1. In 1938, a major blizzard hit South Dakota on March 12, causing widespread destruction and claiming dozens of lives. Known as the "School Children's Blizzard," the storm caught many rural residents off guard, including teachers and schoolchildren who were stranded in their one-room schoolhouses. Some were able to survive by taking shelter in hay bales or walking to nearby farmsteads, while others perished in the snowdrifts.

2. On March 12, 1878, a group of Sioux warriors stole horses from the U.S. Army at Fort Robinson in Nebraska and fled towards South Dakota. The army pursued them, and a battle ensued near Beaver Creek, resulting in several casualties on both sides. The incident marked a turning point in the Sioux Wars, as it was one of the last major conflicts between Native American tribes and the U.S. military.

3. On March 12, 1966, the Rapid City Regional Hospital in South Dakota was dedicated, providing state-of-the-art medical care to thousands of patients in the Black Hills region. The hospital has since expanded to include multiple facilities and services, including a cancer center, heart care unit, and rehabilitation center.

4. March 12 is also National Agriculture Day in the United States, recognizing the vital contributions of farmers and ranchers to the nation's economy and way of life. South Dakota is a major agricultural state, with farming and ranching accounting for a significant portion of its economy and heritage.

5. In 2004, South Dakota's Mount Rushmore National Memorial was featured on a U.S. postage stamp in honor of the monument's 75th anniversary. The stamp depicted the iconic sculpture of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into the side of the mountain, and was a fitting tribute to one of South Dakota's most famous landmarks.