Hay has become a hot commodity
Hay prices have jumped dramatically as drought in many of the nation’s key hay-producing areas has decimated the supply.
4-H benefits from Extension’s reorganization
The learning experiences that 4-H provides have been given a boost through the reorganization of SDSU Extension.
Turning tragedy into opportunity: One year after devastating fire, Willow Lake downtown is better than ever
An overnight fire in 2011 destroyed a big part of Willow Lake’s downtown—but even if the fire burned down businesses, it also sparked a drive to survive and a phenomenal flurry of community action.
Dakota Style is spitting out sunflower seeds all across the nation
Dakota Style continues to put Clark, S.D., on the map—most recently with a booming business in sunflower seeds and kernels.
SD counties designated as drought disaster areas
More than half of U.S. counties are now disaster areas, 90 percent because of the ongoing drought that has been brutalizing the nation.
For Faulkton veteran’s family, medals and shared memories are better late than never
Paul Riley earned a boxful of medals during his time in World War II, but for some reason he never received them. He didn’t bother to try to get them, perhaps because he thought it just as well to leave those memories in the past. His widow, Lilas, requested and received her husband’s medals earlier this year.
An old barn will have new life as a place for celebrations, hunting accommodations in Henry, S.D.
The town of Henry will soon have a new motel of sorts: An old barn refurbished into the Pepper Slough Lodge.
World’s largest potted plant? Tree grows out of silo near Waubay, S.D.
Mrs. Al Breske has no idea how it got there, but this tree has been growing up through an abandoned silo longer than her family has been on this farmstead about 10 miles south of Waubay for the last 15 years.
Festivals bring small towns roaring to life
For small towns in the Dakotas, a summer celebration can double the population, creating traffic jams in places with no stoplights and a hum of excitement to some generally work-a-day places.
What brought you back to your rural roots?
Many, if not most, communities in the Dakotafire area have seen some of the youth that left return years later. Here are some of their stories; if you’re also a “returnee,” share your story in the comments!