Category Archives: News

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South Dakota Community Foundation Announces Round 2, 2021 Community Innovation Grant Recipients

 Round 2 of the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) 2021 Community Innovation Grant (CIG) program has been completed. Eleven South Dakota nonprofits will receive grant awards. Offered in partnership with the Bush Foundation, the Community Innovation Grant program supports efforts to find breakthrough solutions to community challenges across the state.
“The South Dakota Community Foundation received forty-eight applications in Round 2 and selected these eleven nonprofits to implement inclusive, collaborative and resourceful solutions that will benefit all our state’s citizens,” stated Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer. “Round 2 resulted in $197,998 being distributed among the selected grantees. We are grateful to the Bush Foundation for their past and continued investment in our state.”
The review committee chose to support the following projects financially:
STATEWIDE
Black Hills Playhouse (Statewide) $20,000
Black Hills Playhouse partnered with Rosebud Elementary to create online curriculum based on the Oceti Sakowin Core Concepts-Essential Understandings and Standards (OSEU) for use in the spring of 2021. The result was the development of the Oceti Sakowin & Dakota Players Theatre Experience which involved creating and filming four Theatre Lesson Plans. An expansion of this project will include combining video, online and in-person learning with artists. Artists will go to Rosebud to work with schools in combination with teacher training for students in 3rd through 5th grades. A non-native community will be identified to replicate this training in. State and tribal leaders will be made aware of curriculum and input gathered.
Call to Freedom (Statewide): $20,000
Call to Freedom has spearheaded the development of the East River Human Trafficking Task Force (ERHTTF) since 2017. Their mission is to facilitate a collaborative effort to prevent trafficking of persons within the state and tribal nations, prosecution, education, awareness, and protection and provision of services to survivors. ERHTTF covers 44 counties in Eastern South Dakota. They are in Phase 2 of their strategic plan. Over 60 stakeholders are working collaboratively to reach all areas of South Dakota.
Native Governance Center (Statewide): $20,000
Native Governance Center, a Native-led nonprofit, founded in 2015 supports Native nations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota in revitalizing their governance systems. They will provide customized, current, accurate, and culturally resonant governance training for partnering Native Nations. This project is rooted in the five principles of “Native nation rebuilding” as derived from research by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.
South Dakota Afterschool Network (Statewide): $20,000
The South Dakota Afterschool Network promotes afterschool programs, advocates public policy on behalf of afterschool programs, and encourages high quality in afterschool programs across South Dakota. Funds will help this nonprofit create a new partnership with Helpline Center’s 211 program to ensure the OST (out-of-school time) mapping database is accurate and inform parents and families of programs. They will also strategize with policymakers to invest COVID relief funds in high needs areas.
South Dakota Voices for Peace (Statewide): $19,810
This project will raise educator awareness and understanding of their impact on South Dakota’s growing demographic of youth of color (YOC). Educators will learn and explore ways to address biases, bigotry, policies, and systems that may not be supportive of youth of color. Five to seven South Dakota school districts will be identified for educator participation. In partnership with the South Dakota Education Association, they hope to increase districts and students impacted across the state.
EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
Conscious Youth Solutions (Sioux Falls): $8,438
The mission of Conscious Youth Solutions is to bridge the gap between employers and young adults entering the workforce. Funds will support immigrant/foreign professionals rebuilding their careers in the U.S. and help employers understand and tap into this hidden talent pool. They will help foreign/immigrant professionals translate their past educational degrees and experience into obtaining jobs that best match their qualifications.
Huron Housing Authority (Huron): $10,000
Huron Rising- Reimagine our Future identified a housing shortage in Huron through a housing study. The demand for housing is outpacing construction making housing rehab a necessity for future economic development. Low-income and very low-income minorities, immigrants, refugees, elderly or disabled often don’t have the funds needed to repair homes resulting in the number of dilapidated houses continuing to grow. They will focus on rehab activities for existing housing stock and the needs of the community.
CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Discovery Center (Pierre): $20,000
The South Dakota Discovery Center’s Workforce Development project addresses barriers that rural and tribal students face accessing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and Mathematics) education. This project will provide 6th through 12th graders with access to diverse, authentic career exploration experiences.
WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
Ecotone Foundation, Inc. (Spearfish): $19,750
Ecotone Foundation was founded in 2016 and is organized to develop and provide education, research, and community programs around local food, specialty crops and natural building. They will hold community meetings throughout the next 18 months and start a conversation with farmers, ranchers, and like-minded supporters around the topic of Agritourism to better offer local food, local stay and local experiences to tourists visiting the region.
West Dakota Regional Water (western South Dakota): $20,000
Before the most recent renewal of their Future Use Water Permit from the Missouri River, the West Dakota Water Development District commissioned the South Dakota School of Mines to study the need for additional water supply in western Pennington County. The conclusion of the study was “a strong need for new sources of water within the study area exists. Local entities with a stake in water security should pool their resources to ensure that they are proactive in securing future sources of water”. Preliminary work is already underway, and this grant will lend support to those efforts.
Youth & Family Services, Inc. (Rapid City): $20,000
In a concerted effort to reach under-performing adolescents in school, members of the Rapid City Alliance for Early Adolescence representing out-of-school time service providers and Rapid City Area Schools began investigating social emotional learning and aligning curriculum between the schools and out-of-school time providers. This grant award will support broadening understanding of social emotional learning among all middle school youth service providers in Rapid City.
About our Donors
The SDCF distributed nearly $18 million in grants in 2020 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit   https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or give us a call at 1-800-888-1842.
About the Bush Foundation
The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them. Established in 1953 by 3M Executive Archibald Bush and his wife Edyth, the Foundation encourages individuals and organizations to think bigger and think differently about what is possible in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geographic area.
News, Story, Uncategorized

