The school year is off to a dynamic and productive start in the Agriculture Education Department, with students fully immersed in a variety of practical, skill-building activities across all of our ag courses. The energy and commitment from our students have been outstanding, and it's clear that this year will bring many exciting achievements for both the classroom and our FFA chapter.
In Wildlife and Fisheries, our focus has been on understanding the principles of wildlife management and conservation. Students are learning how to balance the needs of wildlife populations with environmental conservation efforts. These lessons are designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools to protect and manage natural resources sustainably. We've discussed key conservation strategies and how human interaction with the environment plays a role in preserving our wildlife habitats.
GHS students Gavin Coburn and Harper Hanisch work together to successfully plant seeds in Intro to Ag. //photo by Alysha Kientopf
In Agricultural Mechanics, students have been getting hands-on experience with basic electrical wiring, an essential skill in agricultural technology and beyond. Our electricity unit has provided students with the opportunity to explore how electrical systems function, learning about circuit design, safety protocols, and the application of wiring in real-world agricultural settings. This practical knowledge is foundational for future projects in agricultural mechanics and engineering.
Ag Leadership and Communications has been focusing on the critical themes of leadership, ethics, and communication. Through discussions, projects, and presentations, students are developing essential leadership qualities that will serve them well in both their personal and professional lives. We are working on strategies for ethical decision-making and honing communication skills, empowering students to become not only effective leaders within our chapter but also influential voices in the larger community.
In Food Science, students have been introduced to the fundamental concepts of food science, including the history of food production, processing, storage, and safety. We are currently focusing on the scientific method and its application in food-related experiments and innovations. This foundation will help students explore the broader food industry, preparing them for deeper studies in food technology, nutrition, and agriculture.
The Introduction to Agriculture class has been delving into the world of soybeans, exploring the entire journey from seed to field to table. We are discussing the significance of soybeans in modern agriculture and their widespread use in various food products. Students are gaining a comprehensive understanding of how soybeans contribute to both the local and global agricultural economy, as well as the process of cultivating and marketing them.
On the FFA side, our chapter is already actively participating in a range of activities. We kicked off the year with Land and Homestead Judging competitions, where students demonstrated their knowledge of soil health, land use, and rural property management. These competitions help our members build critical thinking skills and apply their classroom knowledge in real-world scenarios.
I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work that our students are displaying, both in the classroom and through FFA. Their commitment to learning, leadership, and service sets a strong tone for what promises to be a fantastic year. The Agriculture Education Department and FFA Chapter have a full year ahead, packed with opportunities for growth, discovery, and achievement.
Thanks to the following sponsors who made our Harvest 2024 special issue possible:
The state Corn Husking Competition will be held October 5 near Chester.
Competitive corn husking is a timed event scored on the amount of corn picked with deductions for missed ears of corn and amount of husk remaining on the ears.
At the state contest for South Dakota, horse drawn wagons with a driver keep pace with the competing huskers. When hand husking was common, most horses were trained to follow the rows and the horses were guided with voice commands by the husker as to keeping the wagon at an appropriate position.
Marvin Burkman (right) picked while Gregg Kringen pulled the wagon at the 47th Annual Hand Corn Picking event on October 1st. //Todd Kringen (2023 file photo)
The wagons have bang boards, high sides opposite the husker, to allow the huskers to concentrate more on picking and husking and less throwing the corn into the wagon. During the contest the thump of ears of corn on the bang boards can be heard.
The compeition will begin at 11:00 a.m., with registration from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and a Horse Parade at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $10 to compete, but free for those 20 and under. It will be held at the Fred Fedeler Farm located at 46119 240th Street, Chester, SD.
South Dakota residents ranked 1st to 3rd in almost all Classes will receive a plaque and be eligible to compete in the national contest a few weeks later.
Visitors and newcomers may compete if they wish, but must register by the morning deadline. Visitors have also helped with gleaning and time keeping for the contest.
Watching is free, as is practice picking into a bucket carried by staff. Concessions will be available, and some bench seating is placed, though it’s recommended to bring your own chair.
