Home Starts Here

From Canvases to Conservation, Champions of Ducks: Adam and Madison Grimm

Join us as we chat with South Dakota’s dynamic wildlife‑art father-daughter duo, Adam and Madison Grimm. Residents of Wallace, SD, a town of just 94 people. You’ll get the inside scoop on the Federal Duck Stamp art contest (from a 3 time winner), and how selling about 1.5 million stamps a year raises $40 million, with over 98% of that going straight into wildlife habitat conservation.
We also talk with Madison about her nonprofit, Second Chance Flight, which gives ducklings and eggs whose nests have been destroyed a second shot at life in the wild. From family roots to paintbrushes to prairie potholes, this episode is all about the intersection of art, nature, and purpose in rural South Dakota.
Come to the Adam’s event! August 9th 2025 in Wallace to Celebrate Adam’s win and attend a day of fun and/or bus tour! Visit https://extension.sdstate.edu/event/duck-day-wallace

Wall Blizzard of 2022: Carolynn Anderson and Mary Williams

On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 snow began to fall across much of South Dakota but this wouldn’t be just another blizzard, and Wall, SD responded by being not just any community. The people of Wall worked tirelessly for the next days to make sure no one was stranded on the interstate and to make sure everyone who had found themselves in Wall during the storm was fed and sheltered. This is an inspiring story of how the people of this small town came together and cared for complete strangers because it was the right thing to do.

Hosannah Dance Studio: Sunny Hannum

In this episode of Home Starts Here, Kara Harders and Joshua Hofer, SDSU Community Vitality Field Specialists, meet with Sunny Hannum, of Fort Pierre, South Dakota. We talk about her life’s story and how her passions for the western life and dance took her around the world. We discuss dance, culture, life, educating, following passions, and what it means to bring your life’s work and passion back to your hometown. Sunny’s story is a unique one, ranging from South Dakota to the French Rivera and from cutting horses to ballet slippers.
Please visit the SDSU Extension website for more information and resources.

Eliza Blue

In this episode of Home Starts Here, Josh and Kara meet with Eliza Blue, a self-described “writer, folk singer, and accidental rancher.”  On her ranch outside of Bison, SD, Eliza talks about her journey from growing up in a suburb of Detroit, to a performing career spanning New York City and the largest urban centers, to today experiencing all the vibrant opportunities and trials of living “on the prairie” in rural western South Dakota.
Please visit the SDSU Extension website for more information and resources. 

International Vinegar Museum: Lawrence Diggs

In this episode of Home Starts Here, Kara Harders, SDSU Community Vitality Field Specialist, meets with Lawrence Diggs, of Roslyn, South Dakota to talk about the deep reaching impacts their vinegar museum has had on their community. We discuss ideas of youth retention, skill building, utilizing strengths of those in a community, vinegar, and more.
Please visit the SDSU Extension website for more information and resources. 

Lemmon Placemakers

On this episode of Home Starts Here, Joshua Hofer and Kara Harders speak with Judy Larson and Shasta Alexander of Lemmon, SD. Together, they explore how grassroots placemaking and community organizing have sparked a wildfire of activity, creation, and action in the Lemmon community.
Please visit the SDSU Extension website for more information and resources. 

The Medicine Quilt: Margaret Doom

On this episode of Home Starts Here, Joshua Hofer and Kara Harders speak with Margaret Doom, artist and collaborator on a project linking the communities of Wagner and Freeman, South Dakota. Join them as they explore a project that embraces themes of reconciliation through the arts and creativity;  discuss peacebuilding, communication between indigenous people and non-native populations, and paths of healing between communities.
Please visit the SDSU Extension page for more information and resources.
 

Sioux Falls Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Selene Zamorano-Ochoa and Jose Arreola

In this episode of Home Starts Here, Joshua Hofer and Kara Harders meet with Selene Zamorano-Ochoa and Jose Arreola of Sioux Falls and Mitchell, South Dakota. Together they helped develop the first Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in South Dakota.
Fueled by a passion to help others succeed, they Selene and Jose have been working to tackle the language barrier which makes life in South Dakota difficult to adapt to for Spanish speaking individuals. Focusing on translating everything from news to immigration documents to business paperwork, they are making a real difference in the cultural capital which exists here because of the vibrant people who choose to call South Dakota home.
Please visit the SDSU Extension page for more information and resources.

Lenny’s Lily Pad: Billie & Kelsea Sutton

In this episode, Joshua Hofer and Kara Harders meet with Billie and Kelsea Sutton of Burke, South Dakota. Focusing on communities withstanding challenges, they dive deep into a transformative and challenging time in Burke. Learn with us how a rural South Dakota community reframed times of struggle and tragedy into community action that created positive change.
Please visit the SDSU Extension page for more information and resources.