PIERRE — In support of our veterans, military personnel, and their families, the South Dakota State Fair offers numerous events throughout the week honoring our heroes.

The fair will host a “Salute to Veterans” program on the Northwestern Energy Freedom Stage at 10:30 a.m.  Aug. 29. Col. Stacy Kooistra will serve as the keynote speaker. Gov. Kristi Noem and Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden plan to attend the “Salute to Veterans” program. All veterans and military personnel will receive free gate admission on that day.

Kooistra has over 26 years of military service within the active-duty U.S. Army, South Dakota Army National Guard, and South Dakota Air National Guard. Kooistra enlisted in the Army in 1996 and served a tour in Baumholder, Germany, after which he was commissioned as a military intelligence officer at Fort Benning, Georgia, and served with the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division. Upon leaving active duty and entering law school, Kooistra served with the 147th Field Artillery Regiment, South Dakota Army National Guard and, since 2007, has served as a judge advocate general officer with the 114th Fighter Wing and Headquarters, South Dakota Air National Guard. Stacy is currently the state staff judge advocate for Air Guard.

In his civilian capacity, Stacy serves as the chief operating officer and general counsel for the Dakota State University Applied Research Corp., South Dakota’s public/private partnership focused on bringing the cyber industry to our state.

Staff from the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs will be at the fair all week. Look for them in the Expo Building at booth #5A. The SDDVA team will be manning the booth from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 28 through Sept. 1 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 2. Staff will be able to update veterans on state and federal benefits, programs and services.

Visit www.sdstatefair.com for more information on the State Fair.