Game, Fish and Parks reports early success for Walk 2 50 and Adventure 250; Custer State Park leads participation

Nick Harrington, speaking for Game, Fish and Parks, told the commission the agency’s 250th‑anniversary initiatives are drawing strong participation.

On Walk 2 50, Harrington reported 201 participants and more than 1,800 submissions to date, and he urged commissioners to help spread the word. "We have 201 participants for over 1,800 submissions," he said. For the Adventure 250 parks theme, he said the program has logged 475 submissions representing about 1,520 participants, with Custer State Park leading as the top park.

Harrington described outreach efforts including sharing flyers and social posts through 88 libraries that participate in a checkout program and said the agency will have 20,000 stickers available at the Great American State Fair. He also noted sponsorships (for example, from South Dakota independent insurance agents) and prize giveaways tied to participation.

The chair thanked Game, Fish and Parks for the work and encouraged commissioners to identify possible sponsors for the state fair pavilion. The commission also discussed staffing for the Great American State Fair: representatives from the Departments of Education, Game, Fish and Parks, Labor and Regulation and offices in the governor’s office will staff shifts, supplemented by volunteers and South Dakotans living in Washington, D.C.

Representative Mike Durbey later provided a separate preview of Rapid City events across July 1–5, including the Air Force Academy band on July 1, a downtown parade and drone show on July 2, concerts and fireworks on July 3–4, and a Real America birthday 5K and artisan marketplace on July 5.

The commission closed the meeting after a final motion to adjourn.