DRG Media Group Beyond the Mic podcasts

Tariffs and trade wars, lower crop commodity prices, rising input costs, increased price of beef in the retail meat case and general political dysfunction in Washington, D.C., all contributed to another roller coaster year for economics connected to agriculture. In this episode, National Farmers Union President Rob Larew, who was one of the speakers during the 2025 South Dakota Farmers Union Convention in December 2025, chat with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about what he sees as priorities for his organization and its members heading into 2026.

As transportation shifted from rails to wheels and wings, one railroad tried a novel combination.

Another wild week of sports with Michigan's head football coach Sherrone Moore getting fired and arrested. We break down all the information that has been released. We preview South Dakota's date with Montana in the quarterfinals on Saturday, and preview every game from NFL Week 15. If you love talking ports, this is the show for you! So, come on into Cowart's Corner!

Tiger Talk is back for episode 15 with your host Matthew Givone. Over the past week throughout the state two different Olympians, DeAnna Price and Chris Nilsen, have been going around to different schools talking to students about Beef Logic's Build Your Base Program. DeAnna Price was able to join Matt for Tiger Talk over the phone this week to talk all about her Olympic career, and how the Build Your Base Program has helped her throughout her career. If you’re a sports fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M...

Chris Nilsen is an Olympic Medalist in Pole Vaulting, holds multiple USD records & multiple American Indoor records. Chris is travelling across South Dakota sharing his journey on becoming an Olympic athlete with students, showcasing his medals and highlighting the Build Your Base program, and the importance of having high-quality protein like beef as a part of their training and healthy lifestyle.

The Beef Checkoff program in the United States will turn 40 years old in 2026. The cattle industry has changed over the years, but the job of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be stewards of those dollars remains the same. In this episode, CBB CEO Greg Hanes and DRG News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra talk about the program and what Hanes sees coming in 2026.

Incidentally, Hanes will be speaking Dec. 11, 2025, during the South Dakota Farmers Union’s 110th annual convention in Huron.

NFL Week 14 helped clear up the playoff picture for a lot of teams, but also spelled disaster for others. We recap all the Week 14 action and look at what teams are playoff bound and which teams need to get it together. We break down how congested this playoff race is and how there might not be enough seats at the table. Before we talk NFL, we look at the final College Football Playoff bracket as the 12-teams are set and of course there is controversy. We also take a look at USD's dominant 47-0 playoff win and what made...

The story of train engineer Casey Jones.

The Lane Kiffin debacle leaving Ole Miss for LSU highlights the true issues with college football as a whole, we dive into everything that has unfolded with Kiffin's controversial decision. We preview the FCS playoff matchups for SDSU and USD this weekend, and preview every game from NFL Week 14 starting with TNF tonight and a massive NFC matchup between the Cowboys and Lions. We also dive into all the other crucial games with playoff implications this weekend on this episode. If you love talking sports, this is the show for you. So, come on into Cowart's Corner!

Tiger Talk is back for episode 14 with your host Matthew Givone. With the winter sports season only days away now, Matt concluded his winter sports season preview series this week, looking at the Mobridge-Pollock Basketball team. Joining Matt in the studio was Head Coach TJ Knudson to talk all about practices so far, and his hopes for the season. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan or a South Dakota high school sports fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Ba...

Philanthropy Coordinator and Healthy Futures Campaign Manager Haden Merkel joined KOLY's Chasen Walter for the Mobridge Regional Hospital & Clinic Foundation's Radiothon from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. today (12/2/25) on Giving Tuesday to raise funds for the MRHC Foundation as it enters the final stretch of its 3-year Healthy Futures Capital Campaign, Mobridge Economic Development Corporation is matching the first $25,000 in gifts received on Giving Tuesday. An anonymous donor added a $100,000 match on donations through the end of the year on top of MEDCO's $25,000. Merkel expects to send out a press release in the morning Wednesday December 3rd with a preliminary update...

Philanthropy Coordinator and Healthy Futures Campaign Manager Haden Merkel joined KOLY's Chasen Walter for the Mobridge Regional Hospital & Clinic Foundation's Radiothon from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. today (12/2/25) on Giving Tuesday to raise funds for the MRHC Foundation as it enters the final stretch of its 3-year Healthy Futures Capital Campaign, Mobridge Economic Development Corporation is matching the first $25,000 in gifts received on Giving Tuesday. An anonymous donor added a $100,000 match on donations through the end of the year on top of MEDCO's $25,000. Merkel expects to send out a press release in the morning Wednesday December 3rd with a preliminary update...

