Donor Profile: Casey Peterson—rooted in South Dakota, reaching across the galaxy
This article launches a series celebrating the people whose contributions to the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) Foundation are advancing the future of America’s Underground Lab.
For Casey Peterson, supporting the SURF Foundation is more than a philanthropic choice; it’s a continuation of a family legacy rooted in education, resilience, and service to humanity.
Casey’s journey with SURF began in 2004, when Governor Mike Rounds asked him to serve on the newly formed South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. At the time, the idea of turning a former gold mine into a world-class research facility was bold and uncertain. But to Casey, it held extraordinary promise: “It was an opportunity not just for South Dakota, but for people all over the world. My parents taught me to think BIG. This project is the result of BIG thinking!”
A Legacy of Education
Casey’s passion for SURF is deeply personal. His ancestors were pioneers of the Dakota Territory, Irish immigrants, and Native American descendants. Education was always held sacred in his family. Despite hardships of establishing a ranch in the Badlands, his great-grandparents insisted their children pursue advanced schooling, from music to dentistry to business.
“My Mother and Father were the first to go to college,” Casey shared. “They were teachers and coaches, and their influence still echoes through the lives of their students. That value of education to elevate humanity runs through our family.”
It’s that value that drives his support for the SURF Foundation today. “This place gives people world-class opportunities. And it’s not just for scientists. We need machinists, students, teachers, engineers, electricians, really people from all walks of life. SURF gives them all a place to belong and grow. To take the leap into leading edge scientific research.”
“Did we leave the world a better place? That’s the question we should all be asking.”
The Institute for Underground Science and Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ
When asked which projects are closest to his heart, Casey pointed to two: The Institute’s vision for learning and public engagement, and Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ, the sacred circle that honors the Indigenous people’s history and connection to the Black Hills.
“The Institute will bring together teachers, scientists, and students in ways that reverberates across generations,” he said. “And the Sacred Circle reminds us that all things in the universe are connected. That’s what science is ultimately seeking to understand, that interconnectedness.”
Casey sees both spaces as symbolic of SURF’s mission: “The sacred circle is already in place at the top of the hill, and the Institute facility will someday join it, both literally and figuratively. Together, they represent what’s possible when we honor the past, invest in the future, and start building that future now.”
South Dakota Values on a Global Stage
Casey believes deeply in South Dakota’s role in global science. “South Dakotans are practical, intelligent, and instinctively aware of the complexity of nature because their lifestyle is embedded in it. People visit SURF and are blown away, not just by the science, but by how it’s run. We’re on time, on budget, and full of heart.”
He points to fellow South Dakotans like Ernest Lawrence of Canton SD, Nobel Prize-winning scientist who was the first director of the Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory, and NASA astronaut Charles Gemar of Yankton as proof that big dreams can come from small towns. “When someone from Eagle Butte or Viborg gets a chance to participate as an intern at SURF, who knows what they’ll become? That’s the power of this place.”
Building for Generations
For Casey and his family, this work is about legacy. “I pray I live long enough to see the Institute facility being built,” he said. “But even if I don’t, I know it will make a difference for decades, maybe even centuries. Our grandkids will learn from discoveries we haven’t even made yet.”
And he invites others to join: “If you’re considering where to give to the future improvement of humanity, come visit SURF. See the magic for yourself. This is a place where your time, talent, and treasure can ripple across the world.”
Learn more about the SURF Foundation and how you can play a meaningful role in shaping the future of science, education, and discovery at SURF. https://sanfordlab.org/foundation