Single vehicle accident on Saturday afternoon.

One person died in a single vehicle accident Saturday afternoon approximately 4 miles east of Winner on Highway 18 at approximately 2:40pm.  Preliminary crash information indicates the vehicle hit a tree.  The accident caused a fire, which was handled by the Winner Volunteer Fire Department.  Also responding to the accident was the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Tripp County Sheriff and Tripp County Ambulance.

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South Dakota 4-H’ers Step Up to End Mental Health Stigma

Olivia Miller now notices when her peers are struggling emotionally and physically.

“Observing the people around me, I realized just how many signs of low mental health were being shown,” says the Rapid City Stevens High School freshman and eight-year South Dakota 4-H member based out of Pennington County. “Many signs are very obvious, and most people don’t know they are signs of poor mental health, so people just think it is teenagers acting like teenagers.”

Allison Fischer now knows how to better self-care for her own mental health. A former Codington County 4-H member and currently a freshman at Black Hills State University, Fischer says she has learned to think and look at situations more openly.

“Also, I have learned ways to calm myself when situations get stressful,” she says.

Hailie Stuck has now made it her mission to stop the stigma surrounding mental health. A 10-year member of the Prairie Lassies and Clippers 4-H Club in Spink County, she credits a 4-H trip to Washington, D.C. in 2019 for igniting her efforts.

“I met like-minded youth that also struggled at times with mental health, and I made friendships with 4-H’ers across the country that were not afraid to be authentic and proudly walk as themselves,” says Stuck, who is also bipolar and suffers from severe anxiety. “I learned about why there are so many stigmas about mental health disorders, and I learned how to do my part to stop those stigmas.”

Stuck, Fischer and Miller have certainly done their part in raising mental health awareness across the state over the last year, as each received a purple ribbon for their Mastery Showcase exhibits at the 2021 State Fair. New this year, the Mastery Showcase is a premiere exhibit experience for non-livestock-project-oriented 4-H youth. It highlights the ability of 4-H youth to meet South Dakota’s timely challenges and offers customized projects of significant merit.

According to South Dakota 4-H Program Director Tim Tanner, South Dakota 4-H has made significant strides in recent years to enhance ‘youth voice’ opportunities for older youth, with the 4-H Ambassadors and Legislature programs. The next statewide initiative is to strengthen ‘youth mastery’ opportunities so youth are challenged throughout the entirety of their 4-H careers.

“Who do teens learn from? Parents, 4-H supporters, teachers? Certainly. But as the subject matter grows more difficult or stigmatized, research tells us teens prefer to learn from their peers,” Tanner says. “Today, seven in 10 teens are struggling with their mental health. In their local communities, these young ladies are helping peers navigate this ever-present disease with simple messaging, such as get good sleep, be mindful each day and seek holistic, long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. It is a privilege to see these timely messages shared more broadly thanks to the State Fair’s 4-H Mastery Showcase.”

Miller says she decided to enter the new contest to challenge herself.

“I have been in 4-H for a long time, and I wanted to try something new and set an example for other kids who didn’t want to be the first,” she says. “I decided to do a project in mental health awareness because a lot of teenagers in my generation struggle with mental health, and I know several teens who struggle a lot with various mental health challenges.”

