Being that this is a South Dakota girl’s blog, I figure I should write something about South Dakota, so here it goes. This week is dedicated to South Dakota.
The State pledge: I pledge loyalty and support to the flag and state of South Dakota, land of sunshine, land of infinite variety.
The state capital is in the center of the state and is named Pierre it is pronounced as Pier, not the Bure wearing Frenchman Pierre.
The state bird is the pheasant, and yes, it tastes like chicken.
While the song ‘Home on the Range’ may have roots in North Central Kansas, the song is near and dear to me and reminds me much of South Dakota. The song of course starts ‘Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word and skies are not cloudy all day.’
The song is so true, on the prairies of South Dakota you will see remarkable natural beauty. You will see wild turkey, deer, antelope, cows and horses just wandering aimlessly, peacefully.
The air is clean and the water is fresh. The people of South Dakota are some of the best you’ll ever meet. They are, as the song suggests, good people. They are people who are willing to help before you even know you need help. They are the prairie pioneers who live a hard life working the land for crops like wheat, hay for their livestock, and bees for the sweet nectar.
Families get together to help during branding season, calving season is difficult work, and the summer thunder and hail storms can spawn tornados that can bring a ranch to its knees. But it’s South Dakota and the neighbors, though many miles away, are closer than you’ll find next door in a city condo that’s for sure.
Just be careful of the buffalo as they do not share the same decorum.
One of my favorite TV shows growing up was Little House on the Prairie based on the writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She was native to South Dakota and my Grandmother always thought her writing ms and the TV depiction was accurate enough. After all she was that little girl riding the horse to school for miles over the hills in the terrible blizzards that South Dakota is know for.
I hope you enjoy this week’s blogs and if you do, please post your comments. Also if you’re ever give man the opportunity, please visit South Dakota and see what it has to offer.