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BON HOMME YANKTON ELECTRIC NOVEMBER 2023 VOL. 24 NO. 7

ERATIVE

CONNECTIONS

Wings of Valor A Veteran’s Hunting Retreat Pages 8-9

Celebrating American Indian Heritage Pages 12-13

MANAGER’S COLUMN

Planning for Success

Stephanie Horst horst@byelectric.com

Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail.” We take the planning very seriously here at B-Y Electric. This time of year, we are analyzing how this year is going and what we anticipate for next year as part of our budget process. We are working on our long-range plan which forecasts infrastructure needs for the next 20 years and completing a four-year work plan that targets what line upgrades to complete to address aging assets and reliability. Bundle up all these plans and we will have a great road-map going into the future to provide safe, reliable, affordable electricity to all our members. But to carry out these plans, we need great employees to accomplish this, and I would be amiss if I didn’t admit our employee group is phenomenal. Throughout the year, I hear praises of the employees here at B-Y Electric. Not only are they good with members one-on-one, but they are also willing to take on new responsibilities and find efficient ways to do their jobs, all to serve our members better. And to support these plans, we need a supportive Board of Directors. Here at B-Y Electric, your Board is dedicated to addressing reliability, providing an intensive safety program for employees and the public, affordable rates, community support programs, and good organizational oversight to ensure the Cooperative is viable and working for the members. Once these plans are completed, we will be able to see how much rate pressure these are going to inflict, as we all know inflation is everywhere. It is our hope that we can minimize rate adjustments through our margin stabilization plan, but I will keep you informed as these are finished. Other pressures that are impacting us are the new clean air plan that if enacted will prematurely shut down coal plants without other generation resources able to support electric demands, continued broken environmental review processes causing delays for us to start our line projects, electric vehicle quick adoption effects on the electric grid, material costs and lead times, and more.

2 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | NOVEMBER 2023

Most of these are political in nature. Without getting too involved with each one right now, I urge you to keep an eye on the political decisions and agendas regarding energy. They will impact us with challenges to reliability and ﬁnancially.

Here at B-Y Electric, your Board is dedicated to addressing reliability, providing an intensive safety program for employees DQG WKH SXEOLF D΍RUGDEOH rates, community support programs, and good organizational oversight to ensure the Cooperative is viable and working for the members. As I end this, the cool of mornings reminds me that this is a good time to start preparing for winter. Caulk around your doors and windows, test your generators and snow blowers, get your winter survival kits ready for your vehicles, and start getting ready for the upcoming holidays. Until next month, have a safe Halloween and blessed Thanksgiving.

)RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ FDOO RXU RɝFH DW (605) 463-2507 or email horst@byelectric.com

BOARD REPORT

ERATIVE CONNECTIONS

BON HOMME YANKTON ELECTRIC 8636 1R Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc PO Box 158 134 S. Lidice St. Tabor, SD 57063 2ɝ FH +RXUV Monday through Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm To pay by phone, call: 1-888-395-5315 To report an outage, call: Local call from Tabor, Tyndall, and Yankton: 605-463-2507 NOTICE: (OHFWULF ELOOV PXVW EH SDLG E\ DP RQ WKH WK RI HDFK PRQWK WR DYRLG D ODWH IHH Board President: 3DXO 9RLJW Board of Directors 'DYH 6\NRUD 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW 'DYH 6WHUQKDJHQ 6HFUHWDU\ 5REHUW 5XSSHOW 7UHDVXUHU 'HDQ 6WHUQKDJHQ -RKQ /LOOHYROG 5LFN &KHORKD General Manager: 6WHSKDQLH +RUVW Operations Manager: .HQ &DUGD 2ɝ FH 0DQDJHU 1LFROH (LQUHP Members Service Advisor: $DURQ 0HOLFKDU Editor: &KDQWHOOH -XQJHPDQQ

SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING The September board meeting was held on September 20, 2023 at 8am. All board members were present. Others present were the attorney, management staﬀ and a guest employee. THE BOARD APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA:

OTHER GOVERNANCE

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THE BOARD REVIEWED AND ACCEPTED:

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FINANCIAL REPORT

AUGUST

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YTD

2022

2023

$1,181,391

$1,188,112

$8,206,917

$679,324

$679,366

$4,605,146

TOTAL COST OF SERVICE

$1,023,137

$1,082,950

$7,617,006

KWHS PURCHASED

10,559,909

9,922,035

72,769,759

RESIDENTIAL AVERAGE KWH

1,434

1,453

RESIDENTIAL AVERAGE BILL

$178

$184

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TOTAL ELECTRIC REVENUE COST OF POWER

Correction: September Issue the July Total Cost of Service for 2023 $1,037,764.51.

