During Session, I doggedly ignored the chislic debate, deeming the designation of a state nosh too trivial for blog time. But when Freeman hosts its first chislic festival and septuples its size for a Saturday, I guess I have to say something.
Senator Stace Nelson (R-19/Fulton) proposed Senate Bill 96 last winter to “designate chislic as the official nosh of the State of South Dakota.” Rather than ignoring this risible exercise, some legislators found this bill worth fighting about. The nays on SB 96—mostly establishment Republicans, including Senators Peters, Greenfield, Curd, and Bolin and Representatives Rhoden, Hunhoff, Conzet, and Mickelson—signal that opposition may have stemmed mostly from petty distaste for the GOP black-sheep sponsor and famed Scotland Democrat Frank Kloucek, who testified at both Senate and House committee hearings on the bill.
But SB 96 passed, the Governor signed it… and Freeman boosters saw a marketing opportunity. To complement their spring Schmeckfest, Freeman decided to create a summer chislic fest. They hoped maybe 2,000 people would come for cubed meat on sticks; they got something around 8,000. So one could argue that with Senate Bill 96, Senator Nelson created a great economic development opportunity for his constituents in Freeman (and Meridian Corner and other neighboring towns that enjoyed an overflow supper crowd of diners who found the wait too long in Freeman).
Senator Nelson is not hesitating to make that argument:
Numerous other candidates saw the event as a chance for their own political development. Democratic candidate for U.S. House Tim Bjorkman got on the stick:
Democratic candidate for Attorney General Randy Seiler came as the Terminator in his cool shades and wielding his “Swatting Out Crime” flyswatter (no, really, it says that!):
Even the most unqualified candidate on South Dakota’s ballot, Jason Ravnsborg, mustered the good sense to get up to Freeman Saturday:
Note the hashtag: #tcot, as in True Chislic on Twitter.
An eager reader reports a Michelle Lavallee sighting—”seems nice,” says my correspondent. No one in Freeman has reported sightings of Lavallee’s competitor on the ballot for Lieutenant Governor, SB 96 naysayer Larry Rhoden. Hmm… could Lavallee’s love of chislic help the Democratic Sutton/Lavallee ticket gain purchase in Nelson’s hard-Republican District 19 against Rhoden and his boss Kristi Noem?
Bjorkman just lost points. “First annual”. Uhg.
As silly as I thought the chislic bill was/is, I have to admit that this successful festival seems to be a direct result of the bill. And with success like this the festival is likely to continue and probably thrive in future years.
Is it too much to ask for Sen. Nelson to be gracious in victory? For a large man he sure can act small.
Lastly, a bit of advice to Randy Seiler. He looks a bit too casual and retiree-like. He should take his apparel cues from Tim Bjorkman and Jason Ravnsborg and wear a button up shirt. Shorts are ok. I like the Ravnsborg shirt with his logo on it. Seiler should dress like the candidate and not just like a supporter of the candidate. By the same token he should not overdress. The boss doesn’t have to wear a suit every day – as Bill Janklow aptly demonstrated.
Although I love chislic in any flavor, I felt obligated to attend Aebleskiver Days in Tyler MN instead. Closer to Brookings, and Danish to boot. There should be a clearinghouse of summer festivals to avoid these awkward conflicts in the future. Maybe the new voice of government excess (the Trump party) should organize this.
Michelle Lavallee is in photo #37: Photos: South Dakota Chislic Festival argusleader.com
@CAH Great post.
@Rorschach Funny how those dedicated to backbiting bitter politics scream “foul” with little provocation. Both those two “former” Democrats engaged in derisive petty politics in opposition of the bill and begrudged the success of the event in continued pettiness. They absolutely should be called out for their smallness. But please, continue with our own petty smallness in begrudging a well earned victory lap. 🤣
There it is…
Oh! Was she a chislic judge alongside Stace Nelson? If so, then there you go—there’s our ability to work across the aisle. :-)
What’s more petty: Senator Nelson pointing out how his legislation set the stage for an amazingly successful new community event, or LG-nominee Rhoden not coming to sit at the table with Nelson and share in the chislic-judging duties the way his opponent Michelle Lavallee apparently did?
Freeman organizers don’t have to care about the politics of the moment, of course. They’re just thrilled to have 8,000 people come to town and spend money.
But maybe there’s another opportunity here: the fifth annual chislic festival could host all of the statewide candidates… not for a debate, but for a chislic-eating contest! That might motivate more people to run for office!
Nelson has a right to a little gloating. I didn’t think it was excessive. Good for that area finding a way to create more income.
I first ate chislic at the Depot Bar in Aberdeen in the early 70s. I think I liked it. 😎
If Mr. Nelson is still in the politics and hasn’t died from a chislic and salt induced infarction, I would put him as the favorite over Lt. Governor Rhoden in the gluttony contest. There are some in the legislatures who could give both a run, though. Mr. Beal, for one, and for a young fellow that Mr. Cronin can really clean the platter, too. Nobody can touch the records set by Messrs. Gant and Greenfield back in the days they were new to the legislatures.