More dairies in South Dakota not only means more milk production. It also means there’s a need for more dairy workers.
kAm%96 ?F>36C @7 4@HD :? $@FE9 s2<@E2 :?4C62D65 7C@> `af[___ :? a_`h E@ `c_[___ :? a_a_] x? 2 ?2E:@?H:56 =23@C D9@CE286[ 7:?5:?8 56A6?523=6 6>A=@J66D E@ <66A 8C@H:?8 52:CJ @A6C2E:@?D CF??:?8 92D 364@>6 EC:4<J]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 E92E 5@ 4@>6 E@ H@C< 2C6 :?4C62D:?8=J $A2?:D9\DA62<:?8 :>>:8C2?ED 7C@> A=246D DF49 2D |6I:4@ 2?5 vF2E6>2=2[ E9@F89 @E96C r6?EC2= 2?5 $@FE9 p>6C:42? ?2E:@?D 2C6 C6AC6D6?E65 2D H6==]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 D2J E96J’C6 DE62=:?8 p>6C:42? ;@3D] u:?5 >6 @?6 A6CD@? H9@ H2?ED E@ H@C< 2D 92C5 2D E96J 5@[” D2:5 p>2?52 ~56822C5]k^Am
kAm~56822C5 :D E96 3FD:?6DD >2?286C 7@C w:==E@A s2:CJ ;FDE @FED:56 t=<E@?[ $@FE9 s2<@E2] %96 >2;@C:EJ @7 w:==E@A’D ac 6>A=@J66D :>>:8C2E65 7C@> r6?EC2= 2?5 $@FE9 p>6C:42]k^Am
Amanda Odegaard and Felipe Huerta in a barn at Hilltop Dairy.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss
kAmw:==E@A’D 6>A=@J66 C@DE6C :D?’E F?FDF2=] %96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 C6A@CED E92E cgT @7 E9@D6 H@C<:?8 :? E96 =:G6DE@4< :?5FDECJ 2C6 7@C6:8?\3@C? :?5:G:5F2=D]k^Am
kAmpE w:==E@A[ >F49 =:<6 >@DE @E96C 52:C:6D[ 6>A=@J66D H@C< 2 `a\9@FC D9:7E[ D@>6 C6BF6DE:?8 E@ H@C< D:I @C D6G6? 52JD 2 H66<]k^Am
kAm“%96J D9@H FA 2?5 E96J H@C< 92C5[” ~56822C5 D2:5] “%96J H2?E 2 8@@5 =:76 7@C E96:C 72>:=:6D[ ;FDE =:<6 J@F 2?5 x 2?5 E96J’C6 H:==:?8 E@ H@C< 7@C :E]”k^Am
kAmu6=:A6 wF6CE2 6>:8C2E65 7C@> |6I:4@ :? E96 62C=J a___D] w6 92D H@C<65 2E w:==E@A 7@C `c J62CD] w6 DE2CE65 @? E96 >:=<:?8 7=@@C 2?5 ?@H :D E96 72C>’D 3C6656C]k^Am
kAm“xE :D 2 36EE6C =:76 96C6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmwF6CE2 D2:5 96 42>6 ?@E @?=J 3642FD6 @7 36EE6C ;@3 @AA@CEF?:E:6D[ 3FE 2=D@ 3642FD6 @7 E96 52?86C E92E 6I:DED :? 9:D 9@>6 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm“x D2H A6@A=6 D9@E :? E96 DEC66ED] r9:=5C6? D9@E :? E96 DEC66ED] p== 3642FD6 @7 E96 W5CF8X 42CE6=D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
A sign at Hilltop Dairy provides a recognizable social distancing measurement in both English and Spanish.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss
kAm“!6@A=6 D6?5 E96:C <:5D @G6C E96 3@C56C @FE @7 56DA6C2E:@?[” ~56822C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 96’D ?@E H@CC:65 23@FE 36:?8 D9@E :? E96 DEC66E :? t=<E@?[ =:76 :? E96 &]$] 92D?’E 2=H2JD 366? 62DJ] w6FCE2 D2JD 96 5:5?’E <?@H t?8=:D9 H96? 96 2CC:G65] tG6? 27E6C =62C?:?8 E96 =2?8F286[ 96 H2D?’E 2=H2JD H2C>=J H6=4@>65]k^Am
kAm“$@>6 A6@A=6 D66>65 2?8CJ[ 3FE :E’D 86EE:?8 36EE6C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6FCE2 :D?’E 2=@?6 :? 766=:?8 :D@=2E65 :? 9:D 25@AE65 4@F?ECJ] pE96?2 #2>@D =65 2 E62> 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\~>292 E92E C646?E=J C646:G65 2 8C2?E 7C@> E96 r6?EC2= !=2:?D s2:CJ u@F?52E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 8C2?E >@?6J H2D FD65 E@ 4@?5F4E 2 DEF5J E:E=65 “r@>>F?:EJ (6=4@>:?8 2?5 x?E68C2E:@? :? #FC2= $@FE9 s2<@E2]”k^Am
kAm%96 DEF5J :?E6CG:6H65 be {2E:?@ 52:CJ H@C<6CD 2?5 4@?5F4E65 2 HC:EE6? DFCG6J H:E9 aaa 6DE23=:D965 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD 2?5 `c 4@>>F?:EJ =6256CD[ 2== =@42E65 :? q6C6D7@C5[ r6?E6CG:==6 @C ':3@C8]k^Am
