10/30/25: Nikki Gronli is the owner of Flatlander Strategies, a consulting firm helping organizations with strategic planning in communications, marketing, and policy advocacy. Nikki has traveled the state of South Dakota, hosting town halls talking about rural healthcare being impacted by the "big, beautiful bill."

On September 10, 2025, she announced her campaign for South Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat.
Appointed by President Joe Biden as South Dakota’s State Director for USDA Rural Development, Nikki led investments in expanding broadband, improving infrastructure, and supporting housing, healthcare, and economic growth across rural and Tribal communities.

(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)