Ramsdells’ Generosity puts Jackrabbits Soccer on the Map

With their latest investment, the Scott ’75 and Lani Ramsdell family are ushering in a transformative next chapter for Jackrabbits Soccer and ensuring the team has the ultimate home field advantage with a new, state-of-the-art, on-campus facility. 

Named the SDSU Alumni & Foundation’s 2026 Philanthropic Family of the Year, the Ramsdells have a storied and generous history at South Dakota State.

The first generation of Ramsdells graduated from SDSU in the late 1800s, embarking on what would become a Jackrabbits family tradition that led Scott to State. Next in the Ramsdell line came Scott and Lani's son, Jason '09, who studied civil engineering while their daughter-in-law, Tracy  '10, majored in journalism. Today, Scott and Lani’s grandson currently represents the sixth generation of Ramsdells to pursue a higher education at the university. The family has also made philanthropy part of its legacy, giving to many local causes like the Flandreau Indian School, the Boys & Girls Club and several athletics initiatives at State. The Ramsdells’ generosity is fueled by their business, Dakota Layers.

Based in Flandreau, the family-owned-and-operated enterprise found its start as a cooperative of about 100 investors in 2000. It was purchased by the Ramsdell family in 2015. Since then, the family has sponsored the Dakota Layers Deck in First Bank & Trust Arena and even has an ongoing agreement to donate a dozen eggs to Feeding South Dakota for every free throw scored at home men’s and women’s basketball games.

With a track record like that, the Ramsdells were a clear choice to honor as the 2026 Philanthropic Family of the Year.

“When I became president in 2016, there was a comprehensive facility master plan for athletics,” said President Barry H. Dunn '75/M.S. '77/Ph.D. '00. “An on-campus soccer facility was one of the last pieces of that plan, and the Ramsdell family stepped forward with the lead gift.”

In 2025, the Ramsdells made university history by committing to the largest investment on record for a women’s-only athletics initiative, paving the way for a new soccer facility.

Though it’s one of SDSU’s newer sports, the soccer program has more than demonstrated its readiness for a new level of playing field. Since the team was officially formed in 2000, Jackrabbits Soccer has taken the competition by storm. The team’s growth and commitment to excellence has led to nine NCAA tournaments, 16 championships, 98 All-Summit League honorees including 58 first team selections, 23 Summit League Yearly Award Honors, and 18 NSCAA/USC All-Region selections, with one NSCAA All-American.

The new home for the soccer program will move the main competition facility from Fishback Soccer Park to a more centralized, on-campus location. The stadium will be situated east of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium on the corner of Jackrabbit Avenue and North Campus Drive, marking an official milestone of putting Jackrabbits Soccer on the campus map. 

“We are deeply grateful for this gift,” SDSU Director of Athletics Justin Sell said. "It solves a crucial need for our soccer program and matches the standard for all Jackrabbits sports facilities. The future remains bright for Jackrabbits Athletics." 

Scott echoed Sell’s bright expectations for the future, anticipating that the new facility’s prime location and elite infrastructure will offer a significant boost in both recruitment efforts and the yellow and blue fan experience. In addition to the ideal campus location, the stadium will feature natural field turf, a scoreboard, a permanent grandstand and press box, and covered benches for student-athletes.

“This is going to be a facility that will be as good as anything in the country,” Scott said. “I think that every person at SDSU should be proud of that.”

Written by SDSU Alumni & Foundation