Monthly Archives: February 2017

Story by Carey Grosdidier, Freelance Writer

When guest speaker Emily Pilloton came to RuralX last summer, she opened the gathering with stories of Studio H, an innovative program she launched in California that integrates design skills and building projects into high school classrooms. Emily closed her conversation by saying, “Everyone has it in them to start something—whether it’s a business, a Bible study or a book club. Just start something. The rewards are worth the risk.”

Karla Brozik, Executive Director of the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce and the South Central Development Corporation, took those words to heart. Inspired by Emily’s words and the work being done through Studio H, Karla wondered if something similar to Emily’s program was possible in Winner.

“Students in Winner don’t go to school on Fridays, so I thought a program similar to Studio H might give kids something productive to do. It would also provide them with useful new skills and allow them to explore local career options—something our job force development could really use,” she says.

Karla briefly discussed the idea at a development board meeting and then attended another meeting where she heard community member Barry Grossenburg pitch a similar idea. Knowing that she had his support gave Karla the initiative to go the next step.
“Barry Grossenburg of Grossenburg Implement was instrumental in making this all happen,” she explains. “He is an influential and supportive community member and getting him on board paved the way for everything else. Once I had his support, we were able to schedule a development board meeting and get board approval. Since then, The South Central Development Corporation, the 4-H advisor and our FFA advisor have gotten involved. It’s been awesome.”

Karla also wrote a grant through the South Central Development Corporation and received $5000 from the Tripp County Community Foundation to help get the newly formed Tripp County Skills for Tomorrow program up and running. She plans to use the money to help pay community members to teach students skills like welding, woodworking, visual arts and agriculture technology. It will also help cover the costs of supplies.

“I already have community professionals who are interested in stepping up and teaching these classes,” she says. “We are just getting the program off the ground and hope to see it grow as more people become aware of it.”

In addition to providing technical job skills, a job shadowing component of the program will also take place. It is Karla’s hope that students will realize there are quality, good paying jobs available in Winner. She says nearly every business in town is looking for employees and the job shadowing program might convince some students to stay in Winner after high school or college graduation.
As if all this isn’t enough, the community is also partnering with SDSU Extension in a program called Teach SD that pairs tech savvy teens with adults in the community who need help with computer technology. Karla is hopeful the program will continue to grow as more people become aware of it.

“I had a lot of these little ideas in my head before I attended RuralX, but hearing Emily talk about her success inspired me to make those ideas a reality. I’m excited to see how it all comes together!”

Eight Tripp County 4-Hers presented Youth in Action talks at the Bullnanza Friday in Winner.

The 4-Hers and their ribbon placing are: Keygan Biggins, purple; Hunter Shippy, blue; Kylah Biggins, purple; Ainsley Henderson, purple; Bailey Fisher, purple; Maggie DeMers, purple; Miranda Fisher, purple and Payton Fisher, purple.

The Bullnanza is sponsored by the Tripp County Fair Board.

Scott Swier of Swier Law Firm has been awarded a 10.0 Superb Attorney Rating in Education Law, Lawsuits & Disputes, Estate Planning, and Business Law from AVVO, a national ratings service.

The AVVO rating system is an unbiased ranking system for attorneys throughout the United States. The AVVO Rating evaluates an attorney’s background and is calculated using a mathematical model that considers an attorney’s professional profile, including an attorney’s years in practice, disciplinary history, professional achievements, and industry recognition.

Scott is one of only a handful of attorneys in South Dakota to receive AVVO’s highest honor, a 10.0 Superb Rating, in multiple areas. “I am honored to be the recipient of this powerful distinction among national attorneys. Our goal of building one of the best law firms in South Dakota can only be accomplished through a commitment to our clients. I am truly proud to receive these attorney ratings from AVVO,” said Swier.

