January 29, 2025 10AM - It's Your Agri Business with Bill Zortman

Published Jan 29, 2025, 5:27 PM

Blog---January 29, 2025—10-11—It’s YOUR Agri Business

   Lots of moving parts in this show---who’s the new Lt Governor going to be, what award to Avera McKennan just receive, South Dakota State’s Family of the Year, Danita Murray—South Dakota Corn, Jerry Schmidt---South Dakota Soybeans—Plains Commerce Bank—and THE PLANNERS for those in ag, business, and families, Matt Swenson with the mid-morning commodities, Lewis Drug and Mark Gibbs with 45th Annual Lewis Drug Pro/AM racquetball event, Kevin Nyberg—Nyberg Ace ----new Handyman Service, Laura Edwards—South Dakota State Climatologist.

    Those are the parts that got into this show---kind of my old favorite—BREAKING NEWS STYLE. 

    In eight lines that was the show that finished the day. Anna Vander-Bosch—Rock Valley Iowa—voice for Avera shared the good award winning news. 

    Avera McKennan Hospital & Health Center’s Emergency Departments were named the 2024 Human Experience (HX) Guardian of Excellence Award winner by Press Ganey, THE GLOBAL LEADER in health care experience solutions and services. It is part of Press Ganey’s ANNUAL RANKING of the top hospitals and health care systems in the country, all according to performance in patience experience. 

    In essence---they work with 41,000 health care facilities in the mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience in health care.  Avera McKennan is in the top 5% of health care providers in delivering exceptional patient care in 2024. 

    In the words of Patrick T. Ryan, CEO and Chairman at Press Ganey---“Avera McKennan is redefining what it means to provide compassionate care—“their empathetic approach to patients and their unwavering support for staff fosters genuine human connections and a positive , nurturing environment. We’re extremely blessed to have them on our campus and in our region to offer such meaningful care to those in need. 

    Working on Wellness Wednesday congratulates Avera McKennan for all they do and this award. We like the Press Ganey Team---thank them for their hard-working and dedicated professionals. 

    Right behind that---we were happy to present the Gullickson’s the South Dakota State Family of the Year Award.

    Great story---and it even included Jack the Jackrabbit--- who wasn’t in the delivery room when Dave and Elaine Gullickson’s three children were born, but that was about the only time they weren’t surrounded by a YELLOW and BLUE influence. 

    So when Michele, Lori and Jeff to chose a college---it’s not surprising they stayed in Brookings and chose Jackrabbits for spouses. 

    Fast forward a generation and right of Dave and Elaine’s grandchildren became SDSU graduates or at least attended SDSU. 

    SDSU says—that’s why when it came time for the SDSU Alumni Association to chose its 2025 Family of the Year, the Gullickson’s nomination was impossible to ignore. The family will be honored at a March 1st awards luncheon at the Alumni Center and then at the women’s basketball game with St. Thomas that afternoon. 

    Dave enrolled in he South Dakota School of Ag—aka “Aggie School” which offered four years of high school learning from October to late March on the SDS© campus. 

   They even commuted from their farm 11 miles south of Brookings so they could do chores before and after school. How Dave played basketball on a Class B school—learned to weld and competed in Little International—where he had his first date with Elaine. 

    Within 10 years they became a family of five. One of he events they still watch as a much larger family is the Hobo Pay parade—according to daughter Lori Mohs. 

    What a story—and we were happy to share it.

    What else was part of the show---SD Corn’s Danita Murray talked about their big event in January –while SD Soybeans Jerry Schmitz—helped us relive the day that they presented—soybean oil shoes to then Governor Kristi Noem---and me. I have worn them proudly around the country—along with an orange-black pair to go along with red ones Kristi and I got earlier. I’m always proud to wear them—anyplace in the country---and we hope Kristi may event wear them as she takes care of the Southern Border of the USA.

    Sarah Heinrich—had the Growing Harvest Network—from KFGO Fargo—Matt Swenson the mid-morning commodities---

    Lewis Drug’s Mark Gibbs shared the upcoming 45th Annual Lewis Drug Pro/Am that opens on Thursday and runs thru Sunday. Good story---and he event played racquetball with my son Chad. $40,000 in cash and prizes are at stake. We’ll follow along on Friday.

    Kevin Nyberg—Nyberg Ace—talked to us about a new repair service they have. So many people are concerned about the lack of talent service repair people that are scattered thru-out the area. They have partners and if you need repairs done on your property they will be a one stop shop for you. More to come with our It’s YOUR Business Show—Mr. Nyberg.

   We closed the show with Laura Edwards—SD State Climatologist. We wanted to look at the 50 degree temps—and where we are headed in February. She is good at what she does—and we appreciate it.

   Listen live to the show at 1320, 105.1, 107.9—use the KELO App---Streaming on-line or just ask Alexus.

   Norm Anderson posts the podcast---and I write this blog so you know what is in the show and where to find it. 

   Questions for me—feel free to call/text at 605-728-BILL (2455) or email me at bill.zortman@mwcradio.com