What a Thanksgiving week of football. Three meaningful games on Thanksgiving, a big on on Black Friday, and a Sunday full of games. USD & SDSU both advance to the next round of the FCS Playoffs where the test gets tougher, and we continue the Haywire Headline from last week that carried over into this week of high school playoffs. If you love talking sports, this is the show for you! So come on into Cowart's Corner.

How America's 49th state went from "Seward's Folly" to a massive natural resource. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! The crew in Cowart's Corner cannot thank you enough for tuning in every Tuesday and Thursday, and this Thanksgiving Thursday is no different! We have MEANINGFUL Thanksgiving Day football today, it doesn't get any better than that. Haywire Headline, a Georgia football team faces a team suspension for sticking up for each other. We preview all the action from NFL Week 13, prep you for the Jacks and Coyotes playoff games Saturday, and so much more. If you love talking sports, this is the show for you! So come on into Cowart's Corner!

We start the show with the maybe the greatest college football roster ever assembled, these names are too perfect. We then dive into USD & SDSU earning their bids to the FCS Playoff, we recap all the action from NFL Week 12 and close with some college football coaching openings. If you love talking sports, this is the show for you! So come on into Cowart's Corner

During the 2025 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention, Arlen Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX, chatted with DRG News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about some of the main factors causing swings in the agriculture commodity markets in recent months.

NFL Week 12 kicks off with my Buffalo Bills tonight on TNF! Before we get into the Week 12 slate, we talk Haywire Headlines which covers one of the most insane JUCO football stories out there right now that has to be heard to be believed. We also preview all the upcoming action from this weekend in the NFL including tonight's Bills vs. Texans matchup, the Vikings and Packers in Lambeau, the Colts and Chiefs AFC bout, the Rams and Bucs in a SNF blockbuster, and every other game from this upcoming Sunday! If you love talking sports, this is the...

Tiger Talk is back for episode 13 with your host Matthew Givone. As football officially wrapped up last weekend and volleyball not too far behind, this week Matt continued to look ahead to the winter sports season previewing two more teams that we won't hear as much over our radio broadcasts, the Mobridge-Pollock boys and girls wrestling teams. Joining Matt in the studio was Head Coach Todd Naasz to talk all about his history, and his hopes for the season. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan or a South Dakota high school sports fan you are not going to...

In its 118 years of delivering medical education, the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine has designed and implemented programs specifically to train physicians who are prepared and eager to practice in rural and underserved areas. In this episode, USD SSOM Dean Dr. Tim Ridgway chats with DRG’s Jody Heemstra about the school and their Frontier and Rural Medicine-- or FARM—program, where students are immersed in rural clinical settings, fosters a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of rural practice.

Current FARM training sites are in Chamberlain, Milbank, Mobridge, Parkston, Pierre, Spearfish and Verm...

Week 11 is why we do it people. What a weekend of football it was in the NFL. Before we do that, we highlight one of the most impressive athletes in the country who is playing with a serious disadvantage. From the NFL, the Browns saw Sanders first action, and it did not go well. Sam Darnold threw FOUR interceptions and the Seahawks somehow kept it close. JJ McCarthy almost pulled off another second half comeback versus the Bears. Josh Allen did something that only Josh Allen could do, scored 6 total touchdowns. The Packers almost fell victim to Jameis Winston...

The callsign Air Force One was created after air traffic controllers "lost" President Eisenhower during a flight.

Tiger Talk is back for episode 12 with your host Matthew Givone. With the fall sports season wrapping up with football state championships and volleyball state championships coming up over the next week or two, this week Matt started to look ahead to the winter sports season previewing a team with state championship ambitions, the Mobridge-Pollock Lady Tiger girls basketball team. Joining Matt in the studio was Head Coach Stephen Hettick to talk all about the preseason process and what he hopes this season could be for the team. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan or a South Da...

