South Dakota rancher shares impact of National Guard involvement

By Lura Roti, for South Dakota Farmers Union
Nov 11, 2025
Nov 11, 2025

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Oren Lesmeister is a rancher from Parade, South Dakota, a husband to Tracy and a dad to Colten, Colby and Chelsy.

kAmw6’D 2 D>2== 3FD:?6DD @H?6C[ 7@C>6C $@FE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6 2?5 2 >6>36C @7 E96 $@FE9 s2<@E2 q667 x?5FDECJ q@2C5 2?5 $@FE9 s2<@E2 u2C>6CD &?:@? q@2C5 @7 s:C64E@CD]k^Am

kAmx? 9:D 62C=J a_D {6D>6:DE6C 6?=:DE65 :? E96 $@FE9 s2<@E2 pC>J }2E:@?2= vF2C5] w6 D2:5 E96 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 EC2:?:?8 96 C646:G65 2D 2 J@F?8 25F=E D6CG:?8 2D 2 4@>32E 6?8:?66C H:E9 E96 a``E9 t?8:?66C r@>A2?J @FE @7 {6>>@? 2?5 |@3C:586 AC6A2C65 9:> 7@C =6256CD9:A 2?5 D6CG:46 C@=6D =2E6C :? =:76]k^Am

kAm“$6CG:?8 :? E96 pC>J }2E:@?2= vF2C5 E2F89E >6 ?@E @?=J 9@H E@ 36 2 =6256C[ 3FE 9@H E@ 36 :?G@=G65[” {6D>6:DE6C D2:5] “*@F =62C? =6256CD9:A :D?’E ;FDE 8:G:?8 @C56CD[ :E :D 23@FE H@C<:?8 2D 2 E62>] xE :D C62=:K:?8 @E96C’D DEC6?8E9D 2?5 24<?@H=658:?8 E92E 6G6? E96 H62<6DE =:?< 42? 36 E96 DEC@?86DE =:?< :? 46CE2:? D:EF2E:@?D]”k^Am

kAm{6D>6:DE6C D92C65 >@C6 23@FE H92E 96 =62C?65 E9C@F89 :D J62CD @7 D6CG:46 :? E96 BF6DE:@? 2?5 2?DH6C :?E6CG:6H 36=@H]k^Am

k9bm"i (9J 5:5 J@F 6?=:DEnk^9bm

People are also reading…

County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Virtual fence shows potential for producers
Fertilizer prices seasonally higher, rising globally
Couples partner to open Sasquatch Acres farmstand
Farmers visit Mexico ahead of USMCA talks
Defend Digestive Function to Protect Profitability
Brooks Chalky Butte Angus Ranch 2026 Production Sale
Upside Robotics builds robots with sensors to fertilize cornfields in tiny doses
2026 Farm Financial Stability loans overwhelm BND
Nations race to secure enough fertilizer
The sacrifice and perseverance of a ranch woman
Quality data, trust key to AI in agriculture
EPA allows summer sales of E15 gasoline
Eastern Iowa woman drawn to new foods and hobbies
Professional photographer captures unique perspective in life

kAmvC@H:?8 FA :? E96 6C2 H96? x 5:5[ H:E9 '6E6C2?D @7 ':6E?2> 2?5 (@C=5 (2C xx[ H6 8C6H FA A=2J:?8 D@=5:6C] y@:?:?8 E96 >:=:E2CJ H2D @? >J >:?5] %96?[ x 42>6 @FE @7 4@==686 ?6H=J >2CC:65 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ 7:?5 >J H2J :? E96 H@C=5 2?5 A2J @77 4@==686[ D@ E96 vx q:== =@@<65 =:<6 2 8@@5 @AE:@?] xE H2D E96 g_D 2?5 E9:?8D H6C6 E@F89 :? 72C>:?8 2?5 C2?49:?8]k^Am

k9bm"i s:5 J@F 56A=@Jnk^9bm

kAm(6 H6C6 2E u@CE r2CD@? :? r@=@C25@[ C625J E@ 56A=@J 5FC:?8 s6D6CE $E@C>] p== @FC 6BF:A>6?E H2D D9:AA65 E@ E96 |:55=6 t2DE[ 2?5 E96? E96 H2C 6?565]k^Am

k9bm"i (92E :D E96 3:886DE =:76 =6DD@? J@F =62C?65 E9C@F89 D6CG:46nk^9bm

kAm%96 pC>J 92D 2 D=@82?i “p52AE 2?5 @G6C4@>6]” x =62C?65 E92E 6G6? H96? x E9:?< x 42?’E 5@ D@>6E9:?8[ x AC@323=J 42?]k^Am

kAm(6 H6C6 @? 2 EC2:?:?8 2?5 2 A6CD@? 8@E 9FCE 2?5 ?66565 E@ 36 =:76 7=:89E65 @FE] xE H2D =2E6 :? E96 6G6?:?8 2?5 H6 H6C6 :? 2? 2C62 E92E H2D 5:77:4F=E E@ 2446DD] x H2D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 96=A:?8 =2?5 2 49@AA6C] xE H2D D@>6E9:?8 x’5 ?6G6C 5@?6[ 3FE x 925 EC2:?65 7@C] %92E’D H96? E96 EC2:?:?8 <:4<65 :?]k^Am

kAmxE H2D G6CJ 52C< 2?5 2 G6CJ 4@?7:?65 2C62] (6 3F:=E 2 4:C4=6 @7 =:89ED 7@C 2 =2?5:?8 A25] %96J H6C6 23=6 E@ =2?5 2?5 H6 8@E E96 :?5:G:5F2= =@2565 FA 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 H@C<65 @FE]k^Am

k9bm"i p7E6C J@FC 6IA6C:6?46 D6CG:?8 :? E96 pC>J }2E:@?2= vF2C5[ H@F=5 J@F 6?4@FC286 @E96C J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@ 6?=:DEnk^9bm

kAm*6D[ 23D@=FE6=J] x >6E A6@A=6 x H@F=5 92G6 ?6G6C >6E @E96CH:D6] x 925 6IA6C:6?46D x H@F=5 ?6G6C 92G6 925] x H2D 23=6 E@ A2J @77 >J 4@==686 563E] p?5 E96 6IA6C:6?46D x 925 D6CG:?8 2D 2 =6256C 92G6 96=A65 >2<6 >6 H9@ x 2>] z?@H:?8 H92E x <?@H ?@H[ x H@F=5 5@ :E 2== @G6C 282:?]k^Am

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Related to this story

Marketplace

Recently Listed

Auctions

Featured

Farmer Today Auction Calendar

Apr 8, 2026

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Tractors
Combines
Harvesters
Planting
Misc Equipment
Hay Equipment
Trailers
Trucks
Livestock
Seed
Feed/Hay

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits:

South Dakota rancher shares impact of National Guard involvement

Marketplace

Farmer Today Auction Calendar

Marketplace

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these exclusive benefits:

People are also reading…

Be the first to know

Related to this story

Marketplace

Farmer Today Auction Calendar

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits: