Jason Frerichs
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jason Frerichs
| image = Jason Frerichs Germany 2011 (cropped).jpg
| caption =Frerichs in Germany (2011)
|office1 = Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate
|term_start1 = January 3, 2011
|term_end1 = January 4, 2015
|predecessor1 = Scott Heidepriem
|successor1 = Billie Sutton
|office2 = Minority Whip of the South Dakota Senate
|term_start2 = January 11, 2017
|term_end2 = January 8, 2019
|predecessor2 = Scott Parsley
Jim Peterson
|successor2 = Reynold Nesiba
|state_senate3 = South Dakota
|district3 = 1st
|term_start3 = January 3, 2011
|term_end3 = January 8, 2019
|predecessor3 = Gary D. Hanson
|successor3 = Susan Wismer
|state_house4 = South Dakota
|district4 = 1st
|term_start4 = January 13, 2009
|term_end4 = January 2, 2011
|alongside4 = Susan Wismer
|predecessor4 = Clayton Halverson
David Sigdestad
|successor4 = David Sigdestad
Susan Wismer
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|24}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|alma_mater = South Dakota State University
|profession = Farmer, rancher
}}
Jason Elliott Frerichs (born November 24, 1984) is a former state senator and state representative from South Dakota.
Early life and education
Frerichs graduated from South Dakota State University in 2007, earning a B.S. in Agriculture Education. He is the president of the Roberts County Farmers Union.{{cite web|title=Senator Jason Frerichs|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/103944/jason-frerichs#.Ug5RU5K1GSo|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=16 August 2013}} He lives in Wilmot, South Dakota.{{cite web|title=Senator Jason Frerichs|url=http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2013/MemberDetail.aspx?Member=115|publisher=South Dakota Legislature|accessdate=16 August 2013}} Frerichs owns and works on a farm with his father and brothers, and also manages 150 cows.{{cite news|last=Bruckner|first=Tracy|title=Stories from the Field: Farmland Access in South Dakota|url=http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/stories-from-the-field-tip/|accessdate=16 August 2013|newspaper=National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition|date=30 November 2012}} Frerichs teaches agriculture at Lake Area Technical Institute, and is an FFA adviser.{{cite news|title=Ag Entrepreneur: February 2010|url=http://www.agriculture.com/successful-farming/family/Ag-Entrepreneur-February-2010_123-ar6138|accessdate=16 August 2013|newspaper=Agriculture.com|date=9 February 2010}}
Frerichs' father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all served in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Frerichs served as a page in both the South Dakota Legislature and the United States Senate, working for Senator Tom Daschle.{{cite news|last=Harriman |first=Peter |title=Democrats in S.D. craft identity, strain for gains |url=http://www.argusleader.com/article/20101003/VOICES/10030327 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130819013021/http://www.argusleader.com/article/20101003/VOICES/10030327 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 August 2013 |accessdate=19 August 2013 |newspaper=Argus Leader |date=3 October 2010 }}
Political career
Frerichs served in the South Dakota State House of Representatives from 2008 to 2010, where he was the minority whip. In 2010, he was elected to the state senate, becoming minority leader. Frerichs was a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Legislative Procedure Committee, and the State Affairs. In 2010, he defeated fellow state senator Eldon Nygaard in the race for senate minority leader; Nygaard switched to the Republican Party shortly after.{{cite news|last=Montgomery|first=David|title=South Dakota lawmaker Eldon Nygaard switches to GOP after election|url=http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/south-dakota-lawmaker-eldon-nygaard-switches-to-gop-after-election/article_f03e1ca8-f36e-11df-a313-001cc4c002e0.html|accessdate=16 August 2013|newspaper=Rapid City Journal|date=10 November 2010}}
Frerichs advocates the development of renewable energy in South Dakota. He is considered to be a member of the moderate wing of the South Dakota Democrats and an ally of former Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. {{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}
References
External links
- [http://jasonfrerichs.com/ JasonFrerichs.com]
- [https://twitter.com/jasonfrerichs Frerichs's Twitter account]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frerichs, Jason}}
Category:Democratic Party members of the South Dakota House of Representatives
Category:Democratic Party South Dakota state senators
Category:South Dakota State University alumni
Category:21st-century members of the South Dakota Legislature
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