Her project focused on how sleep affects mental health and vice versa, and it involved many hours researching and observing people at her school and in the community.

“I learned a lot about how mental health is affected by sleep, but also how your mental health is affected by life in general,” Miller says. “My biggest challenge during this project was finding information that was completely accurate. So many people think they know everything there is to know about themselves, but most don’t realize how many things can affect their mental health, or how seriously. I really had to search for sources that agreed on everything so that I knew it was true.”

Fischer’s project was dedicated to mindfulness and the importance of being mindful in modern times. Nervous at first about the project because there are so many topics within mental health, Fischer says by the end, she realized no matter the specific subject matter, mental health is just as important as physical health.

“I learned a lot about myself and how to be mindful in my own life, as well as how to help others when they are struggling,” Fischer says. “Because of this project, I was able to help others learn about having an open mind to help with stress and anxiety.”

After Stuck returned from D.C., she immediately set out to do something for Mental Health Awareness month in May. She designed three t-shirts, which her mom helped make, and then sold them for $12. From the $5 profit from each order, Stuck then made shirts, journals and bags to donate to Avera St. Luke’s Mental Health Unit in Aberdeen. She also designed kudos cards and bags to give to counselors, pastors, school staff and therapists that work with mental health awareness.

“I was so happy to have distributed over 100 shirts and as many free bags, cups, journals and shirts as I could afford. Over time, people would tell me how they were wearing the shirt they bought from me, and someone came up to them to talk about mental health or thank them for bringing awareness to a tough topic,” Stuck says. “We had mothers of suicide losses, teenagers that needed someone to talk to, and many survivors that commented on the shirts. Over two years later, I still hear back from people once in a while about how the shirts made a difference to someone.”

After that, Stuck made mental health a theme in her 4-H ambassadorship. She attended the National 4-H Health and Wellness Summit and came back and wrote a grant request to start hosting Mental Health Break Days. While Stuck provided the venue, snacks, drinks, prizes, crafts and information about counseling, crisis plans and other mental health resources, she says it really is a day for people to “come and spend time just hanging out without stress or worry and enjoy a non-judgmental environment.”

All three 4-H’ers say they are glad they took the challenge and entered the Mastery Showcase competition to present on a very important topic.

“I would encourage people who already do public presentations in 4-H to enter the Master Showcase competition, and also youth who are interested in learning more and making a difference about a topic to enter,” Fischer says. “This competition opened my eyes to a new and more-challenging way to express myself.”

While Miller’s key takeaway — get plenty of sleep — from the project was short and sweet, she hopes it resonated with the South Dakotans that passed by her exhibit at the state fair.

“The title on my board said it all so that even if someone just passed by my board, they got the message – to do your best, get your rest!” Miller says. “In the immediate future I plan to present my project to youth in my community and in 4-H, and hopefully the word will spread outside of just who I present to. I hope to share it on social media at some point, too, so it gets out to more teens, specifically.”

Stuck says she is currently taking Integrative Behavioral Health Certificate classes through Western Dakota Tech because of 4-H.

“During the COVID shutdowns, I was a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield. I did school virtually during the worst times at the home so I could focus my time on the residents,” Stuck says. “Losing so many residents during November of 2020 proved too much for my own mental health. Because of my work with stopping the stigma, I knew that I needed to find another way to help people outside of a residential setting. I am now pursuing holistic wellness and behavioral health.”

Stuck credits leaders at the local and state 4-H level for helping her overcome her fears and supporting her through her own mental health challenges.

“I am successful and well-rounded due largely to the South Dakota 4-H program,” Stuck says. “I have helped build the companion animal project area, because I care so much about kids getting to show an animal, and also about all different kinds of animals being emotional support animals for mental health. I will continue to hold Mental Health Breaks at least twice every year, and I will continue to hand out information and items that will stop the stigma.”

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S.D. Community Foundation CEO Receives eMarketer of the Year Award