For kids there is a corn box to play in, corn husk doll making, horse drawn wagon rides, along with lawn games and other activities.
Harvest Days at Ewe Pullet Self-Service Used Auto Parts will be Saturday, October 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our annual event invites regular customers and new customers out to “Harvest” Auto parts by the cart load. It is something to see as they start checking out in the early afternoon.
File Photo by Aarryon Flores-Martinez
Every year 500- to- 1000 “Hunters” converge on the 1200 vehicles at Ewe pullet to see what they can find and a whole lot of it. They get a wheelbarrow load (however they can stack it) for $40 bucks if they can push it through the 40 foot course in 40 seconds! Tons of fun! Everything from tires and wheels, plastic trim to engines and transmissions are “harvested.”
There is also a scavenger hunt and special parts worth $$$ for those interested in hunting up auto parts treasures. Plus, this year, guess the weight of the coin sack and win! Buy any items worth $40 or more or participate in the Harvest for your entry ticket.
We have been cranking this event out since 1988!
Ewe Pullet Self Service Used Auto Parts is located at 47989 255th Street, Garretson, SD 57030.
This week Saturday is Garretson’s 3rd Annual Harvest Festival. Head downtown for great food, vendors, gourds, and more! Other Harvest/Fall Events this month include:
3nd Annual Harvest Festival @ Annie’s/Depot Square, Saturday, October 5, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Legion Fall Community Breakfast @ American Legion Dugout, Sunday, October 6, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
It was a brutal match against Viborg/Hurley this past Friday for the GHS Blue Dragons, losing 0-50.
Tyler Erickson (left, kicking) and Collin Olson. //Garrick A. Moritz, Gazette
“This was a tough opponent to start against for the second half of the season after our bye week,” said head coach Jerry Weiland. “Hats off to the Viborg/Hurley team as they are a top-quality team that is slated to go deep into the playoffs. Viborg is an upperclassman-commanded team and they imposed both their strength and size on us. The most frustrating thing is the mental mistakes we made.”
If you look at the stats breakdown you can see the picture fairly clearly. Viborg/Hurley made 42 total plays gaining 13 first downs, compared to 29 plays and only four first downs on GHS’ side, the writing is on the wall. V/H had five penalties, sure, but we had four, as well as two turnovers, a fumble and a pass interception thrown.
The Blue Dragons return to their home turf this Friday night. There will be a tailgate supper hosted by the Garretson Fire Department starting at 5:30 p.m.
“This week we will face a top seeded team in Elkton-Lake Benton,” said Coach Weiland. “Come out and support the Blue Dragons!”Splitrock Bowling:
Blue Dragon Soccer had a rough game on Thursday, Sept. 26 versus Sioux Falls Christian. SFC was hyper-aggressive and kept pushing the Blue Dragons back toward their own goalposts. Down 0-2 by the half, the game ended 0-5.
Amaya Millwood works to retain possession of the ball. //Garrick A. Moritz, Gazette
The last regular game of the season is here this Saturday, Oct. 5th at 11 a.m. against Groton High School. After that, the Blue Dragons pPost season play begins, with quarterfinals starting next week. Games will be announced depending on placements after this week of play.
Last spring, Mrs. Mac challenged the students at Garretson Elementary to read for 24 hours over the summer. Eighteen students completed the challenge by reading 20 minutes for 72 days. Students received a ten-dollar gift card to Barnes and Noble to encourage them to keep reading. Way to go Blue Dragons! Top row: Coyer B, Cope D, Elsa J, Hannah H, Lane S. Second row: Ingrid J, Alison Q, Harley R, Kade W. Third Row: Lewis S, Norah H, Lauryn S, Harper J, Colbie D. Front row: Hudson O, Antonio M, Isla M, Leonardo M.
Sophie Stoffers carried groceries to her car in a Sioux Falls Hy-Vee parking lot and pondered a question from a reporter.
