Stomprude ranch honored with South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award; senators probe western water challenges

Angela Ehlers, a representative of the South Dakota Conservation District, introduced the Stomprude family and the South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award during a meeting of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The award includes a $10,000 cash prize and a tour of the recipient ranch.

The presentation highlighted long-term conservation on the Stomprude Angus Ranch of Mud Butte and family stewardship spanning several generations. "We run about 200 and 200 to 300 cows depending on the year," Larry Stomprude told the committee, describing how his family subdivided pastures from roughly six pastures into about 30 to improve grazing management. Angela Ehlers noted the award is sponsored by a wide coalition of state groups and that the program has run for about 15 years.

Why it matters: Senators focused on how the ranch addressed persistent water-quality problems that threaten livestock and ranch viability in western South Dakota. In response to questions, Larry described shallow domestic and stock wells with high total dissolved solids that were causing calf health problems, then said a deeper well and associated infrastructure made better pasture management possible. "We went to 3,700 feet," he said when asked how deep the new well was. He added that, if drilled today, "that well probably cost us well over $1,000,000." Those investments, plus pipelines and tanks, allowed the family to subdivide grazing units and adopt rotational grazing practices.

Committee members probed technical and regional solutions. Senator Jensen asked Larry to explain the shallow-well problems; Larry said the local formation had high sulfur that he linked to "mortality losses from polioencephalomyelitis caused by the sulfur." Senator Duhamel recommended that west-side communities participate in the West Dakota Regional Water System planning, saying the project is being engineered based on community commitment and funding described in the meeting as roughly "80% federal, 10% local, 10% state." No formal action on regional water policy was taken at the meeting.

The Stomprudes also described adopting new management tools and technology to monitor and care for livestock. Larry described the ranch's goal succinctly: "My goal is not to ever let a cow have a bad day." Jay Stomprude and other family members credited programs and cooperative conservation efforts — including cost-share assistance — with helping them adopt deeper wells, pipelines, fencing and other stewardship practices.

The committee attempted to play a video about the ranch during the presentation but experienced audio problems; the family and committee proceeded with questions and closing remarks. The committee concluded its agenda after the presentation and adjourned for a group photo.

Meeting actions: the committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting and later adjourned; neither action altered policy or created new regulatory obligations.

Proper names and context: the presentation referenced the South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award (state program), Aldo Leopold and the Sand County Almanac as the intellectual foundation for the award, and the Stomprude Angus Ranch of Mud Butte as the presenter's operation. "West Dakota Regional Water System" was discussed as a regional infrastructure effort; funding proportions were described during the meeting as approximately 80% federal, 10% local and 10% state.

Next steps: The presentation was informational; the committee did not take further formal action on the award or on regional water policy at this meeting.