>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪♪ >> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO SDPB'S LIVE SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE 2023 INAUGURAL CEREMONIES.

I'M JACKIE HENDRY, LIVE IN THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA IN PIERRE, JOINED TODAY BY SDPB'S LARRY ROHRER.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, JACKIE.

YOU KNOW, THE ROTUNDA IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE TO VISIT AND TO SEE AND TODAY IT'S A PLACE OF CEREMONY AND IT WRAPS UP THE ELECTION PROCESS FROM THIS LAST NOVEMBER.

THE LEGISLATORS WERE SWORN IN EARLIER TODAY BY CHIEF JUSTICE JENSEN AND JUSTICE KERN.

COMING UP NEXT, THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND THE GOVERNOR WILL TAKE THEIR OATHS OF OFFICE.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.

>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, CELEBRATION AND CEREMONY, WE'LL OPEN THE PROGRAM WITH OUR ESTEEMED GUESTS, TRUMPETS, FANFARE, APPLAUSE, AND A DAY OF TAKING THE OATHS OF OFFICE.

WE MADE HISTORY DURING OUR LAST CEREMONY, WITH SOUTH DAKOTA'S FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR.

WE CONTINUE THAT HISTORY WITH HER RE-ELECTION.

WE'LL SEND IT NOW TO THE FLOOR OF THE ROTUNDA FOR THE BEGINNING OF OUR CEREMONY.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

WELCOME TO PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE FOG WAS SUPPOSED TO LIFT AT NOON.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR GOT HER FORECAST IN.

IT WAS SIX MINUTES EARLY.

IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU?

[ Applause ] IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHO I AM, MY NAME IS BILL SORTMAN, I'VE DONE 50 SOME YEARS OF TELEVISION AND RADIO AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH GOVERNORS, PEOPLE IN TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, NEW MEXICO, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, AND TENNESSEE.

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS PROGRAM TODAY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER.

YOU GUYS READY TO COME TOGETHER TODAY?

A LITTLE APPLAUSE.

[ Applause ] ALL RIGHT.

TRUMPETERS, ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE US ONE MORE BLAST?

LET'S DO IT!

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL START!

LET'S BE READY!

[ TRUMPET FANFARE ] >> WOW!

THE LAKOTA TRUMPETERS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

THE DARK TRUMPETERS.

THE DAKOTA TRUMPETERS.

I THINK THEY'RE COMING BACK LATER.

AND WE HAVE A LITTLE SURPRISE AT THE END OF THE SHOW.

TOOK A LOT OF WORK TO GET DONE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID WE WANT TO BE TOGETHER, I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE FROM USD, SDSU OR WHEREVER YOU'RE FROM, WE'RE GOING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO TEXAS TODAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

[ Cheers ] THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST GENTLEMAN HAVE JUST ARRIVED.

LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[ Applause ] ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T START WITHOUT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

AND THE LADY THAT'S WITH US TODAY TOLD ME THAT SHE LOVES THE CLASSICS.

AND SHE'S PICKED A CLASSIC.

HOW ABOUT THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER?

WOULD THAT BE A CLASSIC?

APPALONIA , PLEASE SING.

[ DRUMMING ] ♪ OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL'D AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT S THRO' THE PERILOUS FIGHT O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH'D WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE PROOF THRO' THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE O SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ [ Applause ] [ BEATS ] [ DRUM BEATS ] >> PLEASE BE SEATED.

>> FOR THOSE WATCHING ON PUBLIC TELEVISION, THERE WAS SOME SWEAR-INS THIS MORNING THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE FRONT ROWS.

NEW MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, NEW MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, THEY WERE SWORN IN FOR THE COMING TERM.

THOSE THAT WERE SWORN IN AND FAMILIES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS, PLEASE STAND.

[ Applause ] WELL, WE'VE HEARD THE MUSIC, WE'VE HEARD THE BLARE OF THE TRUMPETS.

IT'S TIME TO PRAY.

AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND PASTOR CRAIG WEXLER, LUTHERAN MEMORIAL CHURCH.

HE HAS THE THE INOWE INDICATION.

INVOCATION.

>> AS THE PASTOR NEXT DOOR AND THE CHIEF LEGISLATIVE CHAPLAIN, IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO LIVE IN A STATE AND BE IN A SPACE IN WHICH PRAYER IS WELCOMED IN THE WORK WE DO.

AMEN.

[ Applause ] I BELIEVE ALL PRAYER SHOULD START WITH A BRIEF READING FROM SCRIPTURE, A BOOK -- FROM THE BOOK OF TITUS, A BOOK THAT RARELY EVER GETS PREACHED UPON.

REMIND THE PEOPLE TO BE SUBJECT TO RULERS AND AUTHORITIES.

TO BE OBEDIENT, TO BE READY TO DO WHATEVER IS GOOD.

TO SLANDER NO ONE.

TO BE PEACEABLE AND CONSIDERATE.

AND ALWAYS TO BE GENTLE TOWARD EVERYONE.

AT ONE TIME, WE, TOO, WERE FOOLISH, DISOBEDIENT, ENSLAVED BY ALL KINDS OF PASSIONS AND PLEASURES.

WE LIVED IN MALICE AND ENVY, BEING HATED AND HATING ONE ANOTHER.

BUT WHEN THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR, APPEARED, HE SAVED US, NOT BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUS THINGS WE HAD DONE, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS MERCY.

HE SAVED US THROUGH THE WASHING OF REBIRTH AND RENEWAL BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM HE POURED OUT ON US GENEROUSLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR.

SO THAT HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE, WE MIGHT BECOME HEIRS, HAVING THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

THIS IS A TRUSTWORTHY SAYING.

AND I WANT YOU TO STRESS THESE THINGS SO THAT THOSE WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN GOD MAY BE CAREFUL TO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO DOING WHAT IS GOOD.

THESE THINGS ARE EXCELLENT AND PROFITABLE FOR EVERYONE.

THE WORD OF OUR LORD.

THE LORD BE WITH YOU.

>> AND ALSO WITH YOU.

>> THERE'S THE LUTHERANS.

[ Laughter ] MY SHAMELESS PLUG.

LET US PRAY.

ALMIGHTY GOD, TODAY WE PRAY FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF KRISTI NOEM AND THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

MAY WE GRACIOUSLY RECEIVE HER AGAIN AS OUR GOVERNING LEADER IN THIS GREAT STATE, A STATE OF OPEN MILES AS FAR AS THE EYES CAN SEE, A STATE WHERE THE PRAIRIE GRASS WRESTLES IN THE WIND, WHERE THE PINES OF THE BLACK HILLS POINT TOWARDS THE HEAVENS AND WHERE THE SUNSETS GIVE US HINTS OF THE PEACE, THE BEAUTY, AND THE ETERNAL LIFE AFTER DEATH THAT WE FAITHFULLY LONG FOR.

BUT THE BEAUTY OF YOUR CREATION, LORD, STANDS AT ODDS WITH THE TIMES WE LIVE IN.

AS YOUR CREATION HAS ORDER AMONGST THE CHAOS, WE CREATURES, YOUR CREATURES TEND TO DISRUPT THIS GREAT ORDER TIME AND TIME AGAIN DUE TO OUR SINS AND INWARD DESIRES.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS DISORDER IN YOUR CREATION THAT YOUR SOVEREIGNTY HAS ALLOWED LEADERS TO BE ELECTED INTO POSITIONS THAT BRING US ORDER IN THE WAYS THAT WE ARE ABLE.

THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE ELECTED GOVERNOR NOEM TO BE THAT LEADER.

WE PRAY FOR GOVERNOR NOEM'S LEADERSHIP.

I PRAY FOR HER WISDOM, HER COUNTENANCE UPON HER STAFF AND PARTNERS, HER EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WHEN OTHERS GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO CRACK UNDER PRESSURE, GIVE HER THE CONTINUED FORTITUDE TO STAND STRONG AND WEATHER THE STORMS.

I PRAY FOR GOVERNOR NOEM'S MENTORS AND COLLEAGUES WHO MUST CONTINUE TO BE IN HER LIFE TO OFFER TRUSTING WORDS GUIDED IN PROPER PRINCIPLES BUT SOLIDIFIED IN FAITHFULNESS TO YOUR WORD.