New segment alert: 'Haywire Headlines' where we visit some of the wildest stories you never knew about. We preview every game from week 11 including the Vikings hosting Caleb Williams and the Bears, the Bucs and my struggling Bills, the Chiefs and the Broncos and every other game. We also preview all of the incredible matchups from Thursday-Saturday in the SD State Championship football slate. If you love talking sports, this is the show for you! So come on into Cowart's Corner!

We have transferred into the second half of the NFL season, and Week 10 is officailly in the books. The Vikings fall at home to Lamar, the Bears come roaring back and get Giants HC Brian Daboll fired, the Packers can't get it figured out, one of the wildest comebacks by Davis Mills (?) and the Texans you'll see, and every other game from the NFL! We also touch on some college football and a great week of high school football semi-final action. If you love talking sports, this is the show for you! So come on into Cowart's Corner

Between Dec. 2025 and March 2026, South Dakota State University Extension is hosting Sustaining the Legacy conferences in Winner, Mitchell, Aberdeen and Watertown. In this episode, Heather Gessner with SDSU Extension explains how these conferences help farmers and ranchers evaluate their current estate plans and determine if they need to make any changes.

The conference is designed for farming and ranching families at all planning stages. Participants will learn methods to pass on farm and ranch assets and businesses and provide a financial inheritance to non-farming and ranching children. Estate planning and ranch transition attorneys, along with other industry...

Origins of legendary Kit Carson

NFL Week 10 (How is it already week 10?!) is here. We preview each and every game coming up including tonight's TNF game, to the Colts and Falcons overseas, the Vikings hosting Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, the Bears and beat up Giants and don't forget about Monday Night Football with an awesome rivalry matchup between the Eagles and Packers! If you love talking sports, this is the show for you! So come on into Cowart's Corner

Tiger Talk is back for episode 11 with your host Matthew Givone. With the volleyball playoffs rolling on in Mobridge, and the football playoffs continuing throughout the state this week Matt brought in a very special guest, Dakota Radio Groups Sports Director Justin Cowart. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan or a South Dakota high school sports fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

How about them Vikings?! JJ McCarthy returns and takes down the dominant Lions. The Bears and Bengals play one of the wildest 4th quarters you will ever see. The Broncos escape against the vaunted Texans defense, the Packers and Jordan Love get stuck in mud, and every other game from Week 9. Though, we start with the World Series recap and one of the greatest best-of-7 series you will ever see. We also talk a little college football on the back end. If you love talking sports, then come on into Cowart's Corner!

People in the central part of South Dakota can earn an Associate Degree in Agricultural Science thanks to a collaboration between South Dakota State University in Brookings and the Capital City Campus in Pierre.

In this episode of Ag In-depth, Capital City Campus Executive Director Laurie Gill sat down with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra to talk more about the 60-credit-hour program approved by the state Board of Regents in May 2024.

The creation of The Department of Defense.

NFL Week 9 is here and the Blue Jays are FIGHTING. We preview all the games as the Vikings get McCarthy back, the Packers try to handle a pesky Panthers, the defensive matchup between the Broncos and Texans, and of course the Bills and Chiefs. The Blue Jays got off the mat after the 18-inning marathon and have taken a 3-2 lead, and Brian Kelly with some bad stories coming out about him after his firing. If you love talking sports then come on into Cowart's Corner!

Tiger Talk is back for episode 10 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with the seniors on the Mobridge-Pollock volleyball team Tegan Konold, Blake Thompson, Katelynn Fjeldheim, Ellie Kemnitz, and Jayda Thompson. With the playoffs coming up, they reflected on the regular season and how the team has grown together. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

We are still trying to comprehend the 18-inning marathon that was World Series Game 3. We also recap all the action from NFL Week 8 including the end of the Carson Wentz experiment, the Broncos dominant win, the Packers spoiling Aaron Rodgers return and more. We also talk the latest news from the FBI's investigation into the NBA gambling controversy. If you love talking sports, then come on into Cowart's Corner!

South Dakota kicked off its America250th activities during the 2025 State Fair, but as state Historical Society Director Dr. Ben Jones tells DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra, there's plenty more in the works before July 4, 2026.

