Last Wednesday, a crowd of community members filled the historic Strand Theatre for the premiere of “Dakota Life: Greetings from Britton,” a special installment of the docuseries produced by South Dakota Public Broadcasting. The episode, marking the launch of the 2024-2025 season, spotlights Britton alongside other South Dakota towns, sharing captivating stories about the state’s unique people, places, and traditions.
The episode was introduced by Laura Rasmussen, Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Northeast part of the state. Rasmussen explained that this would be her first time watching the episode but she had been told it is beautiful.
And beautiful it was—both in its visuals and the heartfelt stories it shared. The episode opened with a stunning shot of a glacial lake, where wildlife peacefully enjoyed the water, setting the tone for a series of engaging segments about the Britton area.
Britton Mayor Clyde Fredrickson and his impressive achievements took center stage early in the program, followed by the love story of Ed and Maggie Jerde. A lively segment spotlighted the Buckhorn Rodeo, featuring interviews with descendants of the families who founded it, capturing both the history and excitement of the beloved event.
Another highlight was the recent Relay for Life Pie Auction held at Todd’s Tavern, organized by the Archie’s Turtles team. The crew even stepped into Carol Jones’ kitchen, where she shared her expert pie-making tips. Episode producer Tim Davison embraced the spirit of the event by baking an apple pie himself, which, as the program revealed, fetched an impressive price at the auction.
The episode concluded with a deeply moving segment that left many viewers teary-eyed. It told a story well-known to locals but presented it with a fresh perspective that delivered a heartfelt conclusion to the special program.
When the credits rolled, cries of “well done,” and “very nice” could be heard throughout the theatre. Davison spoke briefly, asking the crowd if they got all the facts presented in the episode correct and also invited suggestions. A few more stories were shared, and everyone was extremely complimentary about the program.
For over 25 years, the Dakota Life series has celebrated stories that make South Dakota unique, one community at a time. Other towns already featured this season include Burke, McLaughlin and Box Elder. Upcoming programs will be about Elk Point, Garretson, Wessington Springs, Pine Ridge and Faith.
The Britton episode will air on SDPB Thursday at 8 p.m. and will go up on YouTube and other online portals afterwards.
Temperature: 18°F Town: Britton, SD
Pressure: 1015 hPa
Wind: 5 mph
