South Dakota

South Dakota’s Pheasant Restaurant And Lounge Earns James Beard Classics Award

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

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South Dakota’s Pheasant Restaurant And Lounge Earns James Beard Classics Award

James Beard Classics Awards winner Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge stays true to its South Dakota … [+] culinary roots.

Courtesy of Pheasant Restaurant

Situated in Brookings, South Dakota, a town of 23,000 people, the Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge that started as a gas station cafÃ© might not have been the most likely of candidates to earn one of the six prestigious James Beard Classics Awards, in this case for the Midwest. But Pheasant Restaurant is going to surprise you in many ways.

And Brookings is not your average town since a college, South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Art Museum, situated on campus, is located there.

Pheasant Restaurant has been owned by the same family since it opened in 1949, and is now overseen by Georgiana Olson and Michael Johnson, the head chef and general manager, who is Olsonâs grandson and the third generation of Olsonâs who have steered it. Previously Johnsonâs mom and aunt ran it. Johnson has been working there for over 30 years and was handed over the reins 18 years ago.

How did Johnson feel when he learned Pheasant had won one of the James Beard Classic Awards? âWe were just doing what we are passionate about, and then this divine light just shone down on our daily gig so unexpectedly,â he replies.

Staying true to its South Dakota roots, Pheasant Restaurant has earned a James Beard Classic Awards and yet has adapted its menu.

But Pheasantâs menu is one of the unexpected factors in its longevity. Though streamlined, the menu offers variations of classics like its duck wings platter, lamb sloppy joes and hummus platter.

Updated Plus Old Reliable Menu

As Johnson explains that its menu combines its history while adapting to modern tastes and âhighlights items from the gas station cafÃ© days, our steakhouse era and a lot of current New American items, but always with local flair.â It also integrates influences of Native Americans, Norwegians and Germans as well as farmers, hunters, fishers and ranchers.

Some South Dakota Specialties

And then there are some entrees specific to South Dakota such as its chislic, which is the stateâs official nosh and consists of deep-fried, cubed local lamb meat served with blue cheese dressing and its seared sirloin bites, six ounces of cubed Angus top sirloin.

It also prides itself on its Upper Midwest classic dishes such as hot roast beef on homemade white bread with mashed potatoes and gravy, its Nordic waffles folded around smoked salmon and bison steak au poivre. And then thereâs walleye, the South Dakota state fish.

âWe love to work with rhubarb, blue cheese, homemade ice cream and anything fresh off the farm,â Johnson explains. âIn the end, itâs a distinctly eastern South Dakotan experience,â he says.

And yet with all the changes, the hot roast beef sandwich and liver and onions were there on the original 1949 menu. Its coffee is made from locally-roasted beans bought from Cherrybean Coffee Co., which makes organic coffee and is based in Marion, S.D. Itâs a bottomless cup, naturally.

Keeping the Prices Low: Not So Easy These Days

At a time when restaurant prices are spiking, Pheasant Restaurant has kept its prices down. Its early bird special served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday includes a choice of cod liver, pork chop, taco salad or chef salad and costs $9. Thatâs right under $10.

Keeping those prices low, admittedly, has become a challenge. It maintains relationships with âproducers, like farmers and bakers who come right into the kitchen and hand us their goods. These relationships really help with both quality and cost,â he notes.

Itâs also a lounge where it keeps six rotating, seasonal beers on tap such as Ferson Lionâs Paw Lager from Sioux Falls, S.D. and Brau Brothers Moo Joos from Marshall, Mn. It also maintains a wine cellar with a large selection of curated wines.

Sustaining its tradition and appealing to the more sophisticated tastes of people who travel these days have become the bywords of keeping the Pheasant Restaurant dynamic, Johnson suggests.

And what will keep the Pheasant Restaurant pumped up for the next generation? Johnson said his 10-year-old daughter Elsa has declared that she wants to be the chef when she grows up. In the meantime, Johnson says, heâs not going anywhere until âChef Elsaâ is ready for the task.

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South Dakota

Nebraska volleyball to play regular-season match in South Dakota

Published

9 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska volleyball to play regular-season match in South Dakota

Nebraska volleyball will play South Dakota State in a regular-season match in Brookings, S.D. The Huskers will face the Jackrabbits on September 2 at First Bank & Trust Arena.

Nebraska finished 2025 with a 33-1 overall record and was ranked No. 3 in the final AVCA poll of the season. South Dakota State was 23-5 and was the Summit League regular-season champions.

These two programs have faced each other before. They played a spring exhibition match in May 2025. The Huskers were victorious by a 4-0 sweep (25-18, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19).

Harper Murray led the Huskers in kills with 12, while also earning seven digs, five blocks and two aces. Andi Jackson delivered a double-double on the day, finishing with 11 kills and 10 blocks.

Nebraska is scheduled to play two exhibition games this spring. The Huskers will face Iowa State in Sioux Falls, S.D. on April 11 and Creighton in Omaha on April 17.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire (https://twitter.com/CornhuskersWire) on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebook (https://www.facebook.com/CornhuskersWire) to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 2, 2026

Published

21 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at March 2, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing

02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 2 drawing

03-08-17-24-34, Star Ball: 06, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 2 drawing

28-41-42-50-55, 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.

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South Dakota

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

Published

1 day 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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