U.S. Representative Kristi Noem is a wife, a mother, and an experienced rancher, farmer and small business owner. Kristi was born and raised in rural Hamlin County in northeastern South Dakota and still lives there today with her husband, Bryon, and their three children, Kassidy, Kennedy, and Booker.

Kristi learned the value of hard work early in life from her father. He put Kristi, her sister and two brothers to work on the family farm at a young age caring for the cattle and horses and helping with planting and harvest. After graduating from high school, Kristi began to pursue her college degree. After a family tragedy, Kristi returned to the family farm and ranch full-time. Her father’s death left a huge absence, so Kristi stepped up and helped stabilize the operation and provided leadership when it was needed most.

Kristi’s work on the farm and ranch didn’t go unnoticed. In 1997, she received the South Dakota Outstanding Young Farmer award and she was honored with the South Dakota Young Leader award in 2003.

Kristi’s experience as a small business owner shaped her understanding of government and its purpose. Too often, government is inefficient and ineffective, simply getting in the way of small businesses and entrepreneurs who wish to create jobs and grow our economy. Realizing this, Kristi decided to get involved to try and make a difference.

Her service includes the South Dakota State Farm Agency State Committee, the Commission for Agriculture in the 21st Century, the South Dakota Soybean Association, and numerous other boards and committees. In the fall of 2006, Kristi was elected as the 6th District Representative to the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Kristi quickly realized she could serve her district and the State of South Dakota more effectively in a leadership position. In her second term, she earned the position of Assistant Majority Leader in the State House, where she served until 2010.

Kristi was first elected to serve as South Dakota’s lone Member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.

While keeping up with her Congressional duties in Washington, D.C. and work with constituents in South Dakota, Kristi continued to take undergraduate courses from South Dakota State University. In December 2011, Kristi graduated from SDSU with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Kristi was re-elected to a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016.  She currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which is largely regarded as the most powerful committee in Congress.  The Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over all tax, trade, and economic growth policies.

Kristi enjoys spending time with her family and is known to be an avid hunter. She particularly enjoys pheasant hunting on the homestead and archery elk hunting with her brothers.

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