BLACK HILLS ELECTRIC SEPTEMBER 2021 VOL. 22 NO. 5 - Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc
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BLACK HILLS ELECTRIC
SEPTEMBER 2021 VOL. 22 NO. 5
ERATIVE
CONNECTIONS
CONNECTIONS
Old Spink
New Spink
SD restaurants roll
with the changes
Page 8
Dealing with
drought
Page 12
Joyce Schermer,
Karisma Tripp and Brad
and Lori Johannsen are
shown at Spink Family
Restaurant in Elk Point
MANAGER’S COLUMN
A Weekend in the Life In areas that attract a number of birds,
of the On-call Crew putting cover-up or conductor insulation
above energized equipment seems to help.
The triangles that you may see on some of the
cooperative’s poles are designed to keep large
For many of us, the weekend brings a time birds from perching on the cross arms between
to reconnect with family, do chores around the phase wires.
the house, worship at church, and recharge Later that same morning, the crew received
for the upcoming week. For your on-call a call from the cooperative’s dispatch center
crew at Black Hills Electric Cooperative, their reporting that an electrician called in and
weekend consists of responding to outages so wanted the crew to call them back. While
that the rest of us can enjoy the weekend. digging near the power pole, a contractor
There is no “average” weekend of call. inadvertently struck an existing underground
Weather often plays a significant role in secondary power line and ended up damaging
outages. Snow, ice, and wind contribute to the connection under the meter. The on-call
most outages in the winter and early spring, lineman talked the electrician through what
and lightning is the single most prevalent needed to be done on his end before the
Walker Witt - CEO cause of outages this time of year. The lineman could fix the cooperative’s equipment.
wwitt@bhec.coop weekend of July 24th & 25th had no weather- The remainder of Saturday was outage-free for
related outages, but did have several outages your on-call crew.
that your cooperative typically experiences in The following two outage calls came in
the summer. Sunday morning at 7:09 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.
Both outages resulted in blown fuses. One
For your on-call crew at Black cause was another small bird, and the cause of
the second outage was undetermined.
Hills Electric Cooperative, The first of two calls that we never want
their weekend consists of to hear came in at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday
afternoon. The Fall River County dispatch
responding to outages so that called and reported that a fire that started
the rest of us can enjoy the along the highway had burned under one of
the cooperative’s power lines and damaged
weekend. our poles. The last call of the weekend came
in at 7:37 p.m. The Rapid City’s dispatch
The first outage call came in at 6:19 a.m. center called to report that a grassfire crossed
on Saturday morning from a member near under one of the co-op’s power lines. Crews
Oelrichs. The crew responded and found responded to both calls to inspect the
that a raccoon had climbed a pole and made cooperative’s infrastructure. Neither incident
contact with a transformer, which blew the damaged the cooperative’s equipment or
fuse and caused the outage. At 7:39 a.m. that poles. Fortunately, the co-op’s lines were not
same morning, a member called from the involved in either fire’s origin, and both fires
Hermosa area to report the second outage were contained quickly.
of the weekend. The crew responded to that That was the weekend in the life of our
outage and found another fuse blown and a on-call crew during the third weekend of July.
dead bird at the bottom of the pole. I thank all our linemen for their efforts so that
Birds and small animals often come in we all have reliable electric service.
contact with lines and equipment. Mitigative Be safe, and I hope you all enjoy this last
efforts such as putting galvanized tin at the month of summer.
base of poles discourage clawed animals from
climbing the poles.
2 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2021
CO-OP NEWS
ERATIVE
CONNECTIONS
BLACK HILLS
ELECTRIC
(ISSN No. 1531-104X)
Board President: Dennis Quivey
Board of Directors
Jim Preston - Vice President
Don Andersen - Secretary
Dave Lindblom - Asst. Secretary
Gary Kluthe - Treasurer
Thad Wasson
Alan Bishop
CEO & General Manager: Walker Witt
wwitt@bhec.coop
Operations Manager: Bill Brisk
billb@bhec.coop
Chief Financial Officer: Sammi Langendorf
slang@bhec.coop
System Coordinator: Jesse Sorenson
jsorenson@bhec.coop
Director of Communications
& Member Services: Michelle Fischer
michellef@bhec.coop
BLACK HILLS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
is the monthly publication for the members of Black
Hills Electric Cooperative, 25191 Cooperative Way, P.O.
