Though there are many amazing towns/cities in South Dakota that anyone would have been lucky to grow up in, there’s nothing quite like the South Dakota countryside. While it is a false stereotype that ALL South Dakotans grew up on farms, the truth is that a handful of us did spend our childhoods running through corn fields, riding the combine with dad, or sprinting to the chicken coop each morning to see if the hen laid an egg. If you’re a South Dakota farm kid, then you probably did most of these things (and many more) growing up.
- Spent your summer days playing hide and seek in the corn fields.
Zhu / Flickr As long as you were careful to not let the corn husks scratch your hands, running through the corns fields was a spectacular way to burn some energy.
- Helped with moving the cattle from pasture to pasture.
U.S. Department of Ag. / Flickr Sometimes it was hard work, but really you just loved being a part of it all.
- Went out in the morning to gather the hens’ eggs.
U.S. Department of Agriculture / Flickr
Nikki / Flickr And, of course, spent time saying good morning to the chickens.
Learned all there is to know about raising and taking care of animals through your family’s example and through participating in 4-H.
LadyDragonflyCC - >;< / Flickr
Kayla Sawyer / Flickr You probably also learned that animals can be the greatest companions of them all.
- Had an absolute blast jumping from hay bale to bay bale.
Matt Kowalczyk / flickr With the occasional racing matches (as well as the occasional falling).
- Knew how to operate machinery at an early age.
Steven Staus /Flickr Let’s just say that farm kids in South Dakota receive their driving lessons early.
- Woke up excited on the days you got to go combine with dad.
Jeff Wilson / Flickr Watching out the front window as the corn head pulled in the corn stalks was mesmerizing.
- Accidentally got shocked by an electric fence.
Katrina Koger / Flickr We’ve all been there, and most of us have tried to trick our cousins into making the same mistake.
- Found newborn kittens in the barn and gave each one a name.
Lee / Flickr
Loren Kerns / Flickr No farm is complete without farm cats!
- Woke up early to help with chores without even complaining.
John B. Kalla / Flickr
Craig Moe / Flickr Sure, there were probably many days when it was cold outside or you wished you could just sleep in, but helping out on the farm was a way of life. When it comes down to it, You wouldn’t have traded it for the world.
Are you a South Dakota farm kid? What would you add to this list? Let us know in the comment section below!
Zhu / Flickr
As long as you were careful to not let the corn husks scratch your hands, running through the corns fields was a spectacular way to burn some energy.
U.S. Department of Ag. / Flickr
Sometimes it was hard work, but really you just loved being a part of it all.
U.S. Department of Agriculture / Flickr
Nikki / Flickr
And, of course, spent time saying good morning to the chickens.
- LadyDragonflyCC - >;< / Flickr
Kayla Sawyer / Flickr
You probably also learned that animals can be the greatest companions of them all.
Matt Kowalczyk / flickr
With the occasional racing matches (as well as the occasional falling).
Steven Staus /Flickr
Let’s just say that farm kids in South Dakota receive their driving lessons early.
Jeff Wilson / Flickr
Watching out the front window as the corn head pulled in the corn stalks was mesmerizing.
Katrina Koger / Flickr
We’ve all been there, and most of us have tried to trick our cousins into making the same mistake.
Lee / Flickr
Loren Kerns / Flickr
No farm is complete without farm cats!
John B. Kalla / Flickr
Craig Moe / Flickr
Sure, there were probably many days when it was cold outside or you wished you could just sleep in, but helping out on the farm was a way of life. When it comes down to it, You wouldn’t have traded it for the world.
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