Kelsey Scott is a 4th generation cow producer and 125th generation land steward at DX Ranch, on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Kelsey is a Lakota woman, citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, Chief Strategy Officer for the Intertribal Agriculture Council, owner of a direct-to-consumer regenerative beef operation DX Beef, part of the education programs her family runs, a featured presence in the documentary film Common Ground, the first Native American student to give the student address at a commencement ceremony for South Dakota State University, and daughter of the first Native American to head the Farm Service Agency, and all of these roles have been to significant and growing effect.

There is an extraordinary regeneration of land, culture, and regional food systems underway in this country. Largely, it seems, flying under the radar - along with its empowering federal government support. The successes range from Kelsey’s own business, to global premiums being achieved for tribal enterprises, to a new Intertribal Food Business Centre being set up to model that food system regeneration – for the benefit of all. Meanwhile, Kelsey’s father Zach Ducheneaux continues to lead the Farm Service Agency, just landing his key legacy piece to date. And the flourishing return of native grasses on their land continues apace, as if singing a tune of gratitude for it all.

We first met Kelsey and family in Montana, at the CREATE program reunion featured in ep. 215. We talk about her unlikely presence and subsequent transformation in that program too. Then come full circle with her beautiful music story.

This episode has chapter markers and a transcript (available on most apps now too).

Recorded 3 August 2024.

Tune into a tour of Kelsey's place here.

Title slide: Kelsey during our chat (pic: Olivia Cheng).

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