During Ronald Reagan’s first inaugural address in 1981, he spoke of the significance of American values. He said, “it is time for us to realize that we’re too great a nation to limit ourselves to smalldreams…Letusbeginan era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage,andourstrength.And let us renew our faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams.”

This Fourth of July marks America's 247th birthday. And yetmodernpoliticianstoooften struggle to rely on our founding values. They decide that small dreams are good enough – small dreams like simply throwing more government money at challenges that we face. But, as President Reagan said, America is too great a nation for that.

In South Dakota, we do not limit ourselves. We dream heroic dreams. We are the state thatcarvedanentiremountain in dedication to America, our leaders,andourFreedom.And we continue to dream heroic dreams, today.

As Governor, it is my job to make sure that our kids and grandkids have the knowledge theyneedtocontinuethelegacy of greatness we have in South Dakota. The best way to do this is to make sure we pass downourtraditionalAmerican values.

SouthDakotahasembodied the American values of hard work and Freedom for generations. We do not need to renew our determination, courage, and strength because we have neverlostit.Weheldtruetothat South Dakota grit and grind through a global pandemic, and we came out stronger than ever. We did not settle for the small dream of just surviving throughthepandemic, we strived for the heroic dream of thriving through it. Now, with the lowest unemployment in the history of the nation and open jobs to spare, South Dakota is dreaming big once again. We are showing the rest of America that Freedom Works Here. Keeping our state open worked, allowing folks to exercisepersonalresponsibility worked, and staying true to traditional American values worked.

Sincelaunchingournationwide workforce recruitment campaignjustoveraweekago, we’vereceivedmorethan1,650 inquiries from folks who want tocallSouthDakotahome.People are seeing South Dakota’s success – and they want to be a part of it.

Our unique success is because of our unique people. South Dakotans haven’t left traditiononthesidelines.Rather, we’ve embraced tradition andproventhattrueAmerican values still have a place in modern society.

But what really sets South Dakota apart from the rest of the nation is our faith and our hopeforthefuture.InMatthew 17, Jesus said, “if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Nothing can ever be impossible for South Dakotans because we have a strong faith. Our faith is what gets us through hard times – our faith in God, in people, and in the founding values of this nation. And our faith allows us to have such great hope for the future.

South Dakota will always dreamheroicdreams–because America is simply too great a nation for us to offer anything less.