Box 792, Custer, S.D. 57730-0792. Black Hills Electric
Cooperative Connections’ purpose is to provide reliable,
helpful information to electric cooperative members on
matters pertaining to their cooperative and living better
with electricity. Also available at www.bhec.coop.
This cooperative is an equal opportunity provider,
employer, and lender. If you wish to file a Civil Rights
program complaint of discrimination, complete the
USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form AD-3027,
found on-line at How to File a Program Discrimination
Complaint, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-
9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter
containing all of the information requested in the form.
Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail
to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202 690-7442) or e-mail at
program.intake@usda.gov.
Subscription information: Black Hills Electric
Cooperative members devote 50 cents from their
monthly electric payments for a subscription.
Non-member subscriptions are available for $12
annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Black Hills Electric
Cooperative, 25191 Cooperative Way, Custer, S.D.
57730-0792, and at additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Please send address changes to Black Hills
Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 792, Custer, S.D. 57730-
0792. Address all other correspondence to: Cooperative
Connections, P.O. Box 792, Custer, S.D. 57730-0792
Telephone: (605) 673-4461; Fax: (605) 673-3147;
e-mail: bhec@bhec.coop; website: www.bhec.coop.
SEPTEMBER 2021 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 3
OVERHEAD POWERLINES
TIPS FOR A SAFE
HARVEST
Be aware of
overhead power
lines on farms
Powerlines pose a major hazard for South Dakota
farmers. Lines over roads and rural areas have a
minimum clearance of 18 feet but just 12.5 feet over
residential private property.
The Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center offers
Before working in a field hanging too low. this useful checklist for farm safety called Stop-Think-Act. Take
or around shops or grain • If contact is made with a these steps to minimize injury risks during harvest season.
bins, always take the time power line, remember that Stop • Do I have the right equip-
to note the location of your it is almost always • What could go wrong? ment and tools for the job?
cooperative’s power lines so safest to stay on the • How bad could it be? Act
• Has anything changed? • Make it safe.
that you can make sure to equipment. Make sure to
Think • Use the right tools.
remain a safe distance from warn others to stay away • Do I clearly understand the • Follow proper procedures.
them and stay free from and call the cooperative task? • Reduce risks.
harm. To stay safe around immediately. • Am I physically and mentally • Stop the task if it cannot be
overhead power lines, farm • The only reason to ready? done safely.
operators and workers decide to make an exit is if
must: the equipment is on fire. If
• Always use a spotter this is the case, then
when operating large remember to jump off the
machinery near utility equipment with both of
power lines. your feet together, avoiding
• Use extra caution when touching the ground and
raising augers or grain truck vehicle at the same time.
beds around co-op power Then, still keeping your
lines. feet together, “bunny hop”
• Keep equipment at away from the vehicle until
least 10 feet from power you reach a safe distance.
lines - at all times, and in all If you see someone else’s
directions. equipment that has come in
• Inspect the height contact with a power line in
of farm equipment to your area, the best help you
determine the proper can give will be from a safe You put the ‘pow’ in power!
clearance. distance.
Madilyn Gaikowski
• Always lower extensions Make sure to yell out to,
to the lowest setting when signal or call the equipment Madilyn sends out a special note of appreciation for
moving loads. operator to make sure
line workers across the state of South Dakota. She is the
daughter of Gene and Loree Gaikowski. Gene serves as
• Never attempt to move he or she remains in the
the Wessington Springs line foreman at Central Electric
a power line out of the way vehicle, and notify your local in Mitchell.
or raise it to get added cooperative immediately.
Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your
clearance. Please remember to local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). If your
• Call your electric follow these tips to avoid poster is published, you’ll receive a prize. All entries must
cooperative immediately if accidents during the harvest include your name, age, mailing address and the names of
a power line is sagging or is season. your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged.
