All posts by Leslie Schramm

News, Story

Nature Creations Craft and Activity Event December 4th – December 6th

Niobrara National Scenic River invites guests to the Nature Creations Virtual Craft and Activity Event, being held Friday, December 4, 2020 through Sunday, December 6, 2020 on the Niobrara National Scenic River Facebook page.  Nature Creations brings the unique qualities of the Niobrara National Scenic River into your own living room.   These free virtually lead activities bring winter on the Niobrara River to life with simple, easy-to-do activities using household materials in new interactive ways.

Every day, a video of a ranger leading the activities with easy to follow instructions and more information to dig deeper into the daily theme will be released. These programs will be LIVE premiers on our Facebook Page starting at 4:00 PM CST, December 4-6, 2020. Our Facebook page can be located by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/NiobraraNSR/.

Packets of activity instructions and templates for craft and activity pieces can be picked up at the Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center 8:30AM-4:30PM, Monday through Friday, leading up to and following the event, or found on our website at: https://www.nps.gov/niob/index.htm

Daily Videos and Activities Include:

Friday, December 4, Nature Creations LIVE: Discovering Snow  

Discover what to do on the Niobrara National Scenic River when floating season has been covered by snow! Get outside with a simple way to take every snowman and creature to the next level with snow painting, and when you get hungry, try out our recipe for snow ice cream so you don’t ever have to run to the store for a cold winter snack!

Saturday, December 5, Nature Creations LIVE: Exploring Wildlife 

Explore the wonders of wildlife of the Niobrara National Scenic River by making an eagle’s nest in your own living room by modeling your blanket and pillow nest after the home of our National Bird. Then swoop into making a snowy-owl craft using your hands as a template for their wings!

Sunday, December 6, Nature Creations LIVE: Digging Paleontology Dig into what makes the Niobrara River so rich in fossils and paleontology with a table-top fossil dig you can do at the kitchen table! Uncover fossils of animals related to the mammals you see every day then slip your feet into our dinosaur feet craft so you can run with the Dinos all afternoon!

Remember, Niobrara National Scenic River has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2021, including more Nature Creations for January and February. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (NiobraraNSR), Instagram (NiobraraNSRNPS) and Facebook (Niobrara National Scenic River).

Sports

Gregory sports news for the week

Here are a few sports notes for the week, regarding the Gregory School District. If anyone is interested in cheering for wrestling or basketball, you are asked to see Mrs. Braun by Wednesday. Girls Middle School Basketball will play Thursday in Presho against Lyman starting at 4pm. Gregory’s Middle School Wrestling team will take on Chamberlain Thursday at 5pm at Chamberlain High School.

News, Story

Governor Noem Announces Robling as Interim Secretary of Game, Fish and Parks

Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced that Kevin Robling will serve as Interim Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

“I am excited to announce that Kevin will serve the state in this capacity,” said Governor Noem. “Kevin has a great understanding of our natural resource and conservation priorities, and I look forward to working together to protect and promote all the outdoor opportunities that South Dakota has to offer.”

Robling will begin serving following the retirement of current Secretary of Game, Fish and Parks Kelly Hepler on Dec. 15, 2020.

“Kelly is an accomplished leader and has been a fierce advocate in the fish and wildlife resource management field for over 40 years,” said Governor Noem. “He has been a dedicated public servant to the State of South Dakota since 2015, navigating countless challenges to protect our state’s natural resources. As he retires, I know he will enjoy even more time in our great outdoors, hunting with his dog, Marty. I wish him all the best in his next chapter.”

Robling received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries science from South Dakota State University and began his career with the department in 2011 when was hired on as a resource biologist in Sioux Falls and was promoted to a big game biologist in 2012 out of Rapid City. In 2017, he transitioned into a leadership role under Secretary Hepler working with the GFP Commission and the state Legislature to enhance recreational opportunities and simplify regulations that have significantly reduced barriers to outdoor participation.

“I am honored to serve as the department interim secretary for Governor Noem and the great people that enjoy the incredible outdoor resources we have here in South Dakota,” said Deputy Secretary Kevin Robling. “I want to personally thank Secretary Hepler for his leadership and dedication over the last five years and I look forward, under Governor Noem’s direction, to ensure that South Dakota’s strong outdoor heritage continues to remain a top priority for current and future generations.”

Robling and his wife, Holly, have three young children and reside east of Pierre.

