ProRodeo Sports News - August 19, 2022

S.D. Gov. Noem uses late father’s advice to succeed in life Turning Point PRORODEO FANS BY BECKY HILLIER S outh Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem knows a thing or two about hard work. Raised on a large farm and ranch in Hamlin County S.D., some of her most vivid memories center around the endless chores and the sage advice handed down from her late father Ron. After years of sharing the rich stories and anecdotes of her youth, she was encouraged to put pen and memories to paper. The result is her book, “Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland”. I recently spoke to the governor about her book and those meaningful, even life-changing lessons learned amidst the fertile farmland of northeastern South Dakota. Central to the majority of her recollections is her father, whom she describes as indestructible. Losing him to a tragic accident on the farm, thrust her into the most hopeless time in her life. She had lost her anchor and at the age of 22, suddenly found herself faced with overwhelming responsibility. “He was only 49 years old, and I was the one who became the general manager. He had a very large operation at the time,” Noem said. “What I knew in my heart was I didn’t know how I was going to keep our operation together.” In the days and weeks following her dad’s death, Noem was overwhelmed with questions: What seed should they plant? What price did they need for calves to keep the operation going? What field should they plant first? When she pondered whether they should just sell the land, she heard her father’s voice, “Don’t ever sell land, Kristi. God isn’t making any more land.” Weeks after his passing, she finally worked up the courage to clean out the cab of his pickup, which was essentially his office. What she found inside, changed everything. A dozen cassette tapes – some a decade old – in which her dad addressed and answered all the pressing questions and concerns that had plagued her for weeks. An unexpected answer to her prayers that brought a wave of relief and peace. “To find all these little, tiny tapes he’d spent hours talking into, full of wisdom, was so powerful to me because that wasn’t my dad, He wasn’t a talker, he was a doer,” she said.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Steve Gray South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem displays the American flag at Globe Life Field during the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Arlington, Texas.

provided all the answers I needed right there in my dad’s own voice.” Losing her dad was a turning point in more ways than one. Though they never discussed politics or government at the dinner table, Noem says the death taxes they suddenly owed, made her realize what a strong hand the federal government has in our lives. She didn’t like it. Once again, she heeded advice from her dad. “Dad would say, ‘Kristi we don’t complain about things we fix them,’ she recalls. “If I felt like there was something wrong with our government and tax policy, I should be showing up at meetings and working to fix it, not just complain.” And show up she did. As far as politics was concerned, it was her first rodeo, but she kept showing up, earning the right to use the metaphor she ultimately chose for the title of her book. ”

She has experienced profound loss, she has struggled and triumphed, but everyday Gov. Noem finds herself leaning on the wisdom and examples set by her dad. Lessons from the Heartland she’s taken to heart.

“It was such a gift, literally every answer to every question I might have had. I knew at that moment that’s how much God loved me. God loved me so much he knew I had this incredible challenge in front of me, yet he

ProRodeo Sports News 8/19/2022

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