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WITH RESPECT HONOR AND GRATITUDE THANK YOU VETERANS

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Welcome New Members Tyndall John & Janet Pesek

Tabor

Connie Boenitz Greckel

Leslie Himes

Julie Perakslis

Yankton

Randy & Bonnie Broders

Brad & Kathryn Grabill

6SULQJȴ HOG Rick Riemenschneider

NOVEMBER 2023 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 3

DRIVING SAFETY

Drowsy Driving Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (Nov. 5-11, 2023), held every year during the first full week of November, is a good time to remember that drowsy driving is impaired driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 25 adult drivers report having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days, and many more admit to driving when they were sleep-deprived. These startling figures show how prevalent drowsy driving is. What drivers may not realize is how much drowsy driving puts themselves – and others – at risk. In fact, an estimated 6,400 people died annually in crashes involving drowsy driving, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Impact of Drowsiness on Driving Driving while drowsy is similar to driving under influence of alcohol. • Drivers’ reaction times, awareness of hazards and ability to sustain attention all worsen the drowsier the driver. • Driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is the equivalent of driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08% – the U.S. legal limit. • You are three times more likely to be in a car crash if you are fatigued. A driver might not even know when he or she is fatigued because signs of fatigue are hard to identify. Some people may also experience micro-sleep – short, involuntary periods of inattention. In the 4 or 5 seconds a driver experiences micro-sleep, at highway speed, the vehicle will travel the length of a football field.

driving. One such intervention is for parents to incorporate discussions and rules on drowsy driving while completing their parent-teen driving agreements. Other ways to reduce drowsy driving include: • Crash avoidance technologies: New and existing safety technologies, such as drowsiness alert and lane departure warnings, can detect common drowsy driving patterns and warn drivers to stay in their lane or take a break • University interventions: College students receive less than average sleep, with some estimates at less than six hours a night; education programs aimed at college students may help curb drowsy driving and instill healthier behaviors that can last into adulthood • Getting more sleep: According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, adults should get seven or more hours of sleep each night • Medication labels: An article by Consumer Reports found that side-effect warnings are not always clear; new labeling guidelines may help drivers understand when to drive or not drive after taking these medications • Employers: Workplaces with strong off-the-job safety and health programs can include key information on getting sufficient sleep and refraining from driving drowsy Source: National Safety Council

Prevalence of Drowsy Driving Crashes The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that every year about 100,000 police-reported, drowsy-driving crashes result in nearly 800 fatalities and about 50,000 injuries. The real number may be much higher, however, as it is difficult to determine whether a driver was drowsy at the time of a crash. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 328,000 drowsy driving crashes occur annually. That’s more than three times the police-reported number. The same study found that 109,000 of those drowsy driving crashes resulted in an injury and about 6,400 were fatal. The researchers suggest the prevalence of drowsy driving fatalities is more than 350% greater than reported. Beyond the human toll is the economic one. NHTSA estimates fatigue-related crashes resulting in injury or death cost society $109 billion annually, not including property damage. Interventions for Drowsy Driving Drowsy driving affects everyone, including adolescents and teens, who are not getting enough sleep (according to the CDC, it is recommended that teens get 8-10 hours of sleep each night). That means interventions focusing on this age group can help reduce drowsy

4 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | NOVEMBER 2023

Don’t Fly Kites Near Power Lines! Jason Willman, Age 9 Jason Willman advises people it’s not safe to fly kites around power lines. Jason is the son of Dave and April Willman from Yankton, S.D., members of Clay-Union Electric Corporation. Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). If your poster is published, you’ll receive a prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged.

RECIPES

EASY CROCKPOT CREATIONS CREAMY GARDEN ROTINI Ingredients:

MOM’S ROAST Ingredients: 3-5 lbs. beef roast 1 can beefy mushroom soup 1 pkg. au jus (dry)

Method Place roast in crock pot at bedtime. Mix au jus and soup together and pour over the roast. Cook on low. Roast will be ready to serve in its own gravy for dinner tomorrow. Elaine Rieck Harrisburg, S.D.

