The Todd County School Board Election will take place Tuesday, June 8th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at all voting precincts in the Todd County School District 66-1.
Two school board members will be elected for three year term. Those running include:
Michelle Allen
Troy “Luke” Lunderman
Heather Frederick
Justin Klein
Shelly Means
Linda Bordeaux
The City of Gregory will hold their annual Independence Day celebration from Friday, July 2nd through Sunday, July 4th. The weekend will include several activities including a carnival, turtle races, dances, concerts, bingo, baseball, parade, fireworks and more.
U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) will speak at the Memorial Day ribbon cutting ceremony at the newly constructed South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls at 2 p.m. today and at 7 p.m. Johnson will speak at the Memorial Day ceremony hosted by the Garretson American Legion.
Since South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Range Field Specialist Pete Bauman advises on grassland management for a living, his neighbors often approach him, asking about pasture management and his use of poly wire, grazing, fire and rest. Eventually, he says the conversation shifts from general grassland considerations to managing individual types of plants.
“Grasslands are comprised of individual plants. This sounds obvious, but we often don’t think too deeply about the types of plant categories in a pasture or grassland, such as exotic, cool season, warm season, broadleaf, grasses, sedges, etc.,” says Bauman, who is based out of the Watertown Regional Extension Center. “Nor do we necessarily consider the individual species, such as the brome, big bluestem or sunflower.”
One of Bauman’s neighbors recently commented to him that he has never really thought about “managing” his grass.
“I told him he wasn’t alone, and that most producers often focus attention on their cropland and give little thought to their grassland systems, which are much more complex,” Bauman says. “In a crop field we often focus on helping one plant survive and eliminating the rest. In a grassland, we have dozens of plants to consider, and our management actions can either help or hinder entire plant communities.”
So, where can producers begin the learning process? Baumann says one opportunity is to attend the upcoming “Good, Bad and Invasive Plant Tour.” Hosted by The Nature Conservancy; South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks; South Dakota County Weed and Pest Departments; and SDSU Extension, the annual tour in northeast South Dakota has become a widely-attended event.
“The tour is a one-day, free, public event, where anyone can come and learn about various plants and their function in the system,” Bauman says. “Over the years, the tour has been attended by farmers, ranchers, gardeners, county weed supervisors, agency staff, children and others that are just curious. Tour leaders are very knowledgeable about plants and their value and function, and often there are interesting tidbits about how any particular plant functions in the system for positive or negative impacts to livestock and wildlife.”
This year’s tour will take place on June 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CST) at Sica Hollow State Park near Sisseton. The group will meet in the park’s east picnic area. For directions from Sisseton, attendees should head west on Highway 10 for two miles. Then turn north on 455th Ave. for seven miles. Finally turn west on 112th St. and go west until you reach the park.
RSVPs are required for planning logistics. Contact Joe Blastick at 605-880-6541 or jblastick@tnc.org or Owen McElroy at 605-520-1935 or owen.mcelroy@state.sd.us.
Governor Kristi Noem and five other governors wrote to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), asking them to continue their investigation into anti-competitive practices in the meatpacking industry. The DOJ had originally sent investigative demands to the nation’s four largest meatpackers in May 2020.
“Perhaps no person embodies the independent and untamable spirit of the United States better than the cattle producer,” wrote Governor Noem and the other governors. “But this way of life is under threat. Decades of consolidation in meatpacking has significantly limited the options that producers have to market their cattle and has created a situation where one segment of the beef industry has near total control over the entire market.”
The governors highlighted the threat to consumers as prices of meat at the grocery store continue to rise, all while beef producers are struggling to make ends meet.
“The consistently high prices realized on the boxed beef side are not being reflected on the producer side, forcing consumers to pay a premium for beef while threatening many of our producers with the loss of their business,” wrote the governors.
Governor Noem was joined in signing the letter by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. You can read the governors’ letter here.
Governor Kristi Noem asked the South Dakota Board of Regents to set policies that preserve honest, patriotic education throughout South Dakota’s institutions of higher learning. You can read the her letter, which was sent to each individual member of the Board, here.
“As governor, I have become increasingly concerned about a growing movement throughout the country to reject patriotic education and downplay the positive revolution in human affairs set in motion by our Founders,” wrote Governor Noem. “Our children and grandchildren should understand the full picture of our nation’s history – our fundamental values, our greatest achievements, and the long struggles to overcome injustice as well. Our next generation must also learn about our triumphs as well as our mistakes, with those mistakes being examined in context.”
In the letter, Governor Noem urged the Board of Regents to consider:
“I trust you will agree with me that we need to preserve honest, patriotic education throughout South Dakota – education that that cultivates in our next generation both a profound love of our country and a realistic picture of its virtues and challenges,” continued Governor Noem. “I look forward to working together with the Board of Regents on this goal.”
This past legislative session, Governor Noem advocated for and signed legislation to enhance civics curriculum at the K-12 level. She recently became the first officeholder in America to sign the “1776 Pledge to Save Our Schools.” Last week, Department of Education Secretary Tiffany Sanderson and State Historian Dr. Ben Jones wrote to the Biden Administration to push back on their proposed policies advocating for the teaching of the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory.
South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension is launching additional virtual farm stress workshops to promote mental health awareness from May throughout the summer. The series will wrap up during the National Suicide Prevention Week in September. Krista Ehlert, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Range Specialist, says anyone who is a producer, engaged in the agricultural industry or has close ties to a rural community is invited to attend.
Ehlert and Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist, officially kicked off the programming during SDSU Extension’s Drought Hour on May 10, with their presentation, “Weathering the Storm in Agriculture: How to Cultivate a Productive Mindset.” The webinar, which was recorded and can be viewed on SDSU Extension’s YouTube channel, covered what stress is, techniques for managing stress and what to do in times of a mental health crisis.