The formation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

We have breaking news out of the NBA after arrests were made of Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Heat guard Terry Rozier and others for their alleged involvement with mafia backed gambling and alleged point-shaving. We preview all the action from NFL Week 8 including tonight's Vikings @ Charger TNF matchup, and we talk a little World Series as the Blue Jays hope to pull off a monumental upset over the reigning champion LA Dodgers. If you love talking sports, then come on into Cowart's Corner

Tiger Talk is back for episode 9 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with Ethan Falk, Easton Eisemann, Axton Gates, and Tyler Schmeichel, members of the Mobridge-Pollock football team. They talked about the season so far and the playoffs coming up. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

NFL Week 7 is in the books. We recap all the action including the Vikings close loss to the SB Champion Eagles, Denver's ridiculous 4th quarter comeback against the Giants, the Bears slow start victory against the scrappy Saints, the Packers handling 32-year old Jacoby Brissett, and every other game. We also re-live Toronto's thrilling Game 7 'Springer Dinger' as the Blue Jays crack the World Series for the first time in decades. We also talk a little CFB, too! If you love talking sports, then come on into Cowart's Corner

United States President Donald Trump said Oct. 19, 2025, that the United States could purchase Argentinian beef in an effort to bring down retail beef prices for American consumers. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard doesn't think that's the answer, but he does think implementation of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling-- MCOOL-- would make a difference.

The US Navy gets it's first ace of World War 2

One of our biggest weekends of football is here. Week 7 promises some awesome matchups, not only in NFL but also in CFB. The Vikings are off the bye, the Packers look to end Gannon's career, Mike Vrabel gets to face his old team, and the Lions host the Bucs in what might be the most exciting matchup of them all. We are covering all the ball this week, so come on into Cowart's Corner!

Tiger Talk is back for episode 8 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with Mobridge-Pollock high school cheer coach Naomie Wessel to talk the cheer team this fall season, what goes into being a cheerleader at Mobridge-Pollock high school, and some of the youth programs in town. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

NFL Week 6 is officially in the books. My Buffalo Bills got embarrassed on Monday Night Football, the Bears somehow pull out an upset in Washington, the Panthers might be for real, the Packers continue to roll, the Chiefs and refs team up against the Lions, the Eagles might not be so good, and the rest of the NFL Week 6 action. We also talk about James Franklin getting the boot from Penn State, and the World Series Champion LA Dodgers on this Tuesday episode, so come talk some sports in Cowart's Corner!

Ford is best known for autos but when war breaks out the company's innovation turned out something else.

NFL Week 6 has arrived with the Eagles and Giants kicking us off on TNF tonight. We preview every single game from this Week 6 slate, make our picks and also talk a little baseball and college football. If you love talking ball, and ONLY ball, this is the show for you. So come on into Cowart's Corner to get yourself ready for a big weekend ahead!

Tiger Talk is back for episode 7 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with Mobridge-Pollock high school football assistant coaches Danny Merkel and Ashton Norder to talk about their roles on the coaching staff, the crazy finish to last weeks game in Deadwood, and how they are getting ready for this weekends game and beyond. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

The Vikings come back to the homeland with a win under their belt, the Broncos go into Philly and take one from the Champs, Mac Jones wills a banged up 49ers team to a victory over the Rams, the Lions dominate the lowly Bengals, the Patriots hand the Bills their first loss of the season, the Jags beat the Chiefs and the refs and every other game from NFL Week 5, come talk some football in Cowart's Corner.

While some people have been enjoying the mild fall weather so far in South Dakota, others are waiting for a good, hard freeze or two to kill off this year's crop of pesky biting insects. In this episode, SDSU Extension Urban Entomology Field Specialist Dr. Amanda Bachmann talks about mosquitoes, Multicolored Asian lady beetles, Minute pirate bugs and what we can do to try to minimize how much they annoy us until they disappear for the winter.

The Federalist Papers made the argument for ratification of the US Constitution.

NFL Week 5 is here! The 49ers are beat up and have to go into Los Angeles tonight and play a red-hot Rams offense, the Vikings look to right the ship against Dillon Gabriel and the Browns, the Broncos and Eagles face off in a massive week 5 game, the Patriots look to spoil a perfect start from the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football and we see if the Jacksonville Jaguars are for real against a resurgent Kansas City Chiefs team on Monday Night Football. All that, some Ryder Cup recap and some college football talk on this Thursday episode...

