That partnership continues today as Dacotah Bank serves as the Champion Sponsor of Dakota Resources’ 30th anniversary celebration.

For Dacotah Bank, the reason for that continued support comes back to the way the two organizations’ missions align.

“Dacotah Bank’s partnership with Dakota Resources is rooted in a shared belief: thriving rural communities need both financial resources and strong local leadership,” said Kristina Schaefer, Senior Vice President at Dacotah Bank.

As a community bank with locations throughout rural South Dakota, Dacotah Bank sees community development as part of its work. Dakota Resources adds to that effort by helping rural communities develop leaders, plan for the future, and build local capacity.

“As a result, partnering with Dakota Resources to support local leadership, strong access to capital, and meaningful community investment is a natural fit for our organization,” Schaefer said.

One of the clearest examples of that commitment is Dacotah Bank’s investment in the Dakota Resources Capital Investment Fund. Through this, the bank has helped expand Dakota Resources’ ability to move capital into rural communities and support projects that strengthen local economies.

“By providing capital to a loan fund focused on supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community development projects, the Bank helps address financing gaps that can be an obstacle to economic growth in rural areas,” she said.

That kind of investment can create opportunities for job creation, business expansion, and community revitalization.

Dacotah Bank has also supported Dakota Resources programming through sponsorships. These help to make leadership development and community capacity-building opportunities available to rural leaders and organizations. Schaefer said that balance matters because financial resources and strong leadership often work hand in hand.

“While certainly financing helps communities build businesses, leadership development extends beyond a single project, creating lasting improvements across entire regions,” she said. “As we’ve seen in the communities we serve, strong local leadership is critical to helping communities attract businesses, address community challenges, pursue economic opportunities, and drive positive change.”

That philosophy is also how Dacotah Bank sees its own role in rural communities.

“For us here at Dacotah Bank, banking has always been more than making loans,” Schaefer said. “It’s about investing in the long-term success of the communities we call home.”

That investment has also included people.

Over the years, several Dacotah Bank leaders have served on the Dakota Resources board, contributing their experience, perspective, and understanding of rural community needs.

“Their involvement on the board demonstrates that community banking isn’t just about making loans or opening checking accounts – it is about investing time, knowledge, and leadership to help our communities succeed for generations,” she said.

That spirit of leadership can be traced back to one of Dacotah Bank’s most influential leaders, Rod Fouberg.

Fouberg, who served as CEO of Dacotah Bank from 1984 to 2009, was one of the founding board members who helped establish Dakota Resources, then known as South Dakota Rural Enterprise, Inc. His leadership helped shape not only Dacotah Bank’s culture, but also its understanding of what it means to support economic development in rural communities.

“Rod has helped define Dacotah Bank as a bank that measures success not only by financial performance, but also by the strength of the communities it serves,” Schaefer said.

Throughout his career, Fouberg devoted countless hours of service to economic development organizations in Aberdeen and across South Dakota. His involvement with nonprofit and civic boards reinforced the idea that Dacotah Bank’s role was not simply to finance communities, but to help lead them.

That example helped create a culture where employees are encouraged to volunteer, share their expertise, and invest in the places they call home.

Schaefer said Fouberg also recognized the importance of local leadership inside the bank itself. He is often credited with keeping market presidents informed of Dacotah Bank’s vision while allowing local banks to make decisions based on the needs of the communities they knew best.

“As Dacotah Bank has grown, that has not changed – we combine the financial strength and diversity of a large bank with the friendly, personalized service of a hometown bank with local decision making,” Schaefer said.

As Dakota Resources celebrates its 30th anniversary, Dacotah Bank’s role as Champion Sponsor is not only about the history of a strong partnership, but a continued commitment to the work still ahead.

“The partnership between Dacotah Bank and Dakota Resources is built on a shared commitment to helping rural communities build both the resources and the leadership needed to thrive,” Schaefer said. “We’re excited to see what we can accomplish together in the next 30 years.”