Severe droughts of the Thirties forced many South Dakota families to secure public assistance. By December of 1934 thirty-nine percent had received some form of emergency relief aid, the largest percent of any state’s population. Half of the farmers of South Dakota were on relief. At one time eighty percent of the farmers in one county in central South Dakota were on relief.

Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs were enacted to create employment amongst the farmers and workers of South Dakota at a time of extreme need.

From 1933 through 1941, the WPA funded the creation of 111 sports-related facilities throughout the state, most of which still serve today.