>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪ >> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

I'M JACKIE HENDRY, BROADCASTING FROM THE LEO P. FLYNN GALLERY IN SDPB'S SIOUX FALLS STUDIO.

AGRICULTURE IS AMONG THE STATE'S TOP INDUSTRIES, COUNTING FOR ONE IN FIVE JOBS IN THE STATE.

BUT IT'S NOT AN EASY WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.

IN THIS HOUR, WE LEARN HOW THE MULTI-YEAR DROUGHT WILL LIKELY IMPACT THIS YEAR'S PLANTING SEASON AND HEAR THE STORY OF A RESOURCE TO HELP FARMERS AND RANCHERS MANAGE STRESS.

WE'LL ALSO HEAR STORIES ABOUT INNOVATION AND ADAPTING.

WE VISIT A FORMER LAWMAKER WHO HELPED LEGALIZE INDUSTRIAL HEMP IN THE STATE AS HE PREPARES TO PLANT HIS FIRST CROP, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM A FAMILY WHO CONVERTED THEIR DAIRY FARM TO A HUNTING AND FISHING LODGE WHEN MOTHER NATURE FORCED THEIR HAND.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE ARE AHEAD.

BUT FIRST, SOUTH DAKOTA'S FIRST IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER IS SCHEDULED FOR LATE JUNE.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, HOUSE LAWMAKERS NARROWLY APPROVED THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST ATTORNEY GENERAL JASON RAVSNBORG.

THE IMPEACHMENT FOCUSES ON RAVNSBORG'S CONDUCT AFTER HE STRUCK AND KILLED JOE BOEVER.

SDPB'S LEE STRUBINGER SPOKE WITH LAWMAKERS AND BOEVER'S FAMILY AFTER THE HISTORIC VOTE.

>> HOUSE LAWMAKERS APPROVED TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST RAVNSBORG, ONE FOR CRIMES THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF JOE BOEVER, AND ANOTHER FOR MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE.

THE ARTICLES CONCLUDE RAVNSBORG COMMITTED CRIMES THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF PEDESTRIAN JOE BOEVER, AND THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL USED HIS OFFICE TO BENEFIT HIMSELF IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER.

RAVNSBORG WAS DRIVING A CAR THAT STRUCK AND KILLED BOEVER IN SEPTEMBER 2020.

RAVNSBORG PLEADED NO-CONTEST TO A PAIR OF MISDEMEANORS STEMMING FROM THE ACCIDENT.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN HYDE COUNTY, PART OF REPRESENTATIVE WILL MORTENSON'S DISTRICT.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BROKEN THE LAW, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, ONE OF OUR CITIZENS HAS DIED.

>> THE REPUBLICAN FROM PIERRE BROUGHT THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, EVEN THOUGH AN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE WITH A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY RECOMMENDED AGAINST IMPEACHMENT.

MORTENSON EXPLAINED HIS POSITION AFTER THE HOUSE VOTE.

>> ON SOME OF THOSE MORE LEGAL MATTERS, I JUST THOUGHT THEY CONSTRUED IMPEACHMENT TOO NARROWLY AND SET SOME STANDARDS I DIDN'T AGREE WITH.

WHY MY COLLEAGUES CHOSE TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT THEY DID IS SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T PUSH ANYBODY ON THIS.

IT'S A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE, AND IT'S A HEAVY TOPIC.

AND SO I DIDN'T TRY TO INFLUENCE ANYBODY REALLY OUTSIDE OF STATING WHAT I THOUGHT THE DUTIES OF THAT OFFICE IS AND WHAT I THINK IS OWED TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WAS MOST FIRM AND STEADFAST IN.

>> THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT RECEIVED 36 VOTES IN FAVOR, THE EXACT NUMBER REQUIRED.

THREE LAWMAKERS WERE EXCUSED, AND 31 VOTED AGAINST IMPEACHMENT.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SPENCER GOSCH WAS ONE OF THEM.

HE BELIEVES RAVNSBORG SHOULD RESIGN.

>> IN FACT, I ASKED HIM RECENTLY TO RESIGN.

YEAH, ONCE AGAIN, ONE FINAL TIME.

HE DECIDED THIS MORNING THAT THAT WASN'T THE PATH THAT HE WISHED TO TAKE IN THE EVENT THAT THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED TODAY.

I HAD ARTICLES OF CENSORSHIP READY TO GO.

SO THERE'S -- THERE'S NOT THAT WE DISAGREE THAT SOME OF THE EVENTS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S DONE ARE WRONG.

IT'S JUST, DOES IT RISE TO THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF IMPEACHMENT?

THAT'S THE ARGUMENT, AND MANY OF US FEEL NO, IT DOES NOT.

>> MEMBERS OF JOE BOEVER'S FAMILY WATCHED THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE GALLERY ABOVE THE HOUSE FLOOR.

BOEVER'S WIDOW, JENNY BOEVER, HELD A PHOTO FROM THEIR WEDDING DAY.

>> I KNOW WE HAVE A LITTLE WAYS TO GO.

I'M WORKING ON CLOSURE, SLOWLY.

I MEAN THIS DOES NOT COME EASY BY ANY MEANS.

>> JOE BOEVER'S COUSIN, NICK NEMEC, WAS ALSO THERE.

>> I THINK WE'RE A STEP -- A STEP CLOSER TO JUSTICE.

WE'RE NOT DONE.

>> RAVNSBORG IS NOW TEMPORARILY PROHIBITED FROM EXERCISING THE DUTIES OF HIS OFFICE.

THE SENATE'S TRIAL IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 21ST AND 22ND.

SHORTLY AFTER THE HOUSE VOTE, RAVNSBORG ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE SENATE TRIAL WHERE HE BELIEVES HE WILL BE VINDICATED.

THE SENATE TRIAL WILL END THE DAY BEFORE THE SOUTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTION.

THAT'S WHEN DELEGATES WILL CHOOSE THEIR NOMINEES FOR OFFICE, AND VOTERS WILL CHOOSE THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

A 2/3 VOTE IN THE SENATE IS REQUIRED TO REMOVE RAVNSBORG FROM OFFICE.

>> YOU CAN FIND ONGOING COVERAGE OF THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS ONLINE AT SDPB.ORG/NEWS.

LATE LAST MONTH, A YOUNG MAN FROM PINE RIDGE NAMED MYRON POURIER JR. DIED AFTER HE WAS SHOT BY ANOTHER NATIVE MAN AT THE GRAND GATEWAY HOTEL IN RAPID CITY.

AFTER THE SHOOTING, THE HOTEL'S OWNER MADE RACIST COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK, SAYING THE BUSINESS WOULD NO LONGER ALLOW ACCESS TO NATIVE PEOPLE.

SINCE THEN, THE GROUP N.D.N.

COLLECTIVE FILED A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST THE HOTEL AND ITS OWNERS, AND HUNDREDS PROTESTED WHAT THEY SAY WAS SIMPLY THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF ANTI-NATIVE RACISM IN THE STATE'S SECOND-LARGEST CITY.

RICHARD TWO BULLS BRINGS US THIS FOOTAGE FROM ONE OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS.

[ PEOPLE CHANTING AND ULULATING ] >> WHAT I SUPPRESSED TODAY IS THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CHALLENGE WHITE FOLKS IN SOUTH DAKOTA TO HOLD THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR RELATIVES ACCOUNTABLE, BECAUSE WITH COLONIZATION, ONE THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO EUROPEAN AND IMMIGRANT AMERICANS IS THAT AS SOON AS THEY GOT TO AMERICA, THEY WEREN'T EXPECTED TO HAVE RELATIVES ANYMORE, SO THERE'S NO SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE'S NO SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, EMBARRASSMENT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FIVE, SIX GENERATIONS IN DEEP IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE, AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE A RACIST WHITE PERSON DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR FROM A LAKOTA, FROM OUR CHIEFS, FROM OUR LEADERS.

>> WHAT DO WE WANT?

>> THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM THEIR GRAND CHILDREN AND CHILDREN.

THE PEOPLE THEY REALLY ARE AFFECTING.

BECAUSE AS TIME GOES, IT'S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE WHITE FOLKS ON HOW NOT TO BE RACIST.

