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Select the country and object's type South Dakota Travel Professionals E-newsletter (2013, #1)

Saddlebroncs and Buckin’ Bulls

South Dakota is proud of its cultural heritage. An important component of South Dakota’s heritage is rooted in ranching and farming. Evidence of this prideful culture is exhibited at the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area and at various events throughout the state. Rodeo, South Dakota’s state sport, is a widely popular tradition. Taking place in Sioux Falls from March 15-17, 2013, the annual South Dakota Horse Fair features a number of events and promotes rodeo to younger generations to ensure the future of the sport.

As the seasons change and warmer weather arrives, rodeo season also begins to heat up. The South Dakota Rodeo Association Foothills Rodeo takes place over Memorial Day weekend (May 25-26, 2013) in Wessington Springs and features a number of exciting competitions, including Bareback Riding, Saddlebronc Riding, Tie Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing and Bull Riding.

Located in the northeastern corner of the state, Fort Sisseton Historic State Park offers an annual event honoring the South Dakota state sport. This 1864 frontier army outpost, turned state park, has 14 of the original buildings still intact. The park offers camping, cabins and special events such as the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival (June 7-9, 2013). Held annually, the festival features a ranch rodeo, black powder shooting, a flag raising ceremony, cavalry and infantry drills, a grand march and several demonstrations.

The following weekend (June 14-16, 2013) features another exciting South Dakota event, this time in the southwestern corner of the state in the legendary Black Hills. The Crazy Horse Stampede Rodeo & Gift from Mother Earth Celebration takes place on the grounds of Crazy Horse Memorial which, when completed, will be the world’s largest mountain carving.

July in South Dakota also features a number of exciting rodeos. The community of Mitchell, known for the World’s Only Corn Palace, is home to the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo which takes place July 18-21. This summer marks the 43rd annual celebration and offers a number of events including a golf tournament, chili cook-off, cowboy country showdown, parade and, of course, a rodeo. The Wild West town of Deadwood brings another wonderful celebration in July with its Days of ’76 Rodeo, which honors the town’s rough-and-tumble past. The Days of ’76 was recently voted best Midsize Outdoor Rodeo of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for the 9th consecutive year. This marks the 13th overall Rodeo of the Year award for the Days of ’76. The 90-year-old rodeo captured four Small Outdoor Rodeo of the Year honors before moving to the medium class.

There are a number of other rodeos that take place throughout South Dakota, year-round. Each celebration displays the prideful heritage inherent in South Dakota culture and illustrates why South Dakota is a beautiful place to visit.

Travel Professionals Tip

The South Dakota Department of Tourism recently unveiled our new 60-second television commercial. The full commercial can be seen on South Dakota Tourism’s YouTube Channel and will be airing on television in the coming weeks. While on our channel, take the time to view other excellent South Dakota videos to showcase to your clients.

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Featured Itinerary: Glacial Lakes and Prairies Country

Day One

This tour starts in Brookings, where stops in this university town can include the South Dakota Art Museum, the Children’s Museum of South Dakota, the Agricultural Heritage Museum and McCrory Gardens, one of the top 10 small botanical gardens in the United States. Brookings is also home to South Dakota State University — well-known for its agricultural research facilities.

Continue on to Watertown, the city of lakes. Visit the Mellette House, home of South Dakota’s first governor; talk to the animals at Bramble Park Zoo; test the action at the tribal casino; or visit the Redlin Art Center, home to original artwork by “America’s Most Popular Artist,” Terry Redlin. Overnight in Watertown.

Day Two

North of Watertown is Sisseton and the 75-foot Nicollet Tower, named after the famous French mapmaker Joseph Nicollet, who explored the area in 1839. The tower allows visitors a breathtaking view of three states, six counties, 11 small towns and the north-south Continental Divide. Fort Sisseton Historic State Park is a restored 1864 cavalry outpost with 14 original buildings.

Side trips might include trips to either the Waubay National Wildlife Refuge or the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Aberdeen is the last stop of the day. Popular nursery-rhyme and fairy-tale characters can be found at Wylie Park/Storybook Land. Pioneer history exhibits are showcased at Centennial Village and the Dacotah Prairie Museum. Tours of a Hutterite Colony are also available. Overnight in Aberdeen.

Day Three

South and west of Aberdeen is the Carousel City of Faulkton. Tour groups can enjoy rides on the nostalgic Happy Times Carousel. The 1882, 20-room Pickler Mansion is another unique stop. Stops in Huron, home of the South Dakota State Fair (August 29-September 2, 2013), include Hutterite Colony tours, murals and museums. De Smet is the “Little Town on the Prairie” made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder’s pioneer adventure books. Visit the Ingalls Homestead and the Surveyors’ House as well as 16 other sites mentioned in Laura’s books. For evening entertainment, consider the tribal casino in Flandreau. Overnight in Brookings or Sioux Falls.

Click here for add-ons to this itinerary.

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Featured Attractions [more attractions]

Reptile Gardens – Rapid City

Buffalo Interpretive Center – Fort Pierre

Children’s Museum of South Dakota – Brookings

Falls Park – Sioux Falls

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Featured Events [more events]

July 2, 2013 – Trolley on the Trail – Deadwood

July 4, 2013 – Aberdeen Aqua Addicts Water Ski Show – Aberdeen

July 5-7, 12-14 and 19-21, 2013 – Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant – De Smet

July 18-20, 2013 – Sioux Falls JazzFest –Sioux Falls

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