Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

First things first: This newsletter is brought to you by SD CEO East and the Women's Visionary Summit.

  • Don't miss the fifth annual Women's Visionary Summit from SD CEO East Women's Business Center. The summit will take place Aug. 6 at the Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown. All speakers are women who own businesses in South Dakota, and their talks will focus on the theme of "Profit with Purpose," sharing their insights about building a revenue-generating business with intentional purpose. Learn more and get your tickets here.

Weather check: Sunny and hot

This week, we're one step closer to knowing the next South Dakota governor after the Republican primary run-off. Plus, many of you might remember our 2025 "A Little Help" beneficiary Owen's Outfitters – well, they're popping off right now. We checked in to see how they've grown in the last year. Plus, don't miss a whole bunch of Super Simplified Stories and events to take you through the week.

And now, news:

SODAK SIMPLIFIED

Gov. Larry Rhoden to face off against Dan Ahlers in 2026 governor's race

By Seth Tupper, South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden won the Republican Party’s nomination for governor Tuesday in a runoff election, earning the chance to seek his own four years in office after filling out the remainder of former Gov. Kristi Noem’s last term.

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden attends the Sept. 9, 2025, grand opening of High Plains Processing in Mitchell. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

The Associated Press called the race at 8:08 p.m. Central with Rhoden receiving about 70% of the votes in partial returns, and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden receiving about 30%. 

Doeden and Rhoden made it into the runoff by finishing first and second in a four-way June 2 primary election. Nobody in that race reached 35%, which triggered the first use of a 1985 state law requiring a runoff when no candidate meets that threshold in a statewide primary.

A turnout percentage for the runoff was not yet available, but advance voting numbers were roughly equal to the primary, which ended with 43% turnout among Republicans. Only registered Republicans were allowed to vote in the runoff.

Rhoden will face Democratic nominee Dan Ahlers, a former state legislator, in the Nov. 3 general election. The last time South Dakota elected a Democratic governor was 52 years ago in 1974.

Full story here via South Dakota Searchlight

COMMUNITY

A year after expansion, Owen's Outfitters keeps growing

Simplified: Owen's Outfitters, a nonprofit medical device lending library, is serving about three times as many people today as they were just over a year ago. The organization has also gained recent prominence as the beneficiary of the Lallycooler Music Festival, and Executive Director Mike Turner was recently recognized by the Thunderbirds. Here's the latest on this fast-growing nonprofit.

Why it matters

  • Owen's Outfitters opened in 2022 in honor of Owen Turner, son of founders Mike and Eleanor. Owen was born with a chromosomal abnormality that required lifelong medical attention and various equipment – much of which was denied by insurance. He died at age 12 in September 2021.
  • The Turner family started Owen's Outfitters to help ensure people have access to the medical equipment they need. They accept donations, and then pass along that equipment to anyone who needs it without an extensive application process or income verification.
  • Owen's Outfitters is also keeping literal tons of medical equipment out of the landfill. This year alone, the nonprofit has saved 84 tons of equipment from being thrown out and given out $3.7 million worth of medical supplies. It's all made possible by people donating the things they're not using.
"It's not like we (as a nonprofit) are donating millions of dollars," Turner said. "It's all of these people who have said, 'I wanna pay it forward. I don't need this thing anymore. I want another family to have it.'"

Tell me more about the growth

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

You should nominate women you know for these awards

This is a paid piece from EmBe.

Simplified: More than 50 years ago, when Sylvia Henkin wanted to start an event to recognize women in the Sioux Falls community, her male counterparts told her, "you'll run out of women." That hasn’t happened yet. In fact, every year there is more momentum for nominations than in the previous year. Today, The EMBES: A Tribute to Women is the longest-standing award ceremony in the area, and EmBe this week opened nominations for the 53rd annual premier fundraiser event.

Why it matters

  • The EMBES is an opportunity not only to recognize the women who lead our community, but also to celebrate EmBe's work empowering women in all stages of life and business through a variety of programs. Funds raised from the event directly support EmBe's work helping women and families.
  • Last year, the organization saw a record number of nominations with a total of 74 nominees. That included Marcela Salas, who was the winner of the "Young Women of Achievement" award in 2025. Salas is the co-owner of Salas Salsas and downtown restaurant BibiSol.
  • For Salas, and echoed by other nominees, receiving the nomination made her feel seen for all of the hard work she's put into her business and into the broader community.
"Often it's hard for women to really receive their flowers," Salas said. "I've always struggled with imposter syndrome ... so community recognition was just so beautiful. It was healing for me to have that recognition and know there are people in the community who care about me and care about what I'm doing."

