The mission of the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce is to provide able community leadership that will encourage and work for economic growth

in business, industry and tourism; thereby enhancing the quality of life in the area we serve. The Chamber will represent the interests and January 2013 Edition advancement of its members while promoting responsible principles in the

TABLE OF CONTENTS: conduct of business and government.”

1. Holiday Cash Promotion

2. Directors Desk Editorial Mobridge Chamber News 3. Directors Desk Editorial (cont.)

4. Smarts Challenge Competition Holiday Cash Promotion 5. Fun Facts

6. Mobridge Economic Development Corporation

7. Guest Editorial by Robert & Cheryl Maisch December 8th / Winner 8. Ambassadors Report Judy Hough $500

9. Tourism Report

10. Chamber Board, Staff & Committee Information 11. Calendar

December 15th / Winner Bertha Hahne $100

December 22nd / Winner

Allen Little Eagle Jr. $100 Trina Little Bear (shown)

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2013 - A New Year

Since the end of my first full year at the Chamber has transpired, it is time for reflection on the Chamber's past accomplishments and also on the goals yet to achieve for the coming year. The following is a brief description of each of the Chamber committees and what they have accomplished.

3B Tax Committee - A solid budget was adopted that strives to provide funds to showcase our city as a friendly, outdoor, family oriented place that hosts many activities and events and is also a hunting and fishing mecca. The Director's Desk Editorial budget includes monies to attend trade shows and to co-op with the State on

Michele Harrison shows that we cannot attend. The committee ordered USB drives containing

the Chamber member directory and brochures with the same information to

give out to the shows' attendees. A webcam was also installed in Mobridge so

that not only can visitors watch our town from afar but also Keloland can use

the camera to highlight incoming storms and thereby giving us more publicity.

The Friends of Scherr-Howe committee was given funds to help with the start up of the Event Center and other activities that were partially funded by the 3B

tax were Beef 'n Fun, the Mobridge-Pollock High School Powwow and the Smart

Challenge Science Fair. Advertising in many magazines and newspapers was also a priority for the committee as was funding to the Mobridge Youth Organization.

Ambassadors/Ag Committee - This committee was not as busy as

the year previous when all the area towns had their celebrations but we

still had quite a few ribbon cuttings and open houses and we served food at Beef 'n Fun and at the Eureka Big Q. Because of the weather last year

in February, this group was not able to attend the Business Day at the

Legislature but that event is a normal "must do" on the committee's

calendar.

Athletic Committee - We hosted the District B Boys & Girls

Basketball tournaments at Scherr-Howe and manned the hospitality

room. Coordination of volunteers for various jobs was completed. This year we will also be hosting the Regional B Boys Basketball tournament at the Scherr-Howe Event Center.

Make it Mobridge - This is a new committee that will replace the old

Retail Committee. The mission of this group is to promote and strengthen the active business community within Mobridge by developing new social events and growing existing events; and with the assistance of our media representatives,

developing collective campaigns to advertise and promote the diversity of our local businesses' goods and services. Since we just recently organized Make it Mobridge, we have only had one promotion and that was the Holiday Promotion which had the ability to give up to $1,500 in Mobridge Cash and helped to bring shoppers to Mobridge. The group hopes to have city-wide promotions every quarter within such events as the Easter Egg Hunt, the 4th of July activities, Crazy Days and Beef 'n Fun.

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Tourism - This group is a well established and well managed committee. Some of the events that this committee hosts is the Annual Ice Fishing Tournament, the Denny Palmer Walleye Tournament, Surf 'n Turf and the committee also attends a sports show in Omaha. The 2013 Ice Fishing Tournament has grown to 500 teams and brings thousands of tourism dollars to Mobridge. New to this year will be the Ice Expo which will be held in conjunction with the Ice Tournament. Administration - The Chamber administers the Mobridge Cash (Bonus Bucks) program, houses a fishing, hunting & history information center, funds the community Christmas street decorations, responds to requests for visitor and relocation packets and maintains the bookkeeping for all the different committees. We strive to keep the Community Calendar updated and we are continually upgrading the website www.mobridge.org. Director's Desk Editorial Michele Harrison (Cont.) Within each of these committees there are numerous advances to be made. Not only is the tourism industry

extremely important to our commerce but also important is our quality of life and the current big ticket item that everyone is ready to rally around is the new aquatics center. The Chamber will be making that a priority for 2013.

Annual Chamber Banquet Friday, February 8th, 2013

Reserve your table of 8 now

$300 includes meals, wine, reserved table, special recognition for your business and great entertainment

REZA

Recognized as one of the Nation’s Top Illusionists, Reza has been

featured before millions of people on television, radio, and live shows broadcasting in 31 Countries around the World. Astounding audiences from Denver to New York…Orlando to Los Angeles, critics hail Reza as “One of the Nation’s Top Illusionists,” leading the way in a new era of magic.

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Smart Challenge Competition

Scherr-Howe Event Center January 30, 2013 9:30am - 3:30pm

This competition is sponsored by the

Smarts Challenge Competition Mobridge-Pollock High School and many surrounding schools have been invited to attend. Each team will consist of 10 students from grades 9-12 and they will

compete in 6 events that will test their

skills in problem solving, direction following,

creativity and engineering skills. Make a point to stop by the Event Center to watch our kids in action.

