Dakota Life

Tucked just off Highways 34 and 73 near Milesville, South Dakota, The Ridge gas station and cafe changed hands at auction when Colby Fitch surprised everyone with an unexpected bid. Since then, The Ridge has become more than just a pit stop. It's a vibrant hub of rural life.

What you find upstairs at Newell's City Hall might surprise you. Come take a look around quite a collection.

Ken Wetz shares the story of his grandfather, who was a bull whacker on the Ft. Pierre to Deadwood trail.

A century after the Newell experimental farms, the tradition of experimenting continues at Prairie Lane Farms. Come with SDPB to learn more about hydroponic farming.

The European settlers who came west did not know what crops were suitable for the Newell areas' "gumbo soil." The Belle Fourche Experiment Farm helped farmers develop crops that were profitable and taught people how to irrigate effectively.

Did you know that Newell, South Dakota, was once home to a thriving sugar beet plant?

Why are they called the Newell Irrigators? It all goes back to the early 1900s and the monumental Orman Dam project. This engineering feat didn’t just build a dam—it brought life to the land through a vast irrigation system.

They say sheep herding is the second-oldest profession in the world — and in Newell, South Dakota, it’s still a way of life.

Throwback to 1999 and the debut season of Dakota Life! SDPB had the pleasure of meeting Marjorie Goodroad from Sioux Falls, whose incredible talent for china painting not only created beautiful art but also inspired and taught many others.

SDPB traveled to Newell in 2002 to witness the annual Ram Show & Sale to talk with sheep producers and local citizens about what this yearly event means to the Newell area.