October Trailblazer: Meet Mark Reindl

Mark Reindl stands next to a cattle yard at his ranch in Crow township, rural Wessington Springs.

A Servant’s Heart — Ranching in South Dakota takes a special kind of person. It takes grit, resilience, a strong work ethic, and perhaps most importantly a good sense of humor. For local rancher, Mark Reindl of Crow township in rural Wessington Springs, it’s those same traits that create leaders in local government. “You’ve got to have a fire in your gut to make things happen — no fire and the candle is burned out.”

Reindl’s service on his township began back in the early nineties, when he and his wife, Nancy had an opportunity to settle with their 3 kids on what is now their family ranch. It was there Reindl found his footing, a seat on the local township board, and began to recognize the importance of local government and local control. “I remember we had a hunting lodge owned by an out-of-state owner who wanted to close all the township roads surrounding the lodge so their hunters could road hunt,” he recalls. “We held a meeting and knew we had an obligation to the rest of the township to keep those roads open for fire and EMS access.” Reindl notes that following the law and established policies makes decisions like that much clearer and easier to uphold.

Balancing life with a career, family, ranching and civic service isn’t always easy but what Reindl learned in those early years has helped shape the man he is today. His love for life and gratitude for the gifts God has given him shine through in everything he does as a devoted husband, proud father, and grateful grandfather. “It’s important to have balance—faith, family, job… then the other,” he says with a knowing smile. His wife, Nancy, shares how he is often called on, “Mark is Mr. Positivity,” she says. “People look to him for encouragement.” And Reindl doesn’t disappoint, offering his own bit of wisdom with a grin: “Always try to help and take care of people… and make sure you’re having a lot of fun while you’re doing it.”

That steady optimism and servant’s heart have guided him through three decades of township service and allowed him to pass the hat onto the next generation. “Most people don’t realize how much money it takes to operate a township,” he says. “Civic responsibility to your community keeps things going and helps make it better. Make sure you care about your neighbor and people you work with, and they’ll take care of you.”

Spoken like a true leader, Reindl’s legacy isn’t just in the roads maintained or the meetings attended. It’s in the example he’s set for others. When asked what accomplishment he’s most proud of, he doesn’t hesitate: “Helping people understand the importance of working together, earning the trust of families, and showing sincerity—always doing what’s best for them.”

And when asked why that matters, his answer is simple and sincere, a reflection of the man himself: "It lets you sleep at night.”

_______________________________________________________________________

💡 Know Someone Who Deserves Recognition?

We want to hear from you! If you know a township official, board member, grader operator, clerk, treasurer, or township advocate who goes above and beyond, nominate them for a feature in Township Trailblazers.

📧 Email your nomination (including name, township, and a few sentences about why they deserve recognition) to:legislative@sdtownships.com

Let’s celebrate the people who quietly keep South Dakota’s townships strong—one gravel road and one board meeting at a time.