Giving Back to Where It All Began

Alex Halbach is quite literally a Jack(rabbit) of all trades. A man forever on the move who readily admits to filling his sparse free time with endless projects, he’s completed more personal and professional milestones in his 30s than most people might see in a lifetime.

He’s also one of the youngest Jackrabbits on record to proactively establish an estate gift with SDSU, paving the way for future students who share his fondness for saying yes to all experiences – no matter where they might lead.

Alex came to South Dakota State University in 2003, after growing up on a farm in Lyle, Minnesota. His small-town beginnings instilled in him the value of joining any and all activities – largely because if he didn’t, class sizes were so small that the activity might not exist without him. After a well-rounded high school education, Alex took the same all-in mentality to SDSU, where he found a welcoming environment that allowed him to chase his passions across countless areas of campus.

While at State pursuing a political science major with a minor in economics, Alex joined the Pride of the Dakotas, was active in the Honors College, participated in the model U.N., played in the symphonic and concert bands, saw the world through both domestic and international travel opportunities, studied abroad in the United Kingdom, and even served as Student’s Association President during his senior year.

“I really just found my family in those areas,” said Alex. “Without those experiences, I don’t know if I’d be where I am today.”

Deeply inspired by his time in student government, Alex gained an unshakeable passion for leadership. While he initially chose a political science major in hopes it would lead him to a career in government, it instead led him to pursue law.

After earning his bachelor’s degree from SDSU, Alex enrolled at USD and earned his law degree and master’s in business administration. Following an internship with Cutler Law Firm, he joined the firm as an associate and steadily worked his way up to partner, a position he held until December 2022 before returning to his agricultural roots with Millborn Seeds as their Chief Legal Officer.

Alex’s interests are even more diverse outside of his career, revolving around his own property development company called Boulevard Companies, where he delves into residential and commercial ownership, management, and construction services focusing on historic properties. Alex is a historic preservation aficionado, serving on the Sioux Falls Board of Historic Preservation, designing and renovating his own century-old McKennan Park home from top to bottom.

Despite an undeniably packed schedule, Alex always makes time for SDSU. He credits the well-rounded and fulfilling experience of his Jackrabbit years as the foundation of his success. It was his unique adventures and invaluable learning opportunities at State that motivated him to keep the university in mind as he formulated his philanthropic plans.

While it’s not the most conventional for someone in their 30s to have his estate laid out at such a young age, Alex saw no reason to wait.

In addition to other estate gifts, Alex named the university as a beneficiary of his retirement accounts, effectively alleviating some tax burdens while supporting the areas at SDSU he’s most passionate about. While most donors might wait to plan for the future, Alex was much more intrigued by the ability to remain engaged in the process and see firsthand that his intent for the gift was being met, in addition to the chance to build relationships with the university along the way.

“I would always encourage people to start those conversations with the SDSU Foundation early, even if it doesn’t result in a gift,” says Alex. “It’s easy to lose touch with the university following graduation, but staying involved in the things that mattered to you is important. We need to ask ourselves, ‘Is there something I can provide? Is there a way I can be involved?’”

While he might fall outside of the typical age bracket of those who are discussing planned gifts with the SDSU Foundation, Alex hopes other young alumni realize their gifts can truly make a difference – and when it comes to giving back, there’s no time like the present. Though his gift will someday impact the organizations on campus that guided his career and led him to become a lifelong Jack of all trades, he’s eager to remain connected to all things SDSU until that time comes.