HURON Kathy Micheel, Legacy Builder and Founder of Today Forward Consulting, presented GenealogyPlus More: Save It Before Its Extinct! during the 2025 South Dakota State Fair on Thursday, August 28, in the Horizons Hall Auditorium.
Micheels presentation emphasized the importance of digitizing, preserving, and sharing family stories so they are not lost to future generations. Attendees learned how to secure photos, films, VHS tapes, scrapbook pages, and handwritten records through FOREVER digitization and permanent cloud storage.
Too many families lose their history because the stories arent told or the photos arent labeled, Micheel said. Two generations from now, your descendants will want to know about you. Its time to start preserving your story alongside your ancestors stories.
Upcoming schedule
Following her fair presentation, Micheel will lead a series of hands-on workshops, tours, and discussions designed to help participants not only research but also actively preserve their family legacies.
Sept. 10 Huron Public Library, 67 p.m. (Library closes at 8 p.m.)
Sept. 11 Mitchell Tour
We will meet for lunch at Bread and Vine Bistro (11 a.m.) and an afternoon session at Carnegie Resource Center. A photography display is open through the end of September.
Meal ticket is $25; or order on your own and meet us at 1 p.m. at the Carnegie Resource Center.
Sept. 17 Ree Heights, 2 p.m. in front of the auditorium (in person or virtual). Break planned in Highmore. Attendees are encouraged to update family trees and check local archives, including the Highmore Herald.
Sept. 25 Wolsey, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Micheel will be working on her FOREVER Digitization Box and Permanent Storage. Limited seating. Fee is $50 and your name is placed in the drawing for a small Digitization Box. Bring a sack lunch or order from the 281 Travel Center. Location and details will be provided to those who register. Early bird discount due by Sept. 18. Late registration is $75.
Throughout September 2025, Micheel is offering special discount coupon codes for digitization and storage services; ask for details. With FOREVER, items are digitized once and stored permanently with a one-time payment or 24-month planensuring future generations never pay again.
Looking ahead
Since April 2024, Micheel has been presenting on broad topics in genealogy, health, and legacy preservation. Moving forward, she plans to focus on advanced, topic-specific workshops and collaborative sessions.
In November 2025, Micheel will finalize her 2026 presentation schedule, with official topics and dates announced in December.
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