PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Brand Board has announced a new supervisory model for its brand inspection program. Under the new model, district supervisors will oversee 122 brand inspectors in three west river districts.
The livestock ownership area was created by the legislature in 1943. On average, 1.68 million head of livestock are inspected each year.
“Our producers rely on timely and accurate brand inspections to protect their livestock,” said Scott Vance, Brand Board President. “This new model will help ensure consistency across the inspection program and give producers and our brand inspectors a local contact to reach out to with any questions or concerns.”
District 1, supervised by Walt Brindley, includes Harding, Perkins, Butte, Meade, Lawrence, and Pennington counties.
District 2, supervised by Doug Paxton, includes Corson, Dewey, Ziebach, Haakon, Stanley, and Jackson counties.
District 3, supervised by Joel Olivier, includes Custer, Fall River, Oglala Lakota, Bennett, Todd, Mellette, Jones, Lyman, Tripp, and Gregory counties.
The new district supervisors are experienced brand inspectors and are dedicated to the brand inspection program. Producers are encouraged to contact their district supervisor if they have questions about brand inspections in their area. A full list of brand inspectors is available on the Brand Board’s website.