"We strive to build grassroots leadership through community organizing by giving people a strong voice in decisions affecting their quality of life."

Dakota Rural Action has a long history of working to preserve family agriculture, our rural communities, and the environment. When corporations tried to set up factory farms in South Dakota in the early-to-mid1990s, DRA organized local citizens to strengthen their zoning ordinances and prevent this influx of animal factories from hurting their local farmers and communities. When corporate farming just would not leave the state alone, and our state leaders would not lift a finger to protect our farmers, communities, and environment, DRA took Amendment E, a constitutional amendment banning non-family corporate farming, to the people. Amendment E passed in 1998 by nearly 60 percent of the vote. In 2002, groups tried to repeal Amendment E with a new constitutional amendment that would have opened the doors wide for factory farms. DRA opposed that amendment and defeated it at the polls. Since then, Amendment E was lost in a court-battle; however, the fact remains that the people of South Dakota value their family farmers and ranchers, their communities, and their environment.

DRA's work on this issue has taken many forms in addition to Amendment E. From local boards of adjustment and county commissions to the state legislature, our members work to preserve their right to say no, and their right to hold their officials accountable. Whether working to strengthen county zoning ordinances or refer a bad decision made by local governing boards, DRA members work right in their own counties. They also have a long history of going to Pierre and challenging our state's leaders on these matters. In 2003, the legislature passed HB 1281, a bill that would have removed citizens' rights to refer decisions made by boards of adjustment or county commissions. DRA lead the referendum, and over 25,000 signatures were collected to refer the bill to a vote of the people. The legislature knew such an awful bill would be voted down by the people, who had already spoken twice on this issue, and repealed the law during the 2004 legislative session.

Another part of DRA's mission to preserve family agriculture is to foster new ideas among farmers and ranchers. In September 2003, DRA hosted the first “More People, More Profits Conference,” which brought together innovative producers who have beaten the “get big or get out” mind-set. These producers shared their stories and advice with other farmers, helping them see that farming can be profitable without using the industrial farming model or a huge influx of capital.

Finally, DRA's work on livestock market reform, mandatory country of origin labeling and trade also serve the purpose of preserving family agriculture by shaping national and international ag policy.