South Dakota

Maier Meats provides local meat products to central South Dakota

Published

2 years ago

January 1, 2024

Maier Meats provides local meat products to central South Dakota

FT. PIERRE and HAYES, S.D. — A family-owned butcher shop, restaurant and slaughterhouse is helping to fill the demand for local meats in central South Dakota.

Karla Maier helps a customer at the shop.

Ariana Schumacher /Agweek

Karla and Dennis Maier both come from ranching backgrounds and have both spent time working at various ranches in Montana and South Dakota.

“We just kind of got to the point where we were processing wild game for family and friends and it grew and people would call and ‘the cow broke a leg’ or ‘I’ve got a bull down, do you guys want to cut it up?’” Karla said. “It got to the point where we were doing 15 to 20 a year doing that, and we were like, we need to do something different.”

Dennis Maier butchers meat at the slaughterhouse in Hayes, South Dakota.

They opened Maier Meats in February 2021 as a slaughterhouse near Hayes, South Dakota, alongside their son, daughter and daughter-in-law.

“We have a demand for our specialty products as we started making them for local producers they were like ‘oh, I want to buy some of this for my family,’” Karla said. “So, we decided to add a retail outlet and plus we wanted to offer South Dakota ranch raised beef to family consumers.”

They have since opened a retail store in downtown

Ft. Pierre,

in the same building that was once Andy’s Meat Market, a long-time butcher shop built in 1907. That shop had closed in 1969 and had served as the building for several other businesses including the newspaper, a bar, taxidermy shop, electrician’s offices and preschool.

“We wanted to purchase beef from local ranchers, or from ourselves, and process it and have an avenue for the local families to purchase local raised beef,” Karla said.

At their retail location they sell all the cuts of meat from beef and pork, as well as have a restaurant and coffee shop, serving both breakfast and lunch along with drinks throughout the day.

Meat cuts at the slaughterhouse in Hayes, South Dakota.

The meat comes from ranches within a 100-mile radius of Ft. Pierre.

“Some of them are life-long friends we’ve known forever and some of them are people who we are just getting to know, but if they have an extra beef ready to get butchered and they are not sure what to do with it, they will call us,” Karla said.

Around 70% of their business is customer butchering. They are a custom-exempt, state-inspected slaughter facility, processing roughly 400 beef a year.

Colton Maier packages meat at the slaughterhouse.

Their son Colton works in their slaughterhouse facility.

“Everybody is able to know where it’s coming from and we are out there seeing where the beef is being raised, I mean, we know most of these people that we are buying it from and can guarantee that we are providing good product for our customers,” Colton said.

Knowing where the meat comes from is a key component to the Maier Meats business.

“With the open borders, with our meat coming across Mexico and Canada, you don’t really know where your meat is coming from,” Karla said. “People can come in here and know that it is local ranch-raised beef. It came just 20 miles down the road or 50 miles down the road from a local rancher. Might even be friend of theirs and I think that just adds some comfort to what they are consuming on a daily basis.”

The central South Dakota community has shown the business their continued support.

“The community has been really good. I mean we are booked out through March right now. Tons of support, they are buying our local products that we source from them and just an overwhelming community support,” Colton said.

“COVID kind of changed the dynamics of our product’s availability and more and more people are looking for opportunities to find local, ranch-raised beef. And we are providing that outlet,” Karla said.

Maier Meats in Ft. Pierre, South Dakota.

Karla said they do expect to grow and hopefully bring on some other employees.

“Eventually we would like to get some partners that would help work the business and grow it with us,” Karla said.

Ariana is a reporter for Agweek based out of South Dakota. She graduated from South Dakota State University in 2022 with a double major in Agricultural Communications and Journalism, with a minor in Animal Science. She is currently a graduate student at SDSU, working towards her Masters of Mass Communications degree. She enjoys reporting on all things agriculture and sharing the stories that matter to both the producers and the consumers.

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South Dakota

How South Dakota officials have reacted to ‘massive’ US attack on Iran

Published

11 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

How South Dakota officials have reacted to ‘massive’ US attack on Iran

South Dakota’s Congressional leaders are praising President Donald Trump for his action of joining Israel for a missile-launched attack this weekend in Iran, with the intent to target and dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities and demand regime change.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump said Saturday, Feb. 28, calling the strikes, “a massive and ongoing operation.”

Trump has since faced scrutiny for a lack of clarity about the timeline and overall goals of the war, and acting without the direct approval of Congress, which has the power to officially declare war for the U.S. Lawmakers are also in heated debate about whether the Trump’s decision may violate the Constitution, with Democrats calling for a war powers resolution vote to stop the effort, according to multiple military outlets.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, was directly targeted, a Middle Eastern official told USA TODAY. Khamenei was killed in the attacks on Feb. 28, according to Israeli sources who told USA TODAY, CNN and Reuters. He was 86 and had led Iran since 1989.

Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes, hitting American and Israeli targets, including a U.S. Naval base in Bahrain. Iran said its enemies would be “decisively defeated.”

At least four Americans and an estimated 200 other individuals have been killed, and an estimated 700 injured as of March 2.

President Trump said he expects more to come.

Here’s what South Dakota Congressional leaders, along with former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who now sits at the helm of the Department of Homeland Security as secretary, have to say about what has been named by the administration as Operation Epic Fury.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune

“For years, Iran’s relentless nuclear ambitions, its expanded ballistic missile inventory and its unwavering support for terror groups in the region have posed a clear and unacceptable threat to U.S. servicemembers, citizens in the region, and many of our allies,” said Thune, a Republican, the morning of Feb. 28 in a comment from his office.

“Despite the dogged efforts of the president and his administration, the Iranian regime has refused the diplomatic off-ramps that would peacefully resolve these national security concerns. I commend President Trump for taking action to thwart these threats,” Thune said, thanking Secretary Rubio for providing updates on these issues throughout the week.

“I look forward to administration officials briefing all senators about these military operations,” he said. “I commend the bravery of the servicemembers carrying out these operations and pray for the safety of those in harm’s way.”

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds

Rounds, a Republican, said Trump took “the right course of action” when handling the strike.

Rounds later congratulated the United States military and Trump on the death of the Iranian leader, stating the moment “offers a path for a more peaceful Middle East.”

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson

Johnson, a Republican and the lone U.S. representative for South Dakota, stated the Iranian regime “is full of theocratic thugs and is the world’s largest state sponsor of terror.” He said Trump had given multiple opportunities to change direction.

“I’m praying for the safety of America’s servicemembers, and our allies involved in Operation Epic Fury,” Johnson stated on social media.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

Noem, who left her governorship after she was appointed secretary at the beginning of Trump’s current term, took to social media as well, stating she was actively monitoring any potential threats against America.

“I am in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners,” she said.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Millionaire for Life winning numbers for March 1, 2026

Published

23 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at March 1, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 1 drawing

10-11-12-35-56, Bonus: 04

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

South Dakota High School Students Showcase Culinary Skills – Harrisburg Today

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

South Dakota High School Students Showcase Culinary Skills – Harrisburg Today

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The South Dakota ProStart® Invitational is an annual culinary competition where high school students from across the state showcase their cooking and restaurant management skills. This year, 12 schools will send a total of 60 talented students to Pierre to compete in events like cake decorating, culinary arts, and restaurant management. Winners will receive scholarships and the opportunity to advance to the National ProStart® Invitational in Baltimore, Maryland.

Why it matters

The ProStart® program is an important investment in developing South Dakota’s future culinary and hospitality industry leaders. By providing high school students with hands-on experience and the chance to compete at the state and national levels, the program helps cultivate the next generation of skilled chefs, restaurateurs, and food service professionals.

The details

The South Dakota ProStart® Invitational will take place on March 9-10, 2026 in Pierre. The competition kicks off on Monday, March 9th at 2:00 PM with a cake decorating contest. The more intense culinary arts and restaurant management competitions will be held on Tuesday, March 10th starting at 8:45 AM. Students will be judged on their technical skills, creativity, and business acumen as they compete for scholarships and a spot at the national competition.

The South Dakota ProStart® Invitational will take place on March 9-10, 2026.
The cake decorating competition will be held on Monday, March 9th at 2:00 PM.
The culinary arts and restaurant management competitions will take place on Tuesday, March 10th starting at 8:45 AM.

The players

Nathan Sanderson

Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, which administers the ProStart® program.

Florence

One of the 12 high schools sending students to compete in the South Dakota ProStart® Invitational.

Harrisburg

One of the 12 high schools sending students to compete in the South Dakota ProStart® Invitational.

Huron

One of the 12 high schools sending students to compete in the South Dakota ProStart® Invitational.

Mitchell CTE

One of the 12 high schools sending students to compete in the South Dakota ProStart® Invitational.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“ProStart® is an excellent way for us to invest in South Dakota’s future industry leaders. Our students are highly skilled and graduate workplace ready.”

— Nathan Sanderson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association (b1027.com)

What’s next

The winners of the South Dakota ProStart® Invitational will advance to the National ProStart® Invitational in Baltimore, Maryland, where they will represent the state on a national stage.

The takeaway

The South Dakota ProStart® Invitational is a valuable program that helps cultivate the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals in the state, providing high school students with hands-on experience, scholarships, and the opportunity to showcase their skills at the national level.

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