Good evening District 27. I hope your weekend has gone well as it comes to a close and we begin a new work week. Today, I was busy chasing down signs and repairing what was left of some of my signs in the Martin area as the winds guests continued to blow in the 30 to 40 mph range. Tomorrow’s wind gusts are supposed to be even worse according to the local forecast. It is part of living in western South Dakota and is a reality of the campaign. If you have a missing sign or have a broken sign holder, please contact me and I will do my best to get a new one in place.
Aside from chasing down signs, I was invited to attend a branding at the Jacquot/Petrak ranch east of Martin. The ranch had several hundred heads of calves to brand and I was able to partake in the afternoon session. It was nice to see the Jacquot/Petrak grandchildren in attendance as a new generation of ranchers continues with the family tradition.
Branding season is part of our heritage in Western South Dakota and it is a time when local friends and families gather. It truly brings to life the idiom "Many hands make light work" and it is a testimony to the generous support that one’s rural neighbors and friends provide in a time of need.
It had been a while since I had attended the Jacquot/Petrak branding and I quickly was reminded how strong the calves are and received my first rookie mark of the day. A calf that I was wrestling with, head-butted me in the mouth and it started to bleed, but I survived. I also had a chance to enjoy eating the prairie oysters that were grilling atop the gas-lit fire pits that heated the branding irons. While waiting my turn to wrestle with a calf, I had an opportunity to speak with many of the locals in attendance. It was a good way to hear what was on the hearts and minds of the voters of District 27.
Ranching plays an integral role in our local economy and is a way of life for many people. If I should be elected your next state senator, please know that I will always fight for our local farmers and ranchers. They work tireless hours providing the food that we eat. Moreover, I will fight to preserve our traditional family values and way of life. Having grown up on a farm, I can attest to how it taught me to be resilient and resourceful. Farming also taught me the value of life and how precious it is.
Each spring I saw a new crop of pigs, calves, turkeys, chickens, ducks, alfalfa, clover, prairie grass, corn, oats, and wheat come to life. It also taught me how much my parents put their faith and trust in God to provide for all of their needs, especially during those times when there was a drought, a hail storm, flooding, or a late spring blizzard. Finally, it taught me how risky the business of farming is when many variables are out of one’s control.
It is all the more reason why I admire anyone who seeks a livelihood in this business. It is not for the faint of heart. A person must have great stamina, fortitude, determination, and faith if they want to be in this business. I salute all of our farmers and ranchers.
Your determination and will are what make me proud of our country and why I choose to stand up to defend her, especially at this point in time of our country’s history. We are one or two generations away from losing our country and I will do my best to stand with our farmers and ranchers to preserve what makes this country great.
God bless.
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