For those who know me, they may be aware that I have a passel of kids who are involved in a number of activities. The older kids are primarily my daughters, several of whom have participated in political programs such as Teenage Republicans while involved in high school.

My oldest son – while also involved in TAR’s – takes after his mom who was a Sioux Falls Lincoln High School marching band kid, and has played the saxophone for a number of years. He absolutely gets his musical abilities from mom.*

A unique opportunity came up recently for my son along with two other Brookings High School Students to participate in a once in a lifetime event – to be part of the band that leads the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thanksgiving.

Abigayle, Dylan, and Patrick will join with 250 others from all across the United States and lead the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade down Broadway in front of 3 million spectators along the parade route and 50 million on television.

No one from Brookings has been able to participate in the parade since the early 2000’s.  The tour company had a small window open up for late applications to apply for this experience, and these three proud Bobcats are going to NYC!

and…

This is NOT an activity supported by band funds, so the three students must individually raise funds to participate, and have set a goal of $5000 for the three to participate, which will be applied equally.  They’re pooling their resources and working hard to raise these funds before November 15th.

*ANY FUNDS RAISED OVER THE $5000 goal will be turned directly back to the Brookings Bobcat Band Booster program*

Read about these dedicated band kids and help support their effort at bobcatsonbroadway.com

The Brookings Register recently ran a story on them, and other media outlets are also covering their efforts as they work hard to bring a little Brookings Bobcat pride to the most recognized parade in the world.

They would be greatly appreciative for any and all support that you might be able to give as they fundraise and work together to be part of a great event, And as noted, if they are able to reach their cap, any funds will go towards supporting the Brookings High School Band program, which makes sure that music is a part of the High School experience in the community.

(*Disclaimer, while I have a very passable voice, I am not musically inclined. My mom forced me to take several months of piano, and allowed me to quit after listening to my first recital, conceding defeat. Thank god, it was painful. -pp)

WOW. This is a bombshell letter from State Representative Sue Peterson to the Board of Regents.

Sent out on October 11th, Representative Peterson, Chairwoman of the Government Operations and Audit Committee is putting her foot down on reports that the Board of Regents are  “instructing campuses to ignore the requirements of HB1087 and/or to “slow walk” and reforms,” and holding them to account for their many promises with regards to intellectual diversity which the GOAC chair does not believe Regents seem to be taking very seriously:

BOR GOAC Oct 30 Mtg Invitation Letter by Pat Powers on Scribd

The report requested from the State Board of Regents was due by 3pm today for review and discussion at the 10/30 GOAC Meeting.

It might be fitting that the meeting is nearly on Halloween. Because when GOAC is done with the Board of Regents, the outlook might be frightful for some aspects of their funding.

Noem Announces District 23 Legislative Appointment

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem today announced that she has appointed James “JD” Wangsness to represent District 23 in the South Dakota House of Representatives. The vacancy was created after Rep. John Lake was appointed to the District 23 Senate seat. Wangsness will serve during the 2020 legislative session.

“JD is a qualified, proven public servant,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “His background and experience have prepared him well for this position, and I’m confident he will be a strong voice for the people of District 23.”

“Serving in this capacity is a true privilege and honor that I take very seriously,” said Wangsness. “I look forward to working with other legislators to prioritize fiscal responsibility and promote economic growth for people in District 23 and across the state. Thank you, Governor Noem, for this opportunity.”

Wangsness, along with his wife, Melanie, and son, Ben, own and operate Diamond W Land and Cattle Company near Miller, South Dakota. He has also served as a Hand County Commissioner since 2013. From 2010 to 2012, Wangsness was part of the South Dakota Ag & Rural Leadership Class 6, a highly regarded leadership program based in Brookings. Wangsness holds a degree in farm management and economics from South Dakota State University.

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Remember the former Libertarian candidate for South Dakota Governor CJ Abernathey, who found himself ousted from the libertarian ticket after their 2018 do over convention?

Apparently he’s still out there crusading. This time, he’s crusading for money to be sent to him via PayPal for a little spot he finds himself in…

Yeah. I can’t imagine why Libertarians dumped him from the ticket.

Given their long history of attacking Republicans, questionable ethics, as well as other things, it is interesting to find that Citizens for Liberty’s primary outlet is the website of a socialist democrat who ran against Republicans the past 2 elections…

Conservative activist group Citizens for Liberty polled South Dakota legislators last week on impeachment and related matters.…

Read that here

Seriously? Stace Citizens for Liberty has their latest press release off to Cory Heidelberger before the release is up on their own Facebook page?

I have to question the wisdom of GOP office holders who actually respond to anything sent to them from the Citizens for Liberty organization.

