SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) — Amazing. Energetic. Entertaining.

That’s how Julian Beaudion, captain of the South Dakota delegates, described the scene in Chicago in a Zoom interview with Dakota News Now as he watched speeches by three of the most influential Democrats in the United States on the first day of the Democratic National Convention.

And this happened at the Black Caucus meeting on Monday morning – which also included Representative Maxine Waters, Senator Cory Booker and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz – several hours before President Joe Biden’s keynote speech on the first of four nights of chaos in the Democratic Party.

Behind the bright lights of global television networks, the balloons and the glitz and glamour of speeches on the United Center convention grounds, the DNC is a day-long whirlwind of meetings in smaller rooms in another gigantic building – the McCormick Place Convention Center, six miles away.

The Black Caucus meeting was one of 33 council and caucus meetings during the week and part of the first “DemPalooza” on Monday at McCormick Place, which included a series of trainings, panels and programs hosted by the DNC and the Harris-Walz campaign. It followed the welcoming party Sunday night at Navy Pier on the shores of Lake Michigan with plenty of food and live music.

“It’s a great atmosphere, but I think it’s important for people to understand that we’re here to work,” said Beaudion, one of 20 delegates representing the Rushmore State. There are 4,567 delegates in total.

A big part of the South Dakota delegates’ job is talking to representatives from other states about what it takes to pass ballot measures.

“We’re here to talk about the politics of our state,” Beaudion said. “We’re here to talk about what needs to change in our local elections and our county elections, how we can get more Democrats in office. And we’re here to build networks and bring people’s resources back into our communities so we can continue to grow and develop our economies.”

Especially in agriculture.

South Dakota delegates spoke with a representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday morning. Beaudion believes that choosing Tim Walz — the governor of neighboring Minnesota — as a presidential candidate can strengthen those ties and thereby provide future federal funds (that is, dollars) for South Dakota farmers and rural developers … should Harris be elected.

“Community is everything in South Dakota, and often it’s not what you know, but who you know,” Beaudion said. “We’re working to build those relationships to make sure we bring them right back to South Dakota, to the people of our state.”

That’s why Beaudion said – despite expectations that former President Donald Trump will be South Dakota’s Republican presidential nominee for the 60th consecutive year – that much of what the delegates do this week can greatly benefit all South Dakota residents should Harris win the national election.

“I think it’s really important to remember that we’re not just electing a president, we’re electing resources,” Beaudion said. “That’s what we’re doing here. We’re building these relationships so we can have a sustainable economy and sustainable agriculture.”

Beaudion said the Biden administration’s support for agriculture is “stunning,” adding that the current president has already invested more money in rural development than Trump did during his four years in office. (Beaudion cited a White House website where those figures can be found.)

Beaudion, however, believes that Biden’s passing of the torch to Kamala Harris brings with it a “youth movement” and a “sense of commitment” to issues that matter to the people of South Dakota, a feeling he has not felt with either Trump or Biden.

“We have so many young Democrats in the state of South Dakota who have hardly ever been involved in politics,” Beaudion said. “To see their commitment, their enthusiasm, their passion is something we love to see, but it’s also something Democrats have to have to be successful in the state.”

Beaudion is a black activist involved in the local NAACP chapter and former director of the South Dakota African-American History Museum. He has worked for the state police and owns the restaurant Swamp Daddy’s Cajun Kitchen with his wife, Del’Inkka. The two moved to South Dakota from his native Louisiana nearly 20 years ago.

His keen interest in politics blossomed when the US elected its first black president, Barack Obama, in 2008. The father of three girls said Harris’ nomination sparked a similar spark in him.

“It’s certainly a change in spirit, that’s for sure,” Beaudion said. “For me, it was primarily a change, not just to energize as a Democrat, but to energize myself as a black man.”

“So I’m trying my hardest to work in the community of Sioux Falls and across the state of South Dakota to empower the community of color. It’s been wonderful to see the energy around our indigenous brothers and sisters and especially the Black people in the southeast of the state. The focus is on our community of color.”

On Monday, delegates from South Dakota were expected to attend the Black Caucus, Native American Caucus, LGBTQ+ Caucus, Small Business Council and Labor Council.

“The Democratic Party prides itself on being the most diverse group of people representing our country,” Beaudion said. “It’s really amazing to see how diverse that group is — not just the elected officials, but the people who attend these conferences. Not just in terms of race, not just in terms of color, but in terms of mindset.”

Beaudion echoed recent comments by Biden, Harris and other Democratic leaders: He believes the country’s democracy is at stake on November 5.

“I know we say this every presidential election, but this is the most important presidential election we can ever have — not just for the sake of democracy, but for all the young black girls who look up to someone like Kamala Harris,” Beaudion said. “For the black women who are rising up as CEOs, for the black women who are graduating from HBCUs, for those in sororities — our whole country depends on this. And, quite frankly, our whole world.”

While Beaudion has ambitions to continue in politics, he said he doesn’t know what field he wants to go into next and the community will “take him where I need to go.” He was chosen by the DNC to captain the South Dakota delegation “based on state recommendations.”

Yes, there is a lot to do in Chicago before the bright lights of global television networks flash each night.

But Beaudion said he was most looking forward to what might be the DNC’s most glamorous moments.

“I’m most looking forward to hearing Barack Obama speak tomorrow night,” Beaudion said of the Chicago native. “And then of course I’m so excited to welcome our next President of the United States, Kamala Harris, on Thursday. That’s A and B for me.”

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