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There’s a different kind of Silicon Valley that exists in the upper Midwest. Its product is agriculture and an initiative called GreenSeam is working to elevate the region as a world-class food and agribusiness epicenter — making it the Wall Street of agriculture.

The U.S. Forest Service is asking residents in the Black Hills for public comment regarding the two grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded SDN Communications in 2020 to expand broadband connectivity in the region.

Governor Kristi Noem announced today that 18 new grants have been awarded to fund broadband projects that will better connect unserved and underserved areas across South Dakota.

Agriculture is now as steeped in technology as any other industry. Thankfully, ag education in the state has stepped up to meet the challenges of this new agriculture reality with the addition of the precision agriculture program at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

When you hire the one who almost sent you to your death on a ski slope, it must be for an exceptionally good reason. My writer friend, Lynn Taylor Rick, checks both those boxes.

"It’s a really crazy story with so many twists and turns." What would a cyber attack on your industry look like? Healthcare information and technology professionals in the state recently also got an in-depth look at what happened during a ransomware-event-turned-DDoS-attack at Boston Children’s Hospital.

It’s important we acknowledge neither the telephone nor electric service would have ever reached rural South Dakota without a government investment triggering a public partnership benefitting us yet today. The same can be said of high-speed broadband service.

Governor Kristi Noem announced today that 24 grants have been awarded to fund broadband projects to better connect unserved and underserved areas across South Dakota.

2020 Mitchell Technical Institute graduate Connor Wendland’s face has appeared on several marketing pieces, including a billboard banner visible along Interstate 90. He wasn’t paid for his modeling gig but he did graduate debt-free thanks to the Build Dakota scholarship program.

Dana Culver makes medical recommendations for a living in her professional role as a Brookings pharmacist, but in her role as mother to two young boys diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, she lost her confidence.

Sarah Tuntland and Susan Kyte, who co-manage SDN Communications' accounting department, have mastered the ability to communicate effectively. It's especially important that sharing information between co-leaders of the company's accounting and financial operations is easy and accurate. They have that covered, too.

Located about 15 miles from Mitchell, Mount Vernon is perhaps best known as the hometown of former NFL linebacker Chad Greenway. But the notoriety hasn’t been enough to keep the population from declining, and a lack of housing kept it from growing.

Through the years, the C.R.S.T. Telephone Authority has served as a model, inspiration and national advocate for other tribal telecoms. Its network has been 100 percent fiber since 2016 and is growing.

SDN Communications constantly evaluates its entire network and plans for the future. The pandemic hasn’t changed that – it was a proof of performance. The projects planned for 2021 will continue to position the company’s network to meet future needs and improve the network in four key areas.

At SDN Communications, Mark Shlanta’s leadership recognition is literally pinned to employees. A grassroots employee idea resulted in a caricature lapel pin of SDN’s CEO attached to a valentine to raise money for the Avera Race Against Cancer.

Whether working from home is consistent or as-needed, you might as well enjoy your time staying safe. So I looked around and checked out some of the latest accessories to spruce things up a bit.

Approximately 135,0000 South Dakotans do not have access to broadband to meet their needs. But a hallmark piece of legislation that aims to bring broadband service to all of South Dakota in a finite number of years is making progress through the 2021 legislative session.

Kara Semmler is now about two months into her role as the new general counsel and executive director for the South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA). Get to know her, as well as her vision for the SDTA and its role in expanding broadband access across the state.

The stories from 2020 certainly reflected the environment of the world, with people adjusting their schedules to stay safe during a global pandemic. But there were also stories of growth and investment, as well as faces of the industry.

In lieu of holiday gifts this year, SDN is making a charitable contribution in appreciation of our customers to four deserving groups that are doing important work.