IT IS MY HOPE AND PRAYER THAT KRISTI NOEM WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT SHE IS YOURS, A BELOVED CHILD OF GOD, BAPTIZED IN YOUR WATERS OF FORGIVENESS AND LOVE, BAPTIZED TO MAKE DISCIPLES WHO WILL ALSO MAKE OTHER DISCIPLES WITHIN THE AVENUES AND VOCATIONS WE HAVE ENTRUSTED TO THEM.

AND, LASTLY, WE PRAY FOR GOVERNOR NOEM'S FAMILY, ESPECIALLY HER HUSBAND AND GROWN CHILDREN.

I PRAY THAT BRYON CAN BE A PILLAR OF STRENGTH FOR OUR GOVERNOR.

AS WE SPEND TIME IN LEADERSHIP, AS WE MINISTER IN THE LANES YOU HAVE PLACED IN, OH, LORD, IT TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR SERVANTS.

EACH LEADER IN MINISTRY NEEDS A PILLAR TO LEAN ON, EACH OF YOUR SERVANTS NEEDS SOMEONE TO TRUST, TO LISTEN, TO SHARE THE EMOTIONAL BURDENS, TO BOUNCE IDEAS OFF OF, AND TO LAUGH WITH.

I PRAY FOR YOUR COUNTENANCE AND PEACE TO ALWAYS BE PRESENT IN THE HOMES OF EACH MEMBER OF THE NOEM FAMILY.

ALMIGHTY GOD, IT IS YOUR PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, AND I ASK THAT YOU GIVE IT TO ALL OF US TODAY AND IN ALL THE DAYS AHEAD.

IT IS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR AND LORD, THAT WE OFFER UP THESE WORDS IN PRAYER.

AMEN.

>> PASTOR WEXLER.

WE TALKED ABOUT TOGETHERNESS BEING THE THEME, EVEN IN PRAYER.

DAVE FLUTE IS GOING TO GIVE US THE LAKOTA PRAYER.

>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS DAVID FLUTE.

I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR NOEM ADMINISTRATION AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT, THE GOVERNOR, WHEN SHE ASKED ME TO RENDER A PRAYER IN MY NATIVE LANGUAGE, AND SHE SAID, WHATEVER ELSE YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE, SO YOU KNOW WE AS INDIAN PEOPLE, WE LIKE TO TALK, BUT I WON'T TALK FOR 20 OR 30 MINUTES.

[ Laughter ] BUT I PROMISE YOU, AS PART OF OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR CULTURAL PROTOCOL, THAT I'M VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR RECOGNIZED THAT.

AND I KNOW WE DON'T -- WE DON'T REALLY SEE THAT SOMETIMES IN THE DIFFERENT REPORTING, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT MY CULTURAL WAYS THAT IT TAKES TIME TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS AND THE MINUTE THAT SHE -- THAT I HAD HUNG UP WITH HER WHEN SHE ASKED IF I WOULD GIVE THIS PRAYER IN MY NATIVE LANGUAGE, THE PREPARATION OF THAT PRAYER STARTED THEN.

IT WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES BEHIND ME AS WELL, TOO, THE REST OF THE CABINET, AND I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE I START, WHY I BRING THIS HEAD DRESS, WHY I'M DRESSED THE WAY I AM.

[ SPEAKING IN LAKOTA ] I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH HUMBLENESS IN MY HEART, BUT I'M ALSO HAPPY.

[ SPEAKING IN LAKOTA ] >> I GREW UP IN A HOUSE THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY SPIRITUAL PEOPLE OF THE DAKOTA/LAKOTA WAY OF LIFE.

AND I GREW UP WITH THESE VALUES, VALUES THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR TO OUR NON-NATIVE FRIENDS OUT THERE, VALUES SUCH AS COURAGE, RESPECT, HONOR, DUTY, COMPASSION.

AND I NOT ONLY SEE THAT WITH GOVERNOR NOEM AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RHODEN, BUT I FELT IT.

I'VE EXPERIENCED IT.

AND, SO, WHEN I WAS ASKED TO DO THIS, I HAD TO SPEAK WITH SOME OF MY FAMILY, WITH SOME OF THE ELDERS OF MY TRIBE, WHY I WAS GIVEN THIS HEAD DRESS.

[ SPEAKING LAKOTA ] MY PEOPLE PASSED THIS ON TO ME BECAUSE OF MY SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN, BECAUSE OF MY SERVICE TO MY TRIBE AS THE FORMER TRIBAL CHAIRMAN, BUT ALSO AS A SERVANT OF GOD.

THE GOVERNOR KNOWS I'M VERY SPIRITUAL.

AND, SO, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO, I'M GOING TO WEAR THIS HEAD DRESS AS I ASK THE CREATOR -- I'M NOT HERE TO IMPRESS THE TV OR THE AUDIENCE OR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE.

BUT MY CULTURAL TEACHINGS WAS WHEN WE'RE ASKED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND YOU ASK TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, YOU DRESS YOUR BEST, NOT TO IMPRESS, BUT TO SHOW THE PRIDE AND THE RESPECT AND THE LOVE YOU HAVE FOR YOUR CULTURE AND WHAT I'M BEING ASKED TO DO FOR THE GOVERNOR.

AND IN MY PRAYERS I'M GOING TO REMEMBER HER FAMILY, JUST AS THE PASTOR DID.

I'M GOING TO REMEMBER THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND HIS FAMILY AND ALL THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN INAUGURATED HERE TODAY BECAUSE TODAY, AS THE PASTOR AND I HAD TALKED BRIEFLY, EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY, BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S ESPECIALLY GOOD DAYS, AND TODAY IS A VERY GOOD DAY FOR OUR STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO WITH THAT, I ASK YOU REMAIN SEATED AND BEAR WITH ME AS I OFFER THIS PRAYER IN MY DAKOTA LANGUAGE.

[ PRAYING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ] >> THANK YOU.

AND WITH THAT, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, I HAVE TIME IN THE WORLD, I'D LIKE TO ASK A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES BACK HERE, JOEL JUNT AND, YOU KNOW, AND KELLY TO COME UP, SO WILLIE BEAR SHIELD, WHILE THEY'RE COMING UP, IS A MEMBER OF THE ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE, HE WAS A FORMER COUNCILMAN, I SPOKE TO WILLIE LAST NIGHT, HE SENDS HIS CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, HE WISHES HE COULD BE HERE, UNFORTUNATELY, HE COULDN'T BE HERE.

BUT WILLIE AND I HAD GOT THESE MEDALLIONS FOR YOU, KELLY, IF YOU WOULD PUT THAT ON THE GOVERNOR.

AND THEN FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE JOEL JUNT, D.O.T.

SECRETARY, TO GIVE THAT.

AND THEN IF YOU GUYS WOULD GET THESE BLANKETS READY.

I DON'T KNOW IF KATIE HERSKA IS BACK HERE, KATIE, IF KATIE COULD BE UP HERE TO HELP KELLY.

BUT WILLIE BEAR SHIELD HAS COME TO KNOW THE GOVERNOR WHEN SHE WAS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND HER COURAGE TO TAKE ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR INDIAN COUNTRY, TRULY, AND ALSO AS GOVERNOR.

SO WILLIE AND I WANT TO PRESENT THESE TO YOU, THIS ONE IS THE BUFFALO.

IT'S GOT THE BUFFALO ON THERE, AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE EARTH, AIR AND WATER.

WE KNOW THAT OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT AND LOVE OF OUR LAND, JUST AS OUR INDIAN PEOPLE DO.

SO, WE WANT TO GIVE THAT TO THE GOVERNOR.

WE KNOW SHE'S ALWAYS RIDING IN THE ROUNDUP AND I TRY TO BE AS GOOD A RIDER AS HER SOMETIMES, SO I'M LEARNING.

BUT, ANYWAYS, THAT'S ON BEHALF OF WILLIE BEAR SHIELD AND I, AGAIN, ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBAL MEMBER AND FORMER COUNCILMAN DOWN THERE.

THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

[ Applause ] AND THEN IF WE GET JEFF KLEIN, JOEL JUNT UP HERE TO HELP WITH THIS PENELTON, WE GOT FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

I LOOK AT HIM AS A BIG BROTHER, YOU KNOW, I DO, A BIG BROTHER THAT, YOU KNOW, IS THERE TO BE ENCOURAGING, NEVER CRITICIZING AND JUST SOMEBODY THAT I'VE REALLY COME TO HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR, ANOTHER DIFFERENT THEME OF THE BUFFALO.

