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Signs and Symbols of South Dakota

State seal

The state seal serves as a symbol of life in South Dakota. It depicts the state's diversity of commerce and resources: farming, ranching, industries, lumbering, manufacturing and mining. It bears the motto: "Under God the People Rule." The seal was adopted in 1885, four years before the state was admitted to the Union.

State Flag

The South Dakota flag features the state seal surrounded by a golden blazing sun in a field of sky blue. Letters reading "South Dakota, The Mount Rushmore State" -- the official state nickname -- are arranged in a circle around the sun. The official pledge to the state flag is: "I pledge loyalty and support to the flag and state of South Dakota, land of sunshine, land of infinite variety." The pledge to the flag and to the state may not preempt, replace or be recited before the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States.

State Flower

The pasque is the state flower. It is also called the May Day flower. It grows wild throughout the state, and its blooming is one of the first signs of spring in South Dakota. A member of the buttercup family, the pasque is a small, lavender flower.

State Insect

South Dakota is a leader in honey production. In recognition of its importance to the state's farm economy, the honey bee (Apis Mellifera L.) was adopted as the state insect in 1978. Our mild, clear clover honey is often shipped out-of-state to be blended with darker honey.

State Capitol

Marble balustrades, scagiola pillars, stained glass skylights and mosaic floors lavish the rotunda ofSouth Dakota's state capitol in Pierre. Today, this striking limestone structure looks much as it did when it was completed in 1910 and is one of the most fully restored state capitols in the United States.

State Tree

The Black Hills spruce, a member of the evergreen family, is the state tree. The pyramid-shaped tree is characterized by dense foliage of short, blue-green needles and slender cones.

State Bird

The Chinese ring-necked pheasant is the state bird. It was introduced to South Dakota in 1898 and is easily recognized by its colorful plumage. It is also known for its delicious meat. Since it is primarily a Midwestern bird, pheasant is considered a delicacy in many other states.

State Song

"Hail, South Dakota" is the official state song, adopted in 1943. It is a marching song composed by Deecort Hammitt.

Hear the MIDI filehere. A RealAudio version will be coming soon.

State Animal

The state animal is the coyote, a natural predator of small game and rodents. The adaptable coyote hunts the open prairies and fields over the entire state, but occurs in greatest numbers along the Missouri River, its tributaries and in the Black Hills.

State Fish

The walleye is the state fish, as well as the most sought-after game fish in South Dakota. National sportswriters who have fished the Missouri River reservoirs and the Glacial Lakes now proclaim South Dakota the "Walleye Capital" of America.

State Fossil

The triceratops, a horned dinosaur of the late Cretaceous period (approximately 68 million years ago), is the state fossil. It was a vegetation-eating dinosaur and used its horns for defense. Discovered in Harding County in 1927, the skeleton is now on display in the Museum of Geology in Rapid City.

State Mineral

Rose quartz, mined in the southern Black Hills, is the state mineral. It was discovered near Custer in the late 1880s. It is used primarily for ornaments and jewelry.

State Soil

Soil is the foundation of all life on Earth. Everything (the food we eat, the shelter we live in, the clothes we wear, and the oxygen we breathe) comes, directly or indirectly, from the soil.

In South Dakota, scientists estimate that it takes Mother Nature 500 years to form ONE INCH of topsoil.  Topsoil in our state ranges from 10-12 inches thick in the east to 5-7 inches thick in the western part of the state. The range is due to climatic differences.

To honor this natural resource, the South Dakota Legislature made Houdek (pronounced hoo-deck) the official state soil in 1990.  Houdek soil is not found in any other state. It was chosen because it and closely-related soils occur on more than two million acres across South Dakota.

The following entities have additional general and/or technical information on South Dakota soils. To learn more about soils or our State Soil, Houdek, visit the following links.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, South Dakota.
       http://www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov/soi/soilinfo.htm

Soil and Water Conservation Society, South Dakota Chapter
       http://www.sdswcs.org

The Professional Soil Scientists Association of South Dakota.                  
        http://www.pssasd.org 

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Quality Institute
       http://soils.usda.gov/sqi

State Gemstone

The state gemstone is the Fairburn agate, a semiprecious stone first discovered near Fairburn, S.D. The stone is found primarily in an area extending from Orella, Neb., to Farmingdale, S.D. It is used in jewelry and is a favorite of rock collectors.

State Jewelry

Black Hills gold, the state jewelry, is created and manufactured exclusively in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Each design incorporates the traditional motif of grapes and leaves in tri-color combinations of green, rose and yellow gold.

State Slogan

The state slogan -- "Great Faces. Great Places." -- was introduced in 1990. It refers to the famous faces of Mount Rushmore and all the other interesting people and places across South Dakota. The slogan is seen on license places, promotional materials and some road signs

A South Dakota Greeting:
"Hau Kola!"

South Dakota is the land of the famous Sioux or Dacotah Indians. Dakota Territory and later South Dakotans were named for the tribe. Their greeting, "Hau Kola!" means "Hello, Friend." We extend that greeting to you and with it a warm invitation to visit and enjoy the many scenic and recreational attractions that you'll find across South Dakota.

State Dessert: Kuchen

Kuchen
1 package dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
¼ cup lukewarm water
2 cups warm milk
2 eggs
½ cup shortening
6-8 cups flour
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in lukewarm water. Combine milk and eggs, beat well. Add shortening, beat again. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt and add first mixture to it. Mix well. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic, sprinkle with a little flour at a time. Put in warm place to rise until double in bulk. Divide dough into 8 equal parts. Roll each piece to fit a pie plate. Let rise 20 minutes. Put fruit on top—can use apples, peaches, raisins or prunes.

Filling:
2 cups sweet cream or sour cream
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
½ teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon

Top the fruit with cream filling. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until brown.
 

State Sport: Rodeo

Rodeo traces its roots to the Old West when cowboys gathered after a cattle roundup and celebrated with informal competitions showing off their horsemanship and roping skills. It's fast-paced action when the professional cowboys take the arena! They compete in categories such as calf roping, bull riding, steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding. Rodeo is South Dakota’s official state sport and can be found in arenas through the state and throughout the year.