Tell me more

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Branch and leaf drop-off open through Aug. 9. Following some wild thunderstorms last weekend, the city has opened free branch and leaf drop-off sites. The drop sites are located at Chambers Street, near the city’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 1015 E. Chambers St., and Lyon Boulevard, 200 Lyon Boulevard, south of the W. H. Lyon Fairgrounds near West 12th Street. They'll be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 9.
  • Last chance to weigh in on this Sioux Falls park. The city is hosting its final public meeting before moving into the final design phase for the new Wild Meadows Park, located in northeast Sioux Falls at 5200 E. Brennan Dr. You can share your input on what the park should include at a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Oak View Library. Learn more background on the new park on the city's website.
  • Help build Sioux Falls' Monopoly. "Mr. Monopoly" was in Sioux Falls this week to ask for community feedback for a Sioux Falls edition of the popular board game. Submit businesses for consideration using this form. The game is expected to be available next spring.
  • Nominate young professionals. The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce this week opened nominations for the annual 4 under 40 awards, which recognize four individuals under the age of 40 who are making an impact on the Sioux Falls community through professional achievement, leadership and service. And hey, I'm just happy the under-40 crowd is considered "young." Nominate folks today on the Chamber website.
  • Eat some ice cream this week. It's Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, which means $1 from every Dairy Queen Blizzard sold will support Sanford Children's Hospital. Not hungry? Snag a coupon for a Blizzard and enjoy it at your leisure. Find more details on Sanford's website.

EVENTS

Stuff to do: July 29-Aug. 4

  • Meet your neighbors. Tuesday evening is National Night Out, and several Sioux Falls neighborhood associations are celebrating with events in local parks across the city. Find your local neighborhood associations on this map, and then check out if there's an event happening. For sure there's stuff going on downtown, in University Heights (my 'hood), in Whittier, in Terrace Park and likely several more.
  • Knock me into a dunk tank. The annual Taste the Goodness fundraiser supporting the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House is taking place Saturday evening, and yours truly is taking a shift in the dunk tank. Your ticket gives you access to an evening of good food and drinks, as well as a chance to humiliate your favorite local reporter for a good cause. Snag your tickets here (and be nice to me).
  • Hang out at the fair. The Sioux Empire Fair kicks off this weekend with fireworks Friday night and live music every night. See the full lineup of events and exhibits here.
  • Get folked. The Sioux River Folk Festival is going down at Newton Hills State Park this weekend with three days of live music, including Grammy-nominated bluegrass innovators Michael Daves & Jacob Jolliff. It's the 46th year of the event, and you can find details and the full lineup here.
  • Raise a glass, renaissance style. A Midsummer Night's Cocktail event is happening Friday night at Icon Lounge. It'll be an evening of candlelit cocktail theatre "inspired by Shakespeare’s wit, romance, and mischief." Your ticket includes four themed cocktails throughout the evening. Details and tickets here.
  • Check out some rummage sales. The 9th Annual McKennan Park Rummages event takes place this weekend with about two dozen houses participating (so far). Learn more and check out the map here.

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

How you can help improve literacy rates for Sioux Falls kids
A new program will give the community a direct way to support early literacy in Sioux Falls. Here’s what you need to know about Community Literacy Allies.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Simplified: Mayor-ickson’s first week
Your TL;DR headlines for the week.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
As Southeast Tech grows, students face wait lists, housing shortages
Southeast Technical College has seen a more than 20% increase in student enrollment over the last decade. That’s meant new buildings, new programs and new faculty – but it’s also meant challenges when it comes to student housing and wait lists for popular degrees.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

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Thank you

Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, The Premiere Playhouse, The Good Night Theatre Collective and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.

Oh, by the way

Your feedback is extremely helpful – hit the reply button and send any news tips, typos, complaints, compliments or cups of coffee my way. ❤️

Special thanks to SD CEO East and the Women's Visionary Summit!

Join entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs on Aug. 6 at the fifth annual Women's Visionary Summit for a day of women business owners speaking about the innovative spirit empowering the South Dakota entrepreneur community. Details and tickets here.