AND, YOU KNOW, SHARE A LITTLE STORY REAL QUICK BEFORE WE'RE DONE HERE.

THE YEAR BEFORE LAST, I WAS RIDING WITH THE BOB LANTIS CREW, BOB HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD FRIEND, AND THERE WAS KIND OF A WILD HORSE DOWN AT THE CORRALS, AND THE YOUNG GAL HAD KIND OF GOT TOSSED AROUND AND WE WERE TRYING TO HELP AND WHATNOT.

AND THERE WAS SOME CHATTER THAT THAT WAS THE HORSE THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RIDE THIS YEAR.

AND I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO TELL YOU, SO I'M SORRY, BUT HE RODE IT VERY WELL.

AND HE HANDLED THE HORSE VERY WELL.

SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU, GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, DAVE FLUTE, FOR YOUR PRAYER AND I'M AMAZED AT THE LORD THAT HE CAN UNDERSTAND ALL THE PRAYERS THAT WE SEND, REGARDLESS OF THE RELIGION.

THAT'S TOGETHERNESS.

ALL RIGHT.

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE MUSIC?

WE HAVE MARK NELSON, SOUTH DAKOTA'S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, AND DEB CALLSPECT, MUSICIAN FROM BROOKINGS, COME FORWARD, PLEASE, OR JUST STAY WHERE YOU'RE AT AND PLAY!

.

♪ INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC [ Applause ] >> DON'T FORGET WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE END.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE PARTY TIME.

YOU GUYS WANT TO COME TOGETHER BEFORE WE LEAVE TODAY, SEND A MESSAGE TO FRISCO, TEXAS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] ALL RIGHT.

I HAD TO THROW THAT OUT BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO SWEAR IN SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO PUT THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER.

TRUST ME, BEHIND THE SCENES YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THE MILITARY, SOUTH DAKOTA NATIONAL GUARD, PRACTICED WHAT THEY DID THIS MORNING.

WE TALKED TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO GET IT RIGHT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT GOOD PEOPLE, WE'VE GOT A GOOD STATE, AND IF WE -- WE GOT A CHIEF JUSTICE BY THE NAME OF STEVEN JENSEN, WHO'S IN PLACE, IS HE READY TO COME FORWARD?

WHERE IS HE?

OH, YOU GOT A ROBE ON.

[ Laughter ] YOU GOT SOMETHING UNDER THAT ROBE, DON'T YOU?

>> I DO.

>> I FIGURED.

[ Laughter ] >> I UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE DONE THIS?

>> IN THIS SETTING, YES.

>> WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TAKING CARE OF SOME GOOD PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT KIND OF REACTION SHOULD PEOPLE HAVE AS YOU'RE SWEARING THEM IN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

TELL US.

>> I'VE GOT A MIC HERE.

I WOULD EXPECT PEOPLE WOULD BE QUIET WHILE WE DO THE OATH AND THEN THERE WOULD BE A BURST OF APPLAUSE WHEN WE COMPLETE THE OATH.

>> SO, WHO WOULD YOU SUGGEST WE START WITH?

[ Laughter ] YOU WANT TO LOOK AROUND, SEE IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY?

[ Laughter ] >> I THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE.

>> THE GOVERNOR?

>> YEAH.

>> THE FIRST.

WOMAN'S GOVERNOR IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO COME UP AND TAKE YOUR OATH.

ARE YOU GOING TO BRING SOMEBODY WITH YOU?

HE'S STICKING RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE, EVEN THOUGH YOU RIDE HORSES FASTER THAN HE DOES.

>> YEAH.

GOVERNOR NOEM, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR OATH AS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA?

>> I AM.

>> IF YOU WOULD RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN.

AND DECLARE YOUR OATH AT THIS TIME.

>> I, KRISTI NOEM, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> SO, IN YOUR INFINITE WISDOM, CHIEF JUSTICE, WHO WOULD COME NUMBER 2?

>> YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T EXPECT THESE QUESTIONS WHEN I CAME UP HERE.

[ Laughter ] >> THEY CAN GET TOUGHER.

>> I'M GOING TO PICK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RHODEN.

>> LARRY RHODEN!

[ Applause ] >> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR OATH?

>> I AM.

>> IF YOU'D RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN.

AND I'LL ASK YOU TO DECLARE YOUR OATH AT THIS TIME.

>> I, LARRY RHODEN, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY -- AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, LIEUTENANT.

[ Applause ] >> NOT BAD FOR NUMBER 2!

[ Laughter ] I HAVE TO TELL YOU, YOU MUST HAVE A LOT OF RELATIVES.

WE WERE CHECKING IN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AFTER WE WENT THROUGH THE SNOW, CAME WEST AND TRIED TO GET A BITE TO EAT ALONG THE RIVER, AND WE GOT IN, THE FIRST PEOPLE WE RAN INTO WERE YOUR RELATIVES.

AND I STARTED TELLING GREAT STORIES ABOUT YOU.

SO IF YOU FIND THEY'RE SMILING AT YOU A LITTLE MORE TODAY, I DIDN'T HURT YOU.

IT WAS GOOD.

[ Laughter ] YOU OWE ME ONE.

ALL RIGHT.

NUMBER 3.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO SAY MONAE JOHNSON, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

I'M READY.

>> DO YOU SUPPOSE WE CAN FIND MONAE?

>> I THINK WE CAN.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT.

>> SECRETARY JOHNSON, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR OATH?

IF YOU'D RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN.

YOU CAN DECLARE YOUR OATH.

>> I, MONAE JOHNSON, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I SEE WE GOT TO GET A LAWYER INVOLVED NEXT.

[ Laughter ] I THINK HE'S DONE THIS BEFORE.

JUST A HUNCH.

HOW ABOUT ATTORNEY GENERAL MARTY JACKLEY, YOU READY TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE?

[ Applause ] >> Mr. ATTORNEY GENERAL, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE?

>> I AM, Mr. CHIEF JUSTICE.

>> IF YOU'D RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN AND DECLARE YOUR OATH.

>> I, MARTY JACKLEY, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

[ Applause ] >> CONGRATULATIONS, Mr. ATTORNEY GENERAL, CONGRATULATIONS.

[ Applause ] >> YOU KNOW WHO THE STATE AUDITOR IS, THAT'S YOUR QUESTION.

>> I DO.

IT'S RIGHT HERE.

>> I SUPPOSE YOU'RE GOING TO READ IT.

DO YOU WANT TO READ IT?

TELL THEM WHO IT IS.

>> IT'S RICH SATTGAST.

>> I COULDN'T PRONOUNCE IT, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU HAD TO PRONOUNCE IT?

[ Laughter ] >> Mr. SATTGAST, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE?

>> I AM, CHIEF JUSTICE.

>> IF YOU'D RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN AND DECLARE YOUR OATH.

>> I, RICHARD L. SATTGAST, TO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF STATE AUDITOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> I ONLY PAID HIM TO TALK ABOUT TWO OF THEM.

SO I CANNOT DO IT AGAIN.

BUT I'VE GOT A GENTLEMAN W RIGHT NOW -- RIGHT NOW THAT HAS SOME MONEY THAT IS SOUTH DAKOTA'S MONEY, YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE IMPORTANT?

DO YOU CARE WHERE YOUR MONEY IS, WHO'S TAKING CARE OF YOUR MONEY?

IF YOU HAVEN'T MET OUR STATE TREASURER, JOSH IS HAEDER IS UP NEXT.

JOSH, COME FORWARD.

[ Applause ] >> Mr. HAEDER, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE?

>> CAN I HAVE TEN MINUTES?

>> NO.

[ Laughter ] >> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN.

>> SORRY.

[ Laughter ] >> I'M SCARED NOW.

>> YEAH, I'D BE SCARED.

>> WE WILL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

[ Laughter ] >> AND DECLARE YOUR OATH.

>> I, JOSH HAEDER, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF STATE TREASURER OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> I UNDERSTAND HE'S AMBIDEXTROUS AND THAT'S THE REASON HE COULDN'T DO LEFT TO RIGHT.

