All audience members of Tuesday morning’s assembly rose from their seats as United States House of Representative’s Member, Kristi Noem, walked across stage to discuss the importance of female leadership.
After being greeted with a round of applause, Noem began her speech by discussing her background. Coming from a small town in northeastern South Dakota, she always dreamed of becoming a farmer.
“When I was a kid, I was definitely a tomboy,” she said. “I would go outside for the day and never want to go back indoors.”
While Noem was attending college, studying agriculture in hopes of going back to the family farm, she received the unexpected news that her father, at age 49, died in a grain bin accident. Noem said the accident took a major toll on the family, and they had to pull each other together to try to keep the family farm afloat.
Noem said she became interested in government when her family was forced to pay thousands of dollars to the IRS for her father’s death. The ordeal convinced her to focus her attention toward making good decisions in Washington that give all South Dakotans equal opportunities, she said.
Noem stated she is passionate when it comes to women in leadership roles.
“Girls State is very important because it gives young women unique experiences to hone in on their drive and confidence to succeed in leadership,” she said. “At Girls State, delegates can build relationships with others who have similar goals and bring each other up to new levels of character.”
Bailey Zerfoss of Minneapolis took away a significant message from Noem’s speech. “As women, we should not be afraid to step up and lead,” Zerfoss said. “Even if we are from a small town, we can do anything that we set our minds to.”
Another Minneapolis delegate, Natalie Sneed has previously attended one of Noem’s leadership conferences. “Noem is an inspiration for girls interested in government because she motivates others to believe in themselves and their potentials, and she values hard work and perseverance.”
To grow as a leader, Noem recommends becoming a person who says yes.
“It is easy to let opportunities pass you by,” she said. “Instead of being the girl that says, ‘Why would I do that?’ be the girl that says ‘Why would I not do that?’”