Dakotafire Get your spark here.

Art is one way to connect community members, as well as to connect a community’s history with its future. Read More »

Thank you to these Fired Up members who helped Dakotafire spark rural revival one story at a time. Sonya Albertson J.D. Anderson Lois Aroian Norbe Barrie Joe Bartmann John Beranek William Bishop Darlene Bresson Karyl Card Glenn Cooper Ila Davis Sara Dean Brian Depew | Lyons, Nebraska | Center for Rural Affairs Kathryn Draeger Erna Ehrmann Sarah Erickson Megan Fuller ... Read More »

Faulkton, S.D., makes no secret of its optimism. Read More »

When we first started Dakotafire Media five years ago, some questioned the name. Why “fire”? It has led to some confusion over the years. Some think we are the newsletter for a state fire association. And we’ve probably sent a lot of traffic to Dakota Fire Protection, a sprinkler company that has the “.com” version of our web address. We ... Read More »

There are people who don’t mind Dakota winters. And then there are those who become snowbirds—either actually or mentally—at the first hint of flurries. After years of observation, I think I’ve found the key difference between them: long underwear. Read More »

What if there is untapped potential in our Dakota winters? Could we change weather from being a deterrent to a plus when we’re recruiting top talent to move to the Dakotas? Read More »

What kind of winter can we expect this year? Apparently, that all depends on whether La Niña shows up as predicted. La Niña is a weather pattern that happens due to cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures. For the Dakotas, this means our weather will tend to come from the northwest along a polar jet stream. And the word “polar” should give ... Read More »

In the United States, about 38 percent of people participate in recreation that’s associated with wildlife, according to a 2012 survey. That figure is higher in South Dakota, where 54 percent of the population takes part in such recreation. Retail sales for hunting in South Dakota were estimated at $723 million in 2011. Retail sales for fishing in South Dakota ... Read More »

For generations, mothers have said the key to good health is “a bit of fresh air.” Recent medical research gives some support to that claim. Read More »

Though many dread the long, cold winter months in the Dakotas, the thrill of adventure lights a fire for others. Read More »