[ Laughter ] ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE.

DO WE HAVE A BROCK GREENFIELD, COMMISSIONER OF SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LANDS?

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE OATH?

[ Applause ] >> ALL RIGHT.

Mr. GREEN FIELD, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE?

>> YES, SIR.

>> YOU'D RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN.

>> I BROCK GREENFIELD, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER OF SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LANDS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS HIS LAST CHANCE TO GET IT WRONG.

CHRIS NELSON, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER.

[ Applause ] >> Mr. NELSON, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE?

>> I AM, CHIEF.

>> IF YOU'D RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN AND DECLARE YOUR OATH.

>> I, CHRIS NELSON, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> THAT COMPLETES MY WORK.

>> SO, IF YOU WILL, DON'T RUN AWAY, COME ON, COME ON BACK.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE WONDERING WHAT'S IN THAT OATH, WHY IT'S SO SPECIAL, WHY WE DO IT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> YEAH.

WELL, IT STARTS WITH OUR CONSTITUTION.

OUR CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THAT EVERY OFFICIAL IN SOUTH DAKOTA THAT TAKES AN OATH OF OFFICE MUST TAKE THIS OATH.

AND IT'S A DECLARATION, BOTH THAT YOU WILL PERFORM YOUR DUTIES, BUT PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT YOU WILL FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW THROUGHOUT THE TIME THAT YOU WORK IN YOUR OFFICE.

AND THOSE TWO OATHS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN THE WORK THAT A PUBLIC OFFICIAL DOES.

>> IS THAT THE SAME OATH WE'VE HAD FOR GENERATIONS?

>> 1889.

>> I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THAT.

I WASN'T THERE THEN.

[ Laughter ] I'M GETTING OLDER, BUT NOT THAT MUCH.

CHIEF JUSTICE, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE YOUR DUTY.

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.

[ Applause ] ALL RIGHT.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET TO INTRODUCE THE GOVERNOR.

I GUESS THAT'S A LITTLE LATER ON.

BUT WE DO HAVE JOE DONELE THAT'S GOING TO COME FORWARD AND HE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR GOVERNOR AND SHE'S GOING TO TALK.

ARE YOU READY?

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S DO IT.

[ Applause ] >> WELL, MY NAME IS JOE DONELE AND I'M A NEWLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 1.

AND I'M FROM SISSETON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE SISSETON WAHPETON OYATE AND I'M A PROUD SOUTH DAKOTAN.

I HAVE A GREAT HONOR TODAY TO INTRODUCE OUR GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY I'M UP HERE, I BELIEVE, AND IT'S JUST BEEN A GOOD JOURNEY, KNOWING THE GOVERNOR.

I'M HONORED BECAUSE SHE IS A FEARLESS LEADER.

HOW MANY KNOW THAT?

A WONDERFUL MOTHER.

[ Applause ] SHE'S A WIFE AND A GRANDMOTHER.

GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM AND I MET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT AUGUSTANA COLLEGE WHEN SHE WAS DOING A LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, AND THERE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THAT CAME TO THAT.

BUT ONE THING THAT REALLY SHOCKED ME IS THE AMOUNT OF TRIBAL SCHOOLS THAT WERE REPRESENTED THERE.

AND SHE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE THEN, AND I GOT A CHANCE TO TALK WITH HER.

BUT I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BECAUSE SHE TOOK TIME AT THE END TO GREET EVERY STUDENT.

AND I THINK I WAS TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE LINE, AND I GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER, AND SHE SHARED HER HEART WITH ME FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA BUT ESPECIALLY THE TRIBES AND TO SEE A NEW GENERATION OF NATIVE LEADERS ARISE THAT CAN REALLY HELP THE TRIBES MOVE FORWARD.

AND SHE JUST REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART AND HER COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE WAS JUST ON DISPLAY THAT DAY AND IT WAS A GREAT HONOR TO MEET HER THERE.

MY SECOND INTERACTION WITH HER ACTUALLY I WAS DOING SOME WORK ON THE CROW CREEK RESERVATION AND I HAPPENED TO SHARE WITH SOMEONE THAT I WAS WORKING WITH THAT GOD SPOKE TO ME AND GOD DOESN'T SPEAK TO ME VERY OFTEN AND IN A VERY CLEAR WAY, BUT THIS PARTICULAR TIME GOD SPOKE TO ME VERY CLEARLY TO GIVE KRISTI NOEM A MESSAGE.

SO I TOLD THE PERSON I WAS WORKING WITH AND SHE SAID, WELL, I KNOW KRISTI.

SO SHE SAID, WHY DON'T I GIVE HER A CALL SO WE CAN JUST SHARE THAT WITH HER.

IT HAPPENS TO BE SHE WAS ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY AT THE TIME.

AND SHE CAME RIGHT OVER.

AND WE GOT TOGETHER.

BETH WAS WITH US.

AND WE GOT IN A CIRCLE, WE PRAYED.

AND I JUST SHARED WITH HER THAT IT WAS AT A TIME, A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION, AND THE RACE WAS KIND OF CLOSE AT THAT TIME.

BUT THE MESSAGE GOD GAVE ME IS THAT KRISTI NOEM WOULD BE OUR NEXT GOVERNOR.

AND THAT SHE WOULD DO SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR OUR STATE AND THAT SHE WOULD BE AN ALLY FOR THE TRIBES.

AND WE JUST HAD A POWERFUL TIME OF PRAYER AND INTERACTION, AND FROM THAT POINT ON, I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS MY DUTY TO PRAY FOR YOU EVERY DAY AND TO SUPPORT YOU HOWEVER I COULD.

AND, SO, I'M PROUD TO CALL YOU MY FRIEND.

[ Applause ] GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM, THE FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR OF OUR STATE AND THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY IN RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC, WE APPRECIATE YOU.

YOU HAVE IMPACTED THIS NATION AND MANY HAVE CALLED YOU THE NATION'S GOVERNOR.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.

WHEN THE -- NEEDS A MIDWESTERN LEADER PERSPECTIVE ON HOW EVERYDAY LEADERS LOOK AT OUR COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS, THEY TURN TO MY FRIEND, SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR, KRISTI NOEM, CNN, CBC, FOX, NBC, SHE APPEARED ON EVERY NATIONAL SHOW THAT PEOPLE NEEDED TO KNOW HOW PEOPLE THINK IN THE HEARTLAND.

SHE KNOWS WHAT THEY THINK BECAUSE YOU ARE ONE OF US.

SHE'S A PLAIN-SPOKEN RANTER WHO LIVES BY HER FATHER'S CREED.

WE DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT PROBLEMS.

GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM SAYS, WE FIX THEM.

MY FRIEND, KRISTI NOEM HAS A COMPASSION AND A HEART FOR PEOPLE THAT'S WITNESSED EVERYWHERE SHE GOES BECAUSE SHE SHAKES HANDS WITH PEOPLE, SHE GREETS PEOPLE, SHE TAKES TIME FOR PEOPLE, AND WHEN SHE SPEAKS, WE CAN HEAR YOUR HEART.

SHE DOESN'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT BUT SHE ACTUALLY DOES IT.

SHE STANDS UP FOR WOMEN, SHE STANDS UP FOR MEN, SHE STANDS FOR OUR CHILDREN, SHE STANDS UP FOR FAMILIES, SHE STANDS UP FOR MY TRIBAL PEOPLE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE STANDS UP FOR ALL OF US AS SOUTH DAKOTANS.

SO NOW WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO WELCOME THE NATION'S LEADING GOVERNOR, KRISTI NOEM.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU.

YOU BETTER SIT DOWN.

BETTER SIT DOWN BEFORE I CRY.

THANK YOU, BILL, APOLONIA, PASTOR WEXLER, DAVE AND JOE, YOU'VE HONORED ME.

YOU'VE HONORED ME BY BEING HERE TODAY, BY BEING A PART OF THIS CEREMONY AND FROM SHARING FROM YOUR HEART.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS STATE IS THAT ALL OF US ARE WILLING TO COME TOGETHER, BE HONEST, HAVE INTEGRITY, HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO WHERE WE TRULY CAN JOIN OUR HEARTS AND WORK EVERY DAY TO BRING HOPE TO THIS STATE AND TO THIS COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS AGO, I STOOD IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU WITH MY LEFT HAND ON MY DAD'S BIBLE AND MY RIGHT HAND RAISED, SWEARING AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF BOTH THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA BUT ALSO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I'D WON A COMPETITIVE CAMPAIGN ON ELECTION DAY, IF YOU REMEMBER, AND WAS HONORED TO BE CHOSEN THE 33rd GOVERNOR OF OUR STATE.