1 lb. cooked and drained sausage or beef 1 large can (26 oz.) cream of chicken soup 1 soup can of milk 1 can (14.5 oz.) chicken broth soup 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning 1 cup fresh mushrooms 6 cups fresh spinach 1 pkg. Garden Rotini

Method Add ingredients in the order given to the instant pot. Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. Allow pressure to reduce to normal for 10 minutes, then serve! You will need an instant pot for this recipe! Jean Cave Sioux Falls, S.D.

CROCKPOT CASHEW CHICKEN Ingredients: 1 pkg. slow cookers limited edition cashew chicken seasoning 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs, cubed 1 cup frozen chopped onion and pepper blend 1/3 cup water 3 tbsps. soy sauce 2 tbsps. ketchup 1 cup cashew pieces 2 green onions, finely chopped

Method Place chicken and vegetables in slow cooker. Mix seasoning, water, soy sauce, and ketchup in bowl until well blended. Pour over chicken and vegetables; stir to coat. Cover. Cook eight hours on low or four hours on high. Stir in cashews. Sprinkle with green onions. Serve over cooked rice, if desired. If cooking on low, decrease water to 1/4 cup. McCormick.com Please send your favorite recipes to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). Each recipe printed will be entered into a drawing for a prize in December 2023. All entries must include your name, mailing address, phone number and cooperative name.

NOVEMBER 2023 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 5

CO-OP NEWS NEWS CO-OP

Local Discounts with your Co-op Connections Cards

LUCKY WINNERS!

Your cooperative membership earns you discounts at local participating businesses. Simply show your Co-op Connections Discount Card and save. • Linda’s Angel Crossing in Yankton R΍ 5HJXODU 3ULFHG ΖWHP ȏ Royal Sport Shop in Yankton GLVFRXQW RQ LQ VWRUH SXUFKDVHV 6RPH H[FOXVLRQV DSSO\

Aaron Melichar presents Milwakee electric yard tools to William and Kim Wenzel, the winners of the Dakotafest enter to win drawing.

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THANK YOU

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B-Y Electric Association, This card is to express our appreciation for receiving one of the grand prizes for $100 bill credit at the annual meeting. It was a pleasant surprise on our last month’s electric bill. Thank you also for our gift certiﬁcate of $20 to The Keg. Sincerely, Mark & Judy Rutter

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For a full list of ways to save, visit www.connections. coop. To request a card or become a participating business, call (605) 463-2507 or email cjungeman@byelectric. com

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6 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | NOVEMBER 2023

CO-OP NEWS OFFICIAL NOTICE OF PUBLICATION STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (REQUIRED BY 39 U.S.C. 3685) 1. Publication Title: Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections 2. Publication No.: 018-973 3. Filing Date: 9/29/2023 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 12 6. Annual Subscription Price: $6.00 Members $12.00 Non-Members 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 134 S Lidice, PO Box 158, Tabor, SD 57063 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 134 S Lidice, PO Box 158, Tabor, SD 57063 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher, Editor & Managing Editor: Publisher: Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc. Editor: Chantelle Jungemann Managing Editor: Nicole Einrem 10. Owner: Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc.,134 S Lidice, PO Box 158, Tabor, SD 57063 11. Known bondholders/mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: Rural Utilities Service, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, CoBank 12. Tax Status: Purpose, function and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 13. Publication Title: 14. Issue Date of Circulation Below: Oct. 2023 Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections Avg. No. of Copies Each Single Issue 15. Extent and Nature Issue During Nearest to of Circulation Preceding 12 Months Filing Date A. Total number of copies (net press run).......................................................................... 3161 .................................... 3148 B. Paid and/or Requested Circulation 1. Paid/Requested Outside County Mail Subscriptions ...................................... 3116 .................................... 3099 2. Paid In-County Subscriptions ...................................................................................0 .......................................... 0 3. Sales Through Dealers, Carriers, Street Vendors &Counter Sales ........................0 .......................................... 0 4. Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS ................................................................0 .......................................... 0 C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation ...................................................................... 3116 .................................... 3099 D. 1. Free Distribution by Mail ..........................................................................................45 ........................................ 49 4.Free Distribution Outside the Mail ...........................................................................10 ........................................ 10 E. Total Free Distribution..........................................................................................................55 ........................................ 59 F. Total Distribution ............................................................................................................. 3161 .................................... 3148 G. Copies Not Distributed .........................................................................................................10 ........................................ 10 H. Total .................................................................................................................................... 3171 .................................... 3158 I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation ...................................................................... 98% ..................................... 98%

