The Best Job in South Dakota

Send us Fan Mail In this dynamite episode, learn about the sweets, the eats and other treats at Sweet Grass from owner Heather Larson. Her impressive ag knowledge ensures she’ll steer you right in choosing entrees (go with the flat iron) and desserts (go with the almond-frosted, strawberry-filled white cake).  With Valentines Day coming, Heather may have you hoping for flours, not flowers.  Your a...

Send us Fan Mail Once aspiring to optometry, Vicki McComsey, FSA’s Brown County Executive Director, didn't see the career she was meant for.  Seems like it was in her DNA.  Now, blue skies or blizzard, she provides award-winning service to South Dakota farmers and ranchers.  While not a sports podcast, Vicki picks a Super Bowl winner.  Bet on it.

Send us Fan Mail Wow.  What an educational episode with Cassie Auxt, a biologist with Ducks Unlimited!  A new version of the 3 Rs and the story of the birds and the beef.  Learn how producers are enhancing SD grasslands that benefit waterfowl and cattle with support from Ducks Unlimited and NRCS.  Like the ducks and geese, Cassie migrated to South Dakota.  Fortunately, she doesn’t fly away in the...

Send us Fan Mail “Never a dull moment” on Jamie Johnson and family’s cattle and grain farm.  Last summer all hail broke loose.  Undaunted, effective sustainability and stewardship practices provided a measure of resilience to weather the storms.  Great insight on conservation for beginners and those ready to explore an alphabet soup of USDA programs.  Come harvest time in the wheat fields, well, t...

Send us Fan Mail Grab your partner, do-si-do.  Partnerships are a hallmark of Angela Ehlers' endeavors.  She’s the Executive Director for the SD Association of Conservation Districts.  Partnerships date back to her first dam project to today’s collaboration with USDA’s NRCS and the Jones County Conservation District to connect, engage and educate women in agriculture conservation through the...

Send us Fan Mail Connect with Fanny Brewer, Great Plains Technical Assistance Specialist for the Intertribal Ag Council, for info on accessing a USDA program that “frees you up to dream a little bit.”  Benefit from her prudent advice as Fanny reminds us that farming and ranching is a business and “you better function as a business.”  Ag can be hard, but “look at all the memories,” e.g. faithful Cu...

Send us Fan Mail A surge of electricity short-circuited Holly Heber’s Plan A. That jolt set her on a path to co-owning and operating M&H Land and Cattle, the best job in SD…well, certainly until Labor Day.  Her ‘what-if’ conservation practices have put idle land back into sustainable and profitable use. Holly shares the value of networking, particularly with an open mind to new ideas. Good epi...

Send us Fan Mail Rebecca’s summer break was Fair, while Chris found himself in Heaven.  So, what’s in store for Season 4?  Warning - this preview might ‘soil’ the surprise.  Thank you 4 listening.

Send us Fan Mail Lights!  Camera!  Action!  Season Three conversations magically transported us to the Silver Screen.   Each of our A-List guests evoked memories of a classic movie.  How many have you seen?  Time to check out any two thumbs up cinema  gems and podcast episodes you missed.  We promise they are all ‘reel’ good. 

Send us Fan Mail “Mirror, mirror on the wall.  Who is the fairest one of all?”  Our mirror says it is Peggy Besch, State Fair Division Director at the SD Dept. of Ag and Natural Resources.  It’s fair to say that Peggy and her team deserve the Blue Ribbon for State Fair Production for spectacularly carrying on the celebration of South Dakota agriculture dating to 1885.  What’s your favorite?  Lives...

Send us Fan Mail “I wanted to be an attorney for farmers and ranchers.”  So, she made it happen.  Kiera Leddy, founder of her law firm, Leut Services, P.C.  handles legal issues for the SD ag community.  Whether seeking a permissible waiver or facing a legal tsunami, Kiera’s practice will dive right in for you.  Sage advice from Kiera includes the secret weapon in building a relationship…marshmall...

Send us Fan Mail Peonies and dahlias and snapdragons, oh my! Katie Jones and Audra Scheel are friends, neighbors, and owners/operators of a blossoming business.  A subscription from their budding endeavor, Ranchy Stems, will supply colorful, fragrant, cut flowers throughout the season.  A dash of Pepper tops off an episode that is a feast for your senses.

