South Dakota
Lessons beyond the blackboard: How a tiny school built big futures for a rural community
PIERRE, S.D. — Old one-room schoolhouses played a fundamental role in bringing education to children in rural communities for generations.
Though the walls of this classroom north of Pierre are crumbling, the memories remain in the minds of those who spent years learning in them.
Jim Schumacher attended first through eighth grades at the Plainview School. His family built the schoolhouse in the 1920s, and it functioned as a school until the mid- to late 1980s. It is located 15 miles north of Pierre, in the Peoria Township area.
“It was built by my grandfather and his dad, and my father was probably one of the first classes that came here,” Schumacher said. “There was a school before that — that was a little further west down the road — and once the county came in and actually built roads, they moved it over here.”
Judy McLaughlin
Before the Oahe Dam was built, the Peoria township had two schoolhouses, one of which was located in the river bottom. Once the dam was built, that area was flooded.
“This [Plainview] was the only school left, and frankly, at that point, there weren’t that many families left,” Schumacher said. “There’s been some more that have moved in since that, but at the time, I think probably five or six kids at the time was probably the most that we had while I was here, for the most part.”
Courtesy / Judy McLaughlin
Students could attend kindergarten through the eighth grade at Plainview, and then they would go to Pierre for high school. There was one teacher and one classroom for all grades. But that didn’t mean they had any less of an education.
“When I got to the eighth grade, there was three of us in eighth grade, and when we went into town, we all made the honor roll,” Schumacher said. “You didn’t miss out on anything by being here.”
Ariana Schumacher / Agweek
“You were absorbing what was going on in the other classes as well,” said Colleen McCurrin, who attended Plainview from kindergarten through sixth grade. “You did tend to, you know, hear the other things that were going on, and when your particular homework was done, you might turn around and help some of the younger kids in the younger classes.”
Ariana Schumacher / Agweek
Mark Venner moved to the area when he was in third grade from Agar, South Dakota. While the Agar school was small, transferring to Plainview was still a big adjustment.
“I was overwhelmed,” Venner said. “The Agar school wasn’t very big, as you know, and I walked to school there. I just walked down the alley, and I was there. Here we drove 6 miles to school.”
Courtesy / Mark Venner
Venner was in the same grade as Schumacher. There were only two other students there at the time: Schumacher’s sister Judy and his aunt Marcia.
The school was small, and it had no plumbing or running water. There was a small sink with a pump to bring water into the building, with a cistern that took water off the roof. Students would also haul in water in 5-gallon containers.
Finding teachers willing to drive out of town and work in a rustic schoolhouse could be a challenge, but they were still able to find quality educators for the school.
Courtesy / Judy McLaughlin
One in particular, Miss Linstedt, was an inspiration to the students she taught at Plainview. Her family lived about 60 miles from the school, so she lived in the classroom during the week and went home on the weekends. She sectioned off a small corner of the room with a sheet, set up a cot, and had a hot plate to cook on.
“There’s probably not a whole lot of teachers that you could get to do that anymore,” Schumacher said. “I’m surprised, frankly, that we had the quality of teachers that we did.”
“That was pretty awesome to me that the teacher lived in the school. I’ll never forget that,” Venner said.
Courtesy / Charlene Schumacher
In the winters, recess would be moved to the school’s basement, where there was a coal furnace. There was a grate that brought the heat upstairs to the classroom.
“We would all gather around that grate with our feet, sitting in our desks with our feet over the grate, especially on Monday mornings, because it was cold,” Venner said.
“In the later years, they put in forced air and had an actual heating system,” Schumacher said. “We always had electricity, but other than that, there wasn’t a whole lot for amenities.”
During that time, there was no internet, but there was a radio that was used as a learning tool in the Plainview classroom.
“There were radio programs that we could get that would teach like once a week. We learned German one year,” Schumacher said.
Christmas parties were always a big deal at the school.
“We always had a Christmas program. I tell people one reason I’m not afraid to get up and speak is because there weren’t enough kids that anybody got by being a plant or an animal; everybody had a speaking part,” Schumacher said.
Courtesy / Charlene Schumacher
While they may not have had access to all the things the bigger public schools had, there were also perks to having a smaller school.
“I’m sure we missed out on some of the machinery that some of the bigger schools had, but we also missed out on a lot of the politics that I have learned since my own children have gone to school. There’s a lot of things we didn’t miss at all,” Schumacher said. “It was definitely a good start.”
