How Karll Lecher and Johnathan Peterson Are Shaping Hemp in South Dakota

What happens when a fifth-generation South Dakota farmer and a former Air Force operations leader come together to tackle one of agriculture’s most misunderstood crops? In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Johnathan Peterson (CEO) and Karll Lecher (COO) of Dakota Hemp to unpack the true potential of industrial hemp in South Dakota and beyond.

John shares how Dakota Hemp got its start in 2021, the early lessons they learned growing and harvesting hemp, and how the company is about to open a major fiber processing plant. Karll brings insight into how operations and efficiency are driving the business forward — and how military discipline plays a role in their approach.

They also break down the misconceptions around hemp, the plant’s impressive versatility (from clothing to animal bedding), and how small towns across South Dakota can benefit from hemp-based manufacturing.

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