Dining Establishments - Make sure you schedule extra help for this day as they are planning to let the teams go out for lunch!

CONTACTS:

Martin Looyenga [email protected]

Pam K. Wells [email protected] 605-845-9200

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Family Farms 98% of farms in SD are family owned/operated. Product 2010 National Average size of a farm in SD is 1,374 acres. Rank Average age of SD farmer is 55.7 years. ------There are 46,000 producers on 31,800 farms. Alfalfa 2 Each producer raises enough food to feed 155 people yearly. Sunflowers 2 Oats 3 Flaxseed 3 Hay 4 FACT FACT Ethanol 5 SD has more than South Dakota Wheat 6 92,000 dairy cows, has nearly 5 Corn 7 producing over 1,8 beef cattle for Soybeans 8 billion pounds of every state milk per year. resident.

South Dakota Fun Facts Milk SD Cash Receipts 2010 4% Data courtesy of USDA, NASS, SD Corn, USDA Wheat Hay NRCS, SDSU, SD DOR and SDDA 9% Sunflowers 1% Turkeys 2%

1% Hogs 6% Cattle 26% Soybeans 21% Corn 27%

Other 3%

Average Annual Crop Yields 160 140 120 100 80 60 1960s 40 20 1970s 0 Corn Soybeans Wheat 1980s 1960s 70.53 24.85 26.36 1990s 1970s 89.64 28.06 31.37 2000s 1980s 105.9 30.3 35.81

1990s 123.34 36.72 38.64 2000s 147.37 40.32 41.47

4.5 million acres of corn FACT 4.1 million acres of soybeans South South Dakota 3.6 million acres of hay has over 2500 Dakota farms that have 2.7 million acres of wheat been in the same 2.2 million acres of alfalfa Acres family for more 495,000 acres of sunflowers than 100 years. 105,000 acres of oats Harvested 60,000 acres of millet 11,300 acres of pulse crops

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Mobridge Economic

Development Corporation Anyone considering starting their own business should really check into

By Christine Goldsmith what the Mobridge Economic Development Corporation (also known as Executive Director MEDCO) organization has to offer right here. Perhaps you didn’t realize:

 MEDCO provides loans to area businesses that have unmet financing needs or are just starting out. The organization has

loaned out over $1 million since its inception to small businesses that invested over $3 million into the economy, hiring local people and doing business with other local companies.  The smallest loan MEDCO made was $1,500 and the largest was $150,000. Loans have been used to meet needs for inventory,

equipment, and expansion, with the interest proceeds re-invested to make dollars available for the next new business.  MEDCO operates in a 4-county area (Walworth, Campbell, Corson, and Dewey), supporting regional economies.  MEDCO recently launched a new website and blog at www.makeitmobridge.org which includes useful information and forms.

 Entrepreneurs can obtain free help from MEDCO for any aspect of starting a new business.  Membership in MEDCO reflects businesses from all areas – retail,

service, manufacturing, and construction.  Special loan funds are set aside to improve storefronts for as little as 4% interest, with no down payment, and available to businesses throughout Mobridge.

 MEDCO partners with Job Service to continue making employment info locally available to area businesses.  MEDCO will be 27 years old. It has been investing in companies

and jobs in this area for decades and is well positioned to continue many more years in the future.

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MEANDERING AROUND MOBRIDGE

DAKOTA TERRITORY’S FIRST UNOFFICIAL GOVERNOR (by Robert and Cheryl Maisch)

A saying, often mistakenly attributed to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is: “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way." This pretty well describes the forming of the . It did not happen on a whim just before the signing establishing the Territory on March 2, 1861 by President Buchanan.

In 1858 when became a state the area from the present Minnesota western border to the Missouri River was again considered unorganized. The early Guest Editorial settlers set about the task of forming an interim provisional government with Wilmot Brookings appointed Governor by the upper house of the area legislature. by Wilmot Wood Brookings was born October 23, 1830 in Woolwich, Maine to Robert & Cheryl Maisch Abner and Susannah Bayley Brookings. He graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine in 1855, taught school in the area and was then admitted to the bar in May 1857. (Cheryl has been wondering if her great grandfather may have known the Brookings family as the Wetherbee family was living in the area during this time.)

In August 1857 Brookings relocated to Sioux Falls which was then still part of the Minnesota Territory. He helped the early settlers organize the Minnehaha county government and was appointed County . On a horseback trip from Sioux Falls to Yankton during the freezing weather of February 1858 his horse fell in a creek. He survived but due to severe frost bite, both legs were amputated and he endured the discomfort of two wooden legs the remainder of his life.

The Federal Government refused to recognize the provisional government or the governor. Brookings continued to serve in many political and private enterprises. He participated in organizing the Dakota Southern Railroad which became part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. He purchased and was editor of Sioux Falls newspaper (now known as Argus Leader). He was President of Minnehaha Trust Co., Director of Sioux Falls National Bank and National Realty

Co. He served on the Territory Council, was Associate Justice of the Territory Supreme Court and was a member of the Constitution Convention.

