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Dakota Midday: State Farm Bureau President Visits Vatican

Photo by David Iliff. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0

South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke had an audience with Pope Francis last Wednesday. He was one of the organization's five state presidents meeting with the Pope following a week long series of meetings with Vatican officials in advance of an international symposium scheduled in Milan in June on faith, food and the environment.

Only two other members of the group were allowed close enough to shake hands and greet the Pope, but Sombke says it was still a moving experience to be near him at St. Peter's Square a few days before Holy Week.

Doug Sombke joined Dakota Midday and discussed the meeting with Pope Francis and Vatican officials and June's "Faith, Food and the Environment" symposium led by the International Catholic Rural Association.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.