4 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2021
RECIPES
CROCKPOT
CRAVINGS
CROCKPOT BUTTERNUT
SQUASH WITH APPLES
Ingredients:
1 ½ to 2 lbs. butternut squash,
peeled and chopped (about 5
cups)
2 to 3 tart apples, chopped
(about 2 cups)
¼ c. dried cherries or cranberries
1 ½ tsp. grated fresh ginger
½ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
CROCKPOT APPLE BUTTER ½ tsp. cinnamon
Ingredients: ¼ tsp. nutmeg
SLOW COOKER BEEF STEW
4 cups of sugar (more or less ½ c. apple cider
Ingredients:
depending on sweetness of ¼ tsp. salt
3 cups water
apples)
1 package McCormick® Classic
4 tsp. cinnamon METHOD
Beef Stew Seasoning Mix
¼ tsp. cloves Combine all ingredients in your
Packet slow cooker and stir together.
¼ tsp. salt
2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours
METHOD 1-inch pieces or until squash is tender, then
Fill a 5 quart crockpot full of 1/4 cup flour turn to warm until serving. Can
chopped apples (quartered or 2 cups potato chunks also be baked in conventional
smaller), no need to peel, but 1 1/4 cups carrot chunks oven at 325 degrees until fork
do remove seeds. Tart apples are 1 medium onion, cut into thin tender. Sweet potatoes can be
best. Top with the ingredients wedges used instead of butternut squash
above. Lid won’t fit at first but if desired.
1/2 cup sliced celery
settles down as apples cook.
Begin cooking on high and when Linda Sherry, Sioux Falls
bubbling, put heat on low and METHOD
cook all night, or until thick and Mix vegetables, water and Beef
dark color. Stir occasionally. If Stew Seasoning Mix in slow Please send your favorite dairy recipes
need be, blend a few seconds to cooker. Coat beef with flour. Stir to your local electric cooperative
into ingredients in slow cooker. (address found on Page 3). Each
soften peels. Pour into jars and recipe printed will be entered into a
seal. Cover. Cook 8 hours on low or 5
hours on high until beef is tender. drawing for a prize in December 2021.
All entries must include your name,
Cherie Leibel, Timber mailing address, phone number and
Lake mccormick.com cooperative name.
SEPTEMBER 2021 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 5
COLLABORATIVE EFFICIENCY
Dear Pat: I was an electric vehicle
skeptic, but I just saw an announcement
of the all-electric Ford F150 Lightning.
I didn’t realize electric pickups could for $70,000 that can tow more than 14,000
pounds.
be this compelling or competitive. Are GMC has announced a late 2021 release of
an electric Hummer with 1,000 horsepower
there other electric pickups or SUVs and additional features for off-road
coming out soon? - Mike performance.
Rivian, a startup backed by billions of
Electric SUVs are available now and pickups dollars from Ford and Amazon, is planning to
will be soon. This development has been unveil their R1T electric pickup later this year.
anticipated for years. Electric vehicle (EV) Crossover SUVs (CUVs) are one of the most
sales are about 24 times higher than they popular types of vehicles, and a number of
were 10 years ago, with several factors driving manufacturers say they’ll have electric models
demand: available soon. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is
• The instant torque from electric motors actually available now with a range up to
boosts acceleration. 305 miles, starting at $45,000. Volkswagen’s
• The low center of gravity improves ID4 CUV starts at $40,000 and is available
handling and reduces rollover risk. with AWD options. More electric SUVs are
Pat Keegan • The superior traction control of electric coming, including Rivian’s R1S, Nissan’s Ariya
Collaborative motors can increase off-road capability and and Volkswagen’s six-passenger ID6.
Efficiency safety in winter.
• The upfront cost of an EV purchase is Tesla has more than a
now more competitive with similar internal
combustion models, and most EVs qualify for million preorders for their
a federal tax credit of up to $7,500.
• The cheaper operating fuel cost per mile new Cybertruck, which
(for electricity) compared to gasoline or diesel
is another attractive feature for drivers.
will likely arrive in 2022.