Would Initiated Measure 28, an effort on the Nov. 5 ballot to eliminate South Dakota’s sales tax on food, make life better for her?
“I'm always a fan of saving money,” said Stoffers, 24, who recently moved to Sioux Falls and works as an assistant athletic trainer at Augustana University. “But I don't know much about (the measure). I need to hear the pros and cons before voting."
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, an average family of four in South Dakota spends about $1,200 a month on food purchased at a store and prepared at home. Eliminating the 4.2% tax on food would save that household $50.40 a month, or about $600 a year.
Stoffers and her boyfriend have noticed grocery bills ticking upward. She’ll glance at the receipt on the way out of the store and try to cut back on nonessential items.
But that’s a long way from breaking down the ramifications of a sales tax cut on consumables, especially with differing viewpoints of what IM 28 will do.
A Hy-Vee employee puts grapes on display at the 26th Street location in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Sept. 6, 2024. Initiated Measure 28 seeks to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries in South Dakota, but questions about the measure persist. (Photo: Stu Whitney / South Dakota News Watch)
Opponents pounced on the wording of the measure as broader than just groceries. They said it could cause a budget crunch by preventing the state from collecting sales tax on “consumable” items such as tobacco, toothpaste and toilet paper.
Estimates for the loss of state revenue range from $124 million to $646 million annually.
From a consumer perspective, national data shows that while the rate of inflation on food has softened, the price of grocery staples such as beef and eggs increased by 3.2% over the past year.
“This is the right thing to do,” said Rick Weiland, co-founder of Dakotans for Health, the petition-gathering group whose tax repeal effort was certified for the ballot with 22,315 signatures.
Assessing that statement means wading through a litany of factors, from legal language and tax policy to the ongoing conflict between a Republican-led Legislature and progressive groups that pursue policy change through citizen initiatives.
Here are the most pressing questions surrounding IM 28 as the November vote approaches:
What's the argument for grocery tax repeal?
Supporters call the measure a long-overdue effort to take the tax burden off low-income families and individuals. South Dakota and Mississippi are the only states that fully tax food without offering credits or rebates.
The basic premise for eliminating the grocery tax is to make it easier for people to put food on the table within the constraints of their household budget.
“The tax is quite regressive,” Anna Phillips, an analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, told News Watch. “If you look at the percentage of household income spent on groceries, low-income earners spend roughly double the percentage of their income that high-income earners do on groceries. So this is going to make more of a meaningful difference to families who are currently struggling to get by.”
Feeding South Dakota, the state’s largest hunger relief organization, estimates that about 106,000 people in South Dakota, more than 11%, are food insecure, which means they lack reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food. Of that number, 1 out of 6 are children.
Has this been tried before?
South Dakota’s grocery tax has been a target of legislative reform for decades, mostly by Democrats.
In 2004, the South Dakota Democratic Party gathered enough signatures to put a state food tax repeal on the ballot after legislative attempts to eliminate the tax fell short.
Opponents of the effort, including then-Gov. Mike Rounds, warned that passing the repeal would likely reduce the amount of state aid available for schools and health care.
Voters responded to that message and rejected the measure by a margin of 68% to 32%. Later attempts by state legislators to lower the tax on food or exempt groceries from the general sales tax rate also failed.
Weeks before being re-elected in November 2022, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem made a public pledge to preside over “the largest tax cut in state history,” a full repeal of the grocery tax. She vouched for its affordability and noted that voters might pass the repeal if lawmakers didn't.
But legislators rejected Noem's proposal during the 2023 session, opting instead to temporarily reduce the overall sales tax rate from 4.5% to 4.2%, with a sunset (or expiration) of 2027.
What's the main argument against it?
There are fiscal consequences to eliminating the tax. Sales taxes are the largest source of state government revenue in South Dakota, one of seven states without a state income tax.
Phillips stressed that, while eliminating the grocery tax is a good way to advance racial and economic equity, states should pursue full repeals with caution due to budgetary impacts.
