The Locker Opens in De Smet, South Dakota, Through a REED Fund Loan

Residents of De Smet, South Dakota, will soon have a new meat locker to assist with their livestock processing needs. The Locker opened its retail store in the summer of 2026 and is hosting a grand opening for butchering this fall. Terri Koellner, owner of The Locker, funded the project in part through a $200,035 loan from the Rural Electric Economic Development (REED) Fund.

“It's a work in progress, and I appreciate everyone's patience as I get acclimated with DeSmet and the surrounding areas,” says Koellner in a Facebook post.

The Locker will support farmers in De Smet by reducing the distance they have to travel for processing, allowing them to save time and enjoy the convenience of a community meat locker. 

The Locker Has Processing and Retail Sides

Farmers across De Smet and the surrounding area can bring their beef, pork, lambs, and goats to The Locker for processing throughout the year. Koellner says she is not processing chickens at this time. When deer season starts, she will also help process what hunters harvest.

In addition to offering a meat locker and processing services, Koellner has a retail element to her business. She has purchased a smoker that will allow her to sell jerky, summer sausage, and other items in the store. Koellner is working with a list of farmers to supply meat for the retail side. 

The Grand Opening is Friday, September 25

South Dakota residents who are excited to celebrate with Koellner and her family can attend The Locker’s Grand Opening in September. This event is open to the public, and the De Smet Area Chamber of Commerce will be doing a ribbon-cutting at 10:45 am. Koellner plans to serve brats and sausages from 11 am until 2 pm, while local restaurants are providing salads and sides.

Attendees can tour the new meat locker during the grand opening to learn more about the business. The retail store will also be open from 11 am to 4 pm. Koellner has a large tent to offer coverage in case it rains.

Koellner is currently working to build her customer base and plans to use this grand opening to introduce her business and gain publicity to attract local farmers. 

The Locker Was Supported by REED and Grow South Dakota

The REED Fund supports projects that bring value-added agricultural processing and new product development. The Meat Locker helps farmers turn their livestock into food products, while the retail business sells unique items and foodstuffs to residents.  

Koellner used the REED Fund to secure operational financing for The Locker. She received half of her funding from REED and the other half through a loan from Grow South Dakota. Koellner says she appreciated how helpful the REED team members were in navigating the loan application process.

“I told the REED Fund what I needed and asked them how I could make it happen,” she says. “Angie was great to work with, and the REED fund staff were happy to wait until we had our application figured out and all the information we needed to apply.”

De Smet is located within the Kingsbury Electric Cooperative (KEC) service area, which provides utilities for rural South Dakota residents.

“The Locker will be a great addition to the De Smet area,” says Evan Buckmiller, General Manager at KEC. “The Locker is a great example of how the REED fund can help businesses grow in communities. We are excited to have them in the community and look forward to watching them grow.” 

Learn More About Other REED Fund Loans

The Locker is one example of the REED Fund making a difference in South Dakota communities. This loan brings a new business to De Smet, helps local farmers, and adds to the amenities for families looking for sausages or hunters looking to process their game. Explore other REED Fund projects, including housing and healthcare loans, to get a sense of what this program covers.

If you think you have a project that could be supported by the REED Fund, don’t hesitate to reach out. Review our application and see how we can help your business.