AND THE FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR.

WE HAD SPENT THE PREVIOUS MONTHS PLANNING FOR THE DAY THAT I WOULD TAKE OFFICE.

WE WERE LEARNING FROM PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, FROM PREVIOUS GOVERNORS, WE'D HIRED CABINET AND STAFF, WORKED ON A BUDGET PLAN, CONSIDERED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE VISION THAT I HAD COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING THROUGH ON FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

THAT DAY FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I STOOD WITH ALL OF YOU, I SPOKE ABOUT THE FACT THAT I WANTED TO BE A GOVERNOR THAT WAS REMEMBERED FOR WORKING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

THAT I WANTED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS AND FOR OUR GRANDKIDS TO STAY RIGHT HERE IN OUR STATE, TO LIVE THEIR DREAMS AND TO BE HAPPY.

I TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WOULD NO DOUBT FACE CHALLENGES AND HARDSHIPS, BUT THAT I BELIEVED THAT OUR BEST DAYS WERE AHEAD.

I THOUGHT I WAS REALLY PREPARED TO BE GOVERNOR.

THAT I HAD DONE MY HOMEWORK.

I HAD ASKED FOR A LOT OF ADVICE AND I HAD TAKEN IT.

AND THAT I WAS READY TO GO.

NOW, STANDING HERE TODAY, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THERE WERE A FEW SURPRISES ALONG THE WAY.

[ Laughter ] SOME UNPREDICTABLE STORMS, SOME EVENTS, SOME POLICY FIGHTS, AND EVEN A PANDEMIC.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I SAW ALL OF THOSE COMING.

BUT WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THOSE COMING?

WE TOOK ON ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES TOGETHER AND WE CAME THROUGH STRONGER THAN WE EVER WERE BEFORE.

[ Applause ] TODAY WE HAVE THE STRONGEST ECONOMY AND THE BEST FINANCIAL FOUNDATION THAT WE'VE HAD IN DECADES.

WE'VE CREATED NEW JOBS AND CAREERS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

WE'VE MADE HISTORIC GAINS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IN GROWTH AND THROUGH OUR DIFFICULTIES WE NEVER LOST SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT OUR POWER IS IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, UNDER GOD, THE PEOPLE RULE.

[ Applause ] THE BOOK OF DANIEL IN THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT HOW GOD PUTS LEADERS INTO PLACE.

AND IT IS HE THAT REMOVES THEM.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP WEIGHS HEAVY AT TIMES ON THOSE WHO ARE TASKED WITH IT.

ESPECIALLY DURING CONFLICT AND DIFFICULTY.

BUT IT'S AN HONOR AND IT'S A TRUST THAT I'M INCREDIBLY HUMBLED BY.

THERE IS SERIOUS WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

WORK THAT INCLUDES PROTECTING OUR FREEDOMS, INVESTING WISELY, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO THRIVE HERE IN OUR STATE.

BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOME FUN TOO.

WE SHOULD CELEBRATE ALL THAT'S GOOD AND ALL THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND US.

WE SHOULD CHEER UP.

AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER.

ALL THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE SHOULD LAUGH TOGETHER.

SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE CHOSEN TO TITLE THIS SPEECH "THE TOP 10 THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR."

IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SPEECH THAN PROBABLY WHAT YOU ANTICIPATED.

[ Laughter ] NOW THOSE OF US OF A CERTAIN AGE WILL REMEMBER DAVID LETTERMAN.

DO YOU REMEMBER HIM?

THE LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST.

I KNOW, THEY'RE ALL GOING HERE, OH, BOY, HERE WE GO.

EVERY NIGHT HE WOULD UNVEIL HIS TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS THAT WAS BASED ON WHATEVER TOPIC WAS IN THE NEWS THAT DAY OR THE LATEST GOSSIP OR WHATEVER IT WAS THAT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH.

IT WAS THE MOST POPULAR PART OF HIS SHOW EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

AND EVEN IF WE WERE TIRED FROM WORKING A LONG DAY, WE WOULD WAIT UP TO SEE WHAT THE TOP 10 LIST WAS GOING TO BE BEFORE WE WOULD HEAD OFF TO BED.

SO I DECIDED THAT A TOP 10 LIST HERE TODAY JUST MIGHT MAKE ME POPULAR WITH ALL OF YOU.

[ Laughter ] SO HERE WE GO.

THE TOP 10 THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR.

NUMBER 10, PEOPLE CARE WHERE I AM.

[ Laughter ] NOW, THIS MAY SOUND REALLY FUNNY TO YOU, BUT REMEMBER THE JOB THAT I HAD BEFORE I WAS YOUR GOVERNOR, I WAS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

I WAS DISPOSABLE.

FORGETTABLE.

AND I WAS EASILY REPLACED.

SORRY ABOUT THAT, DUSTY.

[ Laughter ] LISTEN, FOR EIGHT YEARS I NEVER UNPACKED MY SUITCASE.

I SLEPT ON MY COUCH IN MY OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., I GOT STRANDED IN AIRPORTS HUNDREDS OF TIMES AT THE MERCY OF THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY, MANY TIMES I WOULD HAVE A FLIGHT CANCELED, I WOULD MISS A PROM OF ONE OF MY GIRLS OR A HIGH SCHOOL PLAY THAT THEY WERE ON -- IN AND A BALL GAME THAT MAYBE ONE OF THEM WAS PLAYING.

INSTEAD, I WOULD SPEND THE NIGHT TRYING TO FIND THE CLEANEST AND THE QUIETEST SPOT IN AN AIRPORT TO SIT AND TO SCOUR THE AVAILABLE FLIGHT OPTIONS AND TRY TO GET WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

OR I WOULD RENT A CAR AND I WOULD DRIVE ALL NIGHT TO GET HOME.

MANY TIMES MY STAFF OR FAMILY WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN ISSUES UNTIL EVERYBODY WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND THOUGHT, HUH, I WONDER WHERE SHE'S AT.

WELL, NOT AS GOVERNOR, THOUGH.

NOW I HAVE HIGHLY -- HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICERS WHO TRACK MY EVERY MOVE.

AND, YES, I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HERE TODAY THINK THEY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE I WAS GOVERNOR.

[ Laughter ] I HAVE A STAFF THAT INSISTS ON HAVING EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF EVERY DAY PLANNED AND SCHEDULED.

A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO SEEMS TO CARE WHERE I AM AS WELL.

I USED TO WONDER WHY LARRY WAS CALLING ME EVERY DAY AFTER WE WERE SWORN INTO OFFICE.

THEN SOMEONE REMINDED ME OF WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE DUTIES OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARE.

THEY'RE, NUMBER ONE, PRESIDE OVER THE STATE SENATE.

NUMBER TWO, TO TAKE OVER IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE GOVERNOR.

[ Laughter ] WHEN I ANSWERED THE PHONE EVERY MORNING AND IT WAS LARRY, AND HE HEARD MY VOICE, AND THAT I WAS BACK HARD AT WORK, HE WOULD GO BACK TO BED.

[ Laughter ] TODAY WAS NOT GOING TO BE HIS DAY.

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] SO NUMBER 10 ON THE LIST OF THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR IS THAT PEOPLE DO CARE WHERE I'M AT.

NUMBER 9, NUMBER 9 ON THIS LIST OF THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR IS THAT I CAN WEAR JEANS IF I WANT TO.

LISTEN, THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME BEST KNOW THAT I DON'T LIKE DRESSIN' UP VERY MUCH.

LIFE IS HARD ENOUGH WITHOUT BEING UNCOMFORTABLE, COLD, OR STUMBLING AROUND IN SILLY SHOES EVERY DAY.

BECAUSE WE WORK IN A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT, OF COURSE, THERE'S TIMES I DRESS ACCORDINGLY FOR WHAT DAY IS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT TOOK ME ALMOST A YEAR OF ME TURNING TO MY STAFF AND FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH AND ASKING, CAN I WEAR JEANS?