It’s important to remember that state revenue lost from eliminating the grocery tax would be on top of the $104 million estimated annual revenue loss from the overall sales tax cut passed by legislators in 2023.
So the question becomes: Can South Dakota afford to do this without having to cut important programs elsewhere or adding another tax?
Opponents of the measure answer that with a resounding no, citing what they said are ambiguous and problematic wording in the ballot measure.
The specific language of IM 28 prohibits the state from collecting sales tax on "anything sold for human consumption, except alcoholic beverages and prepared food.”
Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, said that wording is so vague that it could prevent the state from collecting sales tax on “consumable” items such as tobacco, toothpaste and toilet paper.
The Legislative Research Council took that a step further in a report to state legislators in July, extrapolating the “human consumption” definition to include propane and motor fuel and services rendered by a plumber or landscaper.
Weiland countered that it was the LRC and attorney general's office that questioned earlier language in IM 28, which led to the current framework. He called for common sense, saying interpretations of the measure should be shaped by the stated intent of petitioners to target taxes on food and drink.
Not even the LRC, which provides statutory and legal guidance for proposed ballot initiatives, has been consistent on what the impact will be.
Reed Hollweger, who resigned as LRC director during a meeting of the Legislature’s executive board in October 2023, addressed the potential for differing interpretations of “anything sold for human consumption” in a fiscal note sent to the secretary of state as required by law in January 2023.
“For purposes of this fiscal note,” he wrote, “the LRC assumes the phrase only includes food items because of the modifying language 'except alcoholic beverages and prepared food' and does not include personal tangible property and services, both of which can also be sold for human consumption. Other assumptions as to the meaning of this phrase may be just as reasonable, if not more so.”
With that qualification, the fiscal note said that the state could see a reduction in sales tax revenue of $123.9 million annually.
Sanderson estimated to News Watch in June that IM 28 would result in a budget downturn of at least $176 million annually because it would include tobacco products, defined in state law as “any item made of tobacco intended for human consumption.”
Then came the kitchen-sink estimate the LRC presented to legislators as an update in July – a worst-case scenario analysis that said the budget impact could soar as high as $646 million annually.
So which number is right?
The official fiscal note produced by Hollweger uses the $123.9 million figure, while Attorney General Marty Jackley's ballot statement noted that human consumption "is not defined by state law, but its common definition includes more than just food and drinks.”
Jackley’s statement also said that “judicial or legislative clarification of the measure will be necessary.” That’s the one thing that both sides agree upon.
Any judicial review will likely involve trying to find a "harmonious reading" of the conflicting statutes or language, according to Neil Fulton, dean of the University of South Dakota School of Law and former chief of staff to Rounds.
"The goal is to identify the intent of the enacting Legislature, or the people in this instance," Fulton told News Watch. "Commonly, that’s found from the text alone because it’s free of ambiguity. But if the context or other aspects of the enactment lead to a different reading, or when a statute can be read multiple ways, the guiding star is, 'What did the people intend?'”
How much of a problem is IM 28’s wording?
Phillips, the policy analyst, said the measure should have stipulated that the tax rate will be changed to 0% rather than saying the state “may not tax” consumables.
Eliminating the tax entirely would likely put South Dakota out of alignment with the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, a cooperative effort of states, local governments and the business community that standardizes collection of sales tax, she said.
A Hy-Vee employee stocks cereal boxes on the shelves at the 26th Street location in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Sept. 6, 2024. Initiated Measure 28 seeks to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries in South Dakota, but questions about the measure persist. (Photo: Stu Whitney / South Dakota News Watch)
“That agreement makes administration easier across states, both for vendors who have to comply with sales and use taxes as well as tax administrators,” said Phillips. “So removing the tax entirely on groceries will take South Dakota out of that agreement, which would be unfortunate.”
South Dakota could also lose revenue from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, a 1998 pact among 46 states and major cigarette manufacturers as part of litigation for health care costs and deceptive trade practices.
