The Radke Report

Today, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-day. Thanks to their sacrifice, we no longer need to risk our lives at Omaha Beach. They established a physical beachhead; we merely need to establish a political beachhead in red America against today’s forces of tyranny.

I’m joined today by South Dakota rancher Amanda Radke, who briefs us on the spectacular primary victories over the green energy pipeline crowd. She explains how a grassroots effort behind a common cause to conserve something as sacred as American ranching and land ownership was the most important fight of the year. We learn the lessons of their successes and plot a strategy to end this pipeline altogether.

It’s not just about the pipeline, either. We are fighting for the heart and soul of red states – whether they are open for free-market business or whether they are for sale to crony left-wing interests that create fake jobs propped up by the federal government on the backs of the people.

May is a busy month on the ranch — calving, planting, synchronizing for breeding through timed artificial insemination, fixing fence, preparing for haying, branding, working and loading out cow-calf pairs to head to summer grass, and the list goes on.

It’s long days, late nights, and physical labor, and although it can be stressful trying to get it all done, there’s nothing sweeter or more gratifying than watching those cattle step off the trailers after a long winter, and enjoy those first bites of green grass on the pasture.

It’s nature at its finest on the ranch, where native grasses grow in abundance; butterflies and bees bounce from one wildflower to the next; and wildlife such as fox, deer, rabbits, mice, turtles, badgers, coyotes, and more tend to their young.

It’s who we are in the heart of South Dakota. At our core, we are caregivers. We love the land. We love our neighbor. And we love our community. We love freedom and independence and the ability to pursue entrepreneurial ideas and innovations, to make the land better, to create new opportunities for the next generation, and to stand true to the values and ideals that make South Dakota one of the best places in the nation to plant down roots and raise a family.

Yet, there is a small, vocal minority in Pierre, S.D., backed by well-connected politicians, big industry, corporations, and the donor class, who are committed to stealing the dreams of their neighbors to profit themselves and their crony friends.

The show has offered me the opportunity to connect with folks all over the country. With each interview, I am left inspired, hopeful, and full of energy to continue on my mission of keeping agricultural producers on the land, safe and affordable food on the dinner table, and the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well, not through government but through the private sector in a free and fair capitalist market.

Yet, I’m not naive to the challenges we face in this country — rural main streets often are left with empty buildings of businesses that once were; schools and churches are closing; and fewer young families choose to plant down roots in these quiet that we grew up in.

Those challenges were reflected in an article published in The Atlantic, titled, “How Rural America Steals Girls’ Futures.”

Every week when I’m on the road speaking, I am blessed to meet incredibly inspiring people — hard-working farmers, ranchers, families, entrepreneurs, creatives, and community leaders.

They are the driver behind my podcast, “The Heart of Rural America,” as well as this column. Their stories encourage me on the road, and I often arrive back home to the ranch with new ideas, great stories, and wonderful friendships in this agricultural community we love.

So what does the “heart of rural America” really mean anyway? It’s not just long-forgotten flyover states; it’s good people, working as stewards of the land, livestock, and their communities, who are the backbone of this nation, and I’m proud to know them.

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, and if you didn’t know, Tyler and I have been foster parents for five years, welcoming a dozen kids into our home and adopting one beautiful little boy along the way. 

It’s been a hard and rewarding journey — one filled with plenty of ups and downs, lots of tears and heartache, but also much joy and fulfillment living a life with a servant’s heart engaged in a mission that we can do together as a family.

One of the most common questions that Tyler and I receive about foster care and adoption is, “Why and how did you get started?”

I recently traveled with CK6 Consulting to California for the Kern Cattle Coast To Coast Sale, an event that brings Angus breeders from across the country together for an annual showcase of elite genetics.

Much different than South Dakota’s agricultural landscape where I call home, I was in awe of the scenic views and was hungry to learn more about the farming there. Surrounded by oranges and almonds, lush fields of alfalfa, large dairies, wineries, and the gorgeous Sequoia National Park just down the road, this region is truly a powerhouse of food production and natural resources, and it was humbling to experience it first-hand.

But even more than the scenery and robust agriculture production was the people. It seems no matter where I go in this country, when I have the chance to travel rural America, I am never disappointed by the folks I encounter and the rich conversations I have the opportunity to engage in.

You all know I’m on the road quite a bit, speaking at agricultural conferences across the country. And each week, I have the privilege of meeting hundreds of new friends who are involved in farming and ranching. With each trip, I head for home inspired by someone’s story and fueled with new hope for the future of agriculture.

This hope comes from the most inspiring places. It’s not celebrities, politicians, or corporations at the trade shows; instead the hope I uncover in the heart of rural America is with the God-fearing, American-loving families I meet in attendance.

They come from all walks of life from every segment of agriculture imaginable, and yet at their core, we are all very much the same. I could be in California or North Carolina or Oklahoma or Washington, and these folks are all the same — honest, hard-working, community-minded, family-oriented, and faithful. They immediately feel like friends, and sometimes family, and I think it’s something we should never take for granted.

Gathered around the table is where the best memories are made.

Families come together. Nourishing food is passed around. Heads bow in prayer. Laughter and stories are shared. Serious discussions are had. A pause to reflect. A moment to regroup. A meal made with love. Received by those you love most.

As I think about some of my favorite moments in life, chances are it was spent at the table sharing a meal with someone I cherish.

March Ag Literacy Month has just concluded, and wow, it has been a busy one! As a children’s book author, nothing excites me more than seeing my accurate agricultural stories reach kids all across the country! 

Today, I would like to highlight a special way these books are connecting with families to teach them about beef and the hard-working farmers and ranchers who tend to the land and livestock to make our steaks and burgers possible.

When I was ten years old, my grandmother, Carol Wienk, encouraged me to enter the South Dakota Beef Ambassador speaking contest run by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Auxiliary.

Winning that contest opened up a lot of doors for me at a young age. I was able to spend time and be mentored by some incredible beef industry leaders — iconic cattle women including familiar names, Delina Nagel and Sue Sibson, who taught me how to promote beef, to teach consumers about beef cuts, preparation, best recipes, by-products, and doing it in a positive way while debunking the endless myths and misconceptions about how cattle are raised.

I’ve driven close to 20,000 miles already in 2024, traveling coast-to-coast to speak at agricultural conferences across America.

It’s a joy, honor, and privilege to share my story, connect with fellow farmers and ranchers, acknowledge the challenges that face agriculturalists today, and most importantly, explore real solutions to the problems that exist in our industry. 

Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to meet the best of the best people — real salt of the earth folks, who would drop everything to help you if you needed it. These folks are honest, hard-working, authentic, and caring, and they make up the heart of rural America.

While in the tractor cab feeding hay the other day, the old country music hit, “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” by Tracy Lawrence was playing on the radio.

It instantly brought me back to our wedding day. Surrounded by our dearest friends in our wedding party, we danced to that song and felt grateful to have such wonderful support from people who meant the world to us as Tyler and I began our life together as husband and wife.

Fast forward 13 years of marriage later, and I got to thinking about what the lyrics mean to me now.