The Best Job in South Dakota
Rebecca Blue and Chris Church host The Best Job in South Dakota where they explore the important role that women play in agriculture. With a touch of awe and envy, the hosts converse with women who have either 1) found their way to the best job; or 2) performed the best job in their chosen endeavor. Often both! These individuals are making a difference in their communities through agriculture and related fields and demonstrating the important role that women play.
Episodes
Land Hoe! Just about time to prep the garden and the fields. Before you do, this wrap up will rekindle your appreciation for South Dakota lands including the grasslands, the wetlands, and the Woody lands. If you missed an episode or two this season, this wrap up is the CliffsNotes to prep for the course final. It’s an Easy A as in Allelopathic.
Follow Laura Kahler from her bear-confronting days in Wisconsin to her grasslands-advocating days in South Dakota. Blessed with a series of best jobs, Laura is now the Director of the SD Grasslands Initiative. The initiative is a collaborative effort supporting voluntary, harmonious retention of our native prairie ecosystem. An ideal way to soak in the splendor of the grasslands is with a friend like Joe. Don’t you lo...
Folks near Iroquois, SD couldn’t have better neighbors than Franny Fritz and 12-year-old Margaret. Franny’s stock cow operation is a harmonious pairing of cattle and SD grasslands. Her conservation leadership extends the harmony well beyond her fences. What an inspirational life. Wave “thank you” when you see Franny out on her WD45 Allis.
P.S. She’s a charmer with a bucket of corn.
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 appetite and your heart will be sated a...
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.
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 winter. We close with our shortest ho...
“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, that’s the best. Except maybe when Elv...
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 Women’s Ag Network project (www.Womens...
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 Curtis and the comfort he provided. Bon...
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 episode to listen to while you’re drive-i...
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.
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.
“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? Livestock barns or ag machinery display? C...
“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…marshmallows. This episode will Tickle you.
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.
“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 subsequently when profiled in a Finnis...
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 inspire you to explore the soothing quali...
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!
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 management education (and maybe confidence to...
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.
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