Jackley has said that not taxing tobacco could jeopardize South Dakota's share of that settlement, which amounts to about $20 million annually.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt poses with supporters on Feb. 27, 2024, in Oklahoma City after signing a bill to eliminate the state’s 4.5% sales tax on groceries. (Photo: Courtesy of Oklahoma Governor's Office)
As for the “anything sold for human consumption” language, Phillips pointed to more specific wording used by Oklahoma legislators in a bipartisan effort to reduce the state’s tax on food and food ingredients to 0% earlier this year.
To stay aligned with the streamlined sales tax, the Oklahoma law defines food and food ingredients as “substances, whether in liquid, concentrated, solid, frozen, dried, or dehydrated form, that are sold for ingestion or chewing by humans and are consumed for their taste or nutritional value.”
That’s essentially the same standardized language found in South Dakota law, which Hollweger said in a letter to Dakotans for Health in 2022 would "likely apply" to the LRC's original suggested language for the measure.
The Oklahoma law also states that the 0% tax rate does not apply to alcoholic beverages, dietary supplements, marijuana products, prepared food or tobacco.
Phillips said the differences between Oklahoma’s law and IM 28 underscore the difficulty of articulating complex tax policy through a ballot measure, which needs to be clear to voters and cannot encompass more than one subject under South Dakota law.
Fixing that language “shouldn’t be difficult to do," she said. "I would imagine the Legislature would have a bit of an incentive to do it because they don't want to blow that hole in their budget.”
What will legislators do if it passes?
Because IM 28 is an initiated measure, not a constitutional amendment, legislators have more power to craft the policy.
For instance, they can adjust the language to align with the definition found in South Dakota law, removing some of the unintended consequences cited by IM 28’s opponents.
“The counter to many of these complaints (about wording) is that the Legislature has eight months to fix it,” said Michael Card, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of South Dakota. “Part of this back-and-forth is due to efforts to limit the scope of initiated measures, a fight between the dominant (Republican) party and those who want to change laws through the ballot."
Sanderson responded that even if the language is fixed and IM 28 is sharpened to include only groceries, there are still repercussions on top of the earlier general sales tax cut.
Sales tax receipts declined by 2.6% in fiscal year 2024 after gains of 9%, 12.2% and 12.7% the previous three years, according to the South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management. That dip reflects the earlier sales tax cut and will require action if the state can't tax groceries or other consumables, he said.
“The problem is that IM 28 doesn't have any mechanism for replacing the lost revenue, so the money’s going to have to come from somewhere,” said Sanderson, who spearheads a coalition that opposes the measure.
"In order to make that up, they're going to have to raise a tax somewhere. That requires a two-thirds vote of a Legislature in which 94 out of 105 are currently Republicans. Are legislators going to vote for a (sales) tax increase to raise revenue? I don't think so. And that's why we've expressed our concerns that if IM 28 passes, it's going to lead to higher property taxes or an income tax (through ballot measure), because the Legislature is simply not going to vote with a two-thirds majority vote to raise the tax.”
Weiland called these claims scare tactics meant to influence voters and take the focus away from the merits of a grocery tax repeal.
He referenced past legislative overrides of resident-led initiatives such as IM 22, a campaign finance and ethics reform package approved by voters in 2016 that was later repealed by lawmakers with an emergency clause that ensured it could not be referred back to the ballot.
"I think every concern that's been raised, if in fact it was a real concern and not a campaign tactic, they could address very simply in the upcoming legislative session," said Weiland, a former Democratic candidate for U.S. House and Senate. "What I think they're more likely to do is talk about this $646 million hole in their budget so they can declare a state of emergency and repeal it like they did with IM 22."
Does Gov. Noem support a grocery tax repeal?
Noem personally testified in committee for her 2023 bill to repeal the grocery tax, based on her campaign pledge.
She pointed to double-digit increases in sales tax revenue in 2021 and 2022 and a budget surplus in 2022 of $115 million, an outlook boosted by COVID-related federal stimulus and inflation-impacted tax receipts.
The bill ultimately failed, but the message was duly noted by Dakotans for Health and other groups that have pushed for eliminating the grocery tax.
