5 Shocking Revelations About Kristi Noem’s Daughters: From Appraiser Scrutiny To The Infamous Dog Story

The family life of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been thrust into the national spotlight, especially as her name frequently appears in discussions for the 2024 Vice Presidential nomination. As of late 2024, the Governor’s two daughters, Kassidy Peters and Kennedy Noem, have become central figures in high-profile controversies and national discussions, moving them far beyond the typical quiet life of a state's First Family.

The intense media scrutiny surrounding the Governor’s political rise has inevitably pulled her children into the public eye, revealing details about their careers, aspirations, and even their involvement in some of their mother's most controversial decisions. This deep dive explores the lives and the most recent, headline-making events involving Kristi Noem's daughters, providing the most current and verified information available.

The Noem Family: A Comprehensive Profile

Kristi Noem and her husband, Bryon Noem, a former state legislator and rancher, have raised three children—two daughters and one son—who are often described as being actively involved in their parents' political careers. The family maintains deep roots in South Dakota's farming and ranching communities.

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• Full Name: Kassidy Noem Peters (née Noem)
• Role in Family: Eldest Daughter
• Husband: Kyle Peters
• Career Focus: Formerly a State Registered Real Estate Appraiser Trainee
• Key Controversy: Allegations of preferential treatment in her appraiser license application, leading to a legislative investigation.

• Full Name: Kennedy Sharon Noem
• Role in Family: Younger Daughter
• Education: Graduated from Hamlin High School (Hayti, S.D.); Played Women's Basketball for the University of Sioux Falls (USF Cougars).
• Career Focus: Involved in political and family activities.
• Key Controversy: Featured in her mother’s controversial memoir regarding the death of the family dog, Cricket.

• Son: Booker Noem
• Grandchildren: The Governor and her husband, Bryon, are also proud grandparents to three grandchildren.

1. The Kassidy Peters Appraiser License Controversy (2020-2021)

One of the most significant and damaging controversies to touch the South Dakota First Family involves Governor Noem’s eldest daughter, Kassidy Peters, and her attempt to obtain a State Certified Residential Appraiser license. The issue, which first surfaced in 2021, has remained a key talking point used by critics to question the Governor's ethics and use of power.

The Initial Denial and the Governor’s Meeting

In July 2020, Kassidy Peters, who had been working as a State Registered Appraiser trainee since 2016, was initially denied an upgrade to her license by the South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program (ACP).

Just days after this denial, Governor Noem took the unusual step of convening a meeting in her office with Peters, the state employee overseeing the application (Sherry Bren), and the Governor's chief of staff. Bren later testified that she felt intimidated by the meeting, which took place just before she was pressured to retire.

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Legislative Findings and Public Scrutiny

The controversy intensified when a legislative oversight committee unanimously approved a report that concluded Kassidy Peters had, in fact, received preferential treatment during her application process. The committee found that she was granted an "extra chance" to obtain the license, despite initial deficiencies in her work.

In response to the mounting public and legislative scrutiny, Kassidy Peters announced she would quit her job as a real estate appraiser and voluntarily surrender her license. She slammed the legislative inquiry as a political attack against her mother, insisting that neither she nor Governor Noem had ever asked for—or received—special treatment.

2. Kennedy Noem’s Role in the 'Cricket the Dog' Scandal

Kennedy Noem, the Governor’s younger daughter, was unexpectedly pulled into a national firestorm in April 2024 following the pre-release excerpts of Kristi Noem’s memoir, *No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward*.

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The most controversial passage described Governor Noem shooting and killing a 14-month-old family dog named Cricket, a wirehaired pointer, on their farm. Noem wrote that she decided to kill the "untrainable" and "dangerous" puppy after it ruined a pheasant hunt and attacked a neighbor's chickens.

Kennedy Noem’s mention in the story was particularly poignant, highlighting the family's direct involvement in the event. In the memoir, Noem recalls her daughter looking around confused after the shooting and asking, "Hey, where's Cricket?" The inclusion of this detail in a high-profile book aiming to boost her national profile drew widespread criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

3. The Daughters’ Involvement in National Political Ambitions

Both Kassidy and Kennedy Noem have been active participants in their mother's political journey, which has recently shifted from state-level governance to national prominence, fueled by intense speculation that Governor Noem is a top contender for Donald Trump's 2024 Vice Presidential running mate.

The daughters frequently appear alongside their mother at rallies, campaign events, and official functions, demonstrating a unified front for the Governor's conservative values and political brand. Their presence is often leveraged to humanize the Governor, connecting her to the core American values of family, farming, and faith.

Balancing Public Life and Privacy

While the Noem children are involved in politics, their lives have become a stark example of the intense pressure placed upon the families of high-profile political figures. Kassidy Peters’ decision to relinquish her appraiser license was directly attributed to the "scrutiny of her position," illustrating the difficulty of maintaining a private career while being part of a political dynasty.

4. Kennedy Noem’s College Athletics and South Dakota Roots

Before the national political spotlight, Kennedy Noem was known in South Dakota for her athletic achievements. She played women's basketball for the University of Sioux Falls (USF Cougars), where she was a guard. Her college career and high school years at Hamlin High School in Hayti, S.D., anchor her firmly to the state’s community and athletic traditions.

This background is often highlighted by the Governor as proof of the family's deep connection to the state, contrasting with the "Washington establishment" figures her mother frequently critiques. Kennedy’s story also includes overcoming a significant back injury, which she and her mother have both referenced as a moment of personal resilience.

5. The LSI Keywords and Entities Surrounding the Noem Family

The extensive media coverage of the Noem daughters has generated a significant web of related entities and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords that define the conversation around the family. These terms are crucial for understanding the full political and personal context:

• Political/Controversial Entities: *Kassidy Peters*, *Kennedy Noem*, *Bryon Noem* (husband), *Booker Noem* (son), *South Dakota Governor’s Mansion*, *legislative oversight committee*, *Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary nominee*.
• Key Controversies: *Appraiser license controversy*, *preferential treatment allegations*, *Cricket the dog story*, *Kristi Noem memoir* (*No Going Back*), *VP pick speculation 2024*.
• Geographical/Background: *Hayti, S.D.*, *Hamlin High School*, *University of Sioux Falls (USF Cougars)*.

The frequent mention of these entities, particularly the controversies surrounding the appraiser license and the memoir, underscores the unique challenges facing Kristi Noem as she navigates national political waters. The actions and public statements of her daughters, Kassidy Peters and Kennedy Noem, have become inseparable from her own political narrative, making them two of the most discussed figures in the South Dakota First Family in recent memory.