He died in 1905 riding a streetcar in , on his return trip from a visit to Woolwich, Maine. He is buried in Yankton. The county and city of Brookings and the town of Wilmot are named for Wilmot Brookings.

Judge Wilmot W. Brookings

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Hometown TV & Appliance

Ambassadors Report

RibbonNew StoresCuttings

Hometown TV & Appliance

Family Hair Care

New Owners Beadle's Chevrolet Family Hair Care New Evarts Resort

Congratulations to Beadle's Sales on their purchase of Larry Jensen Motors.

Also, to Gabe & Kristin Outtrim, Outtrim Land &

Leasing, LLC on their purchase of New Evarts Resort

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12th Annual Mobridge Chamber Tourism Ice Fishing Tournament Saturday, January 12th

New this year:

Tourism Report

There will be 500 two man teams in Mobridge for this tournament.

Let them know how much we appreciate their participation in our event.

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Board of Directors

B J Wiest, President Dacotah Bank 845-3673

Vice President, Nicole Schneider Mobridge Regional Hospital 845-3692

Treasurer, Cindi Volk Great Western Bank 845-7233

Director, Brent Kemnitz MoRest Motel 845-3688 CHAMBER BOARD, STAFF, & COMMITTEE INFORMATION Director, Lyle Lindeman Lucky's Gas n More 845-3382

Director, Delphine Steuck Pizza Ranch/Kountry Kamping & Kabins 848-1000

Director, Jeff Jensen Jerry's Pawn & Gun Shop 845-3855

Staff

Michele Harrison Luann O'Connell Executive Director Executive Secretary [email protected] [email protected]

Chamber Office: (605) 845-2387 Fax: (605) 845-3223 Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Committees

North Central SD Economic Development 4th Monday of each Month – 4 pm Christine Martin-Goldsmith, Executive Director 845-5202

3B Tax Committee st 1 Friday of each Month – Noon @ Pizza Ranch Michele Harrison, Chair 845-2387

Tourism Committee 3rd Thursday of each Month – 10:00am @ Chamber Rick Bolduan, Co-Chair 845-2946 Dawn Konold, Co-Chair 845-3654 www.mobridgeoutdoors.com

Ambassadors/Ag Committee John Badgley, Chair 845-3664

Make It Mobridge Committee Michele Harrison, Chair 845-2387

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January

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 1st Baptist Bridge City Coin & 3B Meeting/Pizza Ranch BBB/GBB H Groton Church/Bible Stamp Club Study Men's Ecumenical Bible WR @ Lyman Study/1st Baptist Church Department of Christmas Break Labor & Reg.(Job BBB/GBB @ Miller Service)205 2nd St Moose Lodge East 10am-3pm WR @ Lyman Meeting American Legion Moose German Food Meeting Buffet Classes Resume Alzheimer's Support Group

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Moose Lodge City Council Chamber Board Breakfast Buffet Meeting Meeting 1st Baptist Church/Bible 2013 Mobridge Ice BBB @ McLaughlin Study 2013 Mobridge Ice Fishing Tournament 2013 Mobridge Ice Fishing Tournament @ Winter Expo Fishing Tournament @ @ Winter Expo Winter Expo Men's Ecumenical Bible WR Quad @ Study/1st Baptist Church GBB H CEB Highmore BBB/GBB WR @ Gettysburg MSBBB vs Linton @ Crow Creek @ Pollock Retroactive Live Band MSWR @ Linton Silver Dollar Saloon

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Guys & Gals Arts & Travel WR H Quad 1st Baptist Tourism Meeting Men's Ecumenical Bible BBB/GBB H Dance Club Church/Bible Study/1st Baptist Church Belle Fourche MSWR @ Aberdeen Study WR Quad H BBB @ Jr. Honor Choir Jr. Honor Choir Standing Rock MSBBB @ Department of Senior Citizens @ Rapid City @ Rapid City "C" McLaughlin Labor & Reg.(Job Potluck/3rd MPHS Drama Service)205 2nd St Thursday Team/ One Act BOE @ 5:30pm East 10am-3pm Play 2:30pm GBB @ McLaughlin

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 MPHS Drama City Council BBB H McLaughlin 1st Baptist MSBBB CEB 5:00pm Men's Ecumenical Bible WR Lee Wolf Team/ One Act Meeting Church/Bible Study/1st Baptist Church Tournament @ Aberdeen Play 7:00pm WR Quad @ Lemmon Study Mom's Group BBB/GBB H at Zion One Act Play Chamberlain Lutheran Regionals Church @ Pierre

GBB @ Gettysburg

MSWR @ Redfield 27 28 29 30 31 Arts & Travel BBB @ CEB "C" 1st Baptist Parent Teacher Mobridge Club Church/Bible Conferences Masons/Shriners MSBBB Gettysburg Study Annual Pancake Parent Teacher 5:00pm TBA State One Act Play & Sausage Feed Conferences "Smarts" @ Brandon @ Rick's Cafe Challenge

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Mobridge Chamber of Commerce 103 N Main Street Mobridge, SD 57601 www.mobridge.org

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