“I got straight A’s after my freshman year,” Venner said. “Country school is the foundation.”
Courtesy / Colleen McCurrin
Lifelong friendships were formed at that small country school on the prairie.
“My lifelong friend Theresa is still one of my best memories,” McCurrin said. “You spent more time together, and you also had, you know, again, the rural community, you had that in common as well as just being … classmates. Theresa and I have stayed together through thick and thin all the way through high school, and I get to see her here in a couple of weeks.”
Courtesy / Colleen McCurrin
Schumacher and Venner have also remained close friends.
“He was in my wedding, and I was not home when he got married to Charlene, so I didn’t make the wedding,” Venner said. “But, you know, we’ve stayed in touch.”
Several Plainview students moved away from the area, but for Schumacher, McCurrin and Venner, the Peoria Township area is still their home.
Since graduating from high school in Pierre, Schumacher has remained on the family farm, where he and his wife raised their two children and now have several grandchildren.
“I’ve lived within one mile of where I started my entire life,” Schumacher said.
McCurrin stayed in the area and worked, was very involved with
FFA
, and was able to do some work experience abroad with FFA.
Venner went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in ag engineering and master’s degree in education, and taught high school math in Rapid City for a while. He moved to Florida to continue to work for the Air Force and earned another master’s degree in industrial engineering before returning to the family’s organic farming operation.
Courtesy / Judy McLaughlin
But no matter where they ended up in life, these Plainview students credit their country school for being the foundation of their education.
“That shaped me, it really did. It turned me into a fighter,” Venner said.
Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles on one-room schoolhouses: their history and their
present status
in rural communities. In this installment, Ariana Schumacher recounts the history of Plainview School, which her family members, including her uncle, Jim Schumacher, who is quoted in the story, attended. If you have a story about attending a one-room schoolhouse or about current uses of former one-room schoolhouses, email it to jschlecht@agweek.com for possible inclusion in a future issue of Agweek.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 19, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 19 drawing
13-16-21-26-50, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 19 drawing
02-20-28-51-54, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
South Dakota
Communities across South Dakota celebrate America 250 with fireworks, parades, and exhibits
MITCHELL — Happy birthday to you, America.
A series of events are planned in July to celebrate America 250, which is the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed in 1776 and establishing America as separate from the crown of Great Britain. Some America birthday events are multi-day, and others include exhibitions on America that extend past Independence Day.
The below list of these events in South Dakota:
On Saturday, July 4, the Mitchell Exchange Club will put on a fireworks display on the north side of Lake Mitchell, starting at 9:45 p.m. The theme this year is “Red, White and Blue, Through and Through.”
Republic file photo
Patrick Soukup, of the Mitchell Exchange Club, told the Mitchell Republic the fireworks show is perfectly timed with a radio broadcast on KMIT. Fireworks technician Paul Tol of P and J Pyrotechnics will have the fireworks display lined up with cables, charges and a computer. “He’s got the best view in the county,” Soukup said.
“He has everything loaded and ready to go, he just ties in the communication cables between pallets for the charges to fire at certain predetermined times throughout the 20 minute display,” Soukup said.
The show will have 12 pallets of pre-loaded canisters with fireworks. There is no reloading during the show, according to Soukup.
Republic file photo
On Friday, July 3, starting at 5 p.m., the First Fridays on Main Street by Mitchell Main Street and Beyond will feature an old school fire hydrant party with the Mitchell Fire Department, patriotic live music by the Layton Lee Band, and car show awards will also be given for red, white, and blue colored cars. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best red, white and blue outfits, and there’s something for the youth with a kids decorated bike contest.
Mitchell Main Street and Beyond Executive Director Elizabeth Luczak said her favorite part of last year’s celebration was watching the kids decorate their bikes.
“Letting kids decorate their bikes as red, white, and blue truly teaches the next generation how to really appreciate and celebrate their freedom on July 4, and just have fun with it,” Luczak said.
Republic file photo
On Saturday, July 18, the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo will have its annual parade down Mitchell’s Main Street starting at 10:30 a.m. This year’s theme is “America 250: Red, White and Blue.” Floats will be judged on the categories of antique, horse drawn, humorous, youth, and best use of theme, among others.
On Thursday, July 2, Sioux Falls will host the Stars and Stripes Family Stroll at Arrowhead Park. Attendees must register for the event, which includes dressing up in red, white and blue.
