South Dakota rancher rescued after battling blizzard for more than a day

Ryan Spartz 1280x720.jpg

Photo via Brooklyn Shandell Gran Facebook page

Producers across the Midwest have been pummeled with snow and extreme wintry conditions for more than a week now. The storm is taking a toll on both cattle and producers.

It has left many stranded, whether at home or on highways. For one South Dakota rancher, he was found stuck in a pasture.

Rodney Paulson is an elderly rancher who got stuck after going out to feed his cattle. Thankfully, his neighbor spotted him, but the conditions were too extreme for his equipment to manage. This meant Paulson had to stay in his tractor overnight, but thankfully he had fuel and heat.

The neighbor, Gus Gran, worked endlessly to find someone with big enough equipment to get to Paulson. Then comes in trucker, Ryan Spartz. He was driving a tracked tractor during the storm hoping to get across South Dakota.

Using Spartz’ tractor, they were able to reach Paulson by blowing through snow drifts. They called it “a cakewalk.”

After more than 27 hours stranded in the field, Paulson was rescued.

Story via Carter Schmidt with Keloland

Related Stories
Jan and Erin Johnson also join FarmHER + RanchHER host Kirbe Schnoor on this week’s Dirt Diaries podcast to dig in on entrepreneurship, legacy, and letting go.
It started as a simple service project for 4-H — collect some shoes, help a few people. But for Franklin Parish High School senior Eli Rogers, it has turned into something much bigger.
The Texas country artist donated $100,000 to the Erath County Junior Livestock Association
Pork producers are making Veterans Day a little brighter for Iowa’s military families.
Heidi Exline with American Farmland Trust shares how their Farm to School initiative helps strengthen the connection between local farms and school food programs.
We spotlight a student from Illinois who is helping to launch a middle school chapter and teaching younger students about the impact of agriculture in their communities.

Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
How do you define Texas? It starts with wide open spaces. It’s a beautiful, enchanted land full of amazing people and places. Then there are the cities and towns—big and small—each with its own culture and way of life. When you add these things together, you have an incredible mix of personalities that make Texas what it is today.
“Somewhere West of Wall Street” is simply the most recent addition to the long list of noteworthy accomplishments by the Renaissance cowboy, singer-songwriter, poet, author, and show host Red Steagall. Join Red and his quarter horse, Grey Dog, as they explore the people, places, and stories of the American West.
Experts from the University of Nebraska Medical Center discuss health and how it impacts farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans on this special LIVE call-in show.
“Positively Paula,” is a nationally-syndicated lifestyle/food show that invites viewers to share a moment with their friend: Paula Deen, who we know and love.
Richard “Red” Skelton, reigned as the virtual King of TV Variety Show Comedy throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Airing for a total of of 20 seasons, from 1951 through 1971, Red’s hilarious facial contortions and colorful cast of boneheaded personas – including indept Sheriff Deadeye, inebriated boxer Cauliflower McPugg, hillbilly Clem Kadiddlehopper, and hobo Freddie the Freeloader – kept a whole generation of Americans in stitches during the earliest decades of television. Memorable guest stars included John Wayne, Phyllis Diller, Mickey Rooney, Audrey Meadows, Michael Landon, and many more.