Wagner family describes food insecurity in rural areas

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 to find.

“There are no jobs, no positions, especially for people like our age,” Francis said.

SNAP benefits were reduced when their kids went to college, then cut again this month.

“We got cut from $700 to $300 to $117,” Francis said.

Help came from a neighboring tribe, a local grocer, and their own tribe.

“The $200 from the Ponca tribe of Nebraska, we got $100 from Buche’s that went through the Yankton Sioux tribe, and then we got $117 on our food stamps,” Rob Bair said.

Most of it went to their kids, who need to find their own food three days of the week.

“So over $300 of that we took up to our children because our belief is that our children eat first,” Rob said.

The Bairs will barter with neighbors and make do with what they have, while they pour into the next generation to have a better life.

“But I just talked to my daughter and she said, ‘Dad, are you guys okay? Are you gonna be okay?’” Rob said.

There’s venison from hunting, but fresh fruits and vegetables are hard to come by.

“And we will sacrifice. I guarantee we’ll go with I’ll. I’ll go without,” Rob said.

Dakota News Now spoke with the Department of Social Services about when the remainder of the November benefits will be rolled onto qualifying South Dakotans’ EBT cards.

A spokesperson said they’re following the federal government for updates on the timing for more assistance.