B-Y Holiday Closure Notice Please be advised Bon Homme Yankton Electric will be closed during the upcoming Holiday Season on the following days: Thanksgiving Holiday Thursday, November 23rd Friday, November, 24th Christmas Holiday Monday, December 25th Tuesday, December 26th New Year’s Holiday Monday, January 1st

We wish all our employees and members a safe and enjoyable holiday season with family and friends.

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation as of September 29, 2023

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NOVEMBER 2023 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 7

WINGS OF VALOR

A Veteran’s Retreat Shannon Marvel shannon.marvel@sdrea.coop

Veterans enjoying their stay at Wings of Valor.

8 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | NOVEMBER 2023

Wings of Valor Lodge isn’t just a hunting retreat offering veterans a good time and a free pheasant hunt, it’s a place for them to come home. The non-profit organization offers all U.S. military veterans an all-expense paid hunt in the heart of pheasant country, about five miles south of Parker, South Dakota. The organization runs almost entirely on volunteers, donations and sponsorships and has already served more than 500 veterans from over 40 states since it began operations in 2019. Sean Adams, the organization’s president and co-founder, said the idea to open a hunting lodge came after discussions with the organization’s now-CEO Bruce Weller back in 2018. Weller owned a private hunting lodge called Birds, Bucks and Berries, and was host to Adams and other veterans during his annual veterans’ hunt. “Bruce was saying how the veterans’ hunt was always the best day of the year, so I said, we can make every day the best day of the year if you want,” said Adams. Adams, who was grievously injured while serving in Afghanistan resulting in a double amputation of his legs in 2012, said he was well-versed in the non-profit community by the time he and Weller began discussing opening a hunting lodge that served veterans. “I know pretty much how it works. If you do what you say, do it on time, do it well, serve veterans with a level of professionalism, and have a little faith, people will come,” Adams said. “From that conversation to Nov. 1, 2019, we worked on build site plans that I designed with one of the volunteers. We took a pavilion area that (Weller) used for weddings and put chalk lines everywhere, which is how we mapped out a building plan.” Adams said he rolled his wheelchair around each room, and if he hit a chalk like, he’d remark the line to ensure it was handicap accessible. That was in

WINGS MITCHELL OF VALOR TECH

Above: CPL USMC (RET) Sean Adams Right: Sean Adams recovers in a hospital after suffering serious injuries in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2011.

January of 2019. Eleven months later, the lodge had been built and a group of veterans came to hunt under the newly established Wings of Valor Lodge. Adams said a premise of Wings of Valor Lodge is to welcome veterans’ home to something that’s not chaotic, a place where they can find purpose and peace. There’s no religious angle, nor any requirements other than having taken the oath to serve our country for a veteran to have their travel expenses and entire hunting trip paid for by the non-profit. “My generation fought in a war that was religious based,” Adams explained. “We do have a spiritual setting, but we don’t press anything. We never want a veteran to feel that they are oppressed by any sort of a faith.” Whether a veteran is religious, Christian, Muslim, atheist, or simply spiritual, they will be amongst others who understand what they’ve been through. “No veteran is broken, they just need to come home,” Adams said. “God did not call the qualified, he called the unqualified that were willing to do