About Swier Law Firm. Swier Law Firm, Prof. LLC is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in Avon, Corsica, Sioux Falls, White Lake, and Winner. Swier Law Firm represents a wide array of clients, from individuals and families in rural South Dakota to small businesses, governmental entities and officials, and Fortune 100 companies with offices throughout the United States

In conjunction with National Career and Technical Education Month, nearly 40 student leaders came to Pierre, Feb. 8-9 for the South Dakota Career and Technical Student Organizations’ Legislative Shadow Day.

Students, legislators, cabinet members and state agency staff kicked off activities with an evening social Feb. 8. Ryan Brunner, SD

Commissioner of School and Public Lands kicked off the social. After sharing with legislators, the CTE students participated in the SD Department of Education Table Topics Session sharing concerns in education with state leaders. The next day, students shadowed legislators at committee meetings and observed House and Senate floor sessions.

Among the students attending was Shannon Duffy, a senior at Winner High School, who is a state officer of FCCLA.

High school government students can study the workings of a state legislature in a textbook but until they see the process up close if they really want to understand and appreciate the hard work of lawmakers.

Kayleb Brozik, a senior at Winner High School, had that change as he served as a page in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
He was sponsored by Rep. Julie Bartling of Gregory.  Brozik served as a page from Jan. 26 to Feb. 3.

During the legislative session, high school students are appointed to serve as pages both in the House and the Senate.  According to Brozik, page duties include distributing mail to the legislators, coping the bill under consideration and placing documents in each lawmaker’s binder. The pages are also on duty in the committee rooms where lawmakers hold smaller meetings.

Brozik learned he was approved and was being sponsored by Rep. Bartling.  “I was very honored to sponsor Kayleb. It was great to watch him work around the House floor and in the committees,” Bartling said.   “He was very prompt, courteous and helpful to so many. Wherever Kayleb decides to go in his future endeavors, I know he will succeed. His work ethic is second to none and he surely has made his family very proud,” said Bartling.

Winner FFA chapter will host a CDE school on Feb. 20 to kickoff FFA week.

Future Farmers of America chapters from across the state have been invited to Winner.

The CDE school will be led by various individuals who are experts in both the contest as well as content knowledge. Each student will be able to participate in one workshop area.

The workshop areas include: ag business management, ag mechanics, agronomy, biotechnology, dairy cattle judging, floriculture, food science, horse evaluation, livestock judging, meat evaluation and technology, milk quality and products, natural resources, nursery and landscaping and vet science.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Rick Rigsby and he will speak from 1:30 to 2 p.m. in the Winner Armory.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

There was a lot of discussion on Initiated Measure 22 which was repealed by the legislature at Saturday’s cracker barrel session in Winner.

The Winner Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event which drew several people who had questions for their lawmakers.
Answering questions were Sen. Billie Sutton, Burke; Rep. Julie Bartling, Gregory and Rep. Lee Qualm, Platte.

The legislature approved HB 1069 which repealed IM 22 and sent the bill to the governor. Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed the bill on Feb. 2.   Voters approved IM 22 in November and since then it has been under intense scrutiny with a large group of Republicans questioning its constitutionality.

The Democratic state senator said he could not stress enough that IM22 was not ruled unconstitutional.   “An injunction is not a ruling of unconstitutionality,” he said.

However, Qualm, the majority leader in the House says he feels IM was unconstitutional. “The attorney general was spending money to defend something that was unconstitutional,” he said.

Country Pride Cooperative recently donated $600 to the Dakota Senior Meals program in Winner.

Country Pride teamed up with the Land O Lakes Foundation’s matching grant program to make the donation.

“As a cooperative we are dedicated to giving back to the communities where we have members, employees and facilities,” said CEO Mike Trosen.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

For 35 years, Chuck Keiser has worked hard to help people with insurance and real estate needs.

He has served as the agent at Fidelity Agency for all those years. Now, Chuck is retiring and handing the duties over to another well qualified individual.

A retirement open house honoring Keiser will be held Feb. 17 from 1-3:30 p.m. in the lobby of First Fidelity Bank of Winner. The public is invited to attend and wish Chuck well on his retirement.