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“Growing up, I figured God must really love farmers. Just look at how often sowing and reaping are mentioned in the Bible! Over and over again the Good Book references barns overflowing, bringing in the harvest, and casting seed on fertile ground. It does take incredible faith to be in a profession where so much is out of your control.” This quote from former South Dakota governor Kristi Noem’s best-selling book, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland, sums up her philosophy on life and how she navigates a world filled with twists and turns.
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After years of serving in the U.S. Congress, the South Dakota legislature, and as the first female governor of the “Mount Rushmore state,” Kristi Noem dug her boots into a brand-new challenge. This wife, mother, grandmother, farmer, lifelong rancher and small business owner became the 8th Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. This is no small task as she now leads one of the federal government’s largest departments, which includes at least 260,000 employees and a budget of more than $62 billion. Border protection, disaster response and cyber/airline security are just a few of the many responsibilities that must be fearlessly and efficiently tackled.
Home on the Range
This proud mother of three was born and raised in South Dakota on the Arnold family farm and ranch in rural Hamlin County. Whether it was hunting, or tending to horses and cattle, Noem learned the art of independence, and the satisfaction of owning and working one’s own land. The freedom that came from breathing the fresh, open air inspired her to hold fast to her family values, and to faithfully protect the right to pursue a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Kristi Noem graduated high school in 1990 and was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen the same year. By the age of 20, she had married her high school sweetheart, Byron Noem, and the two pursued college together. While attending Northern State University, however, Noem’s education was put on hold. Tragedy struck when her father and caretaker of the family ranch, Ron Arnold, was killed in a farming accident. This moment became a turning point in Noem’s life when at the age of 22, she took over the farm, managed the family business and cared for her heartbroken mother. Though painful, the experience helped build a powerful spirit of resilience, and leadership skills that would eventually take her to the U.S. Capitol.
From Rancher to Legislator
In 2006, Kristi Noem’s life would take a new direction when she was elected to the South Dakota legislature, representing District 6. Her conservative positions on issues such as the economy, agriculture and state regulations garnered support from the citizens of South Dakota who appreciated her willingness to keep taxes low, while at the same time investing in their future.
By 2010, Noem’s popularity had grown and she successfully won South Dakota’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She made her mark by helping shape the Farm Bill, which supported farming and ranching communities. She prioritized economic growth, tax reforms and repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Instead of bowing to climate change initiatives, she supported offshore energy production to reduce American dependence on foreign oil.
Noem’s political career continued to soar and by 2018 she was elected as South Dakota’s first-ever female governor, serving from 2019 through 2025. Her administration placed a strong emphasis on conservative values by championing strong anti-abortion legislation and implementing sweeping educational reforms. Her support of prayer in schools, as well as the nation of Israel, earned her many critics, but her stance only became more fervent.
The Covid Rebel
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Noem’s opposition to government intrusion threw the media into a frenzy when she refused to issue state-wide mask mandates or stay-at-home orders. Instead, she allowed communities the flexibility to decide for themselves what measures to take, stressing that she wished to respect the personal freedoms and responsibilities of citizens. “We gave people their freedom, by letting businesses stay open,” she stated. Noem also opposed former U.S. President Joe Biden’s executive order mandating that private employers require their workers to receive Covid vaccines or tests.
Stirring the Covid controversy pot even more, Noem shared a viral video where she stood in a cornfield dressed in hunting gear, preparing to take aim at a game bird. “This is how we do social distancing in our state,” she declared, while taking a shot. “Less Covid and more hunting. That’s the plan for the future,” she added. The legacy media criticized her actions, but she held her ground.
Tackling the Border
Popular opinion and public narratives didn’t sway Kristi Noem. Instead, she called it like she saw it and acted accordingly. During her time as governor, she deployed National Guard troops to the southern border five times, stating in a press release, “The border is a warzone, so we’re sending soldiers.” While the Biden Administration allowed illegal immigrants to pour into the country in droves, Noem made it a priority to stop the flow of criminal illegal aliens and deadly drugs across the southern border. Rejecting sanctuary cities and mass amnesty didn’t earn her points with the liberal media, but she refused to back down.
Not only did Noem work to stop threats at the border, she’s also been “a leader in countering foreign threats, restricting business with adversarial nations, and prohibiting agricultural land ownership by foreign countries.”
Making America Secure Again
The media has described Noem as “the only female Trump ally echoing the former president’s trigger-the-left-approach.” Her bold, no-nonsense leadership style had many wondering if she would run for president in the 2024 election, or if she would team up with Donald Trump, running as the vice-president. Ultimately, she chose to stay out of the race, but after Trump won by a landslide, he announced Noem as his pick to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Her confirmation on January 25, 2025, gave hope to many Americans that the nation’s border would finally be protected.
Noem has already accomplished milestones in her first month. The Department of Homeland Security website reports that, “ICE arrests of criminal aliens have doubled and arrests of fugitives at large has tripled. Single day border apprehensions hit a 15-year low and daily border encounters have plunged 94% since President Trump took office.” Additionally, “Secretary Noem rode with ICE gents in an operation in New York City that resulted in the arrest of a Tren de Aragua ringleader.” If that weren’t enough, Secretary Noem also “ended the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan Temporary Protected Status and froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration.” Most recently, Noem announced the building of seven miles of new border wall in Arizona. This is just the short list, but she remains committed to “fighting every day to make America safe again.”
A Difficult Road Lies Ahead
Kristi Noem’s job will not be easy and she will encounter roadblocks every step of the way. But she’s determined to blaze a path forward. In the past she’s stated, “I took an oath when I was in Congress obviously to uphold the Constitution of the United States. I believe in our freedoms and liberties. What I’ve seen across the country is so many people give up their liberties for just a little bit of security and they don’t have to do that.” In her position with the DHS, she vows to protect the American way of life without sacrificing the rights and freedoms granted by the Founding Fathers.
As intercessors, we must pray not only for the security of our nation, but also for the direction and guidance of those who are tasked with protecting it.
It’s Time to Pray for Kristi Noem
Lord Jesus, we pray for guidance and wisdom for DHS Secretary Noem as she deals with all the issues pertaining to the border. Help her implement fair and sensible policies that will keep America safe and secure.
We also pray for Secretary Noem as she overhauls the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and works to ensure that all funding for disaster relief is used properly and efficiently. Secretary Noem has stated that she would support ending FEMA “the way it exists today,” and instead give more power to local officials. Pray that God would give her clear direction on how to do this.
Terrorism is a very real threat to our nation. We pray that Secretary Noem and her department will be able to successfully counter threats from both external and internal sources, including sleeper cells, domestic and global terror networks, and any covert plans that could undermine America’s security. We also pray that cybersecurity threats would be pinpointed and neutralized quickly.
Secretary Noem is a practicing Christian who has publicly acknowledged the importance of faith and prayer. Lord, keep her in step with Your voice so her decisions at work and in her personal life align with Your will. May she consult with You daily and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Kristi Noem has been quoted as saying, “Life is a rodeo. Hang on.” Lord, we thank you for a bold, steadfast leader who “hangs on” and doesn’t let go. We pray that her time at the Department of Homeland Security will be extremely fruitful and blessed.
How are you praying for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem?
Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and former teacher who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America – Kristi Noem, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=149631419.