Growing up on my family’s cattle farm just north of Howard, South Dakota, I learned early on that high-quality beef isn’t just about taste—it’s about family, hard work, and doing things the right way.
A few years ago, my wife, Rhonda and I started 605 Meats. We wanted to bring our home-raised beef from our farm to South Dakota tables. Over time, we’ve partnered with local producers who share our values—raising hogs, lambs, and goats with integrity. Every cut is handled with care, because we know it’s going to feed a family just like ours.
We also believe in staying connected. Through free social media platforms like Facebook, we share stories from the farm, showcase our products, and hold giveaways to thank our community. These platforms are affordable because they use anonymous data to advertise effectively, helping my business reach folks who care about quality, local food and keeping their dollars close to home.
People often think data collection is just about tracking, but it’s really about relevance. If we’re running a filet sale, personalization makes sure we don’t advertise steaks to vegetarians. Steak lovers see juicy cuts, vegetarians get wheatgrass — everybody wins.
But here’s the problem: without clear federal rules on digital advertising, small businesses like ours are stuck navigating a confusing patchwork of state regulations when we try to advertise or sell across borders. That kind of red tape increases costs and makes it harder for family-run operations to grow.
Here in South Dakota, we’re fortunate. We have a leader in Senator John Thune, who has supported legislation to combat unfair internet taxes and support small businesses. I hope Representative Johnson and Senator Rounds will join him in supporting a common-sense digital privacy standard that simplifies digital ad standards so small businesses like 605 Meats can keep doing what we do best: feeding families with food we’re proud of.
Rhonda and Cody Hoyer (605 Meats)
Chester, South Dakota