“As producers work to maximize their income through increased production, higher prices through better marketing and improved grazing practices, they have a lot of time to evaluate and look back on every decision they make,” Gessner says. “Which, when done in a realm of adaptive management is informative; however, human nature kicks in and many times this ‘look back’ provides negative feedback that leads to self-doubt, thus increasing the stress a producer deals with.”
“Ultimately, SDSU Extension hopes that this farm stress series continues to carry forward the conversation surrounding the importance of rural behavioral health and puts tools and resources in front of farmers, ranchers, their families and local communities,” Ehlert says.
The farm stress webinar series will continue in June and will be held at noon CST/11 a.m. MT the first Tuesday of each month. The program will cover the following topics throughout the summer:
“Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) helps South Dakotans understand the signs, symptoms, possible risk factors and possible warning signs of mental health problems. Participants will learn the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan and how it fits within the array of interventions available to address mental health problems,” Ehlert says.
“During the July 6 and Aug. 3 webinars, producers and their families can expect to learn what mindfulness and wellness are, how they connect to a general state of wellbeing and the importance of both [in] cultivating a productive mindset to help themselves and their operations be resilient in the face of farm stress,” Gessner says. “Finally, during the last webinar, participants will learn the warning signs of someone experiencing a mental health crisis, how to intervene and where to go for help.”
SDSU Extension is also part of the North Central Farm and Ranch Assistance Center, a 12-state collaborative based at University of Illinois that works to expand access to and knowledge of mental health resources. The center has recently launched the website, FarmStress.org, to provide the agricultural community with resources and support by state and topic, including crisis numbers, telephone hotlines and training.
Bjornestad says the site is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment; however, the new tool will help those in agricultural communities connect with critical information to help themselves, their family members or co-workers.
“Farming and ranching is undoubtedly stressful for our South Dakota producers,” says Bjornestad. “Self-doubt can start to creep in, leading to guilt and remorse about past decisions. All of these feelings can contribute to increased stress and pressure within the family. It is important that producers utilize effective coping strategies to be mentally resilient in the face of high stress. SDSU Extension offers these programs to initiate conversations on farm stress and self-care strategies to become more resilient.”
There is no fee to attend, but participants will need to register for the monthly webinars on the SDSU Extension Events page. Confirmation Zoom links and reminders will be emailed to attendees.
Dr. Duane Wulf received the 2021 South Dakota State University Department of Animal Science Distinguished Alumni Award on April 16, 2021, at the department’s annual awards program.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni of the department whose accomplishments have impacted the agriculture industry, communities and individuals across the state, nation and world. Contributions of Distinguished Alumni include outstanding professional accomplishment, sustained service to agriculture or distinguished leadership.
Originally from Morris, Minnesota, Wulf graduated from SDSU with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science in 1989 and 1993, respectively. While an undergraduate student, Wulf was a member of the 1987 meat judging team, academic quadrathlon team and Block and Bridle. He later received his doctorate from Colorado State University before accepting a position as an assistant professor and state meat extension specialist at The Ohio State University. Three years later, Wulf transitioned back to SDSU as a professor of animal science with teaching and research appointments.
During his 10 years as a faculty member at SDSU, Wulf was recognized for his strong teaching ability through his numerous accolades, including the 2001 and 2007 College of Agricultural and Biological Sciences Teacher of the Year Award and the 2007 American Meat Science Association Distinguished Teaching Award.
In 2009, Wulf and his family moved to Mexico to pursue mission work. His mission’s goal included providing practical education, training and career opportunities to fatherless and underprivileged youth, which he accomplished by establishing The Fatted Calf, a nonprofit organization dedicated to glorifying and obeying God by providing training and career development to underprivileged youth. Through the organization, Wulf and his team created three businesses to provide an avenue for youth to develop these career-essential skills: Carnisimo, a value-added meat processing company, Rancho Agua Viva, a cattle ranch and seedstock company, and Carnisimo Burgers, a restaurant. He was also part of a group that established Expo Esperanza, a youth summer program and exposition similar to county fairs in the U.S.
After dedicating 10 years to mission work in Mexico, Wulf moved back to the U.S. and currently serves as an associate professor at the University of Arizona.
Wulf attributes being on the meat judging team and later coaching the team as a graduate student at SDSU for leading him to his career in meat science and teaching. Having numerous former students become leaders in the industry, making their own impact and improving the lives of those around them has proven to be one of his biggest accomplishments throughout his career.
“I can think of no one that practices the core values of SDSU’s current mission and vision any better than Duane and Ann Wulf,” Dr. Rosie Nold, Department of Animal Science assistant department head, said. “Dr. Wulf has been and continues to be people-centered, inclusive and innovative. He has used his animal and meat science skills to help bring life-changing improvements to the quality of life of youth and others. We are very proud to have him as a Distinguished Alumni of the Animal Science Department.”
About the South Dakota State University Animal Science Department
Tomorrow’s animal industries leaders gain the educational foundation they need in the South Dakota State University Animal Science Department. Future leaders study under a dynamic, award-winning faculty who not only teach, but also set the pace with important research and aggressive outreach via SDSU Extension. The department’s multidisciplinary approaches toward production efficiency, product enhancement and natural resources management, built on a strong foundation in basic sciences, provide undergraduate and graduate students with strong skill sets. Students are provided hands-on learning opportunities through the in-house meats laboratory and livestock teaching units located near campus, including state-of-the-art facilities for beef cattle and swine. Graduates of the program see career options unfold in a diverse and growing range of employment areas in animal and animal products industries.