South Dakota

Conservation, policy discussed at the annual South Dakota Farmers Union convention

Published

1 year ago

December 13, 2024

Conservation, policy discussed at the annual South Dakota Farmers Union convention

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Ranchers and farmers across South Dakota met in Huron Wednesday and Thursday for the 109th annual South Dakota Farmer Union Convention.

Members of the state’s largest agricultural organization voted on policy, elected delegates and heard from national agricultural leaders.

“These conventions – like we’re having here with Farmers Union right now – people get to network, as we call it today, and talk to each other and find out what other individuals are doing, what other operations are doing that you may be able to take home and implement in your farm or ranch operation, or vice versa,” Oren Lesmeister, board member with SDFU, said.

An important topic discussed throughout the convention was conservation.

“Conservation is extremely important. I mean, we are the stewards of the land, we need to keep it going for the generations to come. If we don’t have land to produce our crops and our livestock, we can’t continue, we can’t feed the world,” Kaeloni Latham, an SDFU member, said.

Latham added farmers and ranchers need to take precautions to make sure everything they are doing will protect the land going forward. She said making changes doesn’t just benefit the livestock.

“Looking at getting water to most of our pastures benefits not only our livestock but the wildlife around us. It keeps the deer and the antelope and things of that sort with an available water source and making sure the grass is available and continuing to come back and not being overgrazed and just things of that sort. I mean, it’s important to keep all of that going so that our future generations, my kids, my future grandkids can enjoy the wonderful landscape that we get to enjoy every day,” Latham explained.

Conversations on tax reform, property rights and more were had as well. Many said it was important to have policy conversations each year.

“It’s not always like-minded individuals. There is a very diverse group of people here. We don’t just get one side of it, or even two sides of it, we might get five or six or seven sides to a policy, and I think that’s a great way to make policy,” Lesmeister said.

One thing everyone could agree on was the importance of family farms and ranches across the nation.

“Without family farms, where would your local communities be? I mean, our communities have been dying off. Not because people are just leaving, but because we are losing our family farms. They are the heartbeat, they are the soul of this country, especially of our state. Agriculture is number one, without family farming we all become serfs, and as consumers you’re depending on others to bring your food to you, and they don’t care. Corporations don’t care whether the food is good or whether it’s affordable to you. All they care about is the bottom line,” President of SDFU Doug Sombke said.

Sombke added if South Dakota wants to keep rural communities alive and thriving, they need to find ways to make family farming sustainable.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Millionaire for Life winning numbers for March 5, 2026

Published

5 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 5, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 5 drawing

17-20-23-30-33, Bonus: 05

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.

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South Dakota

DOE selects nine school districts for 2026 South Dakota Perkins Reserve grant

Published

17 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

DOE selects nine school districts for 2026 South Dakota Perkins Reserve grant

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Nine school districts have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Perkins Reserve Grant by the South Dakota Department of Education.

The grant provides major equipment upgrades for Career and Technical Education programs, helping to equip students with the skills and experiences needed for post-secondary education and the workforce.

“CTE programs are constantly evolving to match the pace of workforce needs,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Joseph Graves.

“The South Dakota Perkins Reserve Grant aids schools in equipping students with current technologies, resources, and tools, offering students a realistic, hands-on learning experience that will strengthen their marketability to colleges or employers once they leave the K-12 education system.”

The following school districts have been named as the 2026 recipients:

Aberdeen School District:
- Awarded $30,233 for new precision machine equipment for the manufacturing program.
De Smet School District:
- Awarded $15,898 for modernizing metal fabrication within agriculture programs.
Lake Preston School District:
- Awarded $43,160 for expansion of program offers in multiple career clusters to strengthen industrial alignment.
McLaughlin School District:
- Awarded $11,997 to purchase equipment to offer a new culinary arts program.
Menno School District:
- Awarded $32,844 to purchase small engines and attend professional development opportunities to enhance the agricultural mechanics program.
Mitchell School District:
- Awarded $38,663 for the modernization of the automotive technology lab.
Timber Lake School District:
- Awarded $42,400 for the expansion of agriculture course offerings to strengthen industry alignment.
Wakpala School District:
- Awarded $40,145 to purchase a skid steer simulator to enhance the agriculture and construction program.
Wolsey-Wessington School District:
- Awarded $26,201 to purchase industry-aligned equipment to enhance the agriculture and construction program.

You can learn more about the South Dakota Perkins Reserve Grant at doe.sd.gov.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 4, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing

07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing

33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from March 4 drawing

02-18-22-30-32

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing

12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03

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.

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