The Radke Report

By: Karla Lems - SD District 16 Representative

The South Dakota ballot box will determine the future for South Dakota in many ways.  One of them is in the form of Referred Law 21, or RL21.  

I wish I could sit down with each of you to explain every step that has led to RL21 being on the ballot.  I could visit with you for hours, but I only have a few paragraphs to try and explain this.   However, it IS very important for you to understand.  It IS very important to South Dakota.  It IS very important to FREEDOM.  So here we go. 

Three years ago this month, Tyler and I stood in front of a judge in a crowded courtroom, surrounded by our children,  extended family, dear friends, social workers and adoption case workers.

When prompted, we raised our hands in the air and promised to be Mom and Dad to a sweet little boy in foster care, who needed a forever home to call his own. 

The prairie is a place I’ll fight to protect. It’s a place I’ll raise my children. It’s a place I’ll grow old with my spouse. It’s a place where I’ll build my agriculture business. And it’s a place outside of the modern world, where I can find peace and beauty and abundance of blessings, and it doesn’t cost me a dime, it just asks me to pause and reflect and appreciate all that it is.

Early voting has now begun in South Dakota, and folks will have some big decisions to make that depending on the outcome could fundamentally alter the future of this state for our children and grandchildren.

One of those decisions voters will need to consider is Referred Law 21. Dubbed a “landowner bill of rights,” with promises of protections for farmers and more money for the counties, I urge you to dig deeper into RL21 and don’t buy the lie that exists within the deceptive and misleading title and description.

There are so many things terribly wrong with RL21, and I write this column to unpack the most concerning issues that so many South Dakotans see with this bad piece of legislation.

There is a groundswell of support arising from rural communities in the Northern Plains and the Midwest, where a multi-state pipeline is proposed to plow through — busting up communities, tearing up fields and pastures, destroying tree lines, and worst of all, burying plant food in a dangerous pipeline, in what could be the largest fleecing of taxpayer dollars through the Green New Deal boondoggle. 

The opposition to this absolute farce of a project is not a small, vocal minority; instead, it’s an avalanche of support that grows in numbers by the day — bi-partisan in nature, grassroots and citizen-led — all coming together for one common cause: to fight for the people’s God-given, Constitutionally-protected private property rights.

Neighbors locking arms to stand in solidarity — communities standing firm in the fight for the future for the children and grandchildren. It’s an incredible juxtaposition against the contrast, proponents choosing greed, corporate interests, and the donor class over the very citizens who call this place “home.”

If we don’t tell our own stories, someone else with an ugly agenda will happily fill in the gaps for us.

Last week was a bit of a whirlwind as I spoke at Ag conferences in Illinois and Iowa.

During my road trip, I met so many incredible people who are passionate, strong, empowered, and ready to speak out and share their stories. They see the challenges ahead, and they know, now is the time to stand firm in the truth and unapologetically share what their farms and ranches do to provide food for the world.

I came home with recharged batteries, and a renewed spirit that none of us have to fight this battle alone. If we all carry a bit of the burden, we will be unstoppable!

Our kids had a great day showing their cattle at the Sioux Empire Fair today, and in all the growth that comes with learning and trying new things, I reminded them, while we waited for our class to go in the ring, that everybody starts somewhere.

I told them the story of their mom, who 13 years ago (long before motherhood), leveraged money she didn’t have to hire an illustrator, designer, and producer of her first children’s book, “Levi’s Lost Calf.” 

When it finally launched in July of 2011, I organized my own little media tour and book signing route in the state (thanks to lots of friends along the way), and my first stop was the Sioux Empire Fair.

It’s that time of year again — county and state fair season is upon us!

After months of work, young people head to town with the fruits of their labor. The pickup and trailer are loaded. The camper is packed. Mom and dad are hustling to get everything lined up and taken care of at home. The kids are excited. And the chaos of fair week begins.

If you had the opportunity to grow up participating in 4-H, FFA, or junior livestock shows, you know the feeling well. It’s year-round preparation. It’s the day-to-day grind in the barn, morning and night. It’s washing. Feeding. Brushing. Blowing. Leading. Clipping. Fitting. And the list goes on.

South Dakota voters will have the chance to vote down SB201 (now Referred Law 21) in the upcoming election.

Help spread the word and support the effort with merchandise.

RL21 is a fake "landowner bill of rights," that, when you read the fine print, it actually takes away the ability for local governance and strips away your private property rights.

Stand firm in protecting your land, your neighborhood, your community, and the future of agriculture in South Dakota and VOTE NO on RL 21.

https://www.sdpropertyrightslocalcontrol.com/shop/

Failure and challenges are a part of farming and ranching, but it’s how we respond to adversity that matters most. Have you ever had one of those...

When I think of the United States military and the people who willingly sign up to serve in order to protect our freedoms, I think of the strength, resolve, patriotism, purpose, and selflessness required of the task.

Yet, once again, our government is on a runaway train to demoralize and destabilize the very institution that safeguards our nation.

This time, it’s in the form of fake meat, and if our Department of Defense (DOD) has their way, they’ll soon be serving this drivel to our country’s finest service men and women.

Earlier this summer, the Department of Defense announced a sponsored research grant that will fund the development of lab-grown meat products made by an approved company called, BioMade. 

This kid…She’s an old soul and a deep thinker. She’s stubborn, but sweet. Passionate and strong. And she sure loves her cattle.

She’s on fire for the Lord. Her devotion and faith inspires me, and makes me want to be better. More than anything, I hope she never forgets how deeply loved she is, just the way she is.

Proud of our girl today - a purple ribbon on her speech, and the story of Scarlett and Lucky keeps gaining momentum! Catch her on the road with me this fall; she’s gunning for my job & I’m good with being her driver and cheering her on!