Editor’s Note: See related story here. by Wendy Royston, Dakotafire Media with additional reporting by Sheila Ring, Onida Watchman, and Ken Schmierer, for The Dickey County Leader The word “homecoming” suggests the original intent of the fall celebrations was to bring graduates—and the focus of the community—back to the school. In many towns today, that call to come home is ... Read More »
FiredUp!
Helping pollinators helps the whole system, advocate says
by Susan Smith, Special to Dakotafire Media Populations of pollinating insects, such as monarch butterflies and bees, are considered a key indicator of overall environmental health. “They’re the canary in the coal mine,” said Peter Berthelsen during a presentation to students and landowners Sept. 9 at South Dakota State University. “We have to figure out how to make all things ... Read More »
Is this thing on?
Top 10 quotable moments from National Rural Assembly 2015 In order to be heard, rural advocates must amplify their voices through powerful, impactful statements. At the 2015 National Rural Assembly, held Sept. 8-10 in on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., rural ideas were shared amid peers and top-ranking White House officials alike. A focus on youth in planning the infrastructure, ... Read More »
Effective framing paints clearer picture of rural issues
What is rural? A table of six young leaders from across America hashed out the definition of the word “rural” during Young Leader’s Day at the National Rural Assembly in Washington, D.C. In a framing exercise, we discussed what we most want policymakers to know about the places that, to us, epitomize the institution of “rural,” as well as the ... Read More »
Is your food ‘Dakota Fresh’?
The wheels are turning at the Dakota Fresh Food Hub, as producers gear up for delivery Spring 2016. Kari O’Neill, Community Development Field Specialist at South Dakota State University’s Extension Office, she considers herself a very active facilitator to the producers who are getting the hub up and running. “We decided from the beginning that we were going to start ... Read More »
Co-opetition
CO-OPETITION is a new way of thinking about business. Some people see business entirely as competition. Read More »
Tending the flame: Leveraging resources to bring back South Dakotans
“A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.” —Thomas Jefferson How does a governing body—whether it be a board of directors, a municipal, a county seat, a ... Read More »
Ebola fears? Just wash your hands and move on
By Wendy Royston, Dakotafire Media Should Dakotans be worried about Ebola spreading here? Probably not. Even though the 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest ever and marks the first time the virus has been diagnosed in the United States, officials say the risk to the vast majority of Americans is tiny. Stay calm, they advise—just practice proper hygiene and use ... Read More »
Grain bins increasing across Dakota landscape
“This has been the grain bin year.” Frankie Rollins, who has built grain bins for the past six years with Hart Steel, said the company has been busier than normal in 2014, and that more and more bidding competition is emerging in southeastern South Dakota. “I hear of a lot of new crews starting up, so it sounds to me like this year has been the grain bin year,” he said. Read More »
Five things I’ve learned from a week of going local
I’m on Day 10 of the Dakota Local Food Challenge—in the home stretch! Here are a few of the things that I’ve learned so far. Read More »