactor and proper labeling of animal cells grown artificially.
“Also, protecting our export markets is very important to cattlemen, and unless you’re involved on a national level, you can potentially lose focus on the big issues,” he adds.
Wilkinson visited producers in many states, attended numerous meetings and traveled internationally on behalf of America’s cattlemen. Along the way, he made lifelong friends. “People in agriculture tend to be down-to-earth and level-headed. Coming from a profession where I end up in a courtroom sometimes, that’s saying a lot,” he quips.
“I’ve always enjoyed the people I deal with in the cattle industry and the relationships I’ve developed over the years.” Wilkinson feels people are put on earth for a reason, and “you hope you make a little bit of difference by the time you’re gone,” he says.
Family Ties
Wilkinson has three grown children and 10 grandchildren. His oldest daughter, Nicole, is a teacher in Minnesota. His son, Nicholas (Nick), is a partner in the cattle business, and his youngest daughter, Michelle, is a paralegal in Wilkinson’s law firm. He loves that she gets to work with him, just the way he was able to work with his mom and dad.
His wife, Jean, passed away four years ago, but she was a true partner in the business and in life. Wilkinson says she faced many health challenges over 13 years, but her faith never wavered. She was a neonatal nurse and then worked as an RN in the local hospital before becoming a bookkeeper in the law office.
Workhorses on the Farm
Tractors are multi-purpose in this operation.
Wilkinson has seven Case IH tractors, including Pumas and Maxxums, which are used for various tasks on the farm. He has a good relationship with the local dealer, O’Keefe Implement in De Smet, South Dakota, and says, “Their ability to help us when we have a repair is crucial to our operation.” He and his son use Case IH Pumas for hay work, including raking and baling hay and cornstalks. “Our Case IH tractors are utilitarian enough that they can go from the field to the pasture to the barn,” says Wilkinson. “Three of them have loaders, so they’re definitely multi-purpose.”
They use a Case IH Steiger 4WD for fieldwork. “We grew up with Case IH tractors, and as the equipment has advanced over the years, I like the performance and adaptability to perform multiple operations,” Wilkinson adds.
