contributors
jason ferguson
Jason Ferguson has been writing for the better part of 20 years and has won dozens of South Dakota Press Association awards, including being named the state’ s Outstanding Young Journalist in 2002. Ferguson has a bachelor’ s degree in English and journalism from Chadron State College. He enjoys movies, exercising and being outdoors.
kate najacht
Kate Najacht moved to the Black Hills in 2014, and to Kearney, Nebraska, in late 2021, where she now works from the comfort of her kitchen table. An avid reader with degrees in English Literature and popular culture, she utilizes neither as Southern Hills Publishing ' s sole advertising sales coordinator, where her servant ' s heart comes into play helping businesses and the people who own and run them. She loves the Lord and gives Him all the glory.
esther noe
Esther Noe has been writing since she could first hold a pencil. In 2021, she graduated with a bachelor ' s in Liberal Studies from Thomas Edison State University where she studied writing, communications and literature. Today Esther is an office manager and an award-winning journalist for Hill City Prevailer News. She was named the South Dakota Newspaper Association ' s Outstanding Young Journalist for weekly newspapers in 2022. When not writing, she enjoys crafting, reading and spending time with family and friends.
leslie silverman laura lindblom deb mclain
Leslie Silverman has called the Black Hills home since 2018. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English and physics in 1994 and worked in education for more than 30 years before beginning her second career in journalism. She loves being outdoors and spending time with family, friends and her dog Sadie.
Laura is a writer and photographer near Hermosa, SD, where she ranches with her husband. She writes a blog, Song Dog Journal, and does portrait photography, western lifestyle, and fine art photojournalism. When she isn ' t working cows, writing, or taking pictures, you can find her in her garden, hiking with her dog, Josie, or wrangling chickens.
Deb’ s creative path began in the heart of Kansas at a smalltown newspaper, where she first uncovered the magic of design. After nine years as a graphic designer at the Custer Chronicle, her adventurous spirit led her to Montana’ s Bitterroot Valley. She is currently the Creative Director at The Sheridan Press in Wyoming, Deb brings bold ideas to life. She loves to challenge conventional design rules, crafting layouts that think outside the box and give every project a one-of-a-kind story.
2 Down Country Roads May / June 2025