It’s springtime in South Dakota. The temperatures are getting warmer. The wildflowers are beginning to bloom. Farmers are starting to plant their crops. It’s a great time to be on the road in South Dakota, and I’ve been enjoying my travels around our state.

 

One of the best parts about being home in South Dakota and traveling to communities in every corner of the state is the opportunity for me to hear directly from South Dakotans. Conversations at community meetings, sporting events, and around town are invaluable to me when I get back to Washington to work on behalf of our state. I appreciated a recent opportunity to have a Q&A session with students and faculty at Northern State University. I had a terrific conversation with the Rotary Club in Watertown, and I got to hear directly from airmen and base leadership on a recent visit to Ellsworth Air Force Base and received an update on the progress of substantial construction projects in preparation for the B-21 Raider arrival.

 

When I’m traveling to communities around South Dakota, I always enjoy a visit to Main Street, dropping into city hall, and especially catching some local sports. I had a great visit to Warner recently to tour the new bank on Main Street and drop by the volunteer fire department. I had a chance to meet with some local elected officials in Aberdeen who provided important updates about their communities. And I always love being able to catch a sporting event, whether it’s a Friday night game or a big tournament like the State B basketball tournament where I can support our young athletes and hear from fellow fans.

 

My recent travels also allowed me to check in with some of South Dakota’s manufacturers. I visited the 3M manufacturing facility in Aberdeen to see their operations and get an update from their team. I met with the leadership at Daktronics in Brookings. And I got to see Accurpress America’s plant in Rapid City in action and hear from the South Dakotans who put in a hard day’s work at the plant.

 

I also joined young professionals in Sioux Falls for a very informative Q&A. Harms Oil in Brookings hosted several small business owners for a conversation about economic policies. I will continue seeking input from South Dakotans especially as Congress proceeds with legislation to extend tax relief for American families, small businesses, and farms and ranches.

 

I know I can trust South Dakotans to let me know what’s on their minds, and your input informs the work I do in Washington. I always appreciate our honest conversations when I’m traveling around our state, and I look forward to seeing you soon.