Submitted Photo
John DeMers, financial service manager for Winner area, is pictured with Madison Thieman who was awarded a FCSAmerica scholarship.

Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica), a customer-owned financial cooperative, today announced that Madison Thieman of Winner, SD will receive a $2,500 scholarship to continue studying Animal Science at South Dakota State University (SDSU).


Madison, whose parents are Craig and Karey Thieman, is one of eight SDSU students to receive an FCSAmerica scholarship for the 2021-2022 academic year. Madison is a senior majoring in Animal Science.


This is the 25th year that FCSAmerica has awarded land grant scholarships. Each year, juniors and seniors studying at land grant universities in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming who plan to pursue a career in agriculture are invited to compete for the FSCAmerica scholarships.


“Agriculture is a complex, high-risk industry that needs the best and brightest working to solve challenges and advance the field. FCSAmerica’s scholarship program is here to help young people become those difference makers,” said John DeMers, Financial Services officer for FCSAmerica’s Pierre, South Dakota office.


Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in the College of Agriculture with course work emphasis in agribusiness or economics, or enrolled in the College of Business Administration with course work emphasis in agribusiness, finance, accounting or economics at Iowa State University, South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, or University of Wyoming. Other scholarship criteria include: good academic standing, with a preferred GPA of at least 3.0; a written essay; a background check or work experience in agriculture; preference for residency in FCSAmerica’s four states.


The scholarship program is part of FCSAmerica’s community involvement program. FCSAmerica employees have contributed nearly 8,500 volunteer hours to programs and projects in their communities and the cooperative has donated more than $3.5 million in support to organizations in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.


About Farm Credit Services of America:


Farm Credit Services of America is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of rural America, including the special needs of young and beginning producers. With $34 billion in assets and $6.5 billion in members’ equity, FCSAmerica is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Learn more at www.fcsamerica.com.

Parade marshal nominations

Winner High School student council is looking for nominations for the homecoming parade marshal.

Persons can send the nominations to Haley Barfuss at Winner High School with a detailed description of why they feel this person would be a good candidate for parade marshal.

Persons can mail the nominations to 431 East 7th St, Winner or e mail Barfuss at haley. barfuss@k12.sd.us.

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 15.

Labor day closings

Government offices in Winner will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6 in observance of Labor Day.

Offices in the Tripp County Courthouse will be closed. All state and federal offices in Winner will be closed.

The city office will be closed and the city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

The Winner Post Office will be closed on Labor Day and there will be no mail delivery.

Financial institutions in Winner and Colome will not be open for business on Labor Day.

There will be no noon meal at the Winner Senior Citizens Center.

Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services will be closed Labor Day as well as Main Gate Counseling.

Lots of events planned for Labor Day weekend

Carnival, parade, demo derby, car show  and lots of fun is planned for the big Labor Day celebration in Winner. 

The theme of this year’s Labor Day parade is “Honoring all who have served.” This includes veterans, law enforcement, EMTs, fire fighters, medical and teachers.

This year’s parade marshals will be James and Sharon Hiemstra. This husband and wife have been very instrumental in helping the Winner American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary.

This year there will be a different parade route with all the construction on Highway 18.

The parade will line up as usual on South County Road. However, instead of heading to the highway, the parade will go south to 7th Street where it will turn and go all the way down 7th St to Winner High School.

Mac’s Carnival and Attractions will be on Main St for four days. The carnival will be open from noon to midnight on Sept. 3. On Sept. 4 from noon to midnight, Sept. 5 from noon to midnight and on Monday, Sept. 6 the carnival will be open after the parade.

Advance tickets of 12 for $20 can be purchased unit Sept. 3 at Chamber office, city of Winner office, True Value, Hidden Gems, Winner Food Center and BankWest.

The Prairie Cruisers car and tractor show will be Saturday, Sept. 4 at the Tripp County museum grounds. The registration will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The car show is from 1-3 p.m.  with an awards ceremony at 3 p.m.

There will be a free meal at noon.

The museum will be open on Sept. 4 and will be serving homemade caramel rolls by James Hiemstra in the morning. At noon, the historical society will be serving homemade pie and ice cream.

