WAGNER, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Although there was a collective sigh of relief when benefits were rolled onto EBT cards across the state, the challenge now is how to stretch that money as far as possible.

One couple is supporting their college-age kids with a partial SNAP payment.

The Bairs are proud landowners in a rural area near Wagner. In remote parts of the state, groceries can be more expensive than in town.

“Like what you pay for a gallon of oil in Yankton, or Mitchell is $7 or $8, but here you gotta pay $15, $16,” Francis Zephier-Bair said.

Digging a well or hauling in water is out of reach.

“So we pay $60 a month to go up to the workout, and that’s where we shower and we do all of that at the gym, and then we use the outhouse,” Francis explained.

Employment can be difficult

See Full Page