Ford’s electric F150 Lightning is scheduled
Brad Thiessen to arrive in spring 2022, starting under And it’s not just vehicles that are shifting to
Collaborative $40,000 for the commercial trim package electric. Electric snow machines and jet skis
Efficiency (230-mile range model). A 300+ mile battery are arriving soon. Even large construction
is an option, and all models are 4X4 with equipment like excavators, backhoes and
respectable towing and payload capacities. The heavy-duty trucks will have electrically fueled
Lightning is also equipped to provide 9.6kW models.
of home backup power or portable power for One remaining hurdle for increased EV
a jobsite. adoption in rural areas is fast, sufficient
Tesla has more than a million preorders charging for longer trips. Most EV owners
for their new Cybertruck, which will likely charge at home, but more fast-charge stations
arrive in 2022. The 250-mile range 2WD on rural highways will be helpful.
model starts under $40,000 and steps up to If you’re interested in an EV, talk to your
$50,000 for the 300-mile range 4WD model. electric co-op. They may offer special EV rates
Tesla plans to offer a 500+ mile range version or rebates.
6 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2021
THE MAGIC TOUCH
REZA BURNS
Brookings native and rising magician
puts SD on the entertainment map
Billy Gibson
billy.gibson@sdrea.coop
While most of his peers at Brookings High School were playing sports,
hunting and entering rodeo events, Reza Borchardt was venturing off in a
completely different direction.
He was pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a magician and
master illusionist in the style of his idol David Copperfield. From
the time Reza (pronounced ray-zuh) got his first magic kit, he was
determined to make a life and a living in the world of entertainment.
Today, Reza is on the tail end of a 140-day stretch captivating
audiences at Branson’s Famous Theater and making a big name for
himself across the globe. In addition to touring extensively to more
than 30 countries, Reza has made appearances on A&E’s popular Duck
Dynasty show and the CW network’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us.
It all began for Reza in elementary school when he was asked to go on
stage during a magic act. When he saw the response the magician was
getting from the audience, that’s when he caught the bug. By the age of
14, Reza was performing magic acts of his own and was inspired after
meeting Copperfield in person on several occasions during his youth. By
the time he was in college at SDSU, Reza was already touring across the
region performing at corporate events and concert halls.
“When I got asked to go on stage and the guy was doing a simple trick
with rings, it seemed like a really big deal. The kids were into it,” Reza
remembered. “That laid the groundwork for me. My parents bought me
a magic kit and took me to see professional shows in Branson. I started
building props and putting together an act in a warehouse in Brookings
and started traveling and having some success.”
When he was able to sell 200,000 tickets over 40 shows at a theater in
Acapulco, that’s when he had a hunch he could make it as a pro.
But Reza is savvy enough to know that the key to sustaining success in
the business is reinventing his act and conceiving new ways to keep and
hold the attention of audience members. That’s how Copperfield was
able to reach legendary status, he said.
“You have to find a way to keep making your brand relevant and keep
your show exciting. People have so much sensory overload and the ways
we receive information is moving so fast. So, I’m constantly updating
the show and elevating the art form,” he said. “I still film every show and
watch it and critique it and look for ways to improve.”
On stage, Reza carves out time to mention his South Dakota
background and share stories of growing up in Brookings on the
“cornfield side of the state.” In some ways, he sees himself as an
ambassador for South Dakota.
“I want to always remember my humble beginnings and how excited I
was to be that kid who had dreams and plans,” he said. “It’s a vision that
I saw happening, and now it has come true. And to think it all started in
South Dakota…that’s insane.”
SEPTEMBER 2021 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 7
SPINK RESTAURANT
RISING FROM
THE ASHES
Rhonda Otten, along with her husband and three sons, has worked to keep Spink Family Restaurant open for business.
Photos by Billy Gibson
Spink restaurant emerges strong from here. We had a lot more space
hardships brought by fire and pandemic and we were finally getting in the
groove.”