On Friday, July 3, Downtown Sioux Falls Open Streets will have Phillips Avenue from Second Avenue to Fourth Avenue open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with shopping, activities, and live music. Also at 5 p.m., First Friday in Sioux Falls will have a Red, White and Blue Backyard Bash at Lloyd Landing. At 8 p.m. at Falls Park, take in the patriotic beauty of the Lighting of the Falls, and enjoy the colors of freedom.
On Saturday, July 4, the Sioux Falls Independence Day parade will start at 10 a.m. on Phillips Avenue, and the fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m. at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds. The pre-fireworks festivities start at 6 p.m. with live music, balloon twist show, and flyover.
On June 27 to June 28, the America-themed Rock the Country concert series will take place at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds.
Through Oct. 16, the Center for Western Studies on the campus of Augustana University will have “Still Becoming: America at 250,” an art exhibition featuring the many dimensions of the American story — its landscapes, peoples, histories, and evolving identities.
Rapid City / Mount Rushmore
On July 3, a larger fireworks display is planned at Mount Rushmore. This event is ticketed. Public lottery applications for tickets took place in April, but watch parties and overflow viewings are planned.
On July 1 to July 5, the Real America Birthday Bash will be held in downtown Rapid City, stretching from Main Street Square to Memorial Park. The event features live music, a drone show on July 2, a patriotic parade on July 3, and fireworks on the 4th. A full schedule of the birthday bash can be found on the visit Rapid City website.
On July 4, Aberdeen is hosting a “Spirit of ’76” downtown parade at 10:00 a.m., followed by an evening celebration at Wylie Park from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The fireworks show is at dusk.
On July 4, Brookings starts out the day with a parade at 11 a.m., the Uncle Sam Jam at 6 p.m., and fireworks at 10 p.m.
On July 4, the America’s 250th Community Mosaic Mural will be revealed in Brookings on the north side of the VFW at 520 Main Avenue. The public art piece measures approximately 20 feet long and features a patriotic flag and eagle design. The mosaic is composed of 950 individual tiles, each hand-painted by Brookings-area residents, organizations, and volunteers during community painting parties.
South Dakota State University is hosting campus-wide events, including a historical exhibition on the nation’s legacy that opens in mid-June and has an extended public reception on Aug. 7.
On July 4, in Chamberlain, a patriotic parade will start at 11 a.m. at the Avenue of Flags. Daily from 1 to 5 p.m., through July 4, the large conference room at the Chamberlain Community Center will be a walk-through pop-up museum featuring military regalia, artifacts, and displays to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial. A Rock the Bluffs fireworks show is planned at dusk.
On July 4, Custer will hold a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. at Pageant Hill in Custer. The event is free, and is part of a two-day festival running July 4 to July 5, starting at 10 a.m. with a classic small-town parade with local marching bands, vintage cars, and fire trucks.
On July 4, a parade through historic Deadwood will start at 3 p.m. The town is celebrating its 150th year. On July 4-5, at 1 p.m. each day, live music and entertainment will be held at Mr. Wu’s.
On July 5, a vintage “base ball” game will be held between Deadwood and Lead in celebration of both towns’ 150th anniversaries. The teams will play using 1877 to 1885 rules. The event at Mountain Top Field in Lead will begin at 10 a.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Northern Bills Brass Band. Following the game Lead will have a community potluck and BBQ.
On July 4, the Huron Independence Day parade starts at 10:30 a.m., a BBQ and vendor fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be held at Campbell Park. Fireworks are planned at two sites, Ravine Lake and Lake Byron. Both displays are expected to start by 10 p.m.
On July 4, the day’s events in Interior include a parade at 10 a.m., a car show at 11 a.m., a corn hole tournament at 1 p.m., triathlon rodeo at 5 p.m., and fireworks at 9 p.m.
On July 4, the Madison fireworks show will be at 10 p.m. at Prairie Village.
The 100th annual Fort Pierre Rodeo performances will be June 30 to July 4.
On July 3, there will be a boat parade and a concert by Wade Hayes.
On July 4, there will be the annual parade and a B-1 Bomber flyover, and the grand finale fireworks Saturday night.
On July 3, Platte will host a birthday party for America at 11:30 a.m. at North Park with free pork, water games, and kickball and volleyball. Fireworks will follow a 7:30 p.m. baseball game at Platte Baseball Field.
On July 4, the Independence Day parade starts at 10 a.m. and fireworks are to start at 10 p.m. at Redfield Lake.
On July 3, the Spearfish America 250th Parade starts at 2 p.m. at the Spearfish High School and continues down Main Street.
