When you think about it, South Dakotans are not strangers to social distancing. In this new digital Dakota Life Episode, producers remind us our home is full of hidden gems where solitude has always been the norm. We also look at the long history of the Dairy Princess tradition and visit a sampling of local artists working hard to keep their businesses afloat in our current environment.
PIONEERS AT TIMBERLINE: THE CATHEDRAL SPIRES' LIMBER PINE NATURAL AREA
by Michael Zimny
The Cathedral Spires in the Black Hills are unique for more than one reason. Among the gothic granite spires, there's a small, relict community of limber pine, a species more common in higher mountain ranges further West.
Limber pines tend to thrive in harsh, dry and windy conditions, and in high elevations, and consequently can be bent and gnarled in appearance. They are often photographed and poetically described.
Writing about the limber pine, Nebraska botanist Raymond Pool was impressed that: "This tree is able to maintain a foothold upon dry open tracts in the very teeth of the furious gales that often swoop down upon them from the heights."
SOCIAL DISTANCING OUTSIDE
by Melissa Hamersma Sievers
Social distancing is not a concept that I’ve ever experienced in my life. In college one roommate had mono. I couldn't use her stuff, but I didn't have to move out of my dorm room. I'm subject to a wide variety of ailments shared by the small people in my home. I choose not to hide from them, they always find me, as they're adorable.
I had to spend a few hours away from my kiddos after a medical scan due to the radiation used. That was short term and not as tough as it seemed at the time. But now, it’s different. The notion that we shouldn’t go over to each other’s homes and hang out is bizarre. I’m an introvert by nature… but tell me that I can’t do something, well, I just want to do it more.
My son and I ventured to our local state park to explore Sunday afternoon. We like to go to Union Grove in the southeast South Dakota. The road through the park had been closed for the winter. I expected to have to park at the top of the hill in the campground and walk down to the day use area. I was very happy to find the gates open.
I visit the trails of Union Grove throughout the year and appreciate the change of the terrain with each season. Segments of the trail are adjacent to the Brule Creek. If you look at the overhead view of the park on a map, there is still a lot of park to explore. This becomes more difficult once the undergrowth and tree canopy returns. My eight year old and I took the opportunity to hike along the creek.
“Union Grove State Park began as a County Park around 1936. The Brule Creek was dammed to create a small lake. The lake has since filled with silt and the dam was removed. The land was leased to the State of South Dakota in 1946. Since then, the park has been host to residents and vacationers alike.” - SD GF&P Website
My son enjoyed checking out the location of the old dam and imagining a lake. I was disappointed to not come across any deer, though we found evidence of their presence. I loved ambling along with him, looking for interesting details to photograph.
I enjoy the solitude of hiking. It’s quiet, you can listen to song birds. My son found a feather he plucked to add to his collection. I always love looking at the moss growing underfoot.
South Dakota is really fortunate. We’re not a densely populated state and you have the option to spread out a bit more and explore some gems in each region. None are a bad place to practice social distancing.
The Last South Dakota Dairy Princess
by John Nguyen
For over 65 years the South Dakota Dairy Princess has been an iconic figure involved in the dairy industry. With many changes occurring throughout the years, the Princess Program is changing into a new program, The Dairy Ambassadors, which will be open to both men and women. The new program will allow more young adults to travel the state and promote dairy products.
Videographer/Editor - Krystal Schoenbauer
ARTISTS AND COVID-19: LORRI ANN TWO BULLS
by Chynna Lockett
Lorri Ann Two Bulls paints colorful images of women, animals and geometric shapes with touches of gold metallics and gemstones. She uses canvas or creates wearables from organic materials. Two Bulls sets up booths year round at events and art markets, but now her income is at risk because of the efforts to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus, which causes COVID 19.
"And I do have businesses that I do sell to so it’s had a ripple effect on me because they’re not able to buy right because nobody’s going into their store. And the tourists aren’t out and about like they usually are about right now.”
Two Bulls is 59 and a cancer survivor, so even colds take a toll on her health. Social isolation is important for her to stay healthy right now.
“If I get this virus, COVID-19, I don’t think I could survive that. I don’t want to sound all grim and doom but let’s get real here. I’m not panicking but at the same time I’m educating myself about it.”
She’s able to order some supplies online, but is sticking to the necessities to save money. Two bulls decided this is a good time to create a website and build her online presence to try and keep her business running.
“Basically right now I’m just building up inventory and sort of living off of my savings. It’s not that big of a savings account but I’m kind of getting worried about that because I have bills to pay.”
Other South Dakota artists and organizers are in discussion, coming up with ways to help creators sustain themselves during the pandemic.
Nature Does Not Require Your Distance
by Brian Gevik
The Missouri National Recreational River offers 100 miles of practically pristine river scenery. This unit of the National Park Service is actually two sections of river, one between Niobrara, Nebraska and Pickstown, South Dakota, the other between Yankton, South Dakota and Sioux City, Iowa. These stretches of river are popular with birders, kayakers, power boaters, and anglers. Migrating geese and other waterfowl are a highlight during the spring and fall.
The Missouri River can be wide, shallow and slow, or it can be narrow, deep and fast, depending on location and the amount of water being sent downstream from Army Corps of Engineer dams upriver. Access to the river is limited to designated boat landings and a small number of parks and campgrounds, but there are plenty of river access points easily reached by car.
Swimming in the more-or-less wild river isn't recommended, but a lot of people do it. (There are countless "snags" - dead logs and other debris - hidden just below the water's surface. Surface currents only hint at deeper currents and either can easily overwhelm a swimmer.) Sandbars offer excellent walking and even camping opportunities, but these shifting sediments may present dangers of their own under certain conditions.
The video below shows a few scenes from the Missouri National Recreational River south and West of Vermillion. Some of the scenes were recorded at the Mulberry Bend Overlook on the Nebraska side of the river just off of SD highway 19/NE highway 15. The remainder of the video was shot at Clay County Park, south of Vermillion on Timber Road.
Right now, in March of 2020, people are being encouraged to stay at home in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, they are being encouraged to enjoy the outdoors while maintaining a safe social distance from others doing the same thing. The good news? Nature does not require your distance.