The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) is pleased to announce that Stephanie Judson, President and CEO, has been recognized for her leadership and charitable giving expertise.
Charles Schultz, President of Crescendo, recognized Stephanie during the 2021 Practical Planned Giving Awards Event on November 3: “Each year Crescendo honors a development officer who has excelled with outreach and encouragement for donors. Our congratulations to Stephanie Judson, President of the South Dakota Community Foundation, for receiving the coveted 2021 eMarketer of the Year Award. Stephanie is an excellent leader and has wonderful skills in serving both donors and the South Dakota community. Stephanie and her team have used Crescendo’s GiftLegacy tools and services since 2007 and they raised over $170 million in gifts in 2020.”
Judson was selected from over 1700 nonprofit leaders nationwide and recognized for philanthropic expertise in leading her statewide team of professionals.
Stephanie became President of the South Dakota Community Foundation in January 2013, after holding various positions with the Foundation since 1997. Currently, Stephanie oversees strategic vision, donor relations and grant program development. She also uses her skills as a Certified Financial Planner® and a Certified Gift Planning Associate to guide donors and nonprofits to the best planned giving option for them. Working directly with the Board of Directors, Stephanie executes the mission and vision of the SDCF. Stephanie enjoys connecting with people who want to leave this state better than they found it and who are committed to giving back to the places they’ve called home. Stephanie is thankful for the progress the Foundation has made since its inception in 1987 and is committed to deepening its positive impact on South Dakota. “I am deeply honored to be recognized for my work in the planned giving field and I am grateful for the support we have received from Crescendo over the years. It is an honor to work with families as they create business, retirement and estate plans that include gifts to charitable causes that are important to them.”
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SDSU Extension Honors Staff, Team Members for Excellence in Service

Several South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension professionals were recently recognized for their service, leadership and diversity in educational programming at the annual Fall Conference held Oct. 26-28 at the Swiftel Center in Brookings.

“It is our honor to highlight the accomplishments of our talented extension professionals,” says Karla Trautman, SDSU Extension Director. “This includes recognizing years of service, achieved rank and promotion, and the acknowledgement of impactful educational outreach that has positively impacted the lives of South Dakota citizens. These professionals are deeply committed to our land grant mission, and we congratulate them for their achievements.”

The following SDSU Extension staff members were recognized for these accomplishments:

Years of Service Awards

Five years of service with Extension:

  • Laurie Elmore, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • Kristi Cammack, Administrative Director of the West River Research and Extension Center in Rapid City
  • Sara Bauder, Agronomy Field Specialist
  • Katherine Jaeger, 4-H Youth Outdoor Education Field Specialist
  • Sean Kelly, Range Management Field Specialist
  • Hope Kleine, Health Education Field Specialist
  • Aimee Ladonski, Volunteer Development Field Specialist and State Master Gardener Coordinator
  • Michelle May, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • Gared Shaffer, Weeds Field Specialist
  • Patrick Wagner, Entomology Field Specialist
  • Phoebe Lemke, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • Patricia Hammond, Tribal Local Foods Program Assistant

Ten years of service with Extension:

  • Amanda Stade, 4-H Events Management Coordinator
  • Peggy Schlechter, Community Vitality Field Specialist
  • Jennifer Ringkob, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • John Madison, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • Laura Edwards, State Climatologist
  • Ron Frederick, 4-H Youth Program Advisor

Fifteen years of service with Extension:

  • Warren Rusche, Assistant Professor and Feedlot Specialist
  • Ken Olson, Professor and Beef Specialist

Twenty years of service with Extension:

  • Rhoda Burrows, Professor and Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Production Specialist
  • Robin Salverson, Cow/Calf Field Specialist
  • Heather Gessner, Livestock Business Management Field Specialist

Twenty-five years of service with Extension:

  • Diane Bechen, Nutrition Assistant
  • Paulette Morse, Senior Secretary

Ten years of service with the State of South Dakota:

  • John Green, Information Officer
  • Ron Frederick, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • John Madison, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • Becca Tullar, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • Jennifer Voigt, 4-H Youth Program Advisor

Fifteen years of service with the State of South Dakota:

  • Ken Olson, Professor and Beef Specialist
  • Lindsey Gerard, Educational Technology Coordinator

Twenty years of service with the State of South Dakota:

  • Stacy Hadrick, Extension Associate
  • Robin Salverson, Cow/Calf Field Specialist
  • Sonia Mack, 4-H Youth Program Advisor
  • Sharon Klein, Senior Secretary
  • Rhoda Burrows, Professor and Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Production Specialist
  • Heather Gessner, Livestock Business Management Field Specialist

Twenty-five years of service with the State of South Dakota:

  • Diane Bechen, Nutrition Assistant
  • Paulette Morse, Senior Secretary

Thirty years of service with the State of South Dakota:

  • Jack Davis, Crops Business Management Field Specialist

Professional, University and Extension Awards

Recent promotions:

  • Dr. Tong Wang, Advance Production Specialist, received tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor.
  • Sara Bauder, Agronomy Field Specialist, was promoted to Field Specialist 2.
  • Hope Kleine, Health Education Field Specialist, was promoted to Field Specialist 2.

