South Dakota-Grown Soil Health TV Spots Receive Emmy Nomination

PIERRE, South Dakota (Sept. 7, 2022) – A television public service ad campaign series, rooted in South Dakota's healthy soil, has been nominated for an Upper Midwest Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts (SDACD) announced today.

SDACD’s “Where Good Things Grow,” awareness and education campaign features 30- and 60-second television public service announcements that were filmed in South Dakota, featuring both urban residents and actual farm and ranch families who are producing food and fiber in ways that improve the health and function of the state’s soil.

The "Where Good Things Grow" TV PSA campaign is designed to educate consumers about our living and life-giving soil. It also highlights the on-going work of a new generation of South Dakota farmers and ranchers who are breathing new life into this critical environmental and economic resource by farming in ways that protect the soil ecosystem and promote biodiversity above and below ground. It is produced by SDACD, assisted by a Cooperative Conservation Grant from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in South Dakota.

The 30- and 60-second television PSAs were filmed in South Dakota, featuring both urban residents and actual farm and ranch families who are producing food and fiber in ways that improve the health and function of our soil. The ads are narrated by South Dakota native, Tom Steever, who was raised on his family's farm near Sioux Falls.

"We're obviously honored the spots have been nominated for the regional Emmy award and we're also very thankful that three key South Dakota television stations have helped us get the word out about the critical role soil health plays in the quality of South Dakotans' lives, environment and futures," SDACD Executive Director Angela Ehlers said.

According to Ehlers, Rapid City television stations KNBN and KCLO, along with Sioux Falls Dakota News Now stations KSFY and KDLT, have aired the spots a combined 2,000-plus times since the campaign's rollout in January.

Ehlers said these stations will be honored for their support and partnership at SDACD's annual conference later this month in Oacoma.

Other state conservation partners involved in promoting soil health-improving regenerative farming and ranching practices, and assisting producers in that effort, include the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition and the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition, all of which are featured on the campaign's website.