Talent draft days are building Sioux Falls’ future workforce—One student at a time

Sioux Falls is growing fast, and so is the demand for talent. That’s why, from October 27 through December 10, 2025, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation (SFDF) will host five Talent Draft Days at local Sioux Falls and Brandon high schools. In just a few weeks, nearly 4,000 juniors and seniors met face-to-face with local employers—opening doors to career pathways, internships, apprenticeships, and future employment right here at home.

Talent Draft Day is more than a career fair. It’s a high-energy, intentionally designed experience that combines best-practice learning with meaningful connections to employers and colleges. “Our goal is simple: help juniors and seniors gain practical skills, build confidence, and explore real career and educational options as they plan for life after graduation. Students don’t just walk past booths—they engage, ask questions, practice professional communication, and start imagining themselves in roles they may never have considered,” said Denise Guzzetta, Vice President of Talent and Workforce for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

For employers, the value is just as clear. Talent Draft Days provide early access to the young talent Sioux Falls will need both near- and long-term. Whether you’re hiring for internships this summer, building an apprenticeship pipeline, or thinking ahead to the next five years of growth, these events create a structured way to meet motivated students before they leave the region or settle on a path elsewhere. It’s a chance to raise awareness of your industry, highlight in-demand roles, and show students that meaningful careers exist locally—often with training and advancement built in.

The national evidence backs this up. Employer-connected high school models are linked to roughly 11% higher earnings for students years after graduation and to improved attendance and completion. In other words, when students make real connections to work and employers while still in school, they do better in school and beyond. At the same time, 86% of businesses say work-based learning in high school strengthens their talent pipeline, even though the number of opportunities still lags far behind student demand. Talent Draft Day helps close that gap—efficiently and at scale.

Most importantly, Talent Draft Days are already creating momentum in our own backyard. Each event sparked new conversations between schools and industry, uncovered student interests employers didn’t know existed, and reminded young people that Sioux Falls is a place where they can build a future.

“Thank you to every employer, team member, and teacher who showed up, shared your story, and invested in our students. You are helping shape the workforce that will shape Sioux Falls. If you missed this year’s Draft Days, we’d love to have you join the next round. Let’s keep drafting our future—together,” said Guzzetta.