Facing the same problems as just
Billy Gibson popular attraction was totally about every restaurant owner in
billy.gibson@sdrea.coop consumed by fire. the state and nation, the Ottens
The way the Ottens saw it, there were forced to hit the pause button
Old Spink. New Spink. was no option but to rebuild. and try to figure out the next step
That’s how Rhonda Otten But the planned resurrection of to take. They closed for a month,
variously refers to her restaurant, the business wouldn’t occur in regrouped, and then returned to
depending on whether she’s alluding the confines of Spink. The new offer carry-out service only.
to the Spink Café that burned iteration, renamed Spink Family Members of the community
down in 2019 or the Spink Family Restaurant, would be located in rallied to support the restaurant,
restaurant that was throttled by the the old American Legion hall in including employees at Union
pandemic but is thriving today. downtown Elk Point. County Electric located just two
For more than 20 years, the Spink By all accounts, the “new Spink” blocks away.
Café was a big draw in the township wasn’t so easy to bring forth from According to Union County
located in Union County. The eatery the ashes. Two weeks after working Electric General Manager Matt
was known for its Friday night fish hard to get the new facility ready for Klein, the cooperative always strives
fries during Lent, Sunday dinners business in Elk Point, the pandemic to support other local businesses
and its famous Spinkburger. The hit and threatened to dash the that help the community thrive.
80-year-old structure had recently Ottens’ hopes for good. “At lunchtime you’re likely to
been re-decorated with a 50s theme, “The fire was in November, we see some of our guys eating there,”
featuring old LPs, vinyl album made the decision to keep going Klein said. “When they had carry-
covers on the wall and pictures of in December, and we re-opened in out, we ordered food for meetings
Elvis Presley. March. We were open for two weeks and just did what we could to help –
But life for Otten and her when the pandemic hit, Rhonda just like we do with other members
husband Sam changed in November said. “Those two weeks were very, of the community. We help
of 2019 when the area’s most very busy. It was a madhouse in whenever and wherever we can.”
8 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2021
SPINK RESTAURANT
Server Karisma Tripp tends to another satisfied customer at Spink Family Restaurant in Elk Point.
Rhonda said it was inspiring to see area from Sedona, Ariz., and always
the town pull together to face the make a point to stop at Spink, Percentage of South
impact of the pandemic, and also to preferring the hot beef sandwich and Dakota restaurants
help the business survive after the the prime rib sandwich.
back-to-back calamities. “It’s always good every time you
come,” said Schermer, a resident
75%
forced to lay off some
of Akron who opted for her staff members during
go-to French Dip. “You’re never the pandemic.
disappointed in the food or the
service. It’s wonderful.”
Also enjoying a lunchtime meal
were several employees of Valley various times through the years.
Ag Supply. The company is located “It’s going to have to be torn down
a half mile from the old Spink eventually, but we just don’t want to
Cody Olson, center, enjoys lunch with building that was destroyed by fire. let it go,” Rhonda said. “There are
his co-workers from Valley Ag Supply. “We used to go there all the time so many memories attached to that
and we were disappointed when it place; both of our parents were such
“The community really supported burned down. You could see our a big part of it.”
us and we’re very grateful for that,” fertilizer plant from there,” said She emphasized that while the
she said. “But we’ve seen this many Cody Olson while noshing on restaurant is in a new location, the
times before; people watching out the French Dip. “Now there’s no food is the same as before. The
for each other and helping when place to go. So, we just drive into Ottens, who have always used family
there’s a need. That’s what really town because it’s so good. It’s great recipes, depend on all three of their
pushed us through.” that they came back and are still sons – ages 17 through 23 – to
One regular patron who is happy operating.” handle the cooking to maintain
to see the new Spink succeeding As for “old Spink,” the Ottens consistency on a daily basis.
is Joyce Schermer. She occupied a are still trying to figure out what to “The secret to our success is that
table in the restaurant one recent do with the heap left in the wake of the five of us do all the cooking here.
lunch hour along with her son Brad the conflagration. The building had We use time-proven family recipes
Johannsen and his wife Lori. The an upstairs apartment where several that have been popular for decades,”
Johannsens are regular visitors to the members of the family lived at Rhonda said.
SEPTEMBER 2021 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 9
BILLING CHANGES
Simple & Consistent
BILLING Your September billing statement
may arrive at a different time than
usual. We decided to combine our
CHANGES billing cycles to ensure consistency
and simplicity. We currently have
two primary billing cycles - our
southern territory is on cycle #1,
DUE DATE: and our northern region is on cycle
#2. We also have our true-up billing
OLD CYCLE #1 = 30TH around the 2nd of each month for
members that participate in our
prepaid billing program.
