South Dakota, a state that is often overlooked, continually made fun of, and occasionally mentioned on TV. But the funny thing is, as much as people want to make fun of good ol’ SD, they sure don’t know a lot about us. Here are the most common questions most South Dakotans have probably heard once or twice:

1. Do you guys ride buffalo around?

Hmm I don’t know. You should probably ask the four people who were attacked by bison at Custer State Park this year if they ride buffalo. You do not want to try to take a selfie with a buffalo let alone ride it. We have vehicles, motorcycles, scooters – you name it, we got it.

2. Do you guys have color TV? Or internet?!

YES. If Osama Bin Laden could get Wi-Fi in the cave he was hiding out in, don’t you think we have access to the internet? You may not think that this is a valid question that we get, but trust me, it is. We have all the same technology as the other 50 states; except butter, we still churn that ourselves - kidding. You might not even know that 25 of 31 NFL facilities use display boards that are made right here in South Dakota and Minnesota.

3. How do you heat the tepees you live in?

Once again, we have actual real towns with houses, trailers, apartments, etc. I mean I don’t personally know anybody that lives in a tepee, but if I find someone I’ll make sure and ask.

4. Oh, so you farm?

Although South Dakota is made up of many farmers (and we thank you!), not all of us farm. We have many universities and tech schools, one even visited by the President, where you can major in anything from advertising to nursing to electrical engineering.

5. So you must be a Republican?

A lot of people are living blue in a typically red state. With roughly only 46% of people registered as Republicans, this leaves the remaining 54% as registered Democrats or Independents.

6. What do you do for fun?

What don’t we do for fun? Yes, we do the typical "country things" like bonfires, gravel road cruises, hunting, etc. But we also have some big cities with a great night life – like Sioux Falls or Rapid City. Speaking of Rapid City, there’s never a shortage of fun things to do when you’re in the Black Hills. You can visit Mt. Rushmore, go hiking, spend the day out at Pactola Lake or if you’re feeling really crazy you could attend the Sturgis rally.

7. Is it winter all year long?

Sometimes we wish it was. Our summers can get unbearably hot, and I’m not talking dry heat. I’m talking 90° out, but feels like 110° because of the 76% humidity in the air. It’s enough to make a person lose their breath; but then again so is the -20 degree winters. Ya win some, ya lose some.

8. Is anyone important even from South Dakota?

Um, only everybody’s favorite Price is Right host, Bob Barker! Not to mention January Jones, Brock Lesnar, Adam Vinatieri, Tom Brokaw, and Mark Ellis.

9. Are you really the better Dakota?

Why yes, yes we are, but don’t worry, we never get sick of answering this one. ;)