Nearly everyone in America is familiar with Black Friday. It’s the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season, and with it often comes an early morning, long lines, and, depending on what you’re looking for, some pretty good deals. Black Friday is nearly synonymous with the big-box retailers that are... Continue Reading
When Thanksgiving approaches each year, I’m reminded of the kindness and generosity Native Americans extended to the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock nearly 400 years ago. With the help of Native Americans, Pilgrims learned how to cultivate corn, where to hunt and fish, how to extract sap from maple trees, and... Continue Reading
On Veterans Day in 1988, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. After the president delivered his remarks, he left a handwritten note at the memorial’s edge addressed to “our young friends.” The note read, in part, “You fought for your... Continue Reading
Growing up in a small town has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on who you ask. But if you ask me, my siblings, or my dad who still lives in the house we all grew up in, there’s nothing but upside. Growing up in small-town South Dakota helped shape who... Continue Reading
When I’m home in South Dakota, I spend a lot of my time traveling the state to hear from farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and moms and dads about the issues important to them. It’s the best way to cut through the noise and hear directly from the people who... Continue Reading
Few monuments or landmarks in the United States are more iconic or offer greater patriotic symbolism than does Mount Rushmore. Beginning in 1927, Gutzon Borglum helped transform a seemingly innocuous rock face in the Black Hills into the stoic and easily recognizable faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, which... Continue Reading
When South Dakotans picture opening day of pheasant season, they see unharvested corn and milo fields, sloughs, shelterbelts, and food plots lined with hunters – often friends and family, conspicuous in their bright orange clothing. Although shooting a limit of pheasants isn’t the mark of a successful hunt, the allure of... Continue Reading
South Dakotans celebrate Native American Day every second Monday in October as a way to recognize and pay tribute to the unique and traditional cultures of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations. It is an honor to live in a state that is home to some of the greatest warriors... Continue Reading
There are many things in life over which you have no control. Kimberley and I just experienced one of them. On September 21 at 8:24 p.m., we became grandparents for the very first time. That’s when Henley Joy Hargens made her debut. All we had to do was show up.... Continue Reading
The recent bombing and attempted bombings in New York and New Jersey, as well as the shopping mall attack that occurred less than 200 miles from South Dakota’s eastern border, have reminded us once again that the United States isn’t immune to the risk posed by radical Islamic terrorism. Sadly,... Continue Reading
Almost every rancher in western South Dakota whose operation includes or borders federal land is familiar with prescribed burns and the importance they play in land management. Prescribed or controlled burns remove residue, enhance new growth, and they help prevent the spread of invasive species or disease. Perhaps most importantly,... Continue Reading
While President Obama is just a few short months away from leaving office, there are a few items he won’t be able to leave behind – like the legacy of his health care law. The president’s Democratic allies in Washington would still like to view this bill as President Obama’s... Continue Reading