OLD CYCLE #2 = 10TH The initial reason we had two
cycles was to help spread the
workload. Due to advancements
NEW = 5TH in technology and improved
efficiencies, we will be able to
process everyone’s bill at the same
time each month.
AUTOPAY: All of our members are billed
from the 1st to the 1st of each
OLD CYCLE #1 = 25TH month. That part of the billing will
not change. Our cycle #1 members
currently get their billing statement
OLD CYCLE #2 = 5TH around the 10th of each month,
and our cycle #2 members get
theirs around the 20th. Beginning
NEW = 5TH in September, everyone will receive
their bills around the 15th of the
month, and they will be due by the
5th of the following month.
PENALTY: The penalty will be assessed on
unpaid balances on the 10th of each
OLD CYCLE #1 = 3RD month. Members that participate in
our autopay program will have their
amount withdrawn on the 5th of
OLD CYCLE #2 = 13TH each month.
You may find the information
to the left helpful in deciphering
NEW = 10TH how these changes will affect your
account.
If you have any questions, please
don’t hesitate to contact Michelle
Fischer at 800-742-0085 or
605-673-4461.
10 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2021SAFETY
HARVEST SAFETY TIPS FOR
FARMWORKERS
• Maintain a 10-foot clearance around
all utility equipment in all directions.
• Use a spotter and deployed flags to
maintain safe distances from power
lines and other equipment when
doing field work.
• If your equipment makes contact
with an energized or downed power
line, contact us immediately by
phone and remain inside the vehicle
until the power line is de-energized. In
case of smoke or fire, exit the cab by
making a solid jump out of the cab,
without touching it at the same time,
and hop away to safety.
• Consider equipment and cargo
extensions of your vehicle. Lumber,
hay, tree limbs, irrigation pipe and
even bulk materials can conduct
electricity, so keep them out of
contact with electrical equipment.
Source: Safe Electricity
SEPTEMBER 2021 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 11DEALING WITH DROUGHT
LEARNING
FROM ADVERSITY
The Dakota Lakes Research Farm produces information helpful to farmers and ranchers dealing with drought. Photos by Billy Gibson
SDSU agriculture researcher Dwayne Beck
looks for better ways to gain higher yields feet long. Caffe, a native of France,
is an ag professor at SDSU, while
through crop rotations and other techniques Paul is a local farmer and research
technician.
Billy Gibson opportunity to learn. The two-member team moved
billy.gibson@sdrea.coop So, what exactly did the farming from section to section, cleaning
and ranching community learn out the collection bin as they went
The drought conditions that in 1988 when adverse weather to keep the samples from being
gripped the state through the conditions caused an estimated $60 contaminated and corrupting the
summer months caused difficulty for billion in agricultural damage across research data. The samples were
farmers and ranchers. The drought the U.S.?
in 2012 also made it difficult to “We learned not to do tillage,”
grow and harvest a productive crop. Beck responds without hesitation.
But it’s the drought that occurred “This drought is about the worse
in 1988 that Dwayne Beck I’ve seen since 1988, and we learned
remembers most. Beck, 70, is a then that in this part of the country
researcher with SDSU who runs the if you till, you’re screwed. No-till
Dakota Lakes research farm near gives you a chance to have a decent
Canning. crop and run a viable farming
According to the National operation.”
Integrated Drought Information And the key to succeeding
System, as of June 23 more than without tilling is proper crop
97 percent of South Dakota and all rotation. That’s what keeps Beck and
of Minnesota were categorized as other researchers busy.
“abnormally dry.” On a recent afternoon, Melanie
As someone who considers Caffe and her assistant Nick Paul
himself a seasoned investigator and were operating a small combine to
problem solver, Beck looks at the gather their test crops laid out in Dwayne Beck runs the Dakota Farms
current drought conditions as an strips measuring five feet wide by 20 research facility near Canning.
