Shopping Local - DeAnn Echols of The Great Outdoor Store

Send us Fan MailHosts: Travis Entenman & Lori WalshGuest: DeAnn Echols - Owner of Great Outdoor StoreEpisode SummaryIn this episode of Rivers and Rangelands, hosts Travis Entenman and Lori Walsh sit down inside Sioux Falls’ historic Rock Island Depot with DeAnn Echols, co‑owner of the Great Outdoor Store.​DeAnn shares the story of how Tom and Julie Ashworth launched the shop in 1983, why it was conceived as an “outdoor boutique,” and how she went from part‑time sales associate in the late 1980s to buying and expanding the business downtown. She reflects on building a welcoming, design‑forward retail space where hunters, travelers, and “everyday outdoorsy” South Dakotans can all feel like they belong—whether they’re buying a zero‑degree sleeping bag or a Royal Robbins dress.​The conversation explores how long‑time outdoor brands like Patagonia have deepened their environmental commitments, what it means for a small brick‑and‑mortar store to partner with conservation efforts, and why a healthy planet is inseparable from time spent outside playing, working, and exploring. DeAnn also talks about staff culture, multi‑decade customer relationships, and why in‑person shopping remains a social, tactile experience that online retail can’t replace.About the ShowRivers & Rangelands explores conservation, water, and community in the Northern Great Plains. Hosted by Travis Entenman and Lori Walsh, the podcast asks big questions about how we care for our land and water — today and for generations to come.🎶 Special thanks to Jami Lynn for providing the music for this episode. You can explore more of her music here: jamilynnsd.com👉 Follow Friends of the Big Sioux River for more episodes, updates, and ways to get involved.👉👉  And to hear more from Lori, follow So Much Sunlight, a newsletter of essays, poetry, and audio ephemera on Substack!