News, Story

SDSU Extension Beef SD Team Awarded $600,000 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grant

The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced grant investments of more than $53 million across three unique programs for U.S. farmers, ranchers and military veterans to support American agriculture.
“Agriculture offers promising career opportunities, particularly in farming and ranching,” said Parag Chitnis, acting NIFA director. “Federal investments in programs that help new farmers get into the business, support military veterans who are considering farming and ranching as a new career, and address serious stress-related mental health issues among farmers, are critical to ensuring our next generation of food producers are able to successfully meet the challenges facing agriculture.”
While there are many excellent opportunities in agriculture, beginning farmers and ranchers have unique needs for education, training and technical assistance. For producers in their first 10 years of operation, access to capital, land, knowledge and information to help improve their operations’ profitability and sustainability is vital. USDA-NIFA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) awarded more than $16.7 million in 48 projects to deliver the support new farmers and ranchers need.
Among those awarded a BFRDP grant is the SDSU Extension beefSD team. Members of the team include SDSU Extension Beef Specialist Ken Olson, SDSU Extension Range Specialist Krista Ehlert, SDSU Extension Meat Science Specialist Amanda Blair, SDSU Extension Associate Stacy Hadrick, and SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialists Adele Harty, Robin Salverson, Olivia Amundson and Kiernan Brandt. Other personnel involved in the grant are SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialists Peggy Schlechter, Kari O’Neill and Joshua Hofer. Grant partners include the World Wildlife Fund and the South Dakota Department of Tourism.
The overall goal of the project is to provide beginning producers in South Dakota with information, tools and networks they need to adjust traditional production methods to accommodate new enterprises. The SDSU Extension beefSD team will provide education, mentoring and technical assistance through partnerships with several community-based organizations called Hubs of AgriTourism or HATs. Through these efforts, the program will teach livestock and natural resource management and planning, diversification and marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship and business skills.
“The BFRDP grant allows us to continue the Extension programming we have in place for beginning producers, the two-year beefSD program,” said Ehlert. “This funding provides our producer participants with opportunities to engage with well-established producers who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share, as well as learn from industry experts through in-person workshops and webinars and experience the magnitude and different facets of the entire beef industry through case studies and out-of-state learning experiences. None of those would be possible were it not for receiving funding this year from BFRDP.”
News, Story

City Meetings Tomorrow

The Cities of Winner, Chamberlain, and Burke will all have the meetings on Monday.

The Gregory City Council will meet on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Gregory Fire Hall.

The Chamberlain City Commission will meet Monday, November 16th at 6:00 p.m. at the Chamberlain City Offices at 715 N. Main St.

The City of Winner will meet on Monday, November 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers in City Hall.

 

 

News, Story

Lyman County Youth Wins Breeding Heifer

During the 2020 Western Junior Livestock Show, Keeleigh Elwood became the recipient of a show heifer through South Dakota Farmers Union’s Build Your Own Herd contest.
“Raising and showing livestock through 4-H, develops youth who are responsible and are comfortable leading. Through this contest, Farmers Union is able to support tomorrow’s agriculture leaders,” says Doug Sombke, President of S.D. Farmers Union.
A panel of judges selected Elwood from a pool of candidates based on her application essay. Elwood is a member of the Lyman Longhorns 4-H Club. She was motivated to fill out the application because she was hoping for the opportunity to begin building a show herd.
“I am in love with showing,” says the 15-year-old Chamberlain high school sophomore. “I am a competitive person, so I love the competitive side of showing, all the people I get to meet and all the friends and memories I’ve made.”
For as long as she can remember, Elwood has been involved with her family’s Reliance Ranch. And when she turned 5, her grandparents, David and Brenda Reis helped her start her own herd.
“At age 5, they take us out into the herd and let us pick a heifer calf. It is our College Calf. As it grows up and becomes a cow, whatever money comes from its calves goes into a college fund they set up for us,” Elwood explains.
Like ranching, 4-H is also a family tradition explains Elwood. “My mom, showed in 4-H when she was younger and 4-H was something she continued with us.”
Over the last seven years, Elwood says in addition to 4-H being a fun activity, she’s gained life skills from showing livestock in 4-H. “I learned that what you put into life is what you get out of it. If I put a lot of time and effort into animals and work with them every day, I will get better results in the showring than if I only work with them once in a while.”
Elwood named her Maine-Chianina heifer, Babs. Babs was purchased by Farmers Union from the Beare family of Ree Height. Shortly after receiving Babs, Elwood competed with her at the Springs Showdown in Wessington Springs. Elwood and Babs received fourth place in her breed class.