WE'RE ANTI-RACIST.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO DEFEND OURSELVES, BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO DEFEND OURSELVES IS TURMOIL ININITSELF.

>> NOT ONLY SOUTH DAKOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, MONTANA, WYOMING, AND NEBRASKA, BECAUSE OF RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT AFFECT INDIAN COUNTRY.

MY FIGHTING STANCE IS TO PROTECT ELDERS LIKE THIS GRANDMA AND CHILDREN THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE TO SAY, HEY INERS TREATING ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, CRAP OVER HERE AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE WAY AMERICA DOES THINGS.

WHITE AMERICA HAS ALWAYS PRACTICED AND PERFECTED COLONIAL POLICIES.

>> WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE ISSUES THAN WHAT WE SEE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING TOO THAT I MYSELF PLEDGE AND I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE THE OTHER CHAIRMANS TO COME WITH ME AND IN A COUPLE WEEKS TO COME OUT HERE AND HAVE A LISTENING SESSION WITH THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WE CAN SEE WHERE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS LIE.

I KNOW DEFINITELY THERE'S A LOT MORE DISCRIMINATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT GOING ON THAN WHAT WE SEE -- SEEN LATELY.

>> NO MATTER IF WE'RE BEARING THEIR NAMES, I CAN BE NAMED JIM CHARLIE, THAT STILL AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

SO I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TO AVERT YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT STRUCTURE AND GO BACK TO YOUR TRADITIONAL NAMES.

CRAZY HORSE NEVER HAD A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

NEITHER WITH RED CLOUD.

BUT THE FACT THAT I MENTION THIS IS, IF THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET ATTENTION FROM WHITE AMERICA, SO BE IT.

>> YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA TO STEP IT UP.

YOU KNOW, IT'S WHITE PEOPLE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT BE RACIST.

AND WE NEED THEIR HELP.

[ HORNS HONKING ] >> WITHOUT CRITICIZING OUR OWN PEOPLE, I THINK IT IS, YOU KNOW, TESTAMENT TO THE NORMALITY OF RACISM IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

NOT ONLY ARE OUR PEOPLE USED TO IT, BUT WE'RE USED TO IT BEING UNADDRESSED.

>> I GUESS THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS THAT OUR NATIVE PEOPLE ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HEY, THIS IS WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE COME FROM AND, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE TREATED BETTER THAN THAT.

SO THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS THAT EVERYBODY IS TREATED LIKE A HUMAN BEING.

>> WE NEED SOMEONE IN SECRETARY FLUTE'S POSITION TO STAND UP AND SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

WILL WE SEE THAT WHERE OUR HIGHEST RANKING NATIVE AMERICAN IN THE STATE CAN'T SPEAK UP OR WON'T SPEAK UP?

AND SO WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO CHALLENGE OUR RELATIVES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR PEERS, OTHER TRIBAL MEMBERS, EVERYBODY TO GET INVOLVED AND DO AS MUCH AS WE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE A CHANGE.

>> MONTHS BEFORE THE RAPID CITY DEMONSTRATIONS, CITY LEADERS AND OTHERS WERE ALREADY ORGANIZING A TOUR OF THE PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION.

THOUGH MANY PEOPLE MAKE THE 80-MILE DRIVE FROM PINE RIDGE TO RAPID CITY ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THE SAME OFTEN ISN'T TRUE FOR CITIZENS OF RAPID CITY.

THE TOUR WAS INTENDED AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES.

>> AS THE CHARTER BUS IDLES OUTSIDE CITY HALL, KAREN MORTIMER OF THE MNILUZAHAN OKOLAKICIYAPI AMBASSADORS WELCOMES MEMBERS OF THE TOUR GROUP.

>> THIS IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THE CITY OF RAPID CITY AND H.R.C.

M.O.A.

AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE TODAY.

>> THE GUIDE FOR THE DAY IS JEN IRVING, VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING WITH RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL.

SHE EXPLAINS MANY PINE RIDGE RESIDENTS DRIVE TO RAPID AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

IT'S NOT A SHORT DRIVE.

>> THE DRIVE TO PINE RIDGE IS ABOUT AN HOUR AND FIFTEEN, AN HOUR AND TEN.

I WON'T SAY, SINCE WE HAVE A CITY ATTORNEY ON THE BUS -- [ LAUGHS ] SOME OF US WITH LEAD FEET CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT QUICKER.

>> IRVING SAYS RESIDENTS OFTEN MAKE THE DRIVE FOR SHOPPING OPTIONS.

STRICT REGULATIONS MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO START A BUSINESS ON THE RESERVATION.

WHEN THE GROUP ARRIVES AT RED CLOUD'S CAMPUS, THERE'S A WELCOME AND BRIEF ORIENTATION.

THE GROUP VISITS SOME OF THE SCHOOL'S LAKOTA LANGUAGE IMMERSION CLASSROOMS.

HERE, STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADE LEARN ENTIRELY IN LAKOTA, SOMETHING THAT WAS PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT JUST A COUPLE GENERATIONS AGO.

TASHINA BANKS RAMA IS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL.

>> I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR IMMERSION TEACHERS, AND THE IMMERSION WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

AND REALLY, IT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

EVERY STUDENT HERE DESERVES TO BE LEARNING THEIR LANGUAGE, DESERVES TO BE LEARNING AS MUCH ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AS WE CAN TEACH THEM AS EDUCATORS.

SO TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH OUR RAPID CITY LEADERS WAS, I FEEL, A PRIVILEGE.

>> SHE EXPLAINS THAT USUALLY THEY DON'T HAVE TOURS AT THE SCHOOL.

BUT THIS CASE IS DIFFERENT.

>> WE DON'T OPEN OUR DOORS TO EVERYBODY, BUT WE DID FEEL IN THIS CASE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT AND THE INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE MAKING TO THE LANGUAGE, AND HOPEFULLY IN THE RAPID CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR IN ANY SPACES THERE, THAT THE LANGUAGE IS ALSO PROMOTED AND CELEBRATED AND USED, SO THAT IT'S NORMALIZED.

>> OGLALA SIOUX TRIBAL HEADQUARTERS IS THE NEXT STOP FOR THE TOUR, TO TALK WITH MEMBERS OF THE TRIBAL FINANCE COMMITTEE.

FROM THERE, THE BUS TRAVELS TO WOUNDED KNEE.

JEN IRVING EXPLAINS THE MEANING OF THE 1890 MASSACRE, WHEN THE U.S. CAVALRY OPENED FIRE ON A GROUP OF LAKOTA PEOPLE, INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THE MILITARY BURIED THE ESTIMATED 300 PEOPLE IN A MASS GRAVE.

>> SO IT WAS KIND OF A CHANGE, A SPIRIT SHIFT IN OUR PEOPLE.

WE WERE JUST STARTING TO COME ONTO RESERVATIONS.

WE WERE JUST STARTING TO GIVE UP A LOT OF OUR WAY OF LIFE.

BOARDING SCHOOLS WERE BECOMING MORE AND MORE OF A REALITY.

AND THEN THIS HAPPENED.

IT WAS KIND OF A BIG SHIFT FOR A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE.

>> HIGH WINDS KEEP THE GROUP IN THE BUS DOWNHILL FROM THE GRAVESITE.

TASHINA BANKS RAMA, WHOSE FATHER WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT, SHARES HISTORY OF THE 1973 OCCUPATION.

>> WE WERE TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO OUR TREATIES.

WE WERE TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE TRIBAL ADMINISTRATION THAT WASN'T ADDRESSING THEIR GRIEVANCES.

THEY WERE WANTING A FULL SENATE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MISTREATMENT OF NATIVE AMERICANS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

THOSE WERE THEIR THREE DEMANDS THAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR, AND THEY NEVER WERE FORMALLY ADDRESSED.

>> THE GROUP MAKES ITS FINAL STOP AT THE OGLALA LAKOTA ARTS SPACE IN KYLE FOR PRESENTATIONS AND A CIRCLE WHERE MEMBERS SHARE THEIR IMPRESSIONS OF THE DAY.

RITCHIE NORDSTRUM IS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING PARTS OF CENTRAL AND EAST RAPID CITY.