Work boots line the walls at the office at Hilltop Dairy near Elkton, S.D.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss
kAm%96 DEF5J 2DD6CE65[ “$6?D6 @7 4@>>F?:EJ :D 2 766=:?8 E92E >6>36CD 92G6 @7 36=@?8:?8[ 2 766=:?8 E92E >6>36CD >2EE6C E@ @?6 2?@E96C 2?5 E@ E96 8C@FA[ 2?5 2 D92C65 72:E9 E92E >6>36CD’ ?665D H:== 36 >6E E9C@F89 E96:C 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 36 E@86E96C]”k^Am
kAm#2>@D’ E62> 7@F?5 E92E H9:=6 f_T @7 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD 76=E E96J H6C6 5@:?8 2 8@@5 ;@3 2E H6=4@>:?8 E96 :>>:8C2?E 52:CJ 6>A=@J66D[ fbT @7 E96 :>>:8C2?ED D2J E96J DECF88=65 H:E9 2 D6?D6 @7 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm$@>6[ =:<6 |2C:DE6=2 #@G2:[ 2? 2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@C 2?5 52:CJ 6IE6?D:@? DA64:2=:DE 2E $@FE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ 2C6 H@C<:?8 2E =@H6C:?8 E92E ?F>36C[ ECJ:?8 E@ 6?DFC6 E96:C ?6H ?6:893@CD 766= ECF=J H6=4@>65 2?5 7:?5 2 D6?D6 @7 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm#@G2: H@C<65 H:E9 $@FE9 s2<@E2 c\w 2?5 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? E@ 4C62E6 $6>:==2D[ $A2?:D9 7@C “D665[” 2 AC@8C2> E92E H@C<D H:E9 {2E:?@ 52:CJ 6>A=@J66D’ 49:=5C6? 2?5 J@FE9 E@ 96=A E96> 6>3C246 E96:C 96C:E286[ 82:? 2 D6?D6 @7 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2?5 2AAC64:2E6 E96:C A2C6?ED’ ;@3D]k^Am
kAm#@G2: 2=D@ D2JD D96’D D66? =@ED @7 A@D:E:G:EJ 4@>6 7C@> 49:=5C6? @7 :>>:8C2?ED H9@ 86E :?G@=G65 H:E9 @C82?:K2E:@?D DF49 2D E96 qC@@<:?8D |F=E:4F=EFC2= r6?E6C 2?5 E96 q@JD 2?5 v:C=D r=F3]k^Am
A calf rests in the straw at Hilltop Dairy in Elkton, S.D.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss
kAm“%96D6 AC@8C2>D 96=A 72>:=:6D =62C? 2== E96 C6D@FC46D @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D 42? AC@G:56 2?5 96=A E96> 252AE[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr@>>F?:E:6D :?4=F5:?8 qC@@<:?8D 2?5 q6C6D7@C5 92G6 4C62E65 t?8=:D9 2D 2 $64@?5 {2?8F286 Wt${X 4=2DD6D] ~56822C5 D2:5 >2?J @7 96C 6>A=@J66D 2EE6?5 2? t${ 4=2DD]k^Am
kAm“p =@E @7 E96 6>A=@J66D 2?5 @E96C A6@A=6 D2J E96J 766= =:<6 E96J ?665 E@ =62C? t?8=:D9 D@ E96J’C6 ?@E @FE42DED[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE 3642FD6 E96 =2?8F286 32CC:6C 8@6D 3@E9 H2JD[ ~56822C5 2?5 D6G6C2= 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD :? #2>@D’ DEF5J D2J E92E H9:=6 :E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C E96 :>>:8C2?ED E@ =62C? t?8=:D9[ E96J 2C6 2=D@ H@C<:?8 @? =62C?:?8 $A2?:D9]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< :E’D ;FDE 2D :>A@CE2?E 2D t?8=:D9 2?J>@C6]” ~56822C5 D2:5] “x 5@?’E E9:?< A6@A=6 C62=:K6 9@H :>A@CE2?E :E :D E92E H6 D9@F=5 36 =62C?:?8 $A2?:D9]k^Am
kAmw6C <:5D[ H9@ 7C6BF6?E=J A=2J 2C@F?5 E96 52:CJ 27E6C D49@@=[ 92G6 DE2CE65 E@ A:4< FA D@>6 @7 E96 =2?8F286[ D96 D2:5[ 3@E9 7C@> 36:?8 2C@F?5 E96 52:CJ 2?5 2=D@ 8@:?8 E@ 4@>>F?:EJ A:4?:4D H96C6 >2?J w:DA2?:4 72>:=:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 w:==E@A 6>A=@J66D[ 82E96C E@ “3C62< 3C625 E@86E96C]”k^Am
kAmu@C ~56822C5[ 4@>:?8 E@86E96C >2<6D E96 :>>:8C2E:@? :DDF6 A6CD@?2=]k^Am
kAm“~?46 :E 364@>6D A6CD@?2=[ J@F 5@?’E D66 E96> 2D ‘E96 @E96C]’ (6’C6 2== ;FDE A6@A=6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm#2>@D 92D D66? E9:D :? 96C DEF5:6D 2D H6==]k^Am
