Justin Tupper of St. Onge Livestock Auction and Clay Birkeland, Senior Vice-President at Pioneer Bank and Trust in Belle Fourche presented a check for $48,000 to the Ranchers Relief Fund this week. The money resulted from donations made by a variety of businesses, individuals and service organizations to benefit the Ranchers Relief Fund including donations made at St. Onge Livestock sales and through Pioneer Bank and Trust's locations in the Black Hills region.

The Ranchers Relief Fund was established by the S.D. Stockgrowers, S.D. Cattlemen, and S.D. Sheepgrowers through the Black Hills Area Community Foundation for the benefit of the ranch families affected by the Atlas Blizzard in October 2013. The fund has accepted donations totally more than $5million, and nearly $4.2 million of that has been distributed to more than 600 families accounting for losses of more than 40,000 head of cattle, sheep and horses. Further distribution of funds will be announced in April. For more information about the Ranchers Relief Fund, please visit http://www.ranchersrelief.org

–S.D. Stockgrowers Assocation