AND THEM SAYING, OF COURSE, YOU CAN, YOU'RE THE GOVERNOR.

BEFORE I REALLY BELIEVED IT.

THEN I FOUND OUT THAT I RARELY GOT QUESTIONED ON MY ATTIRE.

UNLESS I HAD HOLES IN THOSE JEANS.

THEN I GOT LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME, DO YOU NEED ME TO TAKE UP A COLLECTION TO BUY YOU SOME NEW JEANS, GOVERNOR?

[ Laughter ] YES, LARRY, YES, ALWAYS TAKE UP A COLLECTION.

[ Laughter ] ALWAYS TAKE UP THE -- ALWAYS TAKE UP A COLLECTION.

NUMBER 8, NUMBER 8 ON THE LIST OF TOP 10 THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR WAS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT NAMES THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT THE FIRST GENTLEMAN'S PASSION IS SMALL TOWNS ACROSS OUR STATE.

HE HAS SPENT COUNTLESS DAYS TRAVELING TO MEET FOLKS FROM LEMMON, WINNER, CENTERVILLE, IPSWICH, HE HEARS ABOUT THEIR CHALLENGES AND ALSO WHAT PROBLEMS HE MIGHT NEED THE STATE TO HELP THEM SOLVE.

HE SHOOTS A BASKET IN EVERY TOWN AND HE ENJOYS THE LOCAL FOOD AND LOTS OF ICE CREAM.

AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN HE COMES HOME, THE VERY FIRST THING THAT I HEAR HIM SAY TO ME IS HOW FANTASTIC THE PEOPLE WERE AND HOW EXCITING THINGS WERE THAT WERE GOING ON IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, THE ONE THING THAT ALWAYS GOT MENTIONED IS HE WOULD SAY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT USED TO BE?

LISTEN, IN OUR STATE, WE HAD THE EDGEMONT MOGULS, THE NEYELL IRRIGATORS, THE MONROE WOODEN-SHOED CANARIES, THE CENTERVILLE TORNADOES, THE VAIL BEET DIGGERS, KEYSTONE DYNAMITERS, THE GREGORY GORILLAS, THEY'RE STILL AROUND AND THE CLAREMONT HONKERS, HOW FANTASTIC ARE THOSE MASCOTS, RIGHT?

SO THAT NUMBER 8 WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SURPRISES WAS HOW FANTASTIC OUR HIGH SCHOOL MASCOTS HAVE BEEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

NUMBER 7, NUMBER 7 ON THE TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR WAS HOW QUICKLY DECISIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.

REMEMBER NOW, I'M A FARMER AND A RANCHER.

I RAN SEVERAL SMALL BUSINESSES BEFORE I SERVED IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

I WAS USED TO MAKING DECISIONS AND GETTING WORK DONE.

THEN I WENT TO CONGRESS.

AND IN CONGRESS, WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS OR PASS BILLS, BUT RARELY DID WE SEE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE HAPPEN.

IN FACT, IT WAS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING HOW HARD IT WAS TO ENACT REAL REFORMS AND TO HELP THE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

IT COULD TAKE MONTHS OR YEARS TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST COMMON SENSE AND EASY TO DO.

AS GOVERNOR, I GET THE CHANCE EVERY DAY TO BE THE CEO OF OUR STATE.

WE SET AN AGENDA, WE MAKE DECISIONS.

I ACTIVATE THE NATIONAL GUARD.

I CAN BAN TIKTOK ON OUR DEVICES BECAUSE OF NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES.

ORDER THE FLAGS TO BE LOWERED FOR IMPORTANT LEADERS IN OUR STATE.

AND WHILE WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THE CONSEQUENCES OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, IT SURPRISED ME THE AMOUNT OF GOOD WE CAN ACCOMPLISH JUST BY MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION.

NUMBER 6, NUMBER 6 ON THE TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR WAS I WAS MORE INSPIRED THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD BE BY THE HARD WORK AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR STATE EMPLOYEES.

NOW, I ALWAYS KNEW THAT THEY WERE COMMITTED TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

BUT I USED TO THINK THAT WORKING FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA WAS A 9:00 TO 5:00 JOB WITH A LOT OF HOLIDAYS.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

IN FACT, VERY FEW OF THEM GET TO GO HOME AT 5:00 P.M. EACH DAY AND FORGET ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.

THERE ARE ROADS TO PLOW, COMMUNITIES TO KEEP SAFE, PROGRAMS TO RUN, HEALTH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO DEPLOY, PROJECTS TO COMPLETE, INFRASTRUCTURE TO FIX, AND MOST OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FACED OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAVE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THEIR WORK LOAD.

FEDERAL FUNDS AND PROGRAMS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND AUDITS, BOMB CYCLONES, FLOODING, TORNADOES, A ADORE RATIO, INFLATION, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, COVID, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE HAVE MEANT MUCH MORE WORK LOAD ON THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, WITHOUT A PROMISE OF MORE MONEY OR MORE TIME OFF.

THEY ARE DEDICATED, THEY WORK EXTREMELY HARD AROUND THE CLOCK FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA TO KEEP US THRIVING.

WOULD YOU GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE?

[ Applause ] SO NUMBER 5, NUMBER 5 ON THE TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR, NO NAPS.

I WAS PROMISED SOME NAPS.

AND I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ONE.

AND I ADMIT THAT I'M A LITTLE TICKED OFF ABOUT IT.

AND TO BE HONEST, I WAS PROMISED A LOT MORE FISHING TOO.

SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT FIXED IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, OKAY?

NUMBER 4, NUMBER 4 ON THE TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR WAS I WAS SHOCKED BY ALL THE ITEMS THAT PEOPLE WILL MAIL TO ME AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND AT HOME EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

I LOVE TO RECEIVE YOUR THOUGHTFUL NOTES, YOUR ENCOURAGING CARDS, SEE PICTURES OF YOUR FAMILIES, IT'S AMAZING THAT PEOPLE STILL TODAY TAKE THE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND HAND-WRITE A LETTER OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND WISDOM TO ME.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I SAVE MANY MANY MANY OF THEM.

IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW OFTEN THAT NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT COMES AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME TO BLESS ME 8.

ON A HARD DAY I'LL GET AN INCREDIBLE LETTER OR CARD THAT CHANGES MY PERSPECTIVE OR MY ATTITUDE.

I'LL ADMIT, I'VE RECEIVED SOME VERY INTERESTING THINGS AS WELL.

[ Laughter ] FOR INSTANCE, I RECEIVED A LIFE-SIZE CUT-OUT OF WONDER WOMAN WITH MY FACE ON IT.

[ Laughter ] SOMEBODY MAILED ME THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE JUST TO PROVE THEY WERE A REAL PERSON.

I HOPE THEY KEPT A COPY FOR THEMSELVES.

I REAL LIVE LOBSTER CAME ONE DAY FROM MAINE, SO THAT WAS INTERESTING.

AND SOMEONE MAILED ME A WHIP MADE OUT OF BULL TESTICLES.

[ Laughter ] SO, I HAVE BEEN -- IT WASN'T LARRY.

[ Laughter ] IT WASN'T FROM LARRY.

I HAVE ALSO BEEN GIFTED MANY MANY GARDEN NOMES, NOEMS RIDING HORSES, EVEN A GNOME RIDING A ROCKET NAMED LIBERTY AND CARRYING AN AMERICAN FLAG.

NO MATTER WHAT THE NOTE IS OR THE ITEM THAT WAS SENT, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ME AND TAKING THE TIME TO REACH OUT.

GNOME.

NUMBER 3, NUMBER 3 ON THE TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR, I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TOGGLE BEING HUNTING.

I PLAN TO FIX THAT IN 2023.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S KEEP THAT ON THE LIST.

NUMBER 2, NUMBER 2 ON THE TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR IS THAT NO ONE CARES IF YOU'RE THE GOVERNOR WHEN YOU'RE TUBING AT THE LAKE.

I MADE THIS MISTAKE THIS LAST SUMMER.

NOW, MOST OF YOU HERE ARE THINKING THAT KNOW ME PRETTY WELL, HEY, WAIT, I THOUGHT SHE COULDN'T SWIM.

