Dakotafire Get your spark here.

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 »

Winter weather was just as extreme on the prairie before European settlers arrived. Preparing for it was part of the daily existence of the prairie’s original inhabitants. In the 1800s, Native American tribes of the Midwest stayed fairly local year-round, unlike today’s “snowbirds,” who “fly away” to warmer southern climates for the winter months. They followed a strict calendar governed ... Read More »

We are in the 1 percent, folks. At least, many of us in the rural Dakotas are, when the thing being measured is our view of the night sky. Read More »

In the heart of South Dakota, nestled into the banks of the Missouri River, two small towns make up one community. Read More »

“But it’s all so … flat.” I heard this time and again from folks when they learned what I was planning: a 2,000-mile, six-week exploration of the American Midwest—by bicycle. Just about everyone seemed to think that I was set to experience the dullest, most featureless bike tour ever undertaken. They were right about one thing. In terms of rote ... Read More »