"The Republicans’ big argument has always been, ‘Oh, we don’t have the money to repeal the food tax. It will come on the backs of firefighters and teachers, or we’ll have to do a state income tax,'" Weiland said. "Well, the governor took all those arguments and threw them in the trash."
But Jim Terwilliger, the governor’s budget director, noted that Noem's proposal would have reduced the state's food tax to 0% rather than eliminating it, addressing concerns about compliance with the streamlined sales tax agreement.
The bill's language aligned with state definitions for food and food ingredients and it spelled out exceptions such as alcohol, tobacco and cannabis.
She warned lawmakers of potential budget fallout if voters passed a grocery tax initiative on top of the general sales tax cut, pointing to public support for such a measure.
Terwilliger told News Watch earlier this year that Noem doesn’t support IM 28 because of concerns about the wording. He added that the governor “still believes a repeal of the grocery tax is the best tax relief for South Dakota families if it is done in a responsible manner,” though she didn’t mention the repeal in her 2024 budget message or State of the State address.
Can cities and towns still tax groceries if this passes?
Again, it's complicated. The actual wording of the measure states that "municipalities may continue to impose such taxes."
But opponents, including the South Dakota Municipal League, said eliminating the tax, rather than reducing it to 0%, will render local governments unable to impose the food tax because of South Dakota Codified Law 10-52-2.
That law states that cities and towns can charge a sales tax if the tax "conforms in all respects to the state tax ... with the exception of the rate." Eliminating the tax entirely would create problems with state and local alignment, said Sanderson.
“Cities and towns can only tax the same items as the state,” he said. “So despite the language in IM 28, if the state cannot charge a tax on ‘anything for human consumption,’ neither can a municipality.”
Rapid City lawyer Jim Leach, who represents Dakotans for Health, called that a flawed analysis. His contention is that IM 28, if it passes, "becomes the law of South Dakota" and supersedes the existing provisions, "which would allow municipalities to continue to tax food."
Hollweger, in a written statement to News Watch before he resigned, noted that “only the state was specified” in Dakotans for Health’s final submission and that municipalities are not legally defined as agencies of the state. “Therefore, LRC concludes the proposed (ballot measure) would not prevent municipalities from imposing a sales tax on food,” he wrote.
Hollweger did not respond to an interview request for this story.
Fulton, the USD law school dean, pointed to a legal principle that says when there is a general statute and a more specific law on the same topic, the more specific statute wins out.
"In this instance, the court would be looking at how IM 28 fits, or doesn’t fit, with other taxation statutes and giving the right of way to the more specific statute," he said.
What are the alternatives to grocery tax repeal?
Several states use refunded tax credits for low-income brackets in which consumers pay the full sales tax rate on food but recoup some of those added costs by claiming a credit when they file their taxes.
The benefit of this, Phillips said, is that the relief is targeted toward low-income households, which makes it more efficient. Simply cutting the grocery tax affects these low-income groups as well as higher-earning families that are likely not as reliant on state dollars that could be used for other services.
The downside, she added, is that "people are going to have to know to apply for it, especially if you are dealing with people on very low incomes or fixed incomes who may not even file income taxes."
Even for those who do apply, the relief comes once a year during tax season, Phillips noted.
"If you're a family that's living paycheck to paycheck, you would rather take the benefits (every trip to the store) rather than waiting a year from now and getting it in a lump sum, which is harder to budget for," she said.
This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit news organization. Read more in-depth stories at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email every few days to get stories as soon as they're published. Contact investigative reporter Stu Whitney at .
Fall is Here! Hopefully no October surprises. Lots of fun things going on in Garretson in October, just want to highlight a few.
Annie's Annual Fall Festival- October 5th from 9 AM-1 PM on Depot Ave in front of Annie's. Crafts, produce, hot chocolate and food specials.
Garretson Area Historical Society and Museum free will dinner and BINGO. Saturday October 12th at Legion. Food starts at 5:30, BINGO at 6:45 until 9 PM. 50% Payout. Bring the whole family!
