Winner Regional Hospital will take place on Labor Day, Monday September 6th.  Sign in and registration will be at 7:15 a.m. at the Winner Regional south parking lot.  The run/walk will start at 8:00 a.m.  The cost is $15 pre-registration and $20 on race day. For more information on can call 842-7304.

Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, located outside of Valentine, NE, is now accepting applications for the muzzleloader deer hunting season. The special refuge muzzleloader season occurs during the state November firearm deer hunting season and the December deer muzzleloader season. Muzzleloader deer hunting on the refuge is allowed by special use permit only.

The refuge hunt area, which is more than 5,000 acres, includes most of the 4,635-acre Wilderness Area. Deer hunting within the Wilderness Area offers hunters a unique and challenging experience. Habitats within the hunt area includes grasslands, pine canyons and wooded riparian areas. Deer hunters and other refuge visitors are reminded that the Fort Niobrara bison herd occupies the Wilderness Area during the muzzleloader deer season.

Applications for the Muzzleloader season will be accepted until September 15. There is no fee for the special permit. Successful applicants must possess a Nebraska deer permit that is valid for muzzleloader weapons in the Kaya Paha Unit. Additional information and applications can be obtained at the following website:

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Fort_Niobrara/visit/plan_your_visit/refuge_hunting.html

As South Dakota continues to see warmer than average temperatures and limited rainfall, many producers across the state are planning to harvest failed grain crops as much-needed forage for livestock. While drought-stressed crops can still be used as forage, there are many factors to consider before harvesting, specifically soil health and feed safety, says Sara Bauder, South Dakota State University Extension agronomy field specialist.

“Drought is a widespread issue this year, and producers have many factors to consider, such as accumulated nitrates, potential mycotoxins, moisture content and nutrient analysis,” Bauder says.

To help producers navigate through these issues, SDSU Extension and the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition have recently released the new Salvaging Drought Stressed Crops video series. Each short video segment is moderated by Bauder and includes producers, agronomists, soil health specialists and livestock nutrition experts. The series will cover the following topics:

·         Protecting the soil.

·         Nitrate considerations and testing.

·         Keeping the bottom line in mind.

·         Silage, earlage and high-moisture corn.

·         Using soybeans as forage.

·         Water quality and testing.

·         Grazing corn.

“This series is designed to offer ideas and advice from Extension staff and producers based on knowledge and experience alike,” Bauder says. “Every farm and ranch faces its own unique challenges, and this information is intended to be applied as producers see fit to their own personal situations.”

The video series can be at extension.sdstate.edu/agriculture. The video link will take viewers to a playlist on the SDSU Extension YouTube channel which includes the entire series.

For more information or questions, please contact Bauder at Sara.Bauder@sdstate.edu or 605-995-7378.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) faculty, staff and Extension specialists invite the public to the Local Foods Education Center on Monday, Sept. 13 for an evening of home and market garden tours, demonstrations and educational booths. The Home and Market Garden Field Day will be held from to 5 to 7 p.m. CDT at the center, located at 1600 Medary Ave. in Brookings.

“Demonstrations will be spread out throughout the Local Foods Education Center, allowing participants to freely go from one station to another,” says Kristine Lang, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist. “Attendees should come prepared to learn about crop production, including tomatoes, pumpkins and grapes, and take in demonstrations on insects, food safety and native plants.”

Experts from McCrory Gardens, the SDSU Extension Farm to School Program, the SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic and the SDSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program will be on hand to answer questions and share resources with attendees.

There is no need to pre-register for this event, which will be held primarily outdoors, rain or shine.

For more information on the event, visit the SDSU Extension Events page (extension.sdstate.edu/events).

The Winner High School Student Council is looking for nominations for the 2021 Parade Marshall for this year’s homecoming parade. Please send your nominations to Haley Barfuss with a detailed description of why you nominate this person. You can email them to Haley.Barfuss@K12.sd.us or send them to 431 East 7th St., Winner SD 57580. The deadline for the nominations is Wednesday, September 15th.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension has unveiled a new ranching program for females — South Dakota Women on the Range (SDWR) — and will host a kickoff event Sept. 9 near Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. MT at the St. Onge Hall (198 First St., St. Onge, South Dakota).