whatever was asked. Don’t think because Older veterans find purpose in helping you did something oversees that your any their younger counterparts. Adams said the worse than the pastor in the pulpit. We’re connection can be overwhelming at times all sinners on this earth.” for the Vietnam veterans because of the Nature is also a powerful tool that newfound sense of purpose they find in Adams believes helps mend the mind, body these interactions. and spirit. It’s peaceful, which he said is the Adams said raising kids and having type of environment veterans need. companionship with your wife or husband “You need all those to reground yourself is meaningful to veterans, but they often back in society. It’s really hard to come out go without the relationships they had with of a war, or wars, and describe that to the their fellow soldiers they had beside them average human being,” Adams said. in the heat of battle. The lodge has hosted veterans of World “Giving someone millions of dollars, War II, the Korean War and Vietnam to houses, or trip – that’s great. But that’s only veterans who mending the problem. Giving someone a have served in sense of purpose is something we have to the wars in Iraq, do,” Adams said. Afghanistan and “When the Vietnam veterans tell Operation Desert my generation ‘I get it, and it won’t last Storm. forever’, it gives the Vietnam guys a sense Many of the of purpose. The longer you hold it in the veterans that have deeper it gets. That’s something we realized come to the lodge at Walter Reed. We started getting off our have never had medications the more we talked about a chance to heal what happened.” or “come home”, Adams said any veteran who wants Adams said. to come and hunt at the Wings of Valor Some of those Lodge need only apply. men were Marines that Adams served with Individual applications come to the directly a decade ago. lodge free of charge. That means the “They saw me in an IED blast. They organization will cover the cost of travel didn’t have time to heal. They were able and any other expenses incurred to ensure to see that I was okay and it was time for the veteran doesn’t pay a dime out of their them to start healing. They had given own pocket. enough to the country. It was time to start To apply for a hunt or learn more the healing process,” Adams said. about Wings of Valor Lodge, go to www. “We also had a veteran talk about wingsofvalorlodge.org. Vietnam. He hadn’t talked about it since 1968,” Adams said. Combat veterans, regardless of where they served or experienced warfare, establish a connection with one another at the lodge. A handicap accessible bedroom at Wings of Valor lodge

NOVEMBER 2023 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 9

SAFETY NEWS

B-Y ELECTRIC BRINGS IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE FOR SOUTH EAST FIRE SCHOOL

Local Volunteer Fire Fighters participate in the training using the Mustang Mach E (electric vehicle).

BE ALERT. BE PREPARED.

Lesterville Fire Department hosted the South East Fire School on Saturday, September 30th. Leroy Ainslie, fire fighter from Fedora SD led the Electric Vehicle (EV) training for the first responders. East River Electric’s electric vehicle was available and provided by Bon Homme Yankton Electric. Topics cover included; What is coming with new vehicle technology, History of Electric Vehicles, Charging Systems, Safety, Battery Makeup, Chemical Make-up of the Off-gasses, Proper way to Approach, Immobilize and Disable an EV, Access to ERGs (Emergency Response Guidlines), How to Identify, and Fight a fire involving an Electric Vehicle.

BE AROUND TO FARM AGAIN NEXT YEAR. Fieldwork can feel like second nature. But, complacency when operating around power lines can be deadly. Staying alert and being prepared can help prevent catastrophic accidents. Knowing what to do if an accident does occur can be the difference between life and death.

10 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | NOVEMBER 2023

CO-OP NEWS

OPERATION ROUND UP® Q&A WHAT IS OPERATION ROUND UP®?

Our new community service program called Operation Round Up® will begin November 1. While this program is new to B-Y Electric, it has been a successful program since 1989 when it was created by a Florida electric cooperative. They have allowed 350 other cooperatives to license the program for use in local service areas across the country. The program “rounds up” a member’s bill to the nearest dollar and that amount is donated to local charities in our service area. All funds stay in the community to beneﬁt the members of B-Y Electric.

WHO CONTROLS THE FUNDS?

A committee of cooperative members will oversee the program. These members will meet quarterly to review applications and determine how funds can best be used for the beneﬁt of individuals and community projects. The B-Y Electric Board of Directors will appoint one committee member from each of the seven board districts.

be members of B-Y Electric and projects outside B-Y Electric’s boundaries will be considered if they beneﬁt B-Y Electric members and our local communities. HOW ARE APPLICATIONS JUDGED?

The member committee will meet quarterly to review the applications. Applications are judged based upon 1) potential beneﬁt to the residents and community; 2) level of community support for the project or organization; 3) capability of the applicant to deliver a quality service or program; and 4) ﬁnal results that can be envisioned and evaluated.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

$0.44 goes towards helping various goodwill causes in our communities. Only one account per membership will be rounded up. DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE?

This program is completely voluntary and a few members have opted out already. You can opt out at any time and even receive a refund if you forget about it and notice the item on your electric bill. We hope that some of these members will change their mind and opt back in after they see all the good that is happening within our service area.

NEXT APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Wednesday, November 15th

The average member will contribute $6.00/year, and the most they can possibly contribute is $11.88/year. Each month your electric bill is “rounded up” to the nearest whole dollar amount with the extra change going into a separate Operation Round Up® fund. For example, if your bill is $149.56, you will actually be billed an even $150.00 and the extra

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE FUNDS?