THAT IS CORRECT.

I CANNOT SWIM.

PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO TEACH ME FOR YEARS, BUT I JUST TEND TO SINK RIGHT TO THE BOTTOM OF EVERY POOL OR LAKE THAT I'VE EVER GOTTEN INTO.

IN FACT, YEARS AGO, MY SISTER TRIED TO TEACH ME HOW TO SWIM, AND I REMEMBER HER GETTING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A POOL, ENCOURAGING ME TO SWIM ACROSS THE POOL TO HER.

AS I GOT DOWN IN THE WATER AND I FLAILED WILDLY, I STOOD UP AND WIPED THE WATER FROM MY EYES TO SEE HOW FAR I HAD MADE IT TO SEE I WAS ONLY FARTHER AWAY FROM HER.

AND SHE WAS LAUGHING SAYING, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE HAVING A SEIZURE.

[ Laughter ] WELL, DESPITE MY LACK OF NATURAL ABILITY TO KEEP MYSELF AFLOAT, I STILL LOVE THE WATER.

THIS SUMMER I WAS TALKED INTO GETTING ONTO A TUBE WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS WHO ENJOYED -- WHAT THEY DESCRIBED TO ME AS WAS GOING TO BE A TOUR AROUND THE LAKE TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL HOMES.

[ Laughter ] THEN THE DRIVER OF THE BOAT PROCEEDED TO TRY TO KILL US.

WE ASKED HIM TO SLOW DOWN, TO NO AVAIL.

HE SPUN THE BOAT IN BIG CIRCLES TO CREATE HUGE WAVES AND THEN REVERSED TO LAUNCH US OFF OF THEM AND INTO THE AIR.

I SCREAMED.

I YELLED.

I LAUGHED A LITTLE.

AND I ADMITTEDLY, ALMOST CRIED IN DESPERATION.

IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THIS PARTICULAR DRIVER WAS A DEMOCRAT.

[ Laughter ] AND HE WAS OUT TO SETTLE A SCORE OR TWO.

AT ONE POINT I EVEN YELLED, "I AM A GOVERNOR."

BUT HE DIDN'T CARE.

SO NUMBER 2 IS, NO ONE CARES IF YOU'RE THE GOVERNOR WHEN YOU'RE TUBING AT THE LAKE.

NUMBER 1, THE NUMBER 1 THING THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR IS HOW MUCH I LOVE THE JOB.

WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR THIS OFFICE, I KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

IT WOULD BE A BIG OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SOUTH DAKOTA.

I ALSO THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BORING OR PREDICTABLE OR UNEVENTFUL BASED ON SOME OF THE ADVICE THAT I'D BEEN GIVEN.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD ONE PERSON SAY TO ME WHEN I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, WELL, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, DEAL WITH STATE AID TO EDUCATION, LOCAL ISSUES AND TAXES, NATIONAL ISSUES BE ARE MUCH MORE EXCITING AND WHERE ALL THE FOCUS IS.

AFTER TALKING TO A FEW FOLKS, I THOUGHT, MAN, I HOPE I ENJOY BEING GOVERNOR.

I DO.

I LOVE THE CHALLENGE OF SERVING IN THIS ROLE.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET UP EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH A PURPOSE, EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.

THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH, I HAVE THE BEST BOSS, THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

THEY'RE THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE GREATEST STATE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH.

[ Applause ] AND I GET TO BE HERE WITH MY FAMILY.

I LOVE MY FAMILY AND THEY'RE INCREDIBLE AND WONDERFUL AND I'M SO GRATEFUL GOD GAVE ME A SUPPORTIVE FAMILY THAT LOVES ME NO MATTER WHAT AND ALWAYS BELIEVES IN ME AND ENCOURAGES ME.

THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME TO LEAD THIS STATE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

MAY WE ALWAYS FIND JOY IN OUR WORK AND PROTECT OUR WAY OF LIFE.

THIS ROTUNDA IS FILLED WITH FOUR STATUES, COURAGE, WISDOM, INTEGRITY, AND VISION.

THEY'RE HERE TO REMIND US OF THE VALUES AND THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE SHOULD EMBRACE AS WE LEAD THIS STATE THROUGH INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING TIMES.

I WOULD ASK THAT AS YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY THAT YOU WOULD GO FORWARD AND THAT YOU WOULD LOOK AT THESE STATUES AND READ WHAT THEY STAND IN HONOR OF.

ONE OF OUR SOUTH DAKOTA ARTISTS DESIGNED THEM AND PLACED THEM HERE SO WE WOULD REMEMBER THAT THE WORK WE DO HERE IS SIGNIFICANT.

THAT IT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT THOSE ARE THE VALUES AND THE PRINCIPLES THAT SHOULD GUIDE US EVERY SINGLE DAY AS WE LIVE AND WORK IN THIS STATE.

I AM SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO BE YOUR GOVERNOR.

I'M SO INCREDIBLY HONORED THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

MAY GODRICHLY BLESS YOU AND MAY GODRICHLY BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

THANK YOU.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> DO I GET THE BLANKET?

>> OH, NO.

[ Laughter ] >> I WAS HOPING.

>> THERE WE GO.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL SPLIT THE BLANKET.

HOW'S THAT?

I HAD FORGOTTEN TO GET ONE ACT ON, AND TOM MADE SURE THAT I KNEW.

WE HAVE A MUSICAL NUMBER, REMEMBER, WE STILL HAVE THE CLOSING ACT THAT YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO FORGET, SO, DO WE HAVE OUR MUSICAL -- I THINK I'M SUPPOSED TO FILL TIME FOR JUST A SECOND.

YOU GOT THE TRUMPET READY?

YOU GOT THE PIANO READY?

YOU GOT ASA LUTE?

LET'S GO FOR IT.

♪ INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC [ Applause ] >> THAT WAS AMAZING!

ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END WHEN WE CALL FOR THE BENEDICTION.

WE GOT OUR LUTHERAN MEMBER READY TO -- WHAT WAS THAT LUTHERAN JOKE EARLIER?

COME ON.

COME OUT AND TELL IT.

>> THERE WAS NO JOKE.

[ Laughter ] I INVITE THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO PLEASE RISE.

AS WE'RE GATHERED IN THE SPACE, LET US GATHER TOGETHER THE PRAYER OUR LORD FIRST TAUGHT US.

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, AL LOWED WOULD BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER FROM EVIL, FOR SHINE IS THE KING -- FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY, FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN.

I KNOW MEMBERS OF MY CHURCH KNOW THAT I TEND TO GO OFF THE CUFF FROM TIME TO TIME.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THIS, GOVERNOR, STANDING IN THIS ROTUNDA, AND I'VE NEVER DONE IT, SO I INVITE THOSE WHO KNOW IT TO SING BOLDLY WITH ME, THE DOXOLOGY AS WE CLOSE EVERY WORSHIP SERVICE IN OUR CHURCH.

LET US DO THAT TOGETHER.

♪ PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW ♪ ♪ PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW ♪ ♪ PRAISE HE, OF ALL THE HEAVENLY HOSTS ♪ ♪ PRAISE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST ♪ AMEN.

>> MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU, MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE ON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU, MAY THE LORD LOOK UPON YOU WITH FAVOR AND GIVE YOU PEACE, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.

>> YOU CAN SIT FOR A MINUTE.

OKAY?

WE GOTTA GET SOME MUSICIANS UP HERE.

AND I SAID WE WERE GOING TO TALK TOGETHER.

AND WE MOVED TO SOUTH DAKOTA IN 2000.

AND THE ONE THING THAT HAS STUCK IN MY CRAW SINCE THAT TIME WAS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME UP TO US AND SAY, YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE, ARE YOU?

[ Laughter ] YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T IT BE EASIER IF WE SAID,ER WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

CAN WE START DOING THAT A LITTLE MORE?

[ Applause ] ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE WE GET THE GOVERNOR UP, SHE'S GOING TO LEAD KIND OF A MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SENDING TO SOME FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND FANS IN FRISCO, I PROMISED THAT I WOULD MENTION THE RED SHOES THAT I HAVE ON TODAY, MATCHES EVERYTHING ELSE RED.

IT'S NOT COYOTE.

BUT THEY ARE SOUTH DAKOTA SOYBEAN OIL SHOES.

