Seizing Opportunities and Solving Problems with Gary Cammack
Gary Cammack was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2021 for his community impact, both for his work at Cammack Ranch Supply—a pillar of Union Center—and his time serving South Dakota through public service.
Gary’s public service career began when he was asked to serve as a Meade County Commissioner. In 2012, he was elected to serve as District 29’s Representative. 2014 he was elected to serve in the South Dakota State Senate. He also served as President pro tempore. In 2020, Gary became the majority leader of the Senate.
Gary sat down with South Dakota Hall of Fame CEO, Laurie Becvar, to talk about his life and the leadership lessons he has learned through years as a rancher, community leader, and public servant. When reflecting on his early years as a rancher and business owner, Gary said, “There are almost always more genuine opportunities presented to you in bad times than in good.”
Gary and his wife took a chance during bad times to purchase a four-year-old feed mill that came up for sale in Union Center, close to where Gary was raised. This was the start of Cammack Ranch Supply.
Gary attributes their business success to following their customers’ lead: “Our focus will always be on problem-solving,” he said.
Decades later, Gary applied this same approach to public service. “In business, when someone comes to me with a need or a problem, I am convinced that somewhere out there, there is a solution,” he said. “In politics, there will always be old problems and new problems. So, my approach is to look at issues, not so much as a problem, but as a solution we have not found yet.”
Gary also shared a valuable life lesson he learned at a young age. His grandfather taught Gary the importance of making decisions and believed you should gather the facts needed to make a choice as quickly as possible and take action. If you start down the path and it turns out to be the wrong choice, you have time to turn around and find the correct course before it’s too late. This approach to making decisions has stuck with Gary throughout his career.
Along with their cattle, the family invested energy into managing their native pasture land through conservation. They implemented rotational grazing, installed countless miles of cross fencing and cattle water pipelines, and preserved riparian areas for wildlife. Since 1984, the family has planted over 30,000 trees. In 2018, the family’s conservation efforts were recognized with the esteemed Leopold Conservation Award.
Gary learned another important life lesson from the pastures of his ranch about how our actions have an impact far beyond our time here on Earth.
“On my ranch, there is an area that goes back to the homesteading days,” he said. “These people had less knowledge about land management, and there are still scars in the earth from their choices.” Seeing hundred-year-old scars on the land has impressed upon Gary the importance of creating a lasting positive impact on the land and others.
“Make sure the things you do make a difference for others long-term,” concluded Gary.