Because they certainly aren’t working to elect Republicans.

Johnson, Cheney, Lucas Introduce the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Frank Lucas (R-OK), introduced the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act, a bill that would provide grants to certain state land-grant universities to better equip livestock producers with risk management training. 

The Livestock Risk Management and Education Act would authorize the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to provide resources to improve livestock producers’ knowledge of futures markets to better manage market volatility. An understanding of futures contracts and risk management strategies will allow producers both large and small to better anticipate cattle prices. This new authority would allow land-grant universities, such as South Dakota State University, to partner with grower associations to more directly reach producers.

“Producers already face an uphill battle of unpredictable weather, understanding cattle prices doesn’t need to be an added challenge,” said Rep. Johnson. “The Livestock Risk Management and Education Act will supply producers with the tools needed to anticipate highs and lows in the futures markets. I’m proud to partner with my colleagues from cattle country to help best prepare our Ag economy and producers for the future.”

“I am pleased to join Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) in his legislation to provide funds to improve available resources and educational materials for producers from land grant institutions,” said Rep. Liz Cheney.“With ever-changing markets, this measure will enable land grant universities like the University of Wyoming to assist our producers in giving them the background they need to properly plan for the future.”

“While we’ve seen tremendous signs of a strong economy- witnessing record declines in unemployment and rising wages across America- sadly, our nation’s farm industry continues to face challenging times, leaving our producers vulnerable to disruptions provoked by market instability and other factors.

Livestock producers across the country have faced years of uncertainty and, like others, need every tool within their belt to manage risk and sharpen their ability to weather the market’s uncertainty. I’m proud to join Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) as a cosponsor of the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act, ensuring that our livestock producers have the resources they need to better utilize risk management strategies as they overcome market volatility. Our producers rise to the challenge day in and day out and the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act would help provide stability for those that feed billions across the globe,” said Rep. Frank Lucas.

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Governor Noem, Bryon Noem Launch First Gentleman’s Initiative

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem and First Gentleman Bryon Noem today launched South Dakota’s first-ever First Gentleman’s Initiative on social media.



“As First Gentleman, my mission is simple: I want to celebrate South Dakota and all the things that make it special. I want to remind people of the hidden gems of our small towns – the places off the beaten path,” said First Gentleman Bryon Noem. “Our hometowns are the heartbeat of our state, and I want to highlight them. I want to remind people that South Dakota’s rural communities are some of the best places to raise a family or to start a business. I’m excited for this opportunity to listen to the stories of our people and our rural communities. Our small towns are our culture. They’re who we are. This is South Dakota.”

Bryon Noem’s initiative, entitled “This is South Dakota,” will highlight the role smaller communities play in South Dakota’s landscape and the importance of preserving the state’s rural culture. As part of this effort, Noem will travel to towns and educate his social community about the value of small town living and the stories found in rural settings.

“In our world today, I think we’ve gotten away from just listening. I want to bring that back,” said Noem. “Whether it’s hearing the stories of a veteran over morning coffee in a café… shooting hoops with the mayor and hearing about the good and tough times a town has gone through… eating ice cream and learning about the heritage of a community… our hometowns have stories to tell and I want everyone in South Dakota to hear them. That’s my goal.”

“Bryon has always been a champion for small towns and the heritage that is preserved in our life,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “This initiative is an incredible opportunity for people across South Dakota to learn more about the things that make our state so wonderful and the value smaller communities bring to our state. I’m also excited for people to get to know Bryon in a better way. He’s fun, kind, and deeply cares about South Dakota. I can confidently say he’s the best First Gentleman South Dakota has ever had!”

Follow First Gentleman Bryon Noem’s initiative on Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about his initiative and for a conversation with Bryon Noem, visit his webpage.

Additional audio clips of the First Gentleman discussing his initiative are available to download here.

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From the Democrat blog Drinking Liberally Sioux Falls, apparently SDDP chair Paula Hawks has demanded that the debt-ridden State Democrat party operate under a strict code of silence:

In South Dakota: Things are going on in the South Dakota Democratic Party, but our new Chairman wants much of it to be held in confidence. So, to not risk violating her wish and admonition, I dare not discuss anything here. Maybe next time. Sorry.

Read that here.

I’m continuing to hear things such as dems avoiding joint media appearances with Republican Party representatives… and notice one weekly segment of that nature on a local news show isn’t airing anymore.

Not sure what ‘Paula’s plan’ is, if there is one now that she’s in charge. But apparently it doesn’t involve talking about the organization she’s leading.