THE GOVERNOR GOT A PAIR, I GOT A PAIR, I'VE WORN THEM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AGRICULTURE IS NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE.

AND I BELIEVE IN IT FROM HEAD TO TOE.

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] IS THERE A FOOTBALL GAME TOMORROW?

>> YES!

>> ALL RIGHT.

I THINK WE'VE DONE ENOUGH TOGETHERNESS.

WE'VE GOT THE TRUMPETERS OVER HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KNOW THE SDSU SONG.

DO YOU GUYS KNOW IT?

IF YOU WANT TO CLAP AND CHEER AS THEY'RE DOING IT, THE GOVERNOR'S GETTING READY TO DO SOMETHING NEVER DONE BY A GOVERNOR, AND THAT'S LEAD A CHEER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

[ Cheers and applause ] TRUMPETERS!

TAKE IT AWAY!

>> NOW, LISTEN, AT THE END OF THIS, WE'RE ALL TOGETHER, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO STAND UP.

I'M A PROUD JACK RABBIT, I HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE, TOO.

AND TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO GO JACKS, RIGHT?

AT THE END OF THE FIGHT SONG, WE'RE ALL GOING TO SAY, GO BIG, GO BLUE, GO JACKS, YOU READY, BILL?

>> YES.

>> DID YOU STRETCH OUT?

>> NO.

>> OKAY, STRETCH OUT.

HERE WE GO.

TAKE IT AWAY.

♪ TRUMPET MUSIC [ CLAPPING ] ♪ INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND CLAPPING ♪ >> 3, 2, 1.

>> GO BIG, GO BLUE, GO JACKS!

WHOO!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> I ASKED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FOLKS, ONE IS THE VOICE OF THE BISON, WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE FINAL SCORE WOULD BE, AND THEY SAID, IF ANYBODY SCORES OVER 19 POINTS, IT WON'T BE NORTH DAKOTA STATE.

HE WAS SAYING THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD WIN 19-14.

I TALKED TO DANA AND ALSO TALKED WITH ROGER STARKS, AND THEY BOTH SUGGESTED IT WOULD BE A 24-18 GAME.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YOU GO FOR THAT?

WE GOT TO HAVE MORE APPLAUSE THAN THAT.

THIS IS FRISCO!

NOT SAN FRANCISCO!

DID YOU HAVE FUN TODAY?

YOU HAPPY TO SEE OUR OFFICERS BACK?

[ Applause ] ALL RIGHT.

THERE WILL BE A RECEIVING LINE, I'M TOLD, AT 1:30 TO 2:30.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO TO THAT, PROBABLY WON'T GET ANY SPECIAL PICTURES UNLESS YOU'RE CLICKING THEM ON THE WAY BY.

BUT KRISTI AND THE FIRST GENTLEMAN WILL DO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT SOME OF THE OTHER OFFICERS DOWNSTAIRS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SOUTH DAKOTA, NUMBER 1.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> AND THAT COMPLETES THE 2023 INAUGURAL CEREMONY.

SOMEWHAT UNTRADITIONAL INAUGURAL SPEECH FROM THE GOVERNOR.

TOP 10 LIST OF SURPRISES ALA DAVID LETTERMAN.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW, SURPRISES EVERY DAY.

>> IT STARTED WITH COMPLETING THE DUTIES OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ENDED WITH A FOOTBALL GAME.

YEAH.

>> WE GIVE YOU IT ALL HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> WELL, THAT'S KIND OF THE OFFICIAL END OF THE DAY AS FAR AS THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES SWEARING-IN OF THE STATEWIDE OFFICE HOLDERS AND LEGISLATORS.

AND THE FUN BEGINS, AS YOU HEARD, OUR EMCEE TALK ABOUT THE RECEIVING LINE, THAT WILL TAKE PLACE HERE.

THERE WILL BE SNACKS, THEY HAD ICE CREAM LAST TIME.

MAY NEED TO GO CHECK THAT OUT.

>> I THINK WE MAY HAVE TO.

>> YOU ABOUT THE PARTY CONTINUES THIS EVENING.

IT BEGINS WITH WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE CAPITOL BALL.

AND THAT GETS UNDERWAY, ACTUALLY, AT 6:00.

WE'LL JOIN YOU AT 7:30 CENTRAL TIME WHEN A NUMBER OF THE DIGNITARIES WHO WERE SWORN IN ARE WELCOMED TO THE DANCE FLOOR LATER ON THIS EVENING AND THEN THE PARTY CONTINUES OVER AT THE RAMKOTA LATER ON AND BACK TO WORK MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

>> FINGERS CROSSED.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> AND, OF COURSE, WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THAT GRAND MARCH COVERAGE AND ON TUESDAY LIVE COVERAGE OF THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS HERE ON SDPB TV LIVE, THAT STARTS AT 1:00 CENTRAL/NOON MOUNTAIN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10th, FOR THAT STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> THAT'S A LITTLE MORE UNTRADITIONAL COVERAGE THAT PUBLIC BROADCASTING PROVIDES FROM THE CAPITOL.

IT'S FUN.

TO SEE THE INAUGURATION, TO HEAR THE MESSAGES AND THEN ALL OF THE PAGEANTRY AND FUN THAT TAKES PLACE.

BUT WHEN THEY GET BACK TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE STARTING ON TUESDAY, I THINK WE'VE DISCOVERED EVEN NEW WAYS TO KEEP EVERYBODY CONNECTED TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE A LIVESTREAM OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS EACH DAY IN THEIR GENERAL SESSION, ON SD.NET AND OUR SOUTH DAKOTA SDPB CHANNELS.

WE CARRY THOSE LIVE EVERY DAY.

YOU CAN ALSO HEAR EACH AND EVERY COMMITTEE HEARING ON SD.NET BY AUDIO.

AND THAT'S JUST THE START OF THAT.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, JACKIE, WE'RE REALLY LUCKY, I MEAN, SOUTH DAKOTA IS SUCH A UNIQUE PLACE AND YOU AND I ARE LUCKY WITH A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS, WE GET TO SEE A LOT OF IT AS YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER "FOCUS,S AS WE TRAVEL AROUND FOR DAKOTA LIFE, WE SEE THE DIFFERENCES, WE SEE HOW PEOPLE ENJOY THEIR LIFESTYLE IN GRANT COUNTY, UNION COUNTY, OR IN OTHER PARTS OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO AGREE ON.

THERE'S A FOUNDATION THAT NEEDS TO BE LAID SO WE CAN ENJOY THOSE INDIVIDUAL THINGS THAT WE ENJOY IN OUR LIFE.

HAPPENS AT THE TOWNSHIP LEVEL, COMMUNITY, COUNTY, AND IT HAPPENS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO, -- AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME REALLY BIG TOPICS -- TAXES, THERE'S MEDICARE EXPANSION -- BIG THINGS, AND A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT.

THAT FOUNDATION.

SO YOU AND I CAN GO HAVE FUN THE WAY WE LIKE TO.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT STARTS TO UNFOLD HERE IN THIS NEXT WEEK.

SO A NUMBER OF WAYS WHERE YOU CAN STAY IN TOUCH.

WE'RE GLAD TO HELP DO THAT.

AND MANY WAYS, THOSE STREAM THAT IS WE MANAGE, THAT PUBLIC BROADCASTING, HELP OTHER REPORTERS AROUND THE STATE STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, TOO.

SO LET'S FIND SOME THINGS WE CAN AGREE ON AND GET BACK TO HAVING FUN WHEN THE SNOW MELTS.

AND I WANTED TO -- I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS DRIVING HERE.

A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

>> NO KIDDING.

>> I MEAN, OUR ROADS HAVE BEEN POUNDED OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS, AND IT WAS, AT LEAST FROM MY HOME IN BERESFORD, A FLAWLESS DRIVE, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN LATER TONIGHT, AGAIN, THAT GRAND MARCH COVERAGE, AGAIN, HERE IN THE ROTUNDA, FORTUNATELIALWEAR, DOWN THE STAIR -- FORMALWEAR, DOWN THE STAIRCASE, WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING THAT, THAT STARTS AT 7:30 CENTRAL TIME TONIGHT.

IN THE MEANTIME, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, LARRY ROHRER, THE REST OF US HERE AT SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.