HE SAYS THE STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PEOPLE INSPIRED HIM TO PARTICIPATE.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE THAT AND TURN IT INTO A POSITIVE EVENT FOR RAPID CITY BY THE HEALING PROCESS THAT'S GOING ON, TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THE RESERVATION LOOKS LIKE, ALL THE INNER WORKINGS.

AND I'M KIND OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE GUY, SO I'M LOOKING AT THIS FROM A DIFFERENT LENS, IF YOU WILL.

AND IF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES DON'T DO WELL, RAPID CITY DOESN'T DO WELL.

>> I TRAVEL TO RAPID CITY OFTEN FOR GROCERIES, FOR MOVIES, FOR CLOTHES, YOU KNOW, ALL SORTS OF THINGS, AND I HAVE A REAL APPRECIATION FOR THE COMMUNITY THERE, AND I HAVE FAMILY WHO LIVES THERE.

I FEEL LIKE RAPID CITY'S MY SECOND HOME, REALLY, AND SO -- BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S NECESSARILY RECIPROCATED WHERE RAPID CITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL THE SAME ABOUT COMING HERE.

THERE'S KIND OF THE STIGMA OR A STEREOTYPE ABOUT WHAT THE RESERVATION IS LIKE.

AND THE STEREOTYPE JUST COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

>> THERE'S A SENSITIVITY THAT WE TRY TO BE ALSO AWARE OF, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE INTO OUR COMMUNITY NOT TO STARE AND LOOK BUT, YOU KNOW, EXTEND AN INVITATION FOR CONVERSATION, FOR COMMUNICATION SO THAT WE CAN START TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLDS THAT WE COME FROM RESPECTIVELY.

>> WE TURN NOW TO OUR MAIN FOCUS THIS MONTH: AGRICULTURE.

AS I SAID EARLIER, AG IS ONE OF THE STATE'S TOP INDUSTRIES.

IT ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN $10 BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, BUT EACH SEASON BRINGS A NEW CHALLENGE FOR EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

THIS TIME OF YEAR IS USUALLY THE WETTEST IN SOUTH DAKOTA, BUT INSTEAD, A TWO-YEAR DROUGHT PERSISTS.

AS THE STATE'S AG PRODUCERS PONDER THEIR OPTIONS AHEAD OF THE PLANTING SEASON, WE CAUGHT UP WITH A RANCHER IN NORTH-CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA FOR HIS OUTLOOK ON THE MONTHS AHEAD.

>> IN DEWEY COUNTY, WEST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER, CONDITIONS HAVE NOT IMPROVED SINCE LAST SUMMER.

SINCE THAT VISIT TO RANCHER OREN LESMEISTER, THE ONLY NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE THE STRONG WINDS THAT HAVE LASTED FOR DAYS AT A TIME.

>> SO THIS IS A SPOT WE STOOD IN LAST YEAR, AND WE FILMED, AND THERE WAS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF GROWTH THEN AS THERE IS NOW.

>> ON A DRIVE OVER BROWN FIELDS, HE POINTS OUT A DAM THAT'S USUALLY FULL BY THIS TIME.

>> AND THAT LITTLE TINY PUDDLE THAT WE HAVE IN THERE RIGHT NOW IS, LIKE I SAID, JUST FROM THE, YOU KNOW, SNOW WE HAD EARLIER THAT BLEW OFF ALL THESE SIDE HILLS AND NOW IS MELTED OFF.

AND RAN OFF QUICK INTO IT.

>> THE APRIL 21ST U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR REPORT SHOWS DEWEY COUNTY IS IN SEVERE DROUGHT.

LAURA EDWARDS IS THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST WITH SDSU EXTENSION, THE AG-RELATED OUTREACH ARM OF SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> WE HAVE OVER 3/4 OF THE STATE IN SOME LEVEL OF DROUGHT, ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR MAP, AND NEWLY MARKED ON THE MAP WAS THE AREA OF D-3, OR EXTREME DROUGHT.

TO PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT, THAT'S MAYBE FIVE TIMES A CENTURY.

THREE TO FIVE TIMES A CENTURY LEVEL DROUGHT.

>> PARTS OF CHARLES-MIX COUNTY ARE IN THAT EXTREME DROUGHT.

LEE QUALM IS A FOURTH-GENERATION FARMER JUST WEST OF PLATTE.

>> THIS IS AS DRY AS I'VE EVER, EVER SEEN IT.

AND THE WINDS JUST KEEP DRYING IT OUT EVERY DAY, AND EVERY DAY GRASS IS NOT GROWING.

WE RELY ON MOTHER NATURE TO GIVE US OUR RAIN, AND UNTIL THE WEATHER PATTERNS CHANGE, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO IT COULD BE DEVASTATING FOR THE RURAL ECONOMY.

PRICES ARE GREAT, BUT IF YOU CAN'T RAISE ANYTHING, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

>> THIS DROUGHT PATTERN STARTED IN 2020.

LAST FALL, THERE WAS SOME PRECIPITATION, AND THAT HELPED A LITTLE, BUT SINCE THEN, NOT MUCH HAS FALLEN.

>> WE'VE HAD WHAT I CALL AN OPEN WINTER WITH BASICALLY NO SNOW COVER, AND SO WITH THE WIND, EVEN WHEN WE ARE IN THE COLD SEASON, WE CAN LOSE MOISTURE FROM THE SURFACE AND FROM SOILS, AND WATER THAT'S EXPOSED TO THE WIND AND DRY CONDITIONS, AND SO WE DID SEE SOME WATER LOSS ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE IN THE WINTER SEASON, WHICH IS REALLY UNUSUAL.

>> AND AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED IN RECENT WEEKS, THOSE WINDS HAVE NOT LET UP.

CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT'S DRIVING THOSE REALLY STRONG WINDS?

>> THAT'S KIND OF THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION, AND EVERYBODY WANTS AN ANSWER TO, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOOD ANSWER.

YOU KNOW, VISITING WITH MY FELLOW METEOROLOGISTS AND CLIMATOLOGISTS AROUND SOUTH DAKOTA AND AROUND THE REGION, IT'S REALLY UNUSUAL EVERYWHERE.

LATE APRIL THROUGH EARLY JULY IS GENERALLY OUR WETTEST TIME OF YEAR, COMPRISING ABOUT 40% OF OUR TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE SEASON.

SO THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE ACTUALLY NEED QUITE A BIT TO MAKE UP FOR THE MOISTURE THAT WE'VE LOST OR NOT RECEIVED.

>> THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, OR N.O.A.A., HAS AN ONLINE TO TO HELP ESTIMATE WHAT IT MIGHT TAKE TO ALLEVIATE DROUGHT IN CERTAIN AREAS.

IT TAKES CURRENT AND PAST CLIMATE DATA AND CALCULATES THE PROBABILITY OF GETTING OUT OF DROUGHT IN, SAY, THREE MONTHS.

THE MOST OPTIMISTIC CALCULATION IS FOR NORTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA, WITH A 41% CHANCE THE DROUGHT WILL END BY JULY.

IT'S LESS THAN A 25% CHANCE FOR OTHER DROUGHT-AFFECTED AREAS.

>> LESS THAN A COIN TOSS.

SO PROBABILITIES AREN'T REALLY GREAT OF THAT HAPPENING.

>> HOW MUCH DOES CLIMATE CHANGE PLAY INTO THIS CONVERSATION?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN TIE ANY SPECIFIC EVENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT CERTAINLY WE'VE SEEN INCREASES IN THE EXTREMES, BOTH WET AND DRY, AND THAT'S PART OF WHERE WE ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTINENT.

BUT SEEING THESE BIG SWINGS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CHANGING CLIMATE, BECAUSE WE SEE JET STREAMS SWING MORE LIKE THIS, THE NORTH AND SOUTH PATTERN, RATHER THAN JUST KIND OF STRAIGHT WEST-TO-EAST KIND OF STORM PATTERNS.

SO DEPENDING ON WHERE WE FALL ON THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE JET STREAM CAN DETERMINE OUR WEATHER PATTERN.

AND THOSE ARE RELATED TO A CHANGING CLIMATE ACROSS THE GLOBE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR WORDS TO THOSE FARMERS AND RANCHERS LOOKING AHEAD TO PLANTING SEASON?

>> WE MAY SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN SOME AREAS OF THE STATE IN THE DROUGHT SITUATION IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT LONG TERM AS YOU PROGRESS THROUGH THE GROWING SEASON, I THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY TOUGH AGAIN.