12 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2021DEALING WITH DROUGHT
HOPS GROWERS NAVIGATING THEIR
WAY THROUGH CHANGING INDUSTRY
Billy Gibson
billy.gibson@sdrea.coop
In many ways, Ryan Heine is like the average South
Dakota farmer. He frets about the weather, plans for the
future, worries about finances, watches the markets and is
constantly trying to find a buyer for the crop he hopes will
make.
But his crop is unlike most of the others that emerge from
the South Dakota soil. Heine is owner of 6th Meridian Hop
Farm near Yankton. His is one of six such farms left in the
state growing hops for brewers to transform into craft beer.
Heine also sees
his work as different
compared to most
farmers – he relies
Melanie Caffe and Nick Paul collect samples from a field at the on his nose a lot.
Dakota Farms Research Station near Canning. “There’s a lot of
experimenting with
bagged and taken into the lab where Caffe and Paul different aromas.
planned to perform fertility experiments with the goal of There are so many
developing varieties with higher yield, higher quality and flavor profiles and
stronger drought resistance. varieties of hops that are used in creating craft beer,” he said.
“There’s a vast palette of different aromas, and the market
Much of the research centers around maximizing will dictate what consumers prefer.”
yields through effective crop rotations. Beck has spent Ryan and his wife Michelle launched their hop operation in
much of his career considering the ways farming was 2014, leaving Omaha and returning to the small family farm
conducted 100 or more years ago and how it can be near Yankton in pursuit of a more grounded lifestyle for their
improved. five children.
“We wanted to get out of the city and back to our farming
“The Natives grew crops before the Spaniards came roots,” said Ryan, who works remotely as an electrical
and brought horses. They were all no-tillers because they engineer for a company out of Minneapolis.
didn’t have cows and horses to pull the plows. They grew Ryan’s interest in growing the essential elements of craft
13 different kinds of corn, beans, squash and sunflowers. beer began when he was a student at Parks College in St.
They were very successful. The settlers never asked Louis, Mo. He went out with his friends and found most of
what was offered at bars, pubs and restaurants was bland
anyone how to grow crops here, they just got out their and uninspiring. He knew he liked the flavor of beer and he
plow and started turning over the soil.” knew he liked the simplicity of the farming lifestyle.
Beck has seen the wonders of crop rotation in his “So I started doing some home brewing and found that it
research. Some of his fields are rotated five ways. was a fun hobby to pursue. Now we have one of the biggest
“Good rotations can produce a lack of disturbance in operations in the state,” he said.
Heine’s time on the farm is spent fussing over flavor and
places where you don’t have a lot of water. Our research aroma profiles, acid levels, yeast growth, oil content, insect
shows 99 percent of resistance issues could be solved invasions, disease infections and more. He and Michelle do
with better crop rotations. There are fields where we all the growing, harvesting, processing, drying, pulverizing,
haven’t used insecticides for 18 years.” preserving, pressing and packaging.
Beck said his methods aren’t always adopted by He finds markets by visiting with brewers, forging
relationships across the region and even keeping in touch
industry but he continues to gather data and push out with his college buddies.
the information obtained through research. “There are some college roommates I’ve kept in touch
“The nice about being a research guy is you always with who are brewers and we’re always talking about how to
have more things to learn,” he said. “The more you improve our products,” he said. “Hops growers are down to
research, the more you don’t know, but we’re always just a handful in the state, but for those who have survived, I
think the outlook is good.”
looking for answers.”
SEPTEMBER 2021 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 13A STICKY SITUATION
BULLISH
ON BEES
Beekeeping industry struggles with his own operation were acquired
drought and other obstacles along from beekeepers making a bee-line
straight out of the business.
with overall agriculture sector The list of real and potential
apiary antagonists is long.
