News

The South Dakota Retailers Association is once again partnering with the State Fair to bring the Best Bagger Competition to the Freedom Stage on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. Sponsored by Associated Wholesale Grocers, NW French and Associates, and Prairie Farms, the Best Bagger Competition features some of the quickest hands in the grocery business.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 208,000 acres in South Dakota into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 2026. Through CRP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers agricultural producers and landowners incentive payments for their conservation efforts while benefiting their agricultural operations and protecting the nation’s natural resources.

The following students graduated after the spring 2026 semester at South Dakota State University. More than 1,600 students completed all requirements for a degree and/or certificate program.

This thought comes from my file of mixed up metaphors and examples of English malpractice — prostate cancer. A definition of prostate cancer from the Mayo Clinic is “the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the prostate—a walnutsized gland in the male reproductive system.” Many people confuse the name of this cancer with another, very similar, word — prostrate.

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Dakota and Taylor Votaw have built a successful business from Dakota’s passion for beekeeping. Through Flying V Apiaries, established in 2021, they serve customers and agricultural partners in California’s Santa Ynez Valley and northern Minnesota.

As we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States this year, the Gregory Times-Advocate is featuring a column periodically to recount key events and people that led to our country’s independence.

Emotional expression is foundational to meaningful connection, yet many people struggle to engage with it fully. Social and cultural norms often teach us to prize independence and emotional restraint. At the same time, popular culture frequently promotes the idea of “do what feels right for you,” which can unintentionally reinforce avoidance when discomfort arises. Healthy relationships require the ability to differentiate emotional safety from emotional discomfort, to recognize our patterned responses, and to choose vulnerability as a pathway to deeper intimacy and mutual understanding.