South Dakota

  • Ernest Weston:Thunder Valley CDC

    Ernest Weston:Thunder Valley CDC

    Above: Food Sovereignty Program Coordinator at Thunder Valley, Ernest Weston, stands in a newly built green house on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. “I remember the morning I left for school. I loaded up the Dodge pickup at 4 a.m. and then went inside to say goodbye to my family. We all…

  • Jeremy and Trish:Cycle Farm

    Jeremy and Trish:Cycle Farm

    Above: Trish Jenkins and Jeremy Smith at Cycle Farm in Spearfish, South Dakota. New farmers Jeremy Smith and Trish Jenkins can’t help but laugh when they reflect on what it took to get their farm started 7 years ago. “We hung posters all over town inviting people to come to our home and talk…

  • Aaron Johnson:Organic Farming

    Aaron Johnson:Organic Farming

    Above: Aaron Johnson holds a handful of corn at his farm in Madison, South Dakota, Johnson Organic Farm. Aaron Johnson is an organic producer south of Madison, South Dakota in Orland Township. He’s been farming since 2009 and is a third generation farmer. He farms on land that has been in the family since…

  • Kristi Mogen:Fighting CAFOs

    Kristi Mogen:Fighting CAFOs

    Above: Kristi Mogen at home in Revillo, South Dakota. Kristi Mogen and her family left Wyoming after an oil field near their home threatened their health. “In 2012, an oil field moved into Wyoming…into our neighborhood. The first wells were about two miles from our house. We had this beautiful house, had mountain views,…

  • Ian Caselli: Sioux Falls Producer

    Ian Caselli: Sioux Falls Producer

    Above: Market gardener Ian Caselli at his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Depending on the time of the year, Ian Caselli has two very different jobs. From September through May, Ian works as a Community Facilitator for the Sioux Falls School District. During the growing season, Ian is what he calls “a market…

  • Native American Natural Foods:A Company with a Mission

    Native American Natural Foods:A Company with a Mission

    Above: Karlene Hunter stands outside of her office in Kyle, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Residents of Pine Ridge Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota have to drive 85 miles to find healthy food. Their closest option to fresh fruits and vegetables is located in Rapid City.  The reservation is a food desert,…

  • Aaron Johnson: Organic Producer

    Aaron Johnson: Organic Producer

    We were the laughing stock of the county, this was before I was even born so I can’t imagine what they went through. Having to put up with being an outcast like that…and then now where we are today. I feel very fortunate.