On July 4, the Watertown Independence Day Parade will be held in Downtown Watertown. Candy toss will start at 1:45 p.m. followed by the parade at 2 p.m. The parade will take place rain or shine. City of Watertown Fireworks will be held at dusk on July 4th at the Anza Soccer Complex.
On July 4, the fireworks display starts at 10 p.m at Riverside Park in Yankton. There will be a week-long celebration starting on June 29, with live music, historical presentations, family activities, free museum tours, patriotic performances, food vendors, and special programs for all ages.
The capsule will be buried in Philadelphia on July 4. Here’s a look at what each state contributed to “America’s Time Capsule.”
‘America’s Time Capsule’ has been officially sealed. What’s inside?
All 50 states contributed items to “America’s Time Capsule,” which will be buried in Philadelphia on July 4 and will be opened 250 years later.
South Dakota sent a special edition of poetry to be sealed in “America’s Time Capsule” along with 200 items from every state, five territories and some institutions.
“This Far Country” is a suite of poems by South Dakota native Joseph Bottum celebrating four themes and symbols of the state: the meadowlark, chokecherry jelly, the homestead and rivers. The edition is illustrated by Jeanne Bowman and designed by Angela Corbo Gier.
South Dakota also contributed a letter from Gov. Larry Rhoden to the Americans of 2276, when the capsule is meant to be opened.
The time capsule has been officially sealed in commemoration of the United States’ 250th birthday.
The 900-pound steel cylinder contains over 200 artifacts, records and objects to tell America’s story when it is opened 250 years later.
The capsule will be buried in Philadelphia on July 4 as part of the hundreds of events for America’s 250th anniversary that will take place nationwide.
America250, the official nonpartisan commission designated by Congress to organize the July 4 celebrations, spearheaded the work to design the capsule and collect relics. All 50 states in conjunction with numerous national organizations contributed items (ranging from a vial of sand to an Olympic gold medal) reflecting the people, places and moments that shaped their history.
California contributed a NASA photo, an AI prediction and a fusion superconducter segment. Arizona contributed a copper ingot and a laser-etched challenge coin. Maine contributed a whale bone and a woven bookmark. And Utah contributed tickets to their amusement parks and George Washington’s prayer medal.
“Now that America’s Time Capsule has been sealed, it carries with it a remarkable record of this moment in our nation’s history,” said Chair of America250 Rosie Rios. “This moment is as much about the future as it is the past. When it is opened in 2276, future generations will see the care, pride, and optimism with which Americans marked our 250th anniversary.”
Below is a list of an item contributed from each state and territory of the United States. Most states submitted multiple items, and the full list can be viewed on America250’s official website.
- Alabama: A series of poems written by author and professor James Matthew Wilson titled “America.”
- Alaska: A map of New Archangel, Alaska, when Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867.
- American Samoa: A set of two uncirculated quarters from 2009 and 2020 with images of American Samoa.
- Arizona: A laser nano-etching of the text and signatures of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution on a coin.
- Arkansas: A diamond found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only place in the United States where people can search for diamonds and keep what they find.
- California: A Claude AI prediction of what California will be like in 250 years on archival paper. This will serve as a “tangible representation” of AI in 2026.
- Colorado: A set of postcards selected to represent “what life was like in Colorado in 2026.”
- Connecticut: The Official Proclamation document for the state.
- The District of Columbia: A challenge coin with “Washington, D.C. 250” on one side and a building with flags and the Mayor’s name etched on the other.
- Delaware: A set of 12 notecards with writings and drawings from the state’s citizens to answer what Delaware is to them.
- Florida: The Florida Senate Booklet from 2024 to 2026, which describes the operations of the Senate.
- Georgia: A distinct medallion of The Masters Logo, which has a yellow silhouette of the United States with a red flagstick to mark where Augusta, Georgia is located.
- Guam: A Gualofan ornament pendant, which is a traditional ornament that has become a “modern expression of Chamorro identity.” The pendant represents the full moon.
- Hawaii: A letter from Governor Josh Green.
- Idaho: A star garnet, which is the state’s official gemstone found only in Idaho and one other place in the world. The garnet is meant to highlight the state’s geological heritage.
- llinois: A poem authored by Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte titled “Dear New Blood.”
- Indiana: The Indiana 250 Annual Report, which shares the mission and objectives of the commission working to celebrate July 4th.