Tiger Talk is back for episode 6 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with Mobridge-Pollock high school cross country head coach Chris Fried to talk about the teams season so far, how they train, and how people can get involved and keep up with the team. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

Trent Kubik farms near Hamill, SD. In mid-September 2025, he was part of a roundtable discussion organized by South Dakota U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, that also included representatives from agribusiness, ag banking, corn, soybeans, wheat. In this episode, Kubik, who represented South Dakota Corn on the panel, recaps the roundtable discussion and talks about his personal operation.

Week 4 is officially in the books. The Vikings let us down on Sunday morning, the Giants and Jaxson Dart handed Brian Daboll his first win of the season, the Bears win on a blocked field goal, and we saw our first tie of the season on SNF. We also talk a bit about the unbelievable weekend in college football on this episode of Cowart's Corner!

Before it stood for movie-making the iconic southern California sign stood for something else.

NFL Week 4 is here. Thursday Night Football kicks us off with Gray Zabel and the Seahawks versus the Cardinals. The Vikings play their first of two international games, the Chiefs and Ravens both look to right the ship versus each other. The Bucs and Eagles dig up their 2024 postseason battle, and every other game from NFL Week 4. We also talk some Ryder Cup and the Cleveland Guardians historic surge to take the top spot of the AL Central. So come on into Cowart's Corner! If you love ball, this is the show for you

Tiger Talk is back for episode 5 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with Mobridge-Pollock high school volleyball head coach Rose Henderson to talk about the teams season so far, their extended break this week, and what they're expecting for the second half of the season. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

What an insane weekend of NFL football... Packers upset by the Browns, the Eagles walk it off on a blocked field goal, the Vikings absolutely demolish the Bengals and have the greatest defensive performance in franchise history, and so much more. Come on into Cowart's Corner to talk some NFL football as we recap Week 3!

Before becoming a prison, Alcatraz Island held other roles.

NFL Week 3 is here! The injury bug has visited multiple teams in the NFL including the Vikings, Bengals and Packers. How will that affect these teams early in the season? The Packers look like a juggernaut, the Vikings offensive line is scaring Viking fans, the Bears might be a disaster, and the Bills might get Mike McDaniel fired. Come on into Cowart's Corner as we preview all the action for NFL Week 3!

Tiger Talk is back for episode 4 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with Mobridge-Pollock high school football head coach Donovon Flaherty to talk about the teams season so far, what they are expecting on their upcoming road stretch, and how the team is prepared to deal with challenges. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

A handful of great games and a handful of injuries. The league starts to take shape after NFL Week 2. We recap all of the action from the NFL, starting with the Vikings SNF loss to the Falcons and the JJ McCarthy injury, we jump back to the Packers dominant win over the Commanders on TNF, and the Bears looking lost against the Lions. Join me in all the NFL talk on this episode of Cowart's Corner!

Escaped slave raises Civil War regiment. 

Tiger Talk is back for episode 3 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with Mobridge-Pollock high school Athletic Director Kyle Falk to talk about his transition into the role, his goals for Mobridge-Pollock athletics, and his initial reactions to the Mobridge-Pollock community. If you’re a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

NFL Week 2 is officially upon us, and we are treated to an enticing NFC matchup between the Washington Commanders and the Green Bay Packers. Both teams boasting quarterbacks that have cemented themselves as the franchise QB's, two teams that have serious Super Bowl aspirations. The Vikings also get another primetime game against the Falcons on Sunday Night Football, which will bookend a slate of nine noon games, and three afternoon games which include a Super Bowl rematch between the Chiefs and Eagles. Come on into Cowart's Corner as we preview every game from NFL Week 2!

Welcome to Cowart's Corner, your flash recap of NFL Week 1 where it's all football, only football, all of the time. We recap the Vikings and Bears MNF clash, the Bills epic comeback on SNF, the Ben Johnson-less Lions and so much more. If you want to talk NFL football, come on into Cowart's Corner!

Two days of  horse racing action will happen Oct. 4-5, 2025, at the Stanley County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierre, SD. Track Manager Shane Kramme chatted with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about some history and what people can look forward to this year.

