SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) — The cattle industry has played as major a role in the history of the Black Hills as the gold rush of 1876, and it continues to shape that history to this day.

Aaron Thompson is one Black Hills rancher keeping that history alive by managing the same land his family has worked since 1888.

"We're dug in pretty well out here." Thompson told the Black Hills Pioneer.

"I look at what I do as; it's just a series of hurtles," he said with a laugh. "Once you clear one goal, you have about 15 seconds to go, 'Phew, glad that's over,' then immediately you're thinking about the next b...