Leadership Our Airmen Can Count On
By Sen. John Thune

South Dakota has a special connection to the U.S. Air Force, especially to the airmen who support its missions in the United States and around the globe. It’s because of this special connection that I’ve always had a particular interest in ensuring the Air Force’s civilian leaders both meet the needs of those they lead and possess the right vision for the future of the military and our national security interests as a whole.

For the last few years, South Dakota was proud to have Dr. Heather Wilson, former president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, serve at the top as secretary of the Air Force. Having lived with Ellsworth Air Force Base in her backyard, Secretary Wilson brought a small piece of South Dakota with her when she led the department.

I was proud to work with her on a number of projects, but I will never forget when the phone rang on the morning of March 27, 2019. I was sitting in my office in Washington when she delivered the news we had long been waiting for: Ellsworth Air Force Base had been officially selected to receive future B-21 training and operational squadrons, which meant South Dakota would be home to the first of our nation’s newest bombers.

I always appreciated Secretary Wilson’s leadership, and while she has since left her post to resume her career in higher education, the Air Force is still in good hands. On October 16, 2019, Ambassador Barbara Barrett was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate to become the 25^th secretary of the Air Force. Secretary Barrett is not only the fourth woman to lead the department in its history, but she is the third consecutive woman to hold this post since 2013, and I was proud to support her nomination.

Secretary Barrett is uniquely qualified for this role, and you don’t need to look further than her long and notable resume to prove it. She has served as U.S. ambassador to Finland, deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and as a member of the Civil Aeronautics Board. As impressive as those achievements are on their own, she’s gone even higher. Tens of thousands of feet higher, actually. She became the first civilian female pilot to land in an F-18 on an aircraft carrier, part of a mission to demonstrate women’s fitness to fly in combat.

Before she was confirmed, I had the opportunity to sit down with then-nominee Barrett to discuss her vision for Ellsworth Air Force Base and how she believed it fit in the department’s broader mission. I’m confident she will serve our airmen and their families well, and I look forward to working with her, particularly as Ellsworth prepares to host the B-21s in the not-too-distant future.

Speaking of new leadership, I visited Ellsworth in early October and was able to spend some time with the new commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Colonel David Doss, as well as Command Chief Master Sergeant Rochelle Hemingway. They, too, will play a critical role in preparing for the B-21s, and I’m thankful for their service and leadership to carry out the base’s current missions.

During this recent visit, I couldn’t help but think about how far things have come at the base. In a mere 14 years’ time, Ellsworth went from imminent closure to now being on the leading edge of our national security strategy. I couldn’t be prouder of what it’s become, and I’m so thankful for the men and women of Ellsworth who call South Dakota home.

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The Pheasant Opener is a South Dakota Tradition
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

The 2019 pheasant opener always takes place on the third Saturday of October. For the next several months, hunters will enjoy being out in the fields. With more than one million acres of public hunting land available, South Dakota is widely known as the pheasant capital of the world. Folks from all over travel here to participate in our great South Dakota tradition, and at the same time make a big impact on our local economy.

According to the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP), their annual pheasant survey showed a 17 percent decline in the number of pheasants compared to last year. However, this was expected due to the heavy snow we had last winter and the high levels of precipitation during the spring and summer months. In South Dakota, weather is always something we have to be mindful of, but according to the GFP, this year’s pheasant population index is still higher than the low years of 2013 and 2017 when hunters harvested an average of 900,000 roosters. We’ll still have a good hunt, but we may just have to work harder for our birds. That’s part of the fun!

The best pheasant nesting habitat is found on land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The land that my family and I hunt on is surrounded by CRP acres. We work to improve the habitat each year by making sure there is water nearby and that we have a number of different crops planted for feed and cover. When the farm bill passed the Senate last year, I worked to make sure it included an increase in the cap of CRP acres from 24 million to 27 million acres, with 2 million acres reserved for grasslands. This will help to provide a long-term healthy habitat for pheasant populations in our state. I continue to support farmers’ and landowners’ ability to enroll more of their acres in CRP.

Like many of you, our family and friends have a pheasant opener tradition. We head out early to hunt near Presho. Our oldest grandson Ian is now old enough to hunt with the “big group,” so we’re looking forward to carrying on our family traditions. Even the kids and grandkids who don’t participate in the hunt like to join us afterward for lunch at Hutch’s Café to share stories from the day. And of course it wouldn’t be opening weekend without some “pheasant poppers,” which are a favorite of ours. You simply wrap pieces of pheasant breast with jalapeno pepper and bacon and cook it however you like—fried, grilled or baked. They’re delicious!

Making memories and getting a few birds is what opening weekend is all about for us. I hope everyone who is participating has a safe, fun and successful hunt!