Billy Gibson Sibley Co-op Power, he ships his Apiculturists are constantly trying
billy.gibson@sdrea.coop hives for pollination purposes all to protect their colonies from
across the Midwest and to other various types of threats including
Becoming a beekeeper wasn’t regions as well to help growers gain several species of mites, insecticides,
something Chad Holbrook dreamed higher crop yields. pesticides, extreme weather and
about back when he worked as a “After I got my first bee hive I destruction of their habitat.
farm loan officer in Texas. just really enjoyed doing it, and it One pitfall not often discussed in
But he decided it might be an snowballed and just kept increasing the public discourse is the attrition
interesting hobby, so about 10 years every year,” Holbrook said. “I finally that takes place from merely moving
ago he bought himself a hive just for quit my day job to run the business colonies from one patch of farmland
the fun of it. in January of 2017, which is to the next, and in some cases,
As things sometimes tend to something I never thought I’d do.” moving hives from one spot to
go, one hive led to two, two hives That’s a move that took some another to protect them during the
led to four and before he knew it, courage because Holbrook knew inclement non-pollinating months.
Holbrook was giving his day job the from his brief experience that while Holbrook figures the attrition rate
boot. Goodbye business suit, hello bees can be tough buggers, they also can be up to 10 percent anytime
beekeeping suit. have plenty of obstacles threatening hives are loaded onto a truck and
These days, Holbrook manages their place in nature and their very hauled to different locations. It’s
about 3,000 hives out of his main existence. a significant loss considering an
headquarters in Fairfax, MN, After all, some of the boxes, estimated one-third of the world’s
although he still has some hives back frames, pallets and extraction food supply depends on the
in Texas. A member of Renville- equipment he purchased to start pollination work performed by
14 COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2021A STICKY SITUATION
The estimated value
$9.2
billion
of the worldwide honey
market
Honey bees pollinate roughly one-third of the world’s agriculture crops.
honey bees. Since 2010, beekeepers Holbrook, who describes apply for a permit, take an online
in South Dakota, Minnesota and himself as a migratory commercial class, inform their neighbors of
across the country have experienced beekeeper, typically transports their intentions and adhere to other
historically high colony loss rates of bees to California every January to prescribed guidelines.
nearly 30 percent a year impacting pollinate that state’s almond crop Holbrook reports that through the
roughly 90 different agricultural and then heads to his facility in spring and summer seasons - and
crops ranging from almonds and Texas to extract honey. July is the despite the drought - honey prices
apples on the West Coast to cotton slowest month of the year, then have seen an upward shift. For
and cranberries in the East. there’s a short fall season before instance, he said the price for honey
“Keeping them alive is the hardest the bees head to an indoor storage in the region last year was about
thing,” Holbrook said. “There are facility in Idaho for protection $1.70 per pound but has climbed to
substances farmers use to manage against the cold. more than $2.25. The international
vegetation and help their crops, but Despite the drought conditions market is expected to expand from
it’s causing a reduction in the forage that have caused stress for farmers, $9.2 billion to $19 billion by 2028.
area for bees. But everybody has to ranchers and apiculturists across “We were fortunate that we’ve had
make a living and I don’t fault the the region, Holbrook is bullish on some timely rains and the hot, dry
farmers…if I were them I’d probably the beekeeping industry. He noted weather hasn’t caused problems for
be doing the same thing. But we that the city of Sioux Falls recently my business. It has been an average
can all look for ways to be more approved an ordinance that allows crop for me. But you don’t ever
environmentally friendly because residents to maintain hives on their really know for sure until the honey
we’re all making a living off nature.” property. Would-be beekeepers must is extracted,” he said.
According to owner Kiah Crowley, Sunrise Hives in Spearfish maintains about 400 bee colonies. Photo by Sunrise Hives
SEPTEMBER 2021 | COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS 15REGISTER TO WIN!
Bring this coupon and mailing label to the Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives
booth at the South Dakota State Fair to win a prize!
Your Phone Number:__________________________________________________
Your E-mail Address: __________________________________________________
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September 2-6, 2021 Health Connect Fair
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SEPTEMBER 18-19
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AUGUST 25-29 SEPTEMBER 9-12
Corn Palace Festival SD State Senior Games SEPTEMBER 25
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AUGUST 26-29 SD, 605-716-7979
58th Annual Steam SEPTEMBER 10
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location of event. State Fairgrounds, Huron, SD, 605-578-1876 call ahead to verify the event
605-353-7340 is still being held.You can also read
