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: John Harter, Winner, SD

Vice-Chairperson: Andy Johnson, Spearfish, SD

Treasurer: Lois Andersen, Arlington, SD

Secretary: Tony Helland, Sioux Falls, SD

At-Large Representative – East River

Krisit Mogen, Twin Brooks, SD

Nick Nemec, Holabird, SD

At-Large Representative – West River

Paula Antoine, Winner, SD

Don Kelley, Nemo, SD

Chapter Representatives

Deuel County DRA

Dale Roth, Astoria, SD

Maria Birch, Toronto, SD

Brookings County DRA

Emelie Haigh, Volga, SD

Home Grown Sioux Empire

Jamie Boley, Parker, SD

Stephanie Peterson, Brandon, SD

Black Hills Chapter

Chad Scholl, Rapid City, SD

Suzan Nolan, Rapid City, SD

Greater Oahe Action League

Brian Hemmelman, Pierre, SD

Social Media

UPDATE: hearing at 9am CT/ 8am MT

We have two time zones in South Dakota. #SDLeg may primarily take place in Central, but citizen participation comes… https://t.co/O7d8ARqtED

Dakota Rural Action

1 hour ago

Resolution to BLOCK the Merger of DENR & Dept of Ag PASSES Senate Ag 4-3! Thanks to Senators Heinert, Smith, Frye-Mueller & Otten for their YES vote.SRD 901 goes to the FULL Senate on Monday--we will have more details in Friday's weekly update, but start contacting State Senators now to vote YES on SRD 901! ... See MoreSee Less

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Dakota Rural Action

1 day ago

ACTION NEEDED NOW!UPDATE: This hearing time has been CHANGED to 9am CT/ 8am MT.The merger-blocking resolution, SRD 901, is up THIS THURSDAY MORNING (3/4/21). Please contact the following senators and ask them to SUPPORT SRD 901, the resolution to BLOCK the merger.Contacts:Gary Cammack gary.cammack@sdlegislature.govHerman Ottenherman.otten@sdlegislature.govJoshua Klumb joshua.klumb@sdlegislature.gov Julie Frye-Muellerjulie.fryemueller@sdlegislature.gov Mary Duvallmary.duvall@sdlegislature.govTroy Heinert troy.heinert@sdlegislature.govV.J. Smithvj.smith@sdlegislature.govResources:BILL PAGE: sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/22489COMMITTEE PAGE:sdlegislature.gov/Session/Committee/503/DetailThank you for taking action! ... See MoreSee Less

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Dakota Rural Action

2 days ago

Seed Swap and Spring Equinox401 N Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104Monday, March 15, 2021 at 5 PM CDT – 8 PM CDTwww.facebook.com/events/462000031823806/ Calling all seed savers, gardeners, and curious creatives! It’s time for the beloved Homegrown Seed Swap and Spring Equinox Event!(*Spring Equinox is March 20th)This will be a social distanced event: Masks will be required and we will be spaced throughout the building to allow for easy flow of participants.The seed swap is a wonderful chance to get together with other local growers, share seeds, stories, and ideas. This is a free event, everyone is welcome. Local Green Thumbs will be on hand to help answer your seedy questions. Go home with lots of locally adapted seeds from other local gardeners. Bring your own seed collection and share your abundance.Please bring excess packets, unwanted varieties, self-saved seeds, out of date packets, partially used packets, empty envelopes to reuse, and extra seed catalogs.For folks bringing in self-saved seed, we invite you to tell the story of your seed. Where did you originally source the seed? How long have you been growing this variety? How does it grow best? Bring your seed to share along with a short write-up with the "seed story."Even if you don't have seeds to swap, please join with friends and neighbors for an evening of celebrating Spring!#seedswap #homegrownresiliency #comeforthepotluckstayfortheprogress #sodakgrown #communityempowerment #communityispower #regenerativeag #mutualaid #SmalldDemocracy #grassroots #organize #communitycare #yardtotable #garden #seedsaving #seedsovereignty ... See MoreSee Less

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Dakota Rural Action

3 days ago

We are in this together. While these are trying times, they also offer us a chance to pivot and take stock of the value of what we have. Pandemics, cold weather, the SD legislative session, does not prevent us from strengthening the bonds within our communities. Mutual aid networks, homegrown resiliency, and skill shares are sprouting up everywhere, allowing the healthiest among us to support the most vulnerable, empowering community through community and creating a greater sense of power and shared purpose. The solidarity we are forming today, is hopefully one we can carry onward as we face the climate crisis together.Dakota Rural Action has been providing education, skill-shares and tours on growing, sharing, and preserving what you grow for 10+ years.DRA believes that it is essential that we further our food security and sovereignty by growing and preserving our own local food and medicine towards self-reliance, and community resilience.Join Us! dakotarural.org/joinBecome a member today!#homegrownresiliency #comeforthepotluckstayfortheprogress #sodakgrown #communityempowerment #communityispower #regenerativeAG #mutualaid #smallddemocracy #GrassRoots #organize ... See MoreSee Less

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Dakota Rural Action

5 days ago

Farm Beginnings Class Helps Launch the Next Generation of Family Farmers- Dakota Rural Action’s Farm Beginnings® course is being offered virtually and in person in. In person classes are being held in Sturgis, SD and on farm training will be held throughout the state.Today we have the opportunity to hear from @bearbuttegardens and @cyclefarm Farm Beginnings is a farmer and rancher-led training and support program that provides participants the opportunity to learn first-hand about low-cost, sustainable methods of farming and ranching and the tools to successfully launch a profitable enterprise.Our farmer training is unique in that it is farmer-led, community based, and focused on sustainable agriculture. Farm Beginnings is a training program taught by local farmers and ranchers that provides participants with the support and education needed to launch a profitable and sustainable enterprise. Who should take Farm Beginnings? Anyone interested in developing or transitioning their enterprise. Participants can be of any age, do not need to own land, and prospective, beginning, part-time, and full-time farmers are welcome! What kind of enterprises are participants engaged in? Participants come with a wide array of sustainable farming interests and experience, including: ● Cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, poultry, and other livestock ● Dairy ● Grazing ● Vegetable and fruit production ● High Tunnels ● Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and farmers markets ● Crops and Hay ● Fiber production ● Specialty products like value-added foods ● Flowers and herbs .The size and scale of production ranges from very small (just a few acres or a small urban plot) to large (hundreds or thousands of acres in production). Experience levels range from no experience farming to currently owning and operating their own farm.Check out dakotarural.org to find out more. Prospective participants should contact Dakota Rural Action at (605) 697-5204 ext. 280 or email Matthew West at mwest@dakotarural.org. #knowyourfarmer #farmbeginnings #farmbeginningscollaborative #SoDakGrown ... See MoreSee Less

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