Author

Charles Michael Ray

Charles Michael Ray

Charles Michael Ray is a tree farmer in the Black Hills and board chair of the South Dakota Family Forests Association, an organization advocating for family foresters across the state.

COMMENTARY
Forested land in the Black Hills. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

Open space is at the mercy of development and tax policy in the Black Hills

By: - March 28, 2023

We’re all lucky to live in the Black Hills for its outdoor beauty. Those who enjoy driving through the Hills may not realize that in many cases the idyllic meadows, timber stands, and meandering streams on either side of the road are private land, very often designated as agricultural. Tree farms, or family owned and […]