The workshop will transition to field activities in the morning in a pasture near St. Onge, while the afternoon session will focus on classroom-based livestock production topics at The Branding Iron in Belle Fourche.

“We will start the day looking at rangeland and grazing management techniques. With the current drought conditions, healthy and productive rangeland is more imperative than ever,” says Jessalyn Bachler, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist. “In the pasture, we will look at the importance of plant species diversity, especially as it relates to drought. Forage production, grazing utilization and sampling procedures will also be covered during the field portion of the workshop.”

According to Bachler, the target audience for this program are women that are main figures in ranching operations or leaders in the industry who are wanting to learn more about rangelands, conservation, grazing and overall livestock production. SDSU Extension also hopes to reach females new to the ranching community and help them make connections in the industry.

“The mission of South Dakota Women on the Range is to educate women across South Dakota about the importance of range management, while empowering them to become leaders and advocates in the agriculture industry,” says Krista Ehlert, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Range Specialist. “We want to create a community of like-minded women, who want to learn from and support other women.”

Registration for the SDWR kickoff workshop is $50, which includes meals. Registration and the workshop schedule will be available Monday, Aug. 23 on the SDSU Extension Events page (extension.sdstate.edu/events). Contact Bachler at 605-374-4177 or Jessalyn.Bachler@sdstate.edu with questions. Same day registrations will be accepted.

Following the District Court ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Noem, Governor Kristi Noem announced that the State of South Dakota will appeal the ruling to the United States 8^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

“All life is precious. Mothers should have the opportunity to hear all relevant information before they are faced with the ‘choice’ of whether to end their unborn child’s life,” said Governor Kristi Noem.

“I look forward to the day when all life – born and unborn – is protected by law. Given that the US Supreme Court will soon decide on the constitutionality of prohibiting abortion before ‘viability,’ we are asking the 8^th Circuit to recognize that the people’s legislators should have the ability to pass pro-life laws.”

The District Court had previously enjoined the provision in South Dakota state law requiring that a pregnant woman consult with a pregnancy help center, ensuring that she had all facts available, before deciding whether to abort her unborn child.

Today’s decision by the District Court refused to dissolve the injunction, so the law passed by the people’s representatives is suspended until a final court decision is rendered. In doing so, the Court rejected the will of the people when it comes to protecting unborn life.

The State of South Dakota will appeal to ensure that women considering an abortion have all of the facts regarding their unborn child and the potential risks of an abortion procedure.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension invites beginning meat processors and backyard butchers to learn new skills associated with the harvest, fabrication and processing of pigs. The Pork Processing Short Course will be held Sept. 15 – 17 at the SDSU Meat Laboratory in Brookings, South Dakota.

“This two-and-a-half-day program will provide participants with hands-on opportunities to learn how to humanely harvest pigs, cut carcasses for wholesale and retail and how to process bacon and brats,” says Christina Bakker, SDSU Extension Meat Science Field Specialist. “We will also cover food safety, processing ingredients and other exciting meat science topics.”

The Pork Processing Short Course will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT on Sept. 15 and 16 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 17. The SDSU Meat Laboratory is located at the west end of the Animal Science Complex (1097 N. Campus Drive) on the SDSU campus.

The cost of the program is $800 and includes three lunches, as well as daily snacks. Participants will also take home the meat they process from half a hog, so bringing a large cooler is recommended.

Registration is limited and will close Sept. 3. For more information, visit the SDSU Extension Events page (extension.sdstate.edu/events) or contact Bakker at Christina.Bakker@sdstate.edu.