Send us Fan Mail “I want to write about ag.”  The proverbial lightbulb flipped on for Melisa Goss in a thatched hut in Cambodia.  As Assistant Editor at the Tri-State Neighbor, her articles instantly tweak your curiosity then unfold in stories capturing the achievements, challenges, and character of South Dakotans in the ag world.  Melisa first captivated audiences as a memorable barrel racer and...

Send us Fan Mail Native seeds and plants are instrumental in Charlotte Keoke-Almanza’s and daughter Erica Fischer’s outreach efforts to preserve Dakota culture and promote food sovereignty.  Charlotte is a community educator and head of Hohpithokecawin Gardens.  Erica is an Outreach Coordinator at Sisseton Wahpeton College.  Their ancestral inspiration traces to a Strange Nest Woman.  They may ins...

Send us Fan Mail Where’s the beef?  Head to the Farmers Market at Aberdeen’s Malchow Plaza.  Kelly Brandlee, co-owner and operator of Back Forty Beef has your favorite cuts.  Take home a rib eye for the grill and some burger for her easy oven-baked cornbread casserole.  Talk about a name dropper!  Kelly shares her barrel of fun times with Roxy and her wild ride with Bingo!

Send us Fan Mail We are juiced to welcome Robin Salverson from Lemmon, SD.  Robin’s livestock breeding and development knowledge is extensive!  With her engaging personality, she’s a perfect fit delivering services as an SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist.  Lemmon-aid.  Robin is also South Dakota Program Director for Annie’s Project.  Project programs empower women with farm and risk managem...

Send us Fan Mail Sisters Elizabeth Davelaar and Erin Van Nieuwenhuyzen are a knitted pair.  They own and operate Maker's Way Fiber Mill.  Stitching their talents, they produce wool yarn to dye for, naturally.  With Mom weaving on the peg loom, it’s a family affair.  This conversation is a peach.

Send us Fan Mail Hot dog! Sadie Frey’s passion is electric. You might say we couldn’t ‘resist-her.’ In her ‘current’ position, Sadie is an ace Communication Specialist for Agtegra Cooperative. Fair warning, she will reawaken science experiment memories. Plus, find out why if not for Reeses, Sadie might have been in pieces.

Send us Fan Mail Back from break, but did we have fun?  The answer lies within this season’s preview that reaches new heights and may eclipse your expectations.  We hope you enjoy eason-Say ee-Thray!

Send us Fan Mail Our guest meteorologist aced her Christmas forecast.  Now, our Nation’s foremost weather prognosticator forecasts an early spring.  Whether you’re planting 5 sq. ft. or 500 acres, it’s seed selection time for your 2024 crop.  This season’s guests, with their inspiring career choices, seeded inspirational ideas for all of us.  Like the red, red robin, we’ll soon be bob, bob bobbin’...

Send us Fan Mail “My pickup is my office.”  Amy Pravecek's position at global animal health company Zoetis comes with a front row seat of the stunning ranchland topography of South Dakota and Wyoming.  On the job, you’ll find her chute side with ranchers and their cattle.  At home, well, she’s raising cattle with her husband.  And, she's active in more ag groups than you can “cow”nt.

Send us Fan Mail Q:  When is a loaner a keeper? A:  When she’s Justine Rivard, Senior Ag Lender at the Black Hills Federal Credit Union. Bank on it.  Her expertise, compassion, and grit shine through in our conversation.  Saddle up and lend an ear.  Also, is chili soup?

Send us Fan Mail Happy New Year!  Resolve to start garden planning with sage advice from SDSU horticulturalist Dr. Kristine Lang.  Borage?  Add that to the plan.   If you’re not ready to put the holidays behind, she’s an extension specialist with expert tips on extending your poinsettia’s life.  BTW, those aren’t flowers, they’re bracts. Won’t be long before it’s time to hoe, hoe, hoe.

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to dairy scientists, SDSU Associate Professor Dr. Maneesha Mohan is the cream of the crop.  Take her course and you’ll exercise better judgment…of dairy products.    Learn a technique used in dairy and soil judging.  Find out the answer to, “Why is milk white?”  It’s an episode like no udder.

Send us Fan Mail Gwen McCausland’s cemetery walks with her history teacher grandmother were inspirational.  Now, as Director of the SD Agricultural Heritage Museum, Gwen inspires visitors with a passion for the diverse history, culture, and science of agriculture in South Dakota.  ‘Tis the season to visit the museum for great exhibits and seeds of ideas for holiday gifts.