DAIRY DONATES TO BALL PROGRAM

    This past weekend, Britton hosted a division of the U14 VFW State Baseball Tournament—a milestone moment, as it was the first state-level baseball event of its kind ever held in town. Even more impressive: this achievement would have been nearly impossible just one year ago.
    The Britton Baseball and Softball program has made remarkable strides in a short time, thanks in large part to overwhelming community support—including a major donation that will help the program continue to grow and thrive.
    That gift came from Riverview Dairy in Veblen, and it was made possible through the efforts of local residents with a strong connection to both the dairy and the baseball program.
    Lindsey Nickeson and her husband, Sonny, have two children active in Britton’s ball programs: 11-year-old Kaylee plays softball, and 8-year-old Connor plays baseball. Lindsey was aware that the program was continuing to seek support for facility improvements, and she saw an opportunity to help.
    She reached out to fundraising leaders Rachelle Kilker and Kyla and BJ Richter to find out more.
    “She asked us what we were still working on and what was on our ‘wish list,’” Kilker said. The group pulled together a list of top priorities for the next phase of improvements.
    In recent years, infrastructure projects like drain tiling and new dugouts and lighting at the big field had already been tackled. But there’s still more to do.
    “Our next phase is to improve the patron experience,” said BJ Richter. “We want to make it a welcoming and fun place for families—even outside of ballgames.”
    The group’s wishlist included items like a shade structure, finishing the batting cage, and eventually, even adding a playground.
    Lindsey knew of a company with a history of investing in local communities—Riverview LLP, where her husband Sonny works. The Minnesota-based company took over two Veblen dairies in 2011—Veblen East and West—now known as Marshall Dairy. The dairies are state-of-the-art facilities and part of a growing network of operations run by Riverview across six states, including five in South Dakota. The company employs about 140 people at its Veblen location and is 75% employee-owned.
    Sonny, a Veblen native who has been with Riverview for 12 years, works in feed and trucking logistics as well as permitting. When Lindsey approached him with the idea of a donation, he was on board. Working together with the Britton Baseball and Softball Association, they compiled a detailed overview of the program’s goals and needs.
    Sonny passed the information along to the Riverview Foundation, the charitable arm of the company. The foundation’s board—committed to giving back to local communities—was impressed by the project and its impact. They approved a $35,000 donation.
    “They also said they would like to stay involved in the future as the program moves forward with other improvements and additions,” Sonny added.
    For a program like the Britton one, Riverview’s donation was literally and figuratively huge. “We appreciate all kinds of support, from volunteer hours to individual donations,” said BJ Richter. “That kind of involvement gives people a personal stake in the program. But as we look ahead to larger improvements and new amenities at the complex, we also rely on generous contributions from major partners like Riverview to help us move forward.”
    Kyla agreed and said the donation is already building momentum. “Riverview’s ongoing commitment helps us continue to make progress,” she said. “The more people see improvements at the field, the more they get excited and want to be involved. That kind of energy and buy-in from the community is a great thing.”
    For Riverview, supporting local programs like this one fits with the company’s values. Sonny explained that Riverview has a long-standing tradition of giving to groups in the communities where their employees live and work. That includes support for local 4-H programs, fire departments, and now, Britton’s youth ball program.
    “We try to be good neighbors,” said Sonny. “Our employees have family here, and they use these facilities too. Supporting these efforts benefits everyone.”
    With continued support from both individuals and community-minded businesses, the Britton Baseball and Softball program is poised to grow and thrive, creating a place that brings families together both on and off the field.