Efforts are on the way to ensure the inclusion of Native American communities in South Dakota tourism through the launch of the Native American Tourism Development and Management Plan, 2020-2025, South Dakota, which is one of the first initiatives of its kind under the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act. Under the new plan, the first alliance of its kind in the United States brings together nine federally recognized tribal nations in South Dakota to form the South Dakota Native Tourism (SDNTA) a network of more than 60 organizations, and local, state, and federal partners, working together to develop Native American tourism as a catalyst for economic growth.

This tourism development initiative has been steered by the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies in partnership with its South Dakota and federal agency partners including the Office of Indian Economic Development, U.S. Department of the Interior, and will be unveiled at a launch event at the Journey Museum in Rapid City, South Dakota, on August 26, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. MT.

Tribal Nations in South Dakota are stewards of a diverse array of natural and cultural resources that offer untapped possibilities for tourism. However, these communities remain hidden gems despite the many recreational opportunities available—outdoor activities including hunting and fishing, rich cultural and sporting events such as wacipis, rodeos and fairs, and gaming opportunities.

“A focus on native tourism is a priority for the South Dakota Department of Tourism. SDNTA is committed to being a resource and laying the groundwork for development and promotion of tourism on tribal lands. We look forward to our work with the SDNTA to create more tourism opportunities for our tribes and we are proud to be a partner in this alliance,” said James Hagen, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism.

“The SDNTA is now working to implement priority initiative projects with support from Tribal Nation leaders, the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies, the South Dakota Department of Tourism, and industry partners. Through this alliance, we hope to boost Oceti Sakowin’s (Seven Council Fires) Oyate economic development through responsible tourism that promotes and maintains Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota values,” said Secretary David Flute, South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations.

“The vision for Native American tourism in South Dakota is to provide long-lasting economic sustainability and empower communities to define the scope of tourism activities on tribal lands and tell their stories,” said Seleni Matus, Executive Director at the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies.  “With the right support and effort, tourism can become a force for good, providing jobs and economic vitality, as well as providing opportunities to protect and preserve natural resources and cultural history for generations to come.”

“The Office of Indian Economic Development proudly funds the George Washington University tourism technical assistance efforts as part of the NATIVE Act implementation. As one of our technical assistance partners, the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies is developing a tourism approach and toolkit that Native American communities can use in South Dakota and beyond. This work enables development of tourism efforts that effectively implement economic development strategies guided by tribally designed tourism approaches intended to support their communities.” said Denise Edwards, Acting Director of the Office of Indian Economic Development.  “This demonstration initiative will strengthen self-determination and self-governance capabilities in South Dakota Native American communities promoting greater self-sufficiency.”

While South Dakota welcomed 14.5 million visitors who contributed $2.75 billion to GDP in 2019, there is no meaningful connection occurring between those tourists and the Tribal Nations in South Dakota. The SDNTA aims to change this trajectory by developing tourism products that will attract domestic and international visitors from main tourism hubs throughout South Dakota to lesser-known tribal lands, indigenous homelands, and Native communities.

The event will showcase the current work of the SDNTA, host a panel of Native American tourism entrepreneurs and leaders, and showcase Native American cultural activities. The schedule will include:

●          Opening prayer and ceremony with Gerald Yellow Hawk and the Moreno Family Drum Group

●           Dynamic speakers including Tribal Chairmen and Presidents, Secretary Flute from Department of Tribal Relations and Secretary Hagen from Department of Tourism, representatives of South Dakota Congressional leaders that supported the NATIVE Act, and tribal tourism ambassadors and leaders

●           Presentations by SDNTA members about tourism development in Native American communities and project successes so far – including an educational campaign video and the new SDNTA website

●           A local Native lunch and presentation by Lisa and Arlo Iron Cloud and Linda and Luke Black Elk

●           Presentation by Lauren McNabb, Miss HeSapa Win of the Black Hills pow wow

Attendees can register for the event in person or virtually at the following link:  https://form.jotform.com/211866680965166. Media is invited.

Details for the live streaming of the event are at the SDNTA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/South-Dakota-Native-Tourism-Alliance