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helping on the farm with the cattle, horses and goats – she works full-time as a special education teacher for the Bridgewater Emery School District. She is a graduate of Dakota Wesleyan University. In addition to their cow-calf operation, beef cows, and putting up hay, Tom is also a “commission man,” independently buying western feeder cattle to place on feedlots and then helping to market finished cattle to beef processors. Jen is happy and content with their life as it is right now, but she said Tom is more driven. He replied that he isn’t “raging” like a rich man who wants to keep his riches, but rather he is raging to secure what they have. “When I came here to South Dakota and saw what was happening, I thought ‘What do I have to do to keep all this in place?’ I’m not raging for something big, but I just want to be able to rage long enough to secure what we have, so that my kids can do what they want to.” Tom concluded, “To live here is just awesome. I’ve lived a lot of great places and seen a lot of great things, but this place has got its own treasures.”

Cash Martinez showing a Boer goat at the South Dakota State Fair FFA show.

BEHIND EVERY MEAL IS A SUCCESSFUL FARMING OPERATION

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HORSES AT SUNSET

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN BEGEMAN.

A PASSION FOR HORSES AND THEIR YOUNG RIDERS

By Bob Fitch

Deb McGuire is wellknown in equine circles for producing riders and horses who win national championships in Arabian horse competitions.

She’s proud of those champions, but she doesn’t keep a running tab on the total number of champions she’s helped produce. Her passion is connecting kids with horses. “I don’t care whether they just want to ride in lessons, go trail riding, or go to shows. I want to teach the kids to be committed and responsible and learn how to ride.” Deb believes it’s more important for youth to have a “grassroots experience” than simply having an expensive horse purchased by their parents. Her goal is to put great riders on great horses.

Deb and her husband, Keith, operate Performance Plus Arabians several miles west of Sioux Falls on 41st Street.

Deb described Performance Plus as a private training facility with a riding lesson program. “I know I’ve reached a lot of people and helped a lot of kids gain confidence and give meaning to their passion. It’s especially good for the kids who are real introverted, it helps them come out. It helps them learn how to communicate,” she said.

“The other thing that has really come into focus for me is expanding God’s kingdom through horse therapy, some way or another. It’s been good for me, my whole life.” Persons