kAm“~?46 A6@A=6 :? E96 4@>>F?:E:6D 86E E@ <?@H E96:C ?6H ?6:893@CD 2?5 24EF2==J DE2CE E2=<:?8 E@ E96>[ E96J 7:?5 @FE E96J’C6 ?@E D@ 5:776C6?E[” #2>@D D2:5] “%96J 2== H2?E E@ AFE E96:C 72>:=:6D 7:CDE 2?5 H2?E E@ 92G6 2 8@@5 =:76]”k^Am
kAmwF6CE2[ ~56822C5 2?5 #2>@D 2== D2J E96J H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 >@C6 4@>>F?:EJ 6G6?ED H96C6 E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 =:G65 :? E96:C 9@>6E@H?D 2== E96:C =:G6D 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 :>>:8C2E65 C646?E=J 42? 4@>6 E@86E96C 2?5 C62==J 86E E@ <?@H @?6 2?@E96C]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 96C6 2?5 E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 96C6[ D@ :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ 7:?5 2? F?56CDE2?5:?8[” wF6CE2 D2:5]k^Am
kAm#2>@D D2:5 AC@8C2>D =:<6 (6=4@>:?8 p>6C:42 2C6 2 8C62E C6D@FC46 7@C CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D =@@<:?8 E@ 3C:586 E96 82A 36EH66? =:76\=@?8 4:E:K6?D 2?5 C646?E :>>:8C2?ED] $@>6 4@>>F?:E:6D 92G6 2 7F==\E:>6 2>32DD25@C E@ 96=A 6G6CJ@?6 ?2G:82E6 E96 AC@46DD]k^Am
kAm#2>@D 36=:6G6D :E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D E@ 5@ E9:D ?@E @?=J E@ 7@DE6C 4@>>F?:EJ 3FE 7@C E96 7FEFC6 @7 D>2== E@H?D]k^Am
kAm“x>>:8C2?ED >2J 36 E96 =:76 D@FC46 E@ <66A D@>6 @7 E96D6 D>2== E@H?D 27=@2E[” D96 D2:5] “$@>6 @7 E96 D>2== E@H?D E92E H6C6 5J:?8 2C6 ?@H DE2CE:?8 E@ D66 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 C6G:E2=:K2E:@?]”k^Am
Maria’s Cafe has become a popular eatery in Centerville and the surrounding region.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss
kAmqFD:?6DD6D =:<6 |2C:2’D r276 :? r6?E6CG:==6 2?5 q6C6D7@C5 2C6 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 E92E C6G:E2=:K2E:@?] |6=:DD2 (9:55@? 5C@G6 7C@> ':3@C8 @? 2 C646?E H66<52J ;FDE E@ >66E 2 7C:6?5 7@C =F?49]k^Am
kAm“|2C:2’D W:? r6?E6CG:==6X :D E96 @?=J C6DE2FC2?E 7@C >:=6D] %9:D A=246 86ED A24<65 2?5 5@6D 2 8C62E 3FD:?6DD[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|2C:2 |2CE:?6K H2D 3@C? :? |6I:4@[ 3FE ?@H >2<6D 96C 9@>6 :? q6C6D7@C5] $96 @A6?65 |2C:2’D 2 76H J62CD 28@ D2JD :E’D 366? 2 8C62E 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am
Maria Martinez opened Maria’s Cafe in Centerville in 2017 and opened a second location in Beresford in 2020.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss
kAm“|J 9FD32?5 42>6 96C6 E@ H@C< 2E E96 52:CJ[” D96 D2:5] “(96? H6 8@E 96C6 E96C6 H6C6 @?=J EH@ @E96C $A2?:D9\DA62<:?8 72>:=:6D]”k^Am
kAm}@H[ D96 D2JD[ >@C6 2?5 >@C6 72>:=:6D 2C6 4@>:?8 E@ E96 2C62 3642FD6 :E’D D@ H6=4@>:?8]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 D>2== E@H? D@ 6G6? :7 E96J 5@?’E DA62< t?8=:D9[ 6G6CJ@?6 2=H2JD D2JD 9: E@ 6G6CJ@?6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
Melisa Goss, Associate Editor for the Tri-State Neighbor, is a South Dakota farm girl whose love of travel has allowed her to see ag’s vital impact around the world, from America’s heartland to the rice paddies of Southeast Asia and many places in between. She makes her home in Sioux Falls with her husband, daughter and miniature schnauzer. You can reach her at mgoss@lee.net .
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