The Operation Round Up® program is intended to beneﬁt people and organizations within the B-Y Electric service area. Operation Round-Up® funds may be used for community service projects, economic development, education and youth programs, environmental projects, emergency energy assistance, and disaster relief.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE FUNDS?

Non-proﬁt organizations, groups, and individuals within B-Y Electric’s service area are eligible for Operation Round-Up® grants. Applicants are not required to

NOVEMBER 2023 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 11

DIGNITY

Celebrating American Indian Heritage Scott Waltman

Rising from the prairie land as it gives way to bluffs on the east side of the Missouri River is a spectacular sculpture commemorating both South Dakota’s 125 anniversary and the state’s original inhabitants. Dignity of the Earth and Sky was built by Sturgis-based sculptor Dale Claude Lamphere, who used to be the state’s poet laureate. The sculpture was erected in 2016 after Norm and Eunabel McKie announced it as a gift to South Dakota upon the state’s quasquicentennial in 2014. Dignity towers 50 feet above the ground, beckoning motorists as they travel along Interstate 90. From the

east, it’s the gateway to West River en route to the beautiful Black Hills. From the west, it’s a sign to travelers that they are closer to the Minnesota border than the state’s most popular playgrounds that range from Wall to Spearfish to Hot Springs. Ashley Riehle of Sylvania, Ohio, which is on the northwestern outskirts of Toledo and just south of the Michigan

12 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | NOVEMBER 2023

Dignity courtesy of Travel South Dakota

border, said the stretch of I-90 alone makes South Dakota one of the best road trip states in the nation. She visited South Dakota in 2021, driving from Sioux Falls to the Black Hills and back and twice stopping at the Dignity monument. She planned to visit the sculpture during her drive but said the Chamberlain area also doubled as a logical place to take a break. As a history buff, Riehle appreciates

DIGNITY

Jeremy and Stacey Waltner of Freeman visit the Dignity of Earth and Sky sculpture in 2018.

both the beauty and the significance of Dignity. “I thought it was great that South Dakota acknowledges the first people that occupied the state,” she said. Many states don’t, she said, and she doesn’t know of any such significant recognitions in Ohio or Michigan. Jeremy Waltner of Freeman, South Dakota, also appreciates the sculpture on multiple levels. “It is as impressive as you can imagine just in terms of both size and impact,” he said. Being a South Dakotan, he knew of Dignity and that he wanted to visit. But he also wanted to make sure his wife Stacey, daughter Ella and son Oliver could share the experience. They stopped during a trip west in summer 2018. The sculpture pays homage to South Dakota’s Native American population, setting it apart from so many other tourist stops in the state, Waltner said. “It’s education as much as it is art,” he said, adding that the context behind Dignity is critical. Three Native American women from Rapid City served as models for the sculpture, which was created east of the town in an isolated area along the Cheyenne River.

Lamphere’s other creations include work in the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre and the Arch of Dreams in Sioux Falls. He’s done commissioned portraits of Bob and Dolores Hope, Burl lves, Walter Annenberg, George and Eleanor McGovern and others, according to his website. For Dignity, he had a specific goal. “I wanted something that would really honor the indigenous people of the Great Plains, and I kept that in mind all the time. I made the work reflect the name that it has of Dignity, and I think that’s part of what makes it work so well,” Lanphere has said of his creation. Riehle noted that the star quilt Dignity wears has meaning. It’s comprised of more than 100 blue diamonds as Dignity holds it behind her back in her outstretched arms. In Native American culture, star quilts are a sign of respect and are often given as gifts to honor somebody for a substantial achievement in their life. Including the quilt was a nice touch that took some planning, Riehle said, because it’s a direct tie to the Lakota culture. While there is a plaque at Dignity that briefly tells the story of the sculpture, Waltner said he’s not sure most people realize the history. In fact, he said, he’s not sure if most people set out to visit Dignity or just happen across her as they zip through the heart of the state on the interstate. “It’s South Dakota’s greatest conversational piece outside of two gigantic granite carvings in the Black Hills,” Waltner said, referring to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Either way, he said, people who take time to admire the grand piece of art wind up learning a little bit. When he stopped with his family, he said there was a good crowd of people visiting about the sculpture, smiling as they looked on in awe and waiting in line so they could get their pictures taken