>> BACK IN OREN LEMSEISTER'S PICK-UP TRUCK, I ASK HIM HOW HE HANDLES THE STRESS.

>> A LOT OF IT'S HOPE.

I GUESS I TRY NOT TO LET IT STRESS ME.

IT'S FRUSTRATING BY NO DOUBT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA STRESS OVER SOMETHING WE CANNOT CONTROL, AND THAT'S THE WEATHER, YOU'RE GONNA STRESS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND TWICE ON SUNDAY, AS THEY SAY.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE IN THE AG BUSINESS, DON'T GET ME WRONG, IT'S STRESSFUL, BUT YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO SHRUG IT OFF AT SOME POINT BECAUSE WHETHER IT'S A DROUGHT, OR FLOODING, HAIL STORMS, THE MARCH OR APRIL CALF-KILLER, WEATHER IS ALWAYS A HUGE FACTOR IN OUR LIFE.

IT'S NOT THE FIRST DROUGHT.

BY NO MEANS IT WON'T BE THE LAST.

AND WHEN IT STARTS RAINING, AS THEY ALWAYS SAY, AFTER THE FIRST TWO INCHES RAIN, YOU'LL FORGET ALL ABOUT IT.

SO WE JUST GOT TO GET THE FIRST TWO INCHES OF RAIN.

>> WHEN WEATHER EXTREMES AND OTHER FACTORS THREATEN OUR LIVELIHOOD, HOPE CAN BE HARD TO COME BY.

THE STRESSES OF FARMING AND RANCHING INSPIRED THE CREATION OF A HOTLINE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO AG PRODUCERS.

THE MAN WHO CREATED THE HOTLINE KNOWS THE STRESSORS OF FARMING FIRSTHAND.

>> KARL OEHLKE GROWS CORN AND SOYBEANS ON HIS FAMILY FARM JUST WEST OF SIOUX FALLS.

WHILE FARMING HAS BEEN IN HIS FAMILY FOR FOUR GENERATIONS, OEHLKE IS ALSO A CERTIFIED PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT IN PSYCHIATRY.

IT'S THE STRESS HE LIVED THROUGH DURING THE 2018 FLOODS THAT INSPIRED HIM TO CREATE THE FARM AND RURAL STRESS HOTLINE.

>> I JUST -- I REALIZED THAT EVEN WORKING IN TOWN, THE STRESS THAT WAS -- THAT I HAD TO FIGURE OUT.

"WELL, HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE THIS YEAR WORK, FINANCIALLY?"

AND I EVEN HAD A JOB IN TOWN TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE COSTS.

I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT WE WERE SEEING THE NUMBER OF PRODUCERS IN THE HOSPITAL OR EVEN IN THE CLINICS THAT WE SHOULD BE SEEING.

BECAUSE IF I WAS HAVING THAT AMOUNT OF STRESS, THERE'S OTHER FOLKS THAT CERTAINLY HAD TO BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THINGS.

UNFORTUNATELY AS THE STRESS BEGAN TO INCREASE, THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT STARTED TO INCREASE TOO.

>> SUICIDE IS THE TENTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND SUICIDE RATES HAVE GONE UP THE PAST FEW YEARS.

LAST YEAR, THE CDC FOUND THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF SUICIDE OF ANY OCCUPATION.

OEHLKE SAYS IT'S CRITICAL FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO TALK WITH PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR SPECIFIC SITUATIONS.

THERE AREN'T MANY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND WHO CAN DO THAT.

>> WHY IT WOULD MATTER IF THE MILK MARKET'S IN THE TANK?

OR WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY EVERY TIME YOU MILK THE COWS YOU LOSE MONEY?

I MEAN, WHY DO YOU -- YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO A LOT OF FOLKS.

WHEREAS EVERY DAIRY FARMER, HOG FARMER, AND CROP FARMER, RANCHER IN THE AREA, THAT MAKES SENSE TO THEM.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PUT SHOES ON YOUR KIDS' FEET IF YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.

>> AND ISOLATION OFTEN ADDS TO THE STRESS.

>> THE TRACTOR LOOKS REALLY COOL SITTING BEHIND ME, BUT WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN IT FOR 12 HOURS AT A TIME, IT CAN BE PRETTY LONELY TOO.

>> COST IS OFTEN AN OBSTACLE TO CARE.

THE FARM AND RURAL STRESS HOTLINE IS FREE.

SDSU EXTENSION, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES RECENTLY LAUNCHED A VOUCHER PROGRAM TO HELP AG PRODUCERS COVER THE COSTS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

THE HOTLINE IS ONE WAY TO GET CONNECTED TO THOSE RESOURCES.

INPATIENT CARE IS ALSO EXPANDING IN SOME AREAS.

AVERA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXPANDED ITS FACILITY IN SIOUX FALLS LAST MONTH.

WALTER PANZIER IS A TRUSTEE WITH THE HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST, WHICH PARTIALLY FUNDED THE EXPANSION.

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S OUR COMMITMENT NOT ONLY TO MENTAL HEALTH FOR EVERYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AREAS.

AND THIS WONDERFUL BUILDING WILL SERVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE RURAL AREAS.

>> KARL OEHLKE'S MESSAGE TO FELLOW FARMERS IS: YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FARM IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

FAMILY FARMS NEED FAMILIES THERE.

KIDS NEED DADS.

THEY NEED MOMS.

YOU KNOW, DON'T HESITATE TO MAKE THAT CALL.

I GUARANTEE THE FEAR AND THE SHAKING WHEN YOU'RE HOLDING THE PHONE INITIALLY WILL WEAR OFF.

AND I GUESS THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WOULD IMPLORE TO EVERYONE IS, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ASKING FOR HELP.

THE HOT LINE IS ON YOUR SCREEN NOW AND YOU CAN ALSO CALL THE STATEWIDE 211 HOT LINE FOR OTHER RESOURCES.

AND I SINCERELY HOPE YOU ASK FOR THE HELP YOU NEED.

>> FARMING IS A FAMILY TRADITION FOR MANY ACROSS THE STATE, AND INTRODUCING A NEW CROP INTO THE ROTATION CAN MEAN NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN OPERATION.

THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR FARMERS CAN TRY THEIR HAND AT RAISING HEMP.

LEGALIZING INDUSTRIAL HEMP WAS A KEY TOPIC IN RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

NOW SOMEONE WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THE CROP TO THE STATE IS PREPARING TO PLANT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> THE QUALM FAMILY IS NO STRANGER TO TRYING SOMETHING NEW.

LAST YEAR THEY LAUNCHED THIS CAMPGROUND AND CONVENIENCE STORE ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER WEST OF PLATTE.

AND THIS YEAR, FORMER STATE LAWMAKER LEE QUALM IS PLANTING HIS FIRST CROP OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP.

QUALM WAS THE PRIMARY SPONSOR OF THE BILL LEGALIZING INDUSTRIAL HEMP IN 2020.

>> THE FINAL DRAFT OF H.B.-1008 IS A JOINT COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AG, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ALONG WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

IT DOES WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD AND GROW HEMP IN THIS STATE.

>> HOW IS INDUSTRIAL HEMP DIFFERENT FROM SOME OF THE OTHER PRODUCTS THAT YOU'VE PRODUCED IN THE PAST.

>> "SUSTAINABLE" IS A BIG WORD THESE DAYS, AND HEMP IS VERY SUSTAINABLE.

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY -- THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE USED OR MADE OUT OF.

HEMPCRETE, FOR EXAMPLE.

THAT'S ONE PRODUCT.

I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE.

IT'S LIGHTER WEIGHT AND STRONGER THAN CONCRETE IS, AND IT'S NOT BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE ASPECT.

>> QUALM SAYS HEMP-BASED PRODUCTS COVER A WIDE RANGE INCLUDING ANIMAL FEED, CLOTHES, FIBERS, AND COSMETICS.

LAST YEAR FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE PLANTED 1,600 ACRES.

QUALM EXPECTS TO SEE MORE THAN TRIPLE THAT AMOUNT THIS YEAR.

>> THE LAST I HEARD IT WAS SOME OVER 4,500.

SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

THIS IS GONNA BE OUR FIRST YEAR.

WE'RE GONNA PLANT 40 ACRES THIS YEAR.

>> 40 ACRES SOUNDS LIKE A LOT TO ME, BUT I DON'T HAVE A FRAME OF REFERENCE.

>> MY SON AND I -- AND HE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THAT TOO -- BUT THERE'S CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS WE HAVE TO DO TO OUR COMBINE, AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO DO ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE TO DO IT.

>> LEE QUALM'S SON OTTO STARTED WORKING THE FARM FULL-TIME TEN YEARS AGO.

>> HEMP IS A REAL FIBROUS -- HAS A REAL FIBROUS STALK, WHICH MEANS IT'S TOUGH.

SO IT LIKES TO WRAP ON STUFF.

SO ON THE COMBINE ON THE BACK, THERE'S A CHOPPER THAT SPINS.

WITH EVERY OTHER CROP, IT SPINS AND CHOPS IT UP.

CUTS IT.

WELL, WITH HEMP, YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT IT BECAUSE YOU NEED TO SAVE THE FIBER.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT IT LITTLE.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS, YOU TAKE OFF ALL THE KNIVES OFF OF IT, AND THAT'S NOT QUITE GOOD ENOUGH FROM WHAT WE FOUND OUT.

IT STILL LIKES TO CATCH AND WRAP ON EVERYTHING, BALL UP.

AND WHEN YOU BALL UP, USUALLY CAUSES FRICTION.

FRICTION STARTS FIRES.

SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE AND AND AFTER YOU PULL ALL THE KNIVES OFF, YOU HAVE TO WRAP PLASTIC AROUND THE CHOPPER SO THAT NOTHING CAN CATCH ANYWHERE.

AND THERE'S A FEW OTHER MINOR MODIFICATIONS YOU GOT TO DO.

>> AND THEN QUALM HAS TO UNDO ALL THOSE ADJUSTMENTS TO WORK A FIELD OF SOYBEANS OR CORN.

HE SAYS THE EXTRA TIME AND LABOR IS WORTH IT FOR A CROP WITH MANY USES.

>> DAD MADE THE COMMENT THAT "SUSTAINABLE" IS A BIG DEAL RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A VERY SUSTAINABLE CROP, AND IT HAS SO MANY USES, 25,000, AND THAT'S INSANE!

YOU KNOW, CORN BASICALLY HAS TWO USES: FEED AND ETHANOL, AND THAT'S IT.

AND THAT'S A HAVE I SUSTAINABLE DEAL.

SO I THINK THROWING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE MIX, IT'S A HUGE DEAL.

IT'S A GAME-CHANGER, FOR SURE.

>> IT'S DROUGHT-HARDY.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME MOISTURE.

IT CAN'T GROW WITHOUT ANYTHING, BUT IT WILL PRODUCE SOMETHING WITH VERY LITTLE MOISTURE.

VERY WEED-COMPETITIVE.

YOU DON'T USE HERBICIDES.

YOU DON'T NEED TO USE PESTICIDES.

>> BUT LEGALIZING THE CROP WASN'T EASY.

>> THERE WAS SOME GIVE AND TAKE ON BOTH PARTIES.

AND I GUESS THAT'S HOW YOU COME UP WITH LEGISLATION.

IT'S KIND OF UGLY IN THE MIDDLE, BUT AS LONG AS YOU GET THE PRODUCT YOU WANT AT THE END, YOU KNOW.

IT'S NOT PERFECT.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT LEGISLATION.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN MODIFIED FROM THE FIRST TIME.

>> GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM RECENTLY SIGNED A BILL REVISING SOME OF THE STATE'S INDUSTRIAL HEMP PROVISIONS.

SOME OF THE CHANGES INCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY TO WAIVE FINGERPRINTING REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWERS AND REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CREATE LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCTS.

WITH THE CHALLENGE OF LEGALIZING THE HEMP INDUSTRY BEHIND HIM, LEE QUALM LOOKS TO A MORE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE: THE DROUGHT.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO GET EXCITED ABOUT GOING ONTO THE FIELD AND THROWING SEEDS INTO THE GROUND THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN FIND MOISTURE TO GET -- EVEN GET IT STARTED.

I HONESTLY CAN'T EVER REMEMBER IN MY LIFETIME WHERE WE COULDN'T GET THE SEED STARTED.

SO THIS IS AS DRY AS I'VE EVER SEEN IT.

>> ARE YOU NERVOUS THAT JUMPING IN AT 40 ACRES, YOUR FIRST YEAR DOING A NEW CROP IN A DROUGHT YEAR?

>> ACTUALLY I WANTED TO DO MORE!

[ LAUGHS ] BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW.

>> THE RISK IS ESPECIALLY GREAT AS MANY CROP INSURANCE PROGRAMS DON'T YET COVER THE STATE'S NEWEST CROP.

THE QUALMS' HEMP ACRES WON'T BE COVERED UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

>> SO THAT'S KIND OF SCARY, THE FIRST TIME AROUND, NOT HAVING ANY INSURANCE ON IT.

IT'S A HUGE GAMBLE.

IF IT DOESN'T RAIN ON THAT 40 ACRES, WE'RE JUST OUT EVERYTHING.

DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME GROWING UP THAT HE DOESN'T GAMBLE BECAUSE HE GAMBLES EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE WHEN HE'S FARMING.

AND I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT AT THE TIME, BUT NOW I DO.

>> BUT THE QUALMS SAY THE CHANCE TO CONTINUE A FAMILY FARM WITH A NEW PRODUCT IS A VALUABLE WAY TO PUSH THE BUSINESS INTO THE FUTURE.

>> I'M FOURTH GENERATION.

MY SON IS FIFTH GENERATION ON THIS FARM.

SO WE'RE -- WE FEEL VERY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND PART OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MAKING SOME BIG THINGS CHANGE WITH HEMP.

WHO KNOWS?

>> THIS JUNE MARKS 50 YEARS SINCE THE 1972 BLACK HILLS FLOOD.

238 LIVES WERE LOST, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS ARE TAKING TIME TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THOSE PEOPLE.

AN SDPB DOCUMENTARY, "SURVIVING THE '72 FLOOD," IS IN PRODUCTION NOW.

IN THIS SHORT PREVIEW, MIKE FAUST AND KAY SCHRIEVER SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF GETTING CAUGHT IN THE DEADLY FLASH FLOODS.

AND A WORD OF CAUTION TO VIEWERS: THESE STORIES CAN BE DIFFICULT TO HEAR.

>> FRIDAY, JUNE 9TH, 1982.

1972.

POWERFUL THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP.

WINDS ARE WEAK.

SO THE STORMS HOVER OVER THE MOUNTAINS.

SOME LOCATIONS RECEIVE 15 INCHES OF RAIN IN SIX HOURS.

A FLOOD SURGE LIKE A LIQUID AVALANCHE ROLLS DOWN RAPID CREEK TOWARD RAPID CITY.

JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN, SURGING FLOOD WATER FROM RAPID CREEK RISES AROUND A CAR FILLED WITH SIX TEENAGERS.

THEY PULL INTO A PARKING LOT NEAR THE MULTI-STORY RUSHMORE BUILDING LOOKING FOR PROTECTS.

>> AS SOON AS WE STOPT THE CAR, KAY JUST INSTANTLY JUMPS OUT OF THE CAR AND TAKES OFF RUNNING TO THE RUSHMORE BUILDING AND THERE WAS FIRE ESCAPE LADDERS IN THE BACK.

>> AND I WAS JUST RAN.

I SAX THE FIRE ESCAPE.

>> AND SHE MADE IT.

AND I SAID, LET'S GO.

AND JUST LITERALLY IN SECONDS, THE WATER'S UP TO MY KNEES AND STUFF AND THE CURRENT IS SO STRONG, WE COULDN'T MAKE IT.

>> SO I GOT OVER AND GOT UP THERE.

WELL, THEN I WAS HOLLERING AT 'EM, YOU KNOW, BUT IT WAS GETTING LOUD BY THEN.

AND I, YOU KNOW, SAID, WAS MOTIONING AND HOLLERING, YOU KNOW, COME OVER.

, YOU KNOW, COME OVER HERE.