Commercial Club Trunk or Treat- Thursday October 31st from 5-7 PM. Lots of cool stops for the kids and family.
My subject for the month is Pooh (not Winnie). I walk my Dog twice a day and always carry a couple of plastic bags to pick up her poo.
Apparently a lot of folks don't. A couple of weeks ago a young couple walked their dog by my house as I was working in my yard. Their dog pooed in my front yard.
I approached them and asked them if they were going to pick it up. They didn't know why they should. That in its self is a little disturbing, but I explained it to them. Please review the following city ordinance;
90.04 UPKEEP; RESPONSIBILITY TO REDUCE PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARDS.
(A) No person shall create or maintain any condition or operate any equipment or keep any animal, fowl, pet, or insect under his or her jurisdiction in a way that is likely to cause the transmission of diseases from animals or insects to humans. (B) No owner, keeper, caretaker, or attendant of an animal shall allow an animal to defecate on public or private property other than his or her own. If such animal does defecate upon public or private property, the owner, keeper, caretaker, or attendant must immediately and thoroughly clean the fecal matter from such property. Violation of any part of this section is punishable by a fine or by imprisonment, or both. (C) Anyone walking an animal on public or private property other than his or her own must carry with him or her visible means of cleaning up any fecal matter left by the animal. Animals used in parades or involved in law enforcement are exempt from this section.
This may seem like a trivial thing to some, but for children, and even adults, stepping in a pile of poo is not pleasant. Please carry a bag and pick up your pups poo. You can be fined and no one wants that.
Have a great October and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Bath, SD (September 30, 2024) - To its owner, the FFA jacket is a physical reminder of the personal accomplishments achieved through the organization - a symbol of commitment and dedication for all who wear the corduroy. This fall, a record number 458 South Dakota FFA members from 88 chapters, will receive their own FFA jackets- carrying forward that long-standing tradition of pride, dignity and honor. Jackets were sponsored by various individuals through the SD FFA Foundation program, welcoming new members into the fabric of FFA. FFA members filled out the Blue Jackets Bright Futures FFA Jacket Program application, answering short essay questions about their FFA experience and goals, competing to earn their own FFA jacket instead of purchasing one. Garretson's 2024 recipients are:
Brielle Weir sponsored by Ed & Julie Mueller
Chloe Bryan sponsored by Ed & Julie Mueller
Elise Gundermann sponsored by SDSU Little International
Jordyn Kuphal sponsored by Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Alpha
Natalie Brazee sponsored by CROPLAN by WinField United
Brecken Weir sponsored by Dacotah Bank
Ragean Dempsey sponsored by Dakota Grain Connection
Chloe Hermanson sponsored by BMO Bank
"Receiving my first FFA jacket from the Blue Jackets Bright Futures program kickstarted my career in FFA. Without the help and support that this program gave, I never would have pushed myself in FFA. Because of this program, I can look back at my old jacket and truly appreciate all the memories that happened in it. Putting on that jacket for four years filled me with pride in our association and myself, like it does with many members, and I am very grateful to have had that opportunity to do so, only being possible through the Blue Jacket program," shares Ethan Hendrix, State FFA Secretary from Rapid City.
When students join the FFA, they typically purchase or borrow jackets to compete in the many Career Development Events offered through FFA. The jacket is their team "uniform" to be worn at all official FFA events. The blue corduroy FFA jacket has been the status symbol of the national FFA organization since 1933, when delegates to the national convention voted to make the jacket part of the organization's official attire, thus creating the long-standing tradition.
Individuals and businesses interested in sponsoring an FFA jacket for a SD FFA member should contact Gerri Ann Eide, SD FFA Foundation Executive Director at 605-765-4865 or . Sponsorships are $90 per jacket.
The SD FFA Foundation is proud to support Agricultural Education and the FFA's mission to make a difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more information about the South Dakota FFA Foundation and South Dakota's FFA programs, visit www.sdffafoundation.org or like us on Facebook.