Tiger Talk is back for episode 2 with your host Matthew Givone. This week Matt sat down with Mobridge-Pollock high school volleyball Head Coach Rose Henderson to talk about her coaching history, the start to the teams season, and how this years team is meshing after such a large turnover from last season. If you're a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

Tiger Talk returns for the 2025-2026 school year with your new host Matthew Givone. Week 1 Matt sat down with Mobridge-Pollock high school football Head Coach Donovon Flaherty to talk about his coaching history, summer training camp, and the week 1 matchup against Groton Area. If you're a Mobridge-Pollock high school fan you are not going to want to miss it. Tiger Talk, Live every Wednesday at 7 P.M. on Star 99, brought to you by Dacotah Bank!

The Boston Tea Party started with colonists forced to pay taxes.

The 2025 South Dakota State Fair runs from Aug. 27 through Sept. 1 at the state fairgrounds in Huron, with Saturday, Aug. 30 being Farmers Union Day. In this episode, SD Farmers Union President Doug Sombke chats with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about SDFU's support for the fair, the 52 cent cost of the Farmer's Share Luncheon, their interactive Farm Safety Trailer and more.

The Farm Safety Trailer will be set up every day of the fair, on Third Street of the state fairgrounds, in front of the Dakotaland Museum. The safety demonstrations will be given at 11...

The 2025 South Dakota State Fair begins Aug. 27 and goes through Sept. 1 at the state fairgrounds in Huron. In this episode, Assistant Fair Manager Candi Briley shares info about this year's event including the new Sensory Friendly morning on Aug. 27, the ribbon cutting for the SHED which is the new home for open class sheep and fireworks displays to help kickoff the America 250 celebration.

On Aug. 20-21, 2025, Invest in Our Land will hold a series of events in Mitchell, SD, underscoring the critical role federal agricultural conservation programs play in supporting the success and resilience of producers in South Dakota and across the nation. These events will take place during Dakotafest and the Corn Palace Festival. In this episode of Agriculture In-depth, DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra chats with Invest in Our Land Executive Director Rebecca Bartels about the “Portraits of Conservation” project and the trip they will make from “The Heartland to the Hill.”

Letcher, South Dakota, area cattle rancher Calli Williams, her husband Tate and their two sons Jack and Tommy are 1st generation cattle producers operating TW Angus. They currently raise approximately 70 cow-calf pairs. Using various social media platforms, Calli not only shares her family's personal story, but she also answers questions from followers, markets their beef directly to consumers and receives invitations to speak with national media or groups about modern day cattle production.

Learn more about the Williams family and their operation at www.TWAngus.com.

The Stomprud Angus Ranch near Mud Butte is South Dakota's 2025 Leopold Conservation Award winner. The SD Grassland Coalition is hosting a public tour of the ranch Aug. 11, 2025. In this episode, SDGC Executive Director Judge Jessop chats with DRG News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about the award and the upcoming tour.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by the end of the day Aug. 7, 2025. To do so, call or text Judge Jessop at 605-280-0127 or email jljessop@kennebectelephone.com.

To get directions to the Stomprud Angus Ranch, click HERE.

To comply with preventive control requirements as mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act, a training course for ethanol producers is being held August 26-28, 2025, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Farm Broadcaster Cindy Zimmerman spoke with one of the organizers with the Renewable Fuels Association and has more.

To learn more about the training course and to register, click here.

Country Music icon, Wynonna Judd, is going to be performing her greatest hits Wednesday at The Monument in Rapid City.  Kevin Larsen had a chance to get her thoughts in an interview.  

Travis Scott is cycling 2,800 miles across the country to raise money and awareness for the youth mental health crisis with his cause Cycling on Purpose, and he just made it through the beautiful state of South Dakota. We also make our picks for the Open Championship, break down the best Zap season in franchise history and recap the All-Star game and Homerun Derby on this episode of Players Perspective. 

Open Championship & Zap (0:00- 30:00)

MLB All-Star week (30:00-41:00)

Travis Scott Interview (41:00-End)

On July 8, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins alongside U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the details of USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan. In this episode, hear Rollins, Hegseth, Bondi and Noem lay out their respective agency's role in implementing the Plan.

To read the full plan, click this link.

Livestock Field Specialists from South Dakota State University and North Dakota State University have developed a training program to help those responding to vehicle accidents involving cattle, bison, sheep, horses or other livestock understand how to handle the animals in that type of stressful situation.

