AG Appreciation Banquest to Honor Painters

16 Oct AG Appreciation Banquest to Honor Painters

BOWMAN, N.D. (October 10, 2024) – The annual Agriculture Appreciation Banquet will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, and will honor the 2024 Farmer/Rancher of the Year, Joe and Cindy Painter. This banquet is free, and an open invitation is extended to all, especially those in Bowman, Slope, and Harding Counties. Not only will the Painters be recognized, but agriculture as the backbone of our communities will be celebrated.

The annual celebration is hosted by Bowman Area Chamber of Commerce. Join the celebration at the 4 Seasons Pavilion in Bowman, ND. The social will begin at 5:00 pm with an open bar, a free dinner at 6:00 pm, the award presentation will start at 7:15 pm, and will be followed by evening entertainment by Calli Thorne.

The Painter Family started their 6th generation legacy in Buffalo, SD in 1895 when Joe’s Great Grandfather, Lewis Levi, homesteaded a quarter of an acre on the banks of the Little Missouri River. Joe ranched with his grandfather-Joe and his father-Paul early on in life. He graduated from Harding County high school in 1978 and attended BHSU from 1978-1981 where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. Cindy, originally from Wyoming, also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from BHSU in 1980. They were married in 1983 and have three children: Jessica, Paul Jay, and Joey. The three children helped on the ranch growing up and all three went on with their education to receive master’s degrees. PJ pursued a career in Law and is married and living in Cincinnati Ohio working as an in-house attorney. Joey is ranching in Broadus, MT with her husband, Taylor, and their three children (Landon, Carson, and Shay). Jessica married Casey Holmes, from Wisconsin whom she met in college, and came back to help on the ranch and today are full partners with the help of their three children (Tommi, Trey, and Chase).

The Painter Family is constantly working on improving all aspects of the ranch from hay fields, water tanks, stockades, tree belts, waterlines and cross fences. Throughout the years they have built several stockades and laid miles of pipeline for freshwater tanks to every pasture. They have subdivided or cross fenced most of their pastures to improve grazing management and practice proper grazing rotation. They have put in several tree belts on the ranch to help with cattle protection. Together with their family they have grown in acres and knowledge to make their ranch prosperous.

Throughout the years Joe and Cindy have been awarded several accomplishments:

-Harding County Conservation Family of the Year in 2001

-Casey Tibbs Ranch Family Award in 2009

-Pioneer Ranch Award in 2020 from the Black Hills Stock Show Foundation

-Painter Family was inducted to the BHSU Hall of Fame in 2012 as the Legacy Family

Joe, Cindy, and family have always been a huge part of their community. Joe has served and participated as a Harding County Commissioner, SD State Stockgrowers Director, Harding County Stockgrowers President, Harding County Activities Club President, Ladner Church President, and helped with many more organizations. Cindy served and participated as a Harding County EMT, Ladner Church Sunday School leader and teacher, Ladner Church Secretary, Bullock Community Club Officer, and helped with many more organizations. Both Joe and Cindy have been to Washington DC three different times with the Farmers Union Fly In Group to help advocate for the ranchers and farmers in our area.

It is an honor to recognize Joe and Cindy, and their many hours devoted to the ag industry. Please join in the celebration at the 2024 Ag Appreciation Banquet. The agriculture business is at the very heart of Bowman, Slope, and Harding Counties. Help us show them all just how much we appreciate the long hours and hard work they put in. The life of a farmer/rancher is never easy, but the gift they give to all of us is worth it.

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