Country Fun Day is a special day for the kids at Sioux Falls CHS. It is a time to be outdoors, feed animals, touch the seeds, eat awesome food, feel the joy of a farm and experience a large family.

The kids at CHS have had this privilege for over a decade because of the generosity of Ralph and Sylvia Grode and their family of 11 children and their spouses.

The Grode family gathers yearly for a reunion at the John and Connie Grode farm on 6 Mile Road east of Sioux Falls. And every year, Country Fun Day follows the reunion, with many family members staying to help host the event. Working together, they provide a delightful and meaningful opportunity for our students.

The event typically includes petting and feeding animals, hayrides, inflatables, swings and other farm events. The Grode family also plans, cooks, and organizes a delicious lunch. The younger students attend in the morning and the older students in the afternoon. Ralph and Sylvia always manned the “seed tent” where they displayed many different kinds of grains—from wheat, sunflowers and sorghum to corn, barley and soybeans.

Sadly, Ralph Grode away passed away on May 3, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He was 94. His wife, Sylvia, preceded him in death in 2016. Ralph’s obituary can be viewed here.

According to Volunteer Coordinator, Mari DeBerg and others who knew him, Ralph had a warm, “grandpa charm.” His compassion for our children came through small, quiet conversations. When he saw a child wander over to an animal or to the seed table, he would casually stroll over. A quiet talk would ensue between Ralph and the kids, in which questions were answered and farm wisdom was shared. The child walked away feeling special and pretty darn smart!

After a year of COVID, children and staff are looking forward to Country Fun Day, scheduled for Monday, June 28, more than ever. We will miss Ralph tremendously.