Awards at the university level or by professional disciplinary association:

  • Dr. Emmanuel Byamukama, Assistant Professor and Plant Pathology Specialist, received the F.O. Butler Award for Excellence in Extension/Outreach – awarded at the SDSU Celebration of Faculty Excellence event in March 2021.
  • Dr. Bob Thaler, Professor and Swine Specialist, was named Distinguished Professor at the SDSU Celebration of Faculty Excellence event in March 2021.
  • Anthony Bly, Soils Field Specialist, received the Excellence in Extension Award from Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society of Agriculture this past year.
  • Sara Bauder, Agronomy Field Specialist received the Excellence in Extension and Outreach Award for this past year.

Named to attend the 2022 National Extension Leadership Development cohort, a one-year leadership learning experience hosted by the North Central Region, are:

  • Audrey Rider, Early Childhood Field Specialist
  • Heidi Carroll, Livestock Stewardship Field Specialist and Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator

SDSU Extension Awards:

  • Kari O’Neill, Community Vitality Program Manager, received the Award of Excellence for Diversity Outreach.
  • Shelly Cartney, Educational Technology Graphic Designer, received the Spirit of Extension Award.
  • Hope Kleine, Health Education Field Specialist, and Megan Erickson, Nutrition Field Specialist, received the Excellence in Teamwork Award.
  • The SDSU Extension Crop Hour team received the Excellence in Programming and Outreach Award. Team members are:
  • Sara Bauder, Agronomy Field Specialist
  • Anthony Bly, Soils Field Specialist
  • Adam Varenhorst, Assistant Professor and Field Crop Entomologist
  • Philip Rozeboom, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator
  • Connie Strunk, Plant Pathology Field Specialist
  • Emmanuel Byamukama, Assistant Professor and Plant Pathology Specialist
  • Amanda Bachmann, Pesticide Education and Urban Entomology Field Specialist
  • Jason Clark, Assistant Professor and Soil Fertility Specialist
  • Jack Davis, Crops Business Management Field Specialist
  • Matthew Diersen, Professor and Risk/Business Management Specialist
  • Laura Edwards, State Climatologist
  • Christopher Graham, Assistant Professor and Agronomist
  • Paul Johnson, Weed Science Coordinator
  • David Karki, Agronomy Field Specialist
  • Jonathan Kleinjan, Agronomist
  • David Kringen, Water Resources Field Specialist
  • Gared Shaffer, Weeds Field Specialist
  • Patrick Wagner, Entomology Field Specialist
  • John McMaine, Assistant Professor and Water Management Engineer
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News release: Student photo, essay contests announced for Soil Health Conference

The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition has announced student soil health photo and essay contests in conjunction with its annual conference. The contests are open to all students from middle school through post-secondary. The winners of the contests will be announced during the Soil Health Conference, Jan. 18-19, 2022, at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Aberdeen, SD.

“One of our goals is to help make soil health a priority for the next generation of farmers and ranchers,” SDSHC Coordinator Cindy Zenk said. “These contests are designed to help students engage with soil health concepts and hopefully spark a desire to learn more.”

In the post-secondary category, the first-place winner will receive $400 and a hoodie, and the second-place winner will receive $200 and a hoodie. In the high school and middle school categories, the first-place winners will each receive $200 and a hoodie, and the second-place winners will each receive $100 and a hoodie.

Contest entries must be submitted by December 31, 2021. Full details of the conference are available at www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/soil-health-conference/students/.

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South Dakota Joins Litigation against OSHA Vaccine Mandates

Following Governor Noem’s promise to “see [President Biden] in court,” the State of South Dakota joined a lawsuit against the OSHA COVID vaccine mandate issued by the Biden Administration. The lawsuit was filed in the 8th Circuit. Yesterday, Governor Noem posted a video explaining the move here.

“From the very beginning, I’ve told President Biden that I would defend the freedom of the people of South Dakota.” said Governor Kristi Noem. “The Constitution does not give the federal government the authority to take this type of action. The people have freedom and personal responsibility over their health. Here in South Dakota, that will be protected.”

Last month, the State of South Dakota joined a separate lawsuit against the Biden Administration’s federal contractor mandate.

This action follows Governor Noem’s executive order last week to protect South Dakota state employees from the Biden Administration’s illegal mandate for federal contractors. Governor Noem’s order guaranteed medical and religious exemptions for these employees, and Governor Noem also announced her intention to bring legislation to extend similar protections to private workers.

South Dakota is joined in the lawsuit by the states of Missouri, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Wyoming.