Opinion

South Dakota has the distinction of being the first state in the Nation to provide for the popular Initiative and Referendum for enacting and rejecting legislation. This was accomplished by constitutional amendment which was approved in 1898. These forms of direct legislation, first used in 1908, rest on the theory that since the legislature may not always adequately represent them, the citizens should have the last word.

South Dakota has the strongest economy in America. In fact, a recent study by Moody’s Analytics says that South Dakota is one of only two states to be in a stronger economic position than we were before the pandemic. That’s no small deal. At a time when other states are still struggling to recover from the devastating shutdowns imposed on them by shortsighted politicians, South Dakota is thriving.

It was one hundred and ninetyeight years ago last Wednesday that the first act of Christian worship was recorded in South Dakota. A prayer had been offered by Jedediah Smith along the Missouri River near the mouth of the Cheyenne River for members of Ashley’s fur trading group who had been killed by the Arikara.

There is no better place than Mount Rushmore to celebrate America’s birthday. Independence Day is the celebration of our nation and our founding principles of freedom, equality, and opportunity. Thomas Jefferson wrote the beautiful document that declared the United States of America free and independent. George Washington’s leadership in the American Revolution ensured that our independence was established and protected.

It was about four o’clock in the afternoon of May 14, 1804 when nearly four dozen carefully selected young men, their two captains and a dog pushed off in a keelboat and two pirogues to explore the unknown. Ahead of them was a vast unknown territory, bitter weather, numerous Indian tribes, and geographical challenges as well as the continuous and vexing medical challenges which they would face daily.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) and the South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) are proud to continue recognizing longstanding South Dakota family farms and ranches. The South Dakota Farm and Ranch recognition program honors South Dakota families who have owned their farm or ranch for 100, 125 or 150 years.

The story in last week’s ADVOCATE, of Terry Fenenga USMC was correct. The picture was wrong, it was of me D.

Dear Editor, Can you name a more revered, hardy, perseverant group than the American rancher? Working in some of the most unfavorable of conditions to care for their livestock day after day, and into the most brutal of nights. Profit? That is a word not personally in their vocabulary, breaking even in todays world is even a stretch.

On Thursday, May 27, Governor Kristi Noem and five other governors wrote to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), asking them to continue their investigation into anti-competitive practices in the meatpacking industry. The DOJ had originally sent investigative demands to the nation’s four largest meatpackers in May 2020.

On Thursday, May 27, Governor Kristi Noem and five other governors wrote to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), asking them to continue their investigation into anti-competitive practices in the meatpacking industry. The DOJ had originally sent investigative demands to the nation’s four largest meatpackers in May 2020.