- Iowa: Astronaut Peggy Whitson’s International Space Station medallion, which commemorates Whitson’s leadership as the first woman to command the International Space Station.
- Kansas: A document identifying Kansas250 commissioners and news items from the last year.
- Kentucky: A commemorative coin from the Sons of the Revolution, intended to serve as a reminder of how the American Revolution influenced Kentucky.
- Louisiana: A necklace with a Krewe of Bacchus pendant, a collectible from Mardi Gras, and glass beads.
- Maine: A whale bone from the North Atlantic right whale, which is one of the world’s most critically endangered large whale species.
- Maryland: A challenge coin with Governor Wes Moore’s name and a map of the state on it.
- Massachusetts: A set of archival prints, including a print of the Boston Massacre and a letter from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts Council.
- Michigan: The state stone, or the Petoskey stone, which is native to the shores of Lake Michigan and formed nearly 350 million years ago.
- Minnesota: The state’s flag.
- Mississippi: Four brass coins commemorating the U.S.’s largest rocket engine test site and the Birthplace of America’s Music, amongst other notable events.
- Missouri: A letter from Governor Mike Kehoe to Americans 250 years later.
- Montana: A beaded artwork created by a Arikara artist representing the state’s landscapes and heritage.
- Nebraska: An archival photo of the Vice Grip pliers, which symbolize the state’s commerce and history.
- Nevada: A set of gambling chips to reflect the history of casinos across the state, which legalized gambling during the Great Depression.
- New Hampshire: A print of a sticker depicting the center emblem of a flag carried by the Second New Hampshire Regiment of the Continental Army.
- New Jersey: A stainless steel plate with greetings to people in 2276, with “the hope that the values that guide us in 2026 — liberty, opportunity, cooperation, love and respect for one another — continue to shape society.”
- New Mexico: A hand-crafted red chile tile created by Mexican-American artist Jennel Juarez. The tile is one of New Mexico’s longstanding cultural symbols.
- New York: A written reflection from New York State.
- North Carolina: A copper disk engraved with an image of the North Carolina State Capitol Building.
- North Dakota: A commemorative coin representing the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota.
- The Northern Mariana Islands: A crescent-hewn symbol representing the Chamorro ancestors’ leadership and noble standing.
- Ohio: Fabric from the Wright Brothers’ flight honoring the state’s connection to the birth of aviation.
- Oklahoma: A belt buckle that features images that represent the “grit, determination and spirit” of the state.
- Oregon: A handcrafted pin created by Native American artist Lillian Pitt.
- Pennsylvania: A “Greetings from Harrisburg” letter from Governor Josh Shapiro.
- Puerto Rico: A rosary to represent the importance of faith in the island.
- Rhode Island: A holiday ornament meant to honor the state’s Revolutionary War legacy.
- South Carolina: A coin commemorating the work done by the state’s 250 Commission.
- South Dakota: A poetry book celebrating the state’s rivers, wildlife and homestead culture through a special edition of “This Far Country” authored by Joseph Bottum.
- Tennessee: An original poster designed by one of the state’s artists to highlight Tennessee’s agricultural history and cultural symbols, including its role in the Civil Rights movement and women’s suffrage.
- Texas: The state seal on a chiseled glass paperweight. The seal was designed in 1836 during the Texas Revolution.
- The U.S. Virgin Islands: A letter from Governor Albert Bryan, Jr.
- Utah: A set of 101 paper cards with different people that shaped Utah history.
- Vermont: A Battle of Hubbardton ornament. The battle was the only Revolutionary War battle fought entirely on what is now considered Vermont.
- Virginia: A challenge coin representing the state’s commemoration of America’s semiquincentennial.
- Washington: A letter from Washington State Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck to the future.
- West Virginia: A student essay authored by Alyssa Dalton titled “Remembering our Foundation” celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday. The essay was solicited from a statewide essay contest to recognize how “the young people… will continue to guide our state.”
- Wisconsin: An Eagle feather and photo of Old Abe, an American bald eagle who served with the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the civil war.
- Wyoming: A letter from Governor Mark Gordon to future Americans.
Many of the capsule’s collections were specifically designed for the commemoration. For example, the Library of Congress contributed a molecular data storage device about 0.2 inches with synthetic DNA encoded with digital copies of the library’s items. It includes Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, a 3D rendering of President Abraham Lincoln’s hand and an 1898 audio recording of the national anthem.
Companies such as Coca Cola and Apple along with museums like the Smithsonian Institute also contributed items.
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