AND ED, THE OTHER GENTLEMAN, THAT HAD GOTTEN IN THE CAR WITH GAIL AND I, HE TRIED TO BRING GAIL OVER TO ME, BUT BY THAT TIME, THE WATER WAS TOO SWIFT.

THEY COULDN'T GET THROUGH.

SO THEY WANT BACK OVER, WERE ATTEMPTING TO GET UP ON TOP OF THE ROOF, WHEN THE WALL OF WATER CAME.

>> SO WE'RE BACK THERE, WE'RE LOOKING, FOR A TREE OR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN GET UP ON.

AND THEN I SPOT SOME PLUMBING PIPES COMING OUT OF THE TOP CORNER OF THE BUILDING.

AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I CAN GET IN MY CAR AND I'LL PULL IT UP NEXT TO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THEN I CAN JUMP UP ON THE ROOF, AND I CAN GRAB THOSE PIPES AND I'LL PULL YOU GUYS ALL UP.

WELL, AS SOON AS I WENT OVER TO THE CAR AND OPENED UP THE CAR DOOR, I LOOKED UP, AND THE BACK WALL.

BUILDING BLEW OUT.

>> ED HEALY AND -- ARE STANDING NEAR THE WALL WHEN IT BLOWS OUT.

THEIR BODIES ARE FOUND LATER.

>> I SAX THE WALL COME DOWN, YOU KNOW, WASH OUT, AND ED AND GAIL WERE -- THEY WAS TRYING TO HELP HER UP THERE.

AND I SAW THEM, AND SHE -- THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW?

SO THEN I RAN UP.

THAT'S WHEN I RAN FROM HERE UP TO THE NEXT ONE.

BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IN THIS DOOR.

SO I RAN UP TO THE NEXT ONE.

AND THAT DOOR WAS OPEN.

>> THE CAR SHOT STRAIGHT BACK INTO A TREE.

I WAS HANGING ONTO THE CAR DOOR.

AND THEN I SEE RANDY AND JOHN ARE ON THE BACK BUMPER STILL HANGING ON.

SO I WORK MY WAY BACK TO THEM.

AND AS WE'RE HANGING ON TO THE BUMPER, WELL, THE WATER JUST KEEPS INCREASING, AND IT'S SHOOTING OVER THE ROOF OF THE CAR, AND IT'S LIKE BEING UNDERNEATH A WATERFALL.

IT WAS DROWNING US.

AND WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER.

AND WE SAID, I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW.

AND WE ALL JUST LET GO.

AND TOOK OFF.

>> A PUBLIC SCREENING OF "SURVIVING THE '72 FLOOD" IS SCHEDULED FOR THE EVENING OF JUNE 8TH AT THE JOURNEY MUSEUM AND LEARNING CENTER IN RAPID CITY AT 6:30 MOUNTAIN.

THE TELEVISION PREMIERE IS THURSDAY, JUNE 9TH, AT 8:00 CENTRAL, 7:00 MOUNTAIN, ON SDPB TV.

THOUGH IT CAN BE HARD TO IMAGINE IN OUR CURRENT DROUGHT, TORRENTIAL RAINS AND FLOODS CAN HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE OR OVER TIME.

IN THE NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF THE STATE, SHIFTING WEATHER PATTERNS DECADES AGO TURNED FARM COUNTRY INTO LAKE COUNTRY.

AND FOR ONE FARM FAMILY, THAT HEARTBREAK CREATED A NEW BEGINNING.

>> SO YOU CAN SEE STRAIGHT AHEAD WHERE THE ROAD GOES INTO THE LAKE AND COMES OUT OF THE LAKE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> OH, WOW.

>> THIS IS LYNN LAKE.

>> THAT IS ACTUALLY A MONTGOMERY WARD'S HOUSE.

THEY ORDERED THE HOUSE OUT OF THE CATALOG.

AND IT CAME VIA RAILROAD IN 1906.

I BELIEVE.

AND THEY USED HORSES AND WAGONS AND HAULED IT OUT HERE AND HAD THE NEIGHBORS HELP THEM BUILD IT.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL HOME.

>> FOR KAREN AND PAUL JOHNSON AND MANY OTHERS, THIS WAS DAIRY COUNTRY UNTIL A RECORD-BREAKING DECADE OF SNOW AND RAIN.

TAKE US BACK TO WHEN THE SNOW FIRST STARTED FALLING.

>> WELL, IN 1993, WE WERE LIVING IN THE OLD FARMHOUSE.

WE HAD BOUGHT THE FARM FROM PAUL'S PARENTS ABOUT TEN YEARS PRIOR, AND WE HAD TWO FEET OF SNOW ON THANKSGIVING AND HAD TO STAY HOME.

AND IT SEEMED LIKE THAT WAS KIND OF THE BEGINNING OF IT.

MOISTURE PERPETUATES MOISTURE.

IT SNOWED ALL WINTER.

I KNOW IT WAS A HUNDRED-PLUS-INCH WINTER SNOW.

AND THEN THE RAINS CAME, AND IT JUST KEPT RAINING AND RAINING.

>> THE RAIN BLOCKED ROADS, REROUTED MAIL SERVICE.

THE JOHNSON'S DAUGHTERS HAD TO VENTURE TO SCHOOL IN THE FAMILY'S ONLY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE.

>> WE HAD DAIRY COWS.

SO OF COURSE WE DIDN'T LEAVE.

WE MILKED AND MADE A PATH FOR WE MILKED AND MADE A PATH FOR THE MILK TRUCK TO COME WITH THE FOUR-WHEEL OR WITH THE TRACTOR.

AND SOMETIMES WE ENDED UP DUMPING OUR MILK.

>> I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO JUST LINGER ON THE HARD TIMES, BUT YOU WERE HAVING TO DUMP OUT MILK AT A TIME.

THAT'S NOT A SMALL THING FOR A DAIRY FARMER.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE A REALLY DIFFICULT DECISION?

>> IT WAS A SAD, SAD DAY, BUT YOU KNOW, IT -- I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF FARMING, WHERE YOU -- WE'VE BEEN HAILED OUT.

AND YOU JUST PICK UP THE PIECES AND YOU TAKE ANOTHER STEP IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

>> PAUL JOHNSON, KAREN'S HUSBAND, IS THE FOURTH GENERATION OF HIS FAMILY TO RUN THE DAIRY FARM.

HE SAYS MOTHER NATURE FORCED HIS HAND.

>> AS WE STARTED GETTING WETTER AND WETTER, IT WAS GETTING HARDER TO GET THINGS DONE.

GETTING IN THE FIELDS AND GETTING STUCK ALL THE TIME.

>> BY '97, AFTER YET ANOTHER SNOWY WINTER, HE AND KAREN DECIDED IT WAS TIME.

>> SO THEN WE SOLD ALL THE COWS, AND IT WAS TOUGH FOR US BECAUSE WE HAD A REGISTERED HERD.

ALL OUR CATTLE WERE NAMED, AND WE HAD -- I MEAN, IT'S LIKE NAMING YOUR DOG AND CAT.

EVERYONE HAD A NAME.

>> THE JOHNSONS SOLD OFF THEIR CATTLE AND PUT THE ENTIRE FARM IN THE FEDERAL CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM WITH THE USDA.

AFTER SOUTH DAKOTA'S GAME, FISH, AND PARKS DEPARTMENT PLANTED FISH IN THE NEW LAKE, PAUL STARTED A BAIT SHOP IN NEARBY WEBSTER AND WORKED CONSTRUCTION.

KAREN SPENT TIME AS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

>> AND AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, IT WAS US BOTH WORKING OFF THE FARM AND THINKING, "WHY DO WE LIVE HERE?"

THE GIRLS ARE GRADUATED, YOU KNOW.

BOTH HAD GONE TO SCHOOL.

DO WE REALLY NEED TO STAY HERE ANYMORE?

SO YOU REALLY GOTTA SEARCH YOUR SOUL FOR HOW BAD YOU WANT TO KEEP WHAT WE HAD.

>> THEN ONE DAY, A COUPLE PHEASANT HUNTERS CAME UP THE DRIVEWAY.

>> I'M SURE JUST ASKING IF THEY COULD HUNT ON OUR LAND.

AND TOOK A LOOK AT THE FACILITY.

WE HAD AN OFFICE THAT WE HAD LEFTOVER FROM THE DAIRY, HAD A RECLINER IN IT.

