moving help! What do u think is the best rancher/cowboy town? (Rapid City: daycares, home)

[johnsonstss]

I want to move to SD with my four year old daughter (I'm female and div) and have been born and raised in a country town surrounded by farms cattle and horse. Was wondering if someone could tell me what they think is the best ranchers/cowboy town. PLZ help! Thank you.

[eric#1]

There is a thread here on Lemmon SD you may want to check out.

[johnsonstss]

thank you. I looked and its a pop of 1500. I would like somewhere larger, although the town I grew up in and still currently reside in is 2500, not much bigger, i would somewhere larger. is there cattle/horse ranch towns near sioux falls? so i'm not too far from city? I have to travel 45m here for a city of 65,000, so travel time not big deal.

[SD4020]

You want strictly cow town? Hermosa or Belle Fourche. New Underwood also comes to mind. I'd pick Hermosa its 15 miles from Rapid City and is on the edge of the hills and offers shelter without the full brunt of winter.

I know Elk Hunter will disagree with Hermosa but it is my home town. And there are several work ranches around.

[johnsonstss]

thank you, both are fine but horse would be cool but is that few and far inbetween in SD? (My knowledge of SD is virginal). what about belle fourche?

[no8fann]

Belle Fourche is known for its rodeos. It is definitely a cow town. We do have two grocery stores, a Pamida, several restaurants, and we are 10 miles from Spearfish. We tend not to get as much snow as Spearfish, but we get enough. The wind blows pretty good out here, as we are just down off the hills a bit, but it's not unbearable, and it's not constant. The town is roughly 4500 people. Decent schools, generally friendly people, a community center with an affordable membership rate (they have childcare while you work out, too!). Depending on what you do for work, you might find yourself in one of any of the towns within driving distance, but Belle is fairly affordable and within a decent commuting distance. There is a preschool program at the school, and a number of daycares in town. I am in a similar position as you, but my daughter is school age. Feel free to ask questions - if I don't know the answer, I will try to find out!

[SD4020]

We have about about a dozen or so horses on the ranch here. But this afternoon dad and I were using the 4 wheelers. One eyed calves are kinda spooky to handle. I ended up on the fence a couple three times when we were running them through the chute.

There are several horse people around. The hills have more for horse activity. there is decent pony community near hartford but it more about corn than cow.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by SD4020

You want strictly cow town? Hermosa or Belle Fourche. New Underwood also comes to mind. I'd pick Hermosa its 15 miles from Rapid City and is on the edge of the hills and offers shelter without the full brunt of winter.

I know Elk Hunter will disagree with Hermosa but it is my home town. And there are several work ranches around.

haha, you think you got me pegged. Yes, I would disagree with Hermosa. The reason is that Hermosa is, in fact, a cow town. Trouble is, there are no large ranches around there that would need ranchhands/cowboys. There are a couple, but few and far between.

The largest ranches are along the Missouri River. Some range up to 150,000 acres and employ several. There are also some up along Bell Forche, Mud Butte, Faith, but most are all dry land ranges. Those along the Missouri are at least irrigated and better apt to feed large amounts year round.

A lot of Eastern South Dakota is farming only. That that is South of I-90, say Mitchell area is mostly smaller family owned farms that only feed a few cattle for personal use and some harvest money.

Not sure what happened to Ted and Clayton Jenning's (both passed and no family) place down in Highmore but I artificially inseminated for them. Me and a team of guys. We just did their heifers, not the cows. We did 25,000 head each spring.

I'd say, if you want to farm, North East, Brookings, Aberdeen area. If you want to ranch, I'd say North West, Belle Forche, or along the Missouri, Chamberlain area.

But I'd live in Hermosa in a heart beat. If that's your home town, I probably know you 2040. I grew up in the Hermosa Dance hall. Well, at least after I owned a pair of boots.

[SD4020]

Elk you likely know my folks and older brothers...

If a job is the goal I'd go to Wyoming or Montana... I guess maybe look in the Western Livestock Reporter or Tri State Livestock News or something like that. They do have a help wanted section.

Did you see that Wes Stevenson ride tonight? Wow what a ride.

[trot-3]

Further on the original question "best cowtown/ranch town", I'm interested in the best horse properties and riding areas in West River SD territory. Also acreage needed per "animal unit" guidelines, and trailriding locations and groups.