The 94th Legislative session is officially over, with both chambers working through the night and adjourning at 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13th. The session started with a survey of legislator’s priorities. Most everyone agreed that funding our nursing homes needed to be our highest priority. Then the governor came... Read more

In South Dakota we often adjust plans because of weather. The last week of the 2019 legislature was scheduled to run through Wednesday, March 13, but with a record-breaking storm forecast, we worked to shorten it. On Tuesday, we started early and were told to expect a long day. The... Read more

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) that provides assistance to eligible producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, disease and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law. LIP compensates... Read more

The Valley Queen Board of Directors has approved an investment of $1.6 million into the Valley Queen Company Stock Profit Sharing Plan & Trust. The plan, which was created in 2017 and unveiled to employees in March of 2018, contributes company stock to eligible employees’ retirement accounts, making employees owners... Read more

I look for long days, short fuses, and a frenzied pace during the last three days of Session. We have a lot to get done before Session ends on Wednesday. Major bills heard this week included: Pipeline Riot Bills Construction of the Keystone XL pipeline may begin in SD as... Read more

Marvin “Bud” E. Gess Jr., age 87, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Monday, March 11, 2019, at Milbank Care and Rehabilitation Center in Milbank, SD. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will... Read more

Spring. You might not be thinking spring as you look out the window today, but it’s that time of the year again. Time to spring forward. Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m. Most clocks turn back automatically if they are part of an electronic device. Some,... Read more

Will Areklett joined Valley Queen Cheese as the new Vice President-Finance and Business Analysis on March 4. He is responsible for finance, accounting, business analysis, and information technology. Areklett brings extensive experience in finance, operations management, and information technology in both dairy and food processing and mid-size and larger professional... Read more

24 vocal soloists, and forty-four ensemble members from the Milbank High School Choir performed in Watertown, South Dakota on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 for the Region III solo and ensemble music contest at Watertown High School. Solo performances were based on the following criteria: tone, intonation, accuracy, interpretation, vocal technique... Read more

Crossover day came and went. It was our longest day of the year. We debated bills on the House Floor until around 9:30 PM. We’re now on the down-hill slope. Not including veto-day, Session ends next Wednesday, March 13th. I continue to receive hundreds of email each week. I don’t... Read more