In this episode, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Robin Salverson chats with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about developing a Bovine Emergency Response Plan.

Women who have taken up arms after their husbands fell in battle.

South Dakota State University Extension is offering free, on-site livestock water testing services to farmers and ranchers across the state.

In this episode, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Robin Salverson says animal health should not be used as the indicator of water quality. She encourages producers to test water sources prior to turnout because contaminated water can cause illness or death, and even clear water can be of poor quality.

Ryen Sheppick joins the show to talk the State High School Finals Rodeo and the upcoming National High School Finals Rodeo in July. We talk about the competition in Fort Pierre and what's to come in Rock Springs, WY. We also talk about the Oahe Zap's win streak and their red hot offense on this episode of Players Perspective

(Ryen Sheppick 27:00 mins in)

July 7, 2025, is the scheduled official opening date for the new Drake Seed seed cleaning facility in Fort Pierre, SD. Business partners Cody Hostler and Chad Stoeser bought the Sioux Nation feed, seed and animal health store about 7 years ago. About 5 years ago, Hostler says they began talking about an expansion for the seed cleaning portion of the business.

The 4x200m relay team made up of Emlyn Swanson, Kali Ringstmeyer, Charlee Williams-Smith and Lennix DuPris made history at the State Track & Field meet by posting the first ever sub-1:40:00 time in the event. Emlyn, Charlee and Kali come on to talk about this historic accomplishment, their seasons and more. We also dive into the US Open, Stanley Cup Finals and Oahe Zap baseball's incredible standoff on this episode of Players Perspective.

Challenges of having a diverse crop rotation, integrating livestock on your farm when you don't own livestock, turning cropland back to grass and more will be topics during Dakota Lakes Research Farm’s Foxley Farm Field Tour near Winner, SD, on June 17, 2025.

To RSVP or to get directions to the Foxley Farm Field Tour, call the Dakota Lakes Research Farm at 605-224-6357 or email manager@dakotalakes.com.

People interested in learning more about different structures and techniques used for gardening have the opportunity to do that June 12, 2025, from 10am-4pm CT at Cedar Creek Gardens located south of Midland, SD. Held in coordination with the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association, co-owner Peggy Martin says there will be information for people at all levels of gardening experience. Registration is not required.

Find more information at https://cedarcreekgarden.com/ or at www.sdspecialtyproducers.org.

Adrik Schoon beat a 46 year old state record held by US Senate Majority Leader John Thune. He and his teammates also won the 4x400 relay at the tournament as well. We talk about his career and what's to come, also about his meeting with Thune after he broke the record. We also recap the start of the NHL & NBA finals, including covering one of the worst losses in MLB history on this episode of Players Perspective.

South Dakota's USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service produces a forage production and outlook map, available to farmers and ranchers for free. In this edition of Agriculture In-depth, DRG News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra visits with NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist Emily Rohrer to learn more.

Forage maps relate to grassland forage production and not cropland, and the maps will not predict forage quality. These reports will subside starting July 1. Find more information using this link: https://bit.ly/Range_Pasture.

The trainer of the horse that won the 2025 Kentucky Derby (May 3, 2025) is originally from Mobridge, SD. Sovereignty had 7-1 odds of winning the 1¼ mile long Kentucky Derby for four-time trainer of the year Bill Mott, but the colt did it in a time of 2:02.31.

DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra had the opportunity to chat with Mott about his horse training roots in South Dakota, his Derby wins, the horse racing industry and more.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins hosted South Dakota ranchers Charles and Heather Maude at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2025,-- the day after the federal government dropped criminal charges it had filed against the West River couple. In this episode, hear that news conference in its entirety.

Additionally, USDA launched a new web portal for potential victims of ongoing lawfare originating under the Biden Administration to submit their concerns and experiences. This site is www.usda.gov/lawfare.

The majority of the soil in South Dakota is coming into the 2025 spring planting season being very short or short of moisture. In this episode of Agriculture In-depth, SDSU Extension State Climatologist Laura Edwards says the rain expected during the last few days of April 2025 will help, but the U.S. Drought Monitor shows there’s quite a bit of moisture deficit to make up for.