Volume CVIII, No. 2 Huron, SD MAR/APR 2023
A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA’S FARM & RANCH FAMILIES SINCE 1915.
2023 NFU Convention
PAGE 4
Jeff Kippley Reflects on a Year of Service
Legislative Day 2023
PAGE 16
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Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announcement Creates Hope Among American Cattle Producers
Saying Goodbye to a Friend
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South Dakota Farmers Union Celebrates Perkins County Ranch Family
The Product of the USA label will solely belong to livestock born, raised and harvested in the U.S., announced Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
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he Product of the USA label will solely belong to livestock born, raised and harvested in the U.S., announced Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The proposed ruling was announced March 6, during the National Farmers Union Convention held in San Francisco. “There are folks today, who put that label (Product of USA or
Vilsack Continued on Page 10
Farmers Union Camp Registration is now open! Learn more on pages 8 & 18 or by visiting www.sdfu.org and clicking on the Education link.
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Gloria and Brian Flatmoe ranch near Meadow.
eadow rancher Brian Flatmoe says fall is his favorite time of year. “It’s hay hauling and harvesting and working calves and selling calves – you can see the fruits of a year’s work in the fall,” explained the third-generation Perkins County cattle rancher. Fall is also when the community hosts the Coal Springs Threshing Bee. Held each year the fourth weekend in September, during the Threshing Bee, the Flatmoe family and neighboring ranch families put antique equipment to work, demonstrating how farm work was done when the land was first settled by homesteaders like Flatmoe’s grandparents who emigrated from Germany and Norway. “I think it’s good for kids to understand how agriculture started and where it’s come from and to get a feel for how food used to be produced,” Brian said. Brian, his brother, Bruce, and dad, Harold, are among the group of ranchers who founded the Coal Springs Antique Club and started the threshing bee 25 years ago.
Flatmoe Family Continued on Page 2