USDA Loan Replaces Stadium Lights of the Sisseton Youth Baseball Association

The Sisseton Youth Baseball Association recently received a $150,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Whetstone Valley Electric to replace the lighting in its baseball field. The loan covered half the $300,000 project costs.

“The lighting has been a huge benefit to our community,” says Wade Veflin, Treasurer. “Sisseton is a community of 2,500 South Dakotans, and about 300 kids use the baseball complex during the summer. "The girls' softball team and local adult softball players also use the complex."

Investing in quality of life improvements is a significant part of economic development. Learn more about this loan and how it improves the lives of the next generation of Sisseton residents.

The Baseball Association is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit  

The Sisseton Youth Baseball Association is a nonprofit organization that helps maintain the town's baseball complex, along with the City of Sisseton. Until the association was formed in 2015, the fields had not seen much improvement in a while. A group of community members came together to revitalize the fields and apply for grants and other funding sources to support their maintenance.

In the past decade, the association has updated three new youth fields, the irrigation system, replaced fences, and improved the walking paths for visitors. The next big project was to improve the lights on the main field, which were installed in the 1980s.

“Before, when we flipped the power on the lights, you never knew what would come on,” says Veflin.  “They weren’t bright, some had broken off or were completely burned out.”

With money from the USDA loan, the association was able to replace its lighting entirely and upgrade to quality LED bulbs. The project was done just in time for the summer baseball season. 

The New Lighting Was Noticeable Across Town

Once the lights were installed, the youth athletes and their families could enjoy a quality playing experience at the baseball complex. However, people across Sisseton also noticed the upgrade. Veflin explains that you used to see the lights from the interstate, which was about two miles away. This is because they created a halo of light around the field. Now, with the strategically placed LED bulbs, the field is bright, but there isn’t as much light pollution. The neighbors are no longer bothered every time there’s a game.

Veflin adds that while there’s no proof that the lights made the players better, this year the 14-and-under division won the state tournament. “It just happened to coincide with the first year we had bright lights,” he says.

The whole community was excited about reaching the state championship and rallied behind the 14U team. 

Whetstone Valley Electric Supported the Baseball Project 

The Sisseton Youth Baseball Association completed the project with USDA funding, money raised by the organization, and support from the city. Veflin thanks the Whetstone Valley Electric team for supporting the loan and helping navigate the process.

“This loan helped us get the project done,” says Veflin. “Without this loan, we’d still be trying to generate money, and it would have been a few more years until the project was approved.”

Team sports are important in any community, but they are particularly valuable in Sisseton. Nearly half of the population is Native American, as the county is built within the Lake Traverse Reservation. The baseball leagues allow kids from all cultures to play alongside each other in a fun, low-stress environment.

“It’s a big deal any time you can provide a safe place to get together,” says Veflin. “It provides entertainment for kids and keeps them from finding other things to do.”

The efforts by Veflin and his community have not gone unnoticed.

“The work that the association has accomplished over the years is truly remarkable and shows a deep commitment, especially to the kids in the community,” says Dave Page, General Manager at Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative. “We are proud to support the association. This is part of fulfilling our mission statement for improving the quality of life for those in our communities.”

Learn More About Community Projects By REED

Quality of life projects are a significant part of economic development. The goal is to create communities that people are proud of, so residents stay there and new people move in. Stable and growing communities mean there will be a healthy workforce to pull from. It’s not enough to bring new businesses to a region; there needs to be people to work for them. Investments in childcare, housing, and senior living facilities build up communities and create healthy environments for growth. This project is more than just a baseball field, it’s an investment in the futures of Sisseton residents. 

Learn more about securing a loan through the Rural Electric Economic Development (REED) Fund and explore its other projects. See how it makes a difference in the communities it serves.