Board of Directors

The DRA Board has the job of building other leadership and keeping decision making democratic and participatory for all members. All Board Members are responsible for taking part in bi-monthly meetings, for attending the DRA Annual Meeting, and taking some facet of DRA’s fundraising work.

Executive Committee

Chairperson: Tony Helland, Sioux Falls, SD

Vice-Chairperson: Maria Birch, Hill City, SD

Treasurer: Stephanie Peterson, Brandon, SD

Secretary: Stacy Roberts, Carpenter, SD

At-Large Representative – East River

Nick Nemec, Holabird, SD

At-Large Representative – West River

Paula Antoine, Winner, SD

George England, Midland, SD

Chapter Representatives

Deuel County DRA

Dale Roth, Astoria, SD

Home Grown Sioux Empire

Jamie Boley, Parker, SD

Ned Horsted, Sioux Falls, SD

Black Hills Chapter

Rick Bell, Rapid City, SD

Rajni Lerman, Hot Springs, SD

Greater Oahe Action League

Brian Hemmelman, Pierre, SD

Social Media

This is happening tonight in Sioux Falls! Go & bring some friends!https://t.co/CBg7VFRj9C https://t.co/PNN0NQG1Vk

@sddoe DRA and its members stand against the proposed changes to the @sddoe Social Studies standards. View curri… https://t.co/f0ora5yEgK

Dakota Rural Action

3 days ago

Dakota Rural Action Annual Meeting SoDak Grown Hog RoastGrowers, foodies and farm-curious folks are invited to take part in gathering to celebrate SoDak Grown food.Dakota Rural Action (DRA) will be celebrating our 34th Annual Meeting with a Hog Roast at Fruit of the Coop on Saturday, October 9. We are featuring a heritage breed pig raised by Free Happy Farm in Brookings, South Dakota. This breed is a cross between the oldest English breed (the Berkshire), the oldest American breed (the Duroc), and a breed unique to North America (the Red Wattle). Raised naturally, with a purpose and passion, these pigs mature as Mother Nature intended. They take longer to gain weight because of their indigenous diets and the fact that they are raised on open pastures. Other reasons to support heritage breeds are the economical and taste advantages of whole animal utilization.DRA and Fruit of the Coop work to raise awareness of the vast potential in our local and regional food systems. We believe in supporting working family farms and ranches throughout the state and the restaurants and markets that sell their products, bolstering our local economies and improving South Dakotan’s access to local food. Join us as we celebrate SoDak Grown!We are offering a tiered ticket option for this event:$150.00 Sponsor/Major Donor$75.00 Sustainer$50.00 SponsoredPay What You LikeWe do not want to prohibit anyone from participating. Please reach out to Jordan Walker (605) 697-5204, jordan@dakotarural.org with any ticket questions or concerns.More information can be found at: www.facebook.com/events/571472357329622#dakotaruralaction #homegrownresiliency #hogroast #sodakgrown ... See MoreSee Less

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Dakota Rural Action

3 days ago

DRA Staff and Members attended the Oceti Sakowin March For Our Children today in Pierre organized by NDNCollective Education Equity team and the South Dakota Education Equity Coalition. The March and Rally were an action in opposition of SD Department of Education’s newly proposed social studies standards, of which contribute to the perpetuated erasure of Indigenous history, experience, and perspective.Traditionally DRA have come to battles over structural racism through the issues; from protecting water to working to build a better food system. Through our work DRAhas learned the hard lesson that our fight for a better world is intertwined with many issues, so we must not be silent. As a historically white-led organization, we recognize this work is ongoing, and we continue to address structural racism.As an organization we are committed to advocating for policies that advance racial equity and dismantle existing policies that create and perpetuate inequity.These proposed changes continue our state's history of trying to erase Indigenous people and their ongoing relationship with this land.We are calling on all of our members, our allies, and our community to speak out against this attack on our community members, our shared history, and our future. Individuals can submit public comments here speak out against this attack on our community members, our shared history, and our future. doe.sd.gov/contentstandards/ss-review.aspx and also attend the four public hearings between now and 2022 before the Board of Education Standards considers the draft standards for approval in spring 2022. The first of these hearings is set for Sept. 20 in Aberdeen, followed by meetings in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City.View curriculum revisions and submit your comments to the DOE @ dakotarural.org/doe OR linktr.ee/dakotarural#IndigenousEducation #educationequity #OcetiSakowinMarch ... See MoreSee Less

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Dakota Rural Action

4 days ago

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Dakota Rural Action

5 days ago

Who’s going to show up and stand for education equity! ... See MoreSee Less

NDN Collective Holding March for Youth, calling out Indigenous erasure in newly proposed SD social studies standards | NDN Collective

ndncollective.org

Action to oppose the recently proposed updates to SD’s social studies standards by Governor Noem and the South Dakota Department of Education and uplift demands for inclusive...

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Dakota Rural Action

7 days ago

Yard to table month celebrated in Sioux Falls

www.dakotanewsnow.com

“What we really want to celebrate through this yard to table month is just doing things a little bit differently, and you know maybe increasing your sustainability or your production or your food or...

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