"I'm so glad to see so much expertise here," Gov. Daugaard told attendees. "But we don’t want to use this workshop to just clap each other on the back. We want to use this to think about how to do things better."

The Governor noted the appropriateness of the two-day workshop being held in Deadwood, which earned its name from a pine beetle infestation back in the 1800s. Gov. Daugaard mentioned that the worst beetle outbreak in South Dakota history has taken place in recent years, but that the state's work with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has successfully battled the problem through active management efforts.

"Proper land management is critical," he said. "It helps control fire danger and supports economic growth and tourism. The Black Hills have been a great success story for active management.  Despite vibrant timbering, it is still a beautiful forest, attractive to recreationalists. And this has worked because of the great relationships developed over time between the state and USFS."

The workshop is the third in a series hosted across the West by the Western Governors' Association for the central policy initiative of WGA Chair and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

The initiative is designed to examine forest management programs and investigate collaborative forest landscape restoration. The workshops will play a central role in collecting information that will position Western Governors to recommend and promote congressional efforts to improve forest management authorities.

Here's where to watch videos from both days of the workshop:

• Roundtable: The South Dakota Experience: Greg Josten, State Forester, South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA); Jim Neiman, Neiman Enterprises Inc.; Karl Jensen, South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts; Bob Paulson, The Nature Conservancy.
• Roundtable: Prescribed Fire As Management Tool: Jay Esperance, SDDA Wildland Fire Director; David Steffen, Mid Missouri River Prescribed Burn Association; Allen Rowley, USFS; Mary Zimmerman, Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board.
• Roundtable: Co-mingled Lands: Ryan Brunner, Commissioner of South Dakota School and Public Lands; Dan Svingen, USFS; Lori “Chip” Kimball, BLM; Chance Davis; Eric Jennings, Hollow Valley Ranch.
• Roundtable: Agency Culture Challenges: Christine Dawe, USFS; Mike Wood, High Ridge Leadership; Greg Josten, South Dakota State Forester; Mark Van Every, USFS, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor.
• Case Study: Active Management and Innovative Markets: Kelsey Delaney, Council of Western State Foresters and Western Forestry Leadership Coalition; Dave Ollila, Sheep Field Specialist, South Dakota State University Extension; Jeff Parrett, Wheeler Lumber, LLC; Steve Kozel, USFS, District Ranger, Black Hills National Forest.
• Roundtable: Strengthening Collaboration and Collaborative Processes: Bill Smith, SDDA; Craig Bobzien, USFS Black Hills National Forest Supervisor - Retired; Dave Thom, Custer Conservation District & Coordinator of the MPB Working Group; Ben Wudtke, Black Hills Forest Resource Association; Nancy Trautman, Pennington County Commissioner.