There will also be a vendor show at Jubilee Park on the museum grounds. Vendors can set up to sell their crafts, homemade goods and food. For more information contact Eva Watzel at 842-2850.

The Winner Area Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring ranch bronc and bull riding on Saturday, Sept. 4 at the Tripp County rodeo grounds.

The calcutta will be at 7 p.m. with the action starting at 7:30 p.m.
The stock contractor is Sutton Rodeo.

Added features will be mutton bustin and wild pony races.

Advanced tickets can be obtained at the Chamber office.

Sunday is a full day with Billy Bolander memorial demolition derby. The derby is east of the Tripp County Fairgrounds.

The gates open at noon and the Calcutta is at 1 p.m. There will be concessions on the ground at the derby.

The Winner Regional Health 5K run and walk will kick things off on Monday, Sept. 6. There will be a 5K, one mile race and a 2 mile fun walk.

Sign-in and registration is at 7:15 a.m. in the hospital south parking lot.

The race will start at 8 a.m.

The big parade is at 10 a.m. and following the parade will be the free community BBQ in front of the Legion. This is sponsored by area businesses and the American Legion.

The will be donkey soccer on Labor Day at the fairgrounds. The Calcutta will start at  1 p.m. with action starting at 1:30 p.m.

Some of the other events planned for the Labor Day weekend are men’s slow pitch tournament.

On Friday, the Winner Livestock Auction golf tournament will be held at 1 p.m.

On Saturday, the Best, Mathis, Whetham golf tournament will be held. This is a two person best ball meet at the Winner Country Club. It starts at 1 p.m.

There will be mud races at Winner housing at 2  p.m. on Saturday.

A free movie will be at the Pix Theater at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

There will be Pix Theater concessions from 4-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Black Lab will have entertainment Friday through Monday.

On Friday and Saturday will be Uncle Roy and the Boys  will be featured.

Sunday will feature the band Derailed and Monday it will be DJ VT rockin country.

The Black lab will have brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, nachos on Labor Day weekend. The Labor Day celebration is sponsored by the Winner American Legion.  

Cast chosen for play

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
The cast of the upcoming Winner Community Playhouse production include in front from left Tami Comp, Vicky Barfuss, Rhonda Stoecklin and Emily Moser. In back from left are Brandy Biggins, Linda Nelson, Doug Nelson, Tim Novotny, Ron High Rock and Barb DeSersa. “Where There’s A Will There’s A Murder” is the play which will be presented Sept. 10,11 and Sept. 16, 17 and 18. Sandra York is the drama director.

The cast has been chosen and they are busy rehearsing for the upcoming production by the Winner Community Playhouse.

“Where There’s a Will There’s a Murder is the play which will be presented Sept. 10,11 and Sept. 16, 17 and 18. Curtain time is at 8 p.m. with doors open at 7:30 p.m.

The two act play is a comedy/murder-mystery.

For reservations, call 842-1958 or e mail wicoplay@gwtc.net

The cast includes: Tim Novotny, Tami Comp, Vicky Barfuss, Brady Biggins, Doug Nelson, Rhonda Stoecklin, Linda Nelson, Emily Moser, Barb DeSersa and Ron High Rock.

The play is directed by Sandra York with Dan Patmore as the technical director.

Angel Gown Project Announced

Submitted Photo
Angel Gown is a new project of the Winner VFW Auxiliary. The gowns are used when an infant passes away.

Winner VFW Auxiliary #4674 recently adopted a new project called “Angel Gown”. Angel Gown’s are a relatively new concept to the area and auxiliary member Kathy Kaiser felt there is a need in the Winner area and began to make the gowns.

Her gowns are made from wedding gowns and are usually silk or satin, thus they are very soft to touch. The beautiful gowns have a definite and supportive role during a period of deep grief and distress. They are used when an infant passes away and the infant is then buried in the beautiful gown.

Kathy is in contact with several hospitals and they know to contact her should they have a need for the gown. She has also placed several gowns at the Rapid City Hospital for them to use when appropriate.

Kathy explains that she makes then in sets of four, each set contains four different sizes. Some have embellishments on them and others are plain.

Jan Endes, auxiliary president, announced the project and stated the angel gown has been a much needed item and the families who have been recipients of a gown in the past are so appreciative and express their thanks during their very difficult time.