AND THERE WAS A BATHROOM, AND THEY'RE LIKE, "YOU GUYS, THIS COULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR HUNTERS TO STAY."

IT WASN'T EVEN OUR IDEA!

>> HOW DIFFICULT WAS THAT TRANSITION FROM DAIRY FARMER TO HOSPITALITY ENTREPRENEUR?

>> YOU KNOW, I GUESS YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT IT.

I JUST -- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE PROBABLY PUT ANYTHING INTO WORDS ABOUT HOW WE FELT, BECAUSE I THINK AS A FARMER YOU JUST -- YOU GET SO USED TO HAVING TO ADAPT.

WE JUST ADAPTED, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS NEVER ANY "WOE IS ME" AT THE KITCHEN TABLE AT NIGHT.

WE JUST -- IT'S LIKE, "OKAY, NOW WHAT?"

>> WE STARTED SMALL, AND WE TOOK OUR DAIRY BARN AND STARTED ADDING UNITS AS I WENT.

I'D TAKE A MILK ROOM, AND WE CHANGED IT INTO A UNIT.

AND WHEN WE HAD OUR BAIT SHOP IN TOWN, WE STARTED TALKING WITH GUYS LOOKING -- THEY'RE COMING TO TOWN SAYING, "I NEED A PLACE TO STAY," YOU KNOW.

WE SAID, "WELL, WE'RE STARTING OUT IF YOU WANT.

IT'S KIND OF CRUDE, IF YOU WANT TO STAY ON A FARM."

>> DAUGHTERS LESLIE ANDERSON AND LYNNSEY SICHMELLER REMEMBER WATCHING THEIR PARENTS PIVOT TO A WHOLE NEW WAY OF LIFE JUST AS THEY FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I REMEMBER THINKING, "YOU GUYS ARE GETTING TO DO THE JOB THAT EVERYONE DREAMS TO DO.

LIKE, YOU GET TO OPERATE A HUNTING AND FISHING LODGE.

EVERYONE WANTS TO DO THAT."

SO I WAS EXCITED FOR THEM.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ALWAYS THAT, LIKE, TREPIDATION OF, CAN WE MAKE IT WORK?

AND I STILL -- I THINK IT'S FUNNY WHEN MOM WAS LIKE, WE'RE ALWAYS WAITING FOR THE WATER TO GO AWAY.

WE STILL ARE.

I HOPE WE GET SOME RAIN.

I HOPE THAT IT'S A -- HOPE THE LAKE STAYS OPERATIONAL.

BUT -- >> YEAH, AND IT WAS AN EASIER TRANSITION WHEN THEY HAD THE BAIT SHOP IN TOWN.

AND THEN SEEING HOW MANY -- HOW MUCH INTEREST THERE WAS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD SEE FROM DIFFERENT STATES ALL THE TIME, JUST MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

>> LYNNSEY NOW WORKS AT THE LODGE FULL TIME, AND LESLIE HELPS OUT DURING VISITS HOME FROM SIOUX FALLS.

NOW THE LODGE HAS TEN UNITS AND A TOTAL OF 60 BEDS.

THEY HOST HUNTERS AND FISHERS, FAMILY REUNIONS, AND EVEN HELD FUNERAL RECEPTIONS DURING THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

MAYBE THERE ISN'T SUCH A THING, BUT WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU NOW?

>> ANY GIVEN DAY IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S FISHING REPORTS, TRASH, MAKING BEDS, CLEANING THE FISH CLEANING ROOM, YOU KNOW, MOWING THE LAWN.

I MEAN, IT'S A FULL-TIME JOB FOR PROBABLY SIX PEOPLE.

AND WE HAVE THREE FULL-TIME, BUT LOTS OF HELP FROM GRANDKIDS AND RELATIVES.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THAT BUSY.

BUT THERE ISN'T A NEIGHBOR WITHIN A TEN-MILE RADIUS THAT HASN'T MADE A BED WITH US.

[ Laughter ] >> AND THE CLIENTELE HAS BEEN JUST AS LOYAL.

>> I'VE GOT BROTHERS THAT LIVE WITHIN THREE MILES, AND I SEE THEM TWICE A YEAR, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I MIGHT SEE SOMEBODY FROM, YOU KNOW, INDIANA OR IOWA TEN TIMES.

WE TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

NO DIFFERENT THAN YOU WOULD WANT TO FEEL LIKE IF YOU WENT TO ORLANDO OR ANY PLACE ELSE LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW.

YOU WANT TO FEEL WELCOME, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU FEEL WELCOME HERE.

>> EVEN IN LIGHT OF THEIR SUCCESS, THE JOHNSONS KNOW BETTER THAN TO TAKE THE FUTURE FOR GRANTED.

>> WE'LL LODGE AS LONG AS WE CAN, AS LONG AS PEOPLE WILL COME.

BUT I REALLY HAVE THOUGHT OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT ANYBODY -- MY KIDS, OUR KIDS WOULD DO WITH THIS IF IT WASN'T A LODGE.

WE'VE CONSIDERED DIFFERENT THINGS.

AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, AN OLD SOLDIERS HOME.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE MY DREAMS.

WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO DO, I'M SURE WE'LL BE ALL OKAY WITH.

I MEAN, PAUL AND I ARE BOTH RETIREMENT AGE.

MAYBE WHEN WE'RE DONE, LYNN LAKE LODGE IS DONE.

YOU DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK OUR KIDS WANT TO WORK AS HARD AS WE DID.

>> WHEN YOU GROW UP FARMING YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND MILKING COWS, AND WE HAD A SNOWMOBILE SHOP HERE IN THE '70S, AND WE WERE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

NO HOURS.

WE'RE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY.

AND FARMING'S THE SAME WAY.

AND SO WE WOULD DO A LOT OF HOURS.

I MEAN, MY DOCTOR'S BEEN ON MY CASE TO CUT MY HOURS DOWN TO 40 HOURS A WEEK AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT AM I GONNA DO ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BECAUSE I GOT MY 40 HOURS?

>> BUT THAT VERY DEVOTION TO THE FAMILY BUSINESS HAS INSPIRED THE JOHNSONS' DAUGHTERS.

>> I'LL BE HERE.

I KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

I'M HOPING LESLIE COMES IN FIVE YEARS.

>> MY PLAN IS TO KIND OF DO WHAT I'M DOING, BUT JUST ON A MORE PERMANENT BASIS.

I'LL BE THE CLEANING LADY.

I'LL BE A GARBAGE PERSON.

I'LL BE A WHATEVER YOU GUYS NEED.

YOU'RE GONNA BE IN CHARGE, THOUGH.

>> OR DAD!

YEAH.

BUT SOMETIMES -- I KNOW SOMEBODY HAD MADE A COMMENT ONCE TO MY MOM ABOUT, "HOW ARE YOU GONNA CLEAN ROOMS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?"

BUT IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY JUST LIKE A FAMILY.

WE'RE ALL A FAMILY.

>> EACH MONTH, SDPB SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON KEY ISSUES IN OUR STATE.

THIS MONTH, THE "PROGRAM IN THE MOMENT" OFFERS A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS ON ANOTHER OF THE STATE'S TOP INDUSTRIES: TOURISM.

ONE ASPECT OF THE INDUSTRY SOME ARE HOPING TO EXPAND IS TRIBAL TOURISM.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE TAMARA ST. JOHN IS A MEMBER OF THE SISSETON WAHPETON OYATE AND WORKS AS AN ARCHIVIST FOR THE TRIBE.

HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM HER DISCUSSION WITH SDPB'S LORI WALSH ABOUT BRINGING VISITORS TO TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND THE CHANCE FOR TRIBES TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVE ABOUT THEIR LANDS AND CULTURE.

>> I THINK TOURISM IS PROBABLY THE FIRST REASON WHY I EVEN LOOKED AT GOING INTO POLITICS AND GETTING INVOLVED, BECAUSE WE ARE AS YOU JUST SAID WELL SAID, WE ARE MORE THAN JUST MOUNT RUSHMORE.

AND IN NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE I'M FROM, THERE ISN'T A LOT OF ATTENTION TO TOURISM.

OR NOT ENOUGH.

AND I THINK THAT THE TRIBES THEMSELVES HAVEN'T ENGAGED.

