Meet Kristi Kristi Noem, Republican, was elected to the District 6 House of Representatives in the fall of 2006. Kristi currently serves as the Assistant Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, to which she was elected at the beginning of her second term in 2008. Kristi, 38, lives with her husband, Bryon, and three children, Kassidy, Kennedy, and Booker, on a ranch near Castlewood, where the family raises Angus cattle and also shows Quarter Horses. Kristi actively farmed with her family for 17 years, owned and operated a hunting operation, and helped manage the family restaurant. Representative Noem graduated from Hamlin High School in 1990 and has lived in the area her entire life. Kristi began her college education at Northern State, later transferring to SDSU and taking classes at Mount Marty in Watertown as well. The unexpected death of her father required Kristi to return to the family ranch full time. In recent years, Kristi has continued to pursue her degree in Political Science by taking classes at SDSU. Kristi has served on various boards and committees, including the South Dakota State Farm Service Agency State Committee, Watertown High School Rodeo Committee, Derby Downs Improvement Project Committee, Commission for Agriculture in the 21st Century, and the Commission for Limited Resource Producers in Washington, DC. Noem has also served on the South Dakota Soybean Association board for 4 years and one as its treasurer. Awards she has received include 1997 South Dakota Outstanding Young Farmer and 2003 Young Leader award for the state of South Dakota. Noem has spoken at numerous events through the Midwest on various topics including, agriculture, family relations, women in agriculture, and farm safety. Noem has been a 4-H leader for 12 years and has served as Hamlin County’s 4-H Leaders Association President. She enjoys hunting, and raising cattle and horses.