with Dignity. Waltner said he has stopped to see the sculpture twice on his own. Riehle met friends from Denver and Chicago in the Black Hills as part of her trip. She had been to South Dakota before but got to see and do much more in 2021. She visited Sioux Falls, Mitchell’s Corn Palace, Deadwood, the Badlands, Wall Drug, Spearfish Canyon, Custer State Park, the Chapel in the Hills, Pactola Lake, Palisades State Park and other popular places. All were fun, but Dignity was special, she said, because it is a reflection of the true foundation of South Dakota’s history. “So much history focuses on when the white settlers got there,” Riehle said. Dignity is deeper. The McKies donated $1 million to the Dignity project. Less than a decade later, that investment helps the thousands upon thousands of people who stop just east of Chamberlain each year take a moment to remember and acknowledge the rich history of South Dakota’s first citizens.

Additional Facts: •

November is National American Indian Heritage Month. It’s a time to remember and celebrate the important contributions of Native people and their cultures, traditions, and histories.

•

The first state to declare and celebrate an American Indian Day was New York on the second Saturday in May 1916.

•

In 1990, the month of November was approved by a joint resolution and signed by President George H. W. Bush as “National American Indian Heritage Month.”

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Central Electric Cooperative proudly powers Dignity and the rest area where thousands of visitors stop each year to celebrate the beauty of the American Indian.

NOVEMBER 2023 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 13

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Scott Pudwill, director of the Aberdeen Public School District’s A-TEC Academy shows school board members one of three electric vehicles purchased for the academy’s automotive class. Photo courtesy of The Aberdeen Insider

The Rise of Career and Technical Education Scott Waltman

Many high school graduates in South Dakota are veering from the traditional path to college and a four-year degree. Career and technical education classes continue to grow in popularity with school districts expanding their offerings and academies and seeing more students interested in those classes. During the 2021-22 school year, there were 25,282 South Dakota public school students taking some type of career or technical training class, according to information from the South Dakota Department of Education. That number includes students who took more than one class. Those are the most recent complete numbers available from the state. More and more, those classes get young people prepared for jobs that offer

good wages and benefits. The perception of what, decades ago, was called “tech school” has changed, and the number of students taking classes that focus on agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, and architecture and construction continues to rise. In recent months, the Aberdeen Public School District expanded its A-TEC Academy on the campus of Central High School. The project cost roughly $3.6 million. New spaces for agriculture, family and consumer sciences, networking, and broadcast courses were added, though the district offers other career and technical education classes. The agriculture program is especially popular, said Scott Pudwill, the district’s A-TEC Academy director. Before the expansion, he said, all of the ag classes were in one room. Now, ag

14 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | NOVEMBER 2023

classes have a multipurpose space with tables and sinks and the academy has a new greenhouse. Students were starting to put plant beds together at the end of September and, Pudwill said, the kids will be able to monitor them during the winter months with the new facility. He said ag classes average about 105 students per term, which is nine weeks. The automotive program is almost as popular with about 400 students taking classes over the course of a school year, he said. Career and technical education classes are also popular in the Harrisburg School District, said Breanne Lynch, the district’s career and technical education coordinator. Harrisburg offers classes in 13 of the 16 clusters the state has, she said, and about half of the 1,700 students in grades nine through 12 take career and tech classes. If you included internships, work-based learning and other options, about 90% of high school students have a career or technical education-related class or experience during their four years, Lynch said. The district continues to offer more

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

options. For example, Lynch said, a home builders academy opened in 2019. That first year, students built a full house. Now, they are working on tiny homes that will eventually go to veterans, she said. In Aberdeen, A-TEC students have built cabins for the city’s Wylie Park campground. Both districts have partnerships with their local home builders associations. Harrisburg’s automotive program teams with Schulte Subaru in town. As is the case with many career and technical education classes, that gives students the chance to get hands-on experience. Lynch said that when Schulte buys cars at auction, students have the chance to diagnose what problems there might be. They also do basic work like change the oil on district staff cars. That gives them experience in what it’s like to work at a quick stop, she said. Harrisburg students in the business management and administration cluster operate the Roar Store at the school. It offers snacks and drinks to students when meals aren’t being served, Lynch said. For managing the store, including tasks like working with wholesalers to purchase products, the kids are paid in Roar Bucks they can spend at the store. The aim of all of the career and technical education classes is to prepare students for the workforce, Lynch said. Workforce development is a prime focus of state leaders, she said. Aberdeen Central’s A-TEC Academy had a shop before the expansion. But students will get to try their hand at something new this school year. The auto curriculum now has three electric cars, Pudwill said. Students will be able to build them, then the vehicles can be taken apart and used in future years. Once finished, the cars will look somewhat like a dune buggy, he said. But they can be licensed and driven on streets and roads. Even if students who take career and technical education classes choose another profession, they’ll still have the skills to, for

