NOVEMBER 2024:
A television public service announcement featuring regenerative ranching on South Dakota grasslands recently won a Northern Midwest Regional Emmy Award.
The South Dakota Grassland Coalition’s PSA is part of the organization’s “Where Good Things Grow” campaign.
Ron Nichols is one of the campaign’s creators and producers. He says quality grasslands help clean air and water, sequester carbon, reduce erosion and provide wildlife habitat.
“The television spots in particular are designed to help people understand that we are all connected to the grasslands and that they’re definitely worth protecting and improving their health.”
The one-minute film features footage of rancher Kelsey Scott and her nephews caretaking land on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Nichols says he appreciated the opportunity to film a local rancher practicing good grassland management.
“Rather than going out and trying to get an actor, these spots are genuine. They really reflect what’s happening out on the land in South Dakota.”
Joe Dickie and his son, Charlie, filmed the scenes and Joe says he’s glad to be able to showcase the results of regenerative ranching practices.
“Running cattle, resting the land, not overgrazing, being really aware of riparian areas along water and really just doing the right things for the environment.”
Along with cattle and a diverse sampling of grassland plant species, the PSA includes images of sage grouse, buffalo and pronghorn.
Story courtesy of the Greater Dakota News Service.
JANUARY 31, 2024:
The South Dakota Grassland Coalition launched a new public service and education campaign this month (Jan. 16, 2024) designed to help protect and improve the health and function of native grasslands, North America’s most threatened ecosystem.
The campaign, Dakota Grasslands – Where Good Things Grow, is produced by SDGC, in partnership with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts and the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition. The non-profit SDGC recently received funding through a USDA-NRCS cooperative grant to develop television and radio public service ads, a dedicated website and educational resources describing the many environmental, ecological and economic benefits of healthy grasslands, as well as highlighting the on-going threats to Dakota’s native grasslands.
A survey conducted of South Dakota registered voters in 2023 by Selzer & Company showed strong, bi-partisan support for protecting and enhancing grasslands,” said Brett Nix, SDGC board chairman. “But the results also revealed that while the respondents have some general knowledge of the functions and benefits of grasslands, more education is needed, along with the identification of clear actions interested citizens can take to help ensure the health and preservation of Dakota grasslands. This education campaign aims to address those issues.”
The television spots, filmed in South Dakota by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Joe and Charlie Dickie, feature some of the state’s ranching families who, through their soil health-focused management practices, are working to protect and improve the health of Dakota’s grasslands.
“Thanks to the interest of several local television stations in the Sioux Falls and Rapid City markets, we’re confident these ads and other planned campaign activities will raise public awareness regarding the importance of grassland ecosystems and will help generate support for programs and activities to encourage farmers, ranchers and state and local officials to develop programs and policies that preserve and restore the health of Dakota grasslands,” Nix said.
Visitors to the Where Good Things Grow website can order free publications including a 20-page booklet for homeowners, Healthy Soil at Home and a children’s coloring book, Space Explorers and the Great Grasslands Treasure, which is designed to help children recognize and understand key grassland benefits and ecosystem functions.
To view the TV PSAs and to learn more about the Dakota Grasslands: Where Good Things Grow campaign, visit www.WhereGoodThingsGrow.
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