HISTORICALLY, THEY JUST HAVE NOT ENGAGED IN TOURISM.

I'VE BEEN A PROPONENT AS A HISTORIAN FOR THE TELLING OF OUR OWN STORY.

MY MANTRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THE TRIBES AS SOVEREIGN NATIONS, WE NEED TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR CULTURAL HISTORY AND DEFINE OUR OWN NARRATIVE.

SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN THROUGH TOURISM, I THINK IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT.

WHILE ALSO BRINGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

PUTTING DOLLARS INTO THE HANDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND ON OUR NATIVE RESERVATIONS, SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

AND WE HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH THINGS LIKE CRAFTS, ART, PERFORMANCE, FOOD, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

AND I THINK THOSE THINGS HAVE A PLACE WITHIN TOURISM.

>> THERE IS CLEARLY A DEMAND, A GLOBAL DEMAND.

SO SOME OF THE HESITATION IS UNDERSTANDABLE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT YOU SEE TO CREATE CONVERSATIONS, BUSINESS PLANS, INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT CREATES AN EXPERIENCE THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, IN A TRIBAL COMMUNITY, SAY THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE DO HAVE CONTROL OFF NOT ONLY THE NARRATIVE BUT THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT COME?

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE HESITATION THAT YOU THINK, THE REASONS FOR THOSE HESITATIONS, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT HAS -- IS SUSTAINABLE AND HAS VALUE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOUR QUESTIONS ARE SPOT ON.

BECAUSE THERE IS, I THINK, HESITATION.

INITIALLY, WHEN WE APPROACHED TRIBES ABOUT THIS, THERE IS HESITATION.

THERE'S THIS IDEA OF EXPLOITING TRIBAL NATIONS.

OR COULD MODIFYING CULTURE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU HEAR OF.

AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I WOULD SAY THAT AS A SOVEREIGN NATION, WE NEED TO TAKE CONTROL.

WE GET TO DECIDE BY ENGAGING IN TOURISM HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN COME, WHERE THEY GO WHEN THEY COME HERE.

LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DO NOT ALLOW VISITORS AT PLACES THAT ARE CONSIDERED SACRED.

THAT'S JUST NOT OUR -- OUR WAY OF THINGS.

AND ANOTHER TRIBAL NATION MAY NOT FEEL THAT SAME WAY.

IT'S ENTIRELY UP TO THE TRIBE.

BUT IT IS TRULY A WAY OF TAKING CONTROL.

YOU'RE DEFINING HOW YOU WANT THIS TO GO.

YOU'RE DEFINING YOUR STORY.

YOU'RE DEFINING WHAT YOU WANT THE WORLD TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE ABOUT YOU.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GREAT THING.

YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY, FOR MANY YEARS, THE BOOKS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THE THINGS THAT TELL OUR HISTORY, ARE DONE BY EVERYBODY BUT TRIBAL PEOPLE.

SO IT'S A GREAT WAY TO ENGAGE.

BUT THAT FIRST STEP, THAT EDUCATING ON -- INTERNALLY WITH TRIBES, WHAT TRIBAL TOURISM IS, AND THAT IS -- HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT PART.

SO OUR -- OUR PROCESS IN DEVELOPING THAT IS OF COURSE THROUGH EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

AND ALONG WITH THEM COME THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE SORT OF THE -- THE KNOWLEDGE KEEPERS.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THINGS WITHIN THE TRIBE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE TO PRESERVE.

THINGS LIKE LANGUAGE, ART, AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.

SO BY BRINGING THEM ALL TOGETHER, AND ALLOWING THEM TO DEFINE FOR THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

WHAT DO YOU NOT WANT?

ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

I THINK IN THE END YOU GET A REALLY GREAT PRODUCT AS FAR AS TOURISM PLAN.

>> YOU CAN HEAR MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TOURISM, INCLUDING CONCERNS ABOUT OVER-CROWDED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, ONLINE.

VISIT SDPB.ORG/NEWS.

THE NEXT SDPB SPOTLIGHT COMMEMORATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX.

THE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX IN ANY SCHOOL THAT RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING.

AS PART OF THAT COVERAGE, SDPB'S NATE WEK IS EXAMINING THE WAYS GIRLS' INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS HAS CHANGED IN SOUTH DAKOTA SINCE TITLE IX'S PASSAGE.

HERE'S THE STORY OF PIERRE'S BRIANNA KUSLER, THE FIRST WOMAN TO HEAD COACH A BOY'S CLASS DOUBLE-A BASKETBALL TEAM IN STATE HISTORY.

>> IT'S THE GREATEST JOB IN THE WORLD.

I MEAN, MALE, FEMALE, DOESN'T MATTER.

I AM BLESSED TO DO WHAT I DO EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I'M BLESSED TOO BE SURROUNDED BY THE ATHLETES S COUNTIES, THE ADMINISTRATION THAT I AM.

I WOULD NOT TRADE ANYTHING FOR THE WORLD.

>> THERE REALLY IS THAT -- IT'S DIFFERENT FROM BEING A PLAYER TO A COACH.

AND IT -- I CATCH MYSELF QUITE A BIT JUST AT TIMES BEING A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED.

WHY CAN'T YOU GET THIS?

AND THEN I REMIND MYSELF, WELL, I'M SURE I DIDN'T GET THIS RIGHT AWAY EITHER.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

SO GIVING THEM SOME GRACE AND NOT JUST EXPECTING IT TO BE AN IMMEDIATE TURNAROUND AS FAR AS THEY'RE CATCHING ONTO THE CONCEPTS THAT WE'RE TEACHING, BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT PLAYING AND COACHING AT THE SAME TIME REALLY HELPED.

>> GET THE JUMPER!

YOU DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT HER.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK COMING TO PIERRE EVEN LAST YEAR, IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY MEETING SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO OUR GAMES WHEN I WAS PLAYING HERE AGAINST PIERRE.

AND THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY ROOTING AGAINST US.

AT CENTRAL, BECAUSE THEY WANTED PIERRE TO WIN.

ROLE'S REVERSED.

NOW THEY'RE ROOTING FOR MYSELF, FOR THE TEAM AND WHATNOT.

IT'S KIND OF FUNNY HOW THINGS COME FULL CIRCLE.

AND NOW MAYBE PEOPLE WHO YOU WERE COMPETITORS AGAINST AND NOW I'M REALLY, REALLY GOOD FRIENDS WITH.

AND THAT'S LIFE.

[ Applause ] >> ONE, TWO, THREE, GO.

>> SHE'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO SPEND THE TIME, SHE'S GOING TO TAKE THE TIME THAT'S NEEDED OR DO ANYTHING THAT'S NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SHE'S ALWAYS GOING TO PUT HER KIDS IN THE BEST LIGHT.

AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHATEVER THEY NEED.

>> DOWN AND BACK, DOWN AND BACK, DOWN AND BACK, GO!

>> SHE'S A GREAT HUMAN BEING.

AND WHATEVER SHE DECIDES TO DO IF SHE WANTS TO STAY IN COACHING FOREVER, SHE'S GOT THE MAKEUP TO DO THAT.

>> I LOVE WHAT I DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO.

EVERY TIME I GET TO STEP IN THE GYM, THAT'S HOW IT WAS AS AN ATHLETE, AND I HONESTLY THINK IT MIGHT EVEN BE BETTER AS A COACH.

SO I'M REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE SURROUNDED BY THE PEOPLE THAT I AM WITH MY COACHING STAFF AND THE ATHLETES THAT WE HAVE, REALLY, I COULDN'T BE MORE BLESSED THAN I AM.

>> HEAR FROM OTHER WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION OF FEMALE SPORTS IN SOUTH DAKOTA WITH THE UPCOMING SDPB DOCUMENTARY: "GIRLS GOT GAME."

THAT PREMIERES ON THURSDAY, MAY 12TH, AT 8:00 CENTRAL, 7:00 MOUNTAIN, HERE ON SDPB TV.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR TONIGHT.

AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN REACH OUR TEAM BY EMAIL OR FIND ME ON TWITTER: @JACKIEHENDRYSD.

JOIN ME NEXT TIME ON THURSDAY, MAY 26TH, AS WE LOOK INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AROUND THE STATE.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

♪