through eighth grade. Career learning example, make home or vehicle repairs, can begin as early as age 4, so keeping Pudwill said. students interested and curious in career For those who go onto a postsecondary and technical education options will pay school, many of the programs are one or dividends in the future, she said. two years, Pudwill said. So students get “We also know that students who take into the workforce quicker while accruing multiple CTE classes are more engaged less debt than they would at a traditional in learning and see a higher graduation four-year college or university, he said. rate,” said Nancy Van Der Weide, public Bobbie Jo Donovan is the college and career readiness manager for the Rapid City information specialist with the state Department of education. Public School District and past president “Statewide, 82% of high school students of the South Dakota Association for Career graduated on time in the 2021-22 school and Technical Education. The number of year, but 94% of students who were actively high school students taking those courses is involved in CTE graduated on time,” she certainly on the uptick, she said. said. One of the biggest challenges is finding qualified, certified teachers to lead the classes, she said. Sometimes there’s a community member with a strong background in a profession who isn’t certified but would make a good teaching candidate, Donovan said. The state has programs to help those folks, who, because of their career experience, can often offer a wealth of knowledge to students, she said So many careers Harrisburg students working on a car in the automotive class. can start in high Photo courtesy of Harrisburg School District school with career and tech classes, Donovan said, and school districts want to be able to help those young people, she said. Lynch said the Harrisburg district also offers opportunities to students in kindergarten

Students in the Harrisburg School District’s home builders academy have built a full house. Photo courtesy of John Klemme

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NOV. 12

Luteﬁsk, Lefse & Meatball 4-7 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church Chamberlain, SD 605-730-0553

NOV. 24

Nov. 2-4

Huron Ringneck Festival and Bird Dog Challenge Huron, SD 605-352-0000

Parade of Lights 7 p.m. Dakota Avenue Huron, SD

NOV. 25

Mid-Winter Fair Gregory Auditorium Gregory, SD 605-830-9778

NOV. 30-DEC. 3 OCT. 24-28

Grey Goose Halloween Display 6 p.m. 19988 Grey Goose Rd. Pierre, SD

OCT. 28

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Hill City Children’s Boo Bash and Pumpkin Festival Hill City Visitor’s Center Hill City, SD 605-574-2368

OCT. 28-29

NOV. 5

American Legion Post 15 Pancake Breakfast 8:30 a.m. S.D. Military Heritage Alliance Building Sioux Falls, SD

NOV. 5

Turkey Dinner/ Silent Auction 11:45 a.m. RVUMC Rapid City, SD

Dakota Territory Gun Collectors Association Ramkota Hotel Exhibit Hall Sioux Falls, SD 605-731-9155

NOV. 10-12

NOV. 3

Sioux Empire Arts & Crafts Show W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Sioux Falls, SD

Plankinton Service Club Fun Night 7 p.m. Aurora County Ag Building Planktinton, SD

NOV. 4-5

Benson’s Flea Market W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds Sioux Falls, SD

Christmas at the Barn 10 a.m. Groton, SD

NOV. 10-11

NOV. 11

Sisseton Area Merchants & Crafters Holiday Extravaganza Sisseton, SD

Hatchery Holidays D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery Spearﬁsh, SD

DEC. 2

6th Annual Holiday Party, Tour of Homes, Silent Auction 4 p.m. Olive Grove Golf Course Groton, SD

DEC. 8-9

Alexandria’s Winter Festival 5 p.m. Alexandria, SD

DEC. 8-9

Junkin’ Market Days W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Center Sioux Falls, SD 605-941-4958

DEC. 17

Christmas Cantata 3 p.m. Hermosa United Church of Christ Hermosa, SD

Note: Please make sure to call ahead to verify the event is still being held.