For the first time in nearly 100 years the South Dakota State FFA Association annual convention will not be held in Brookings.
The April 11-13, 2021, event will be held in Rapid City at the Central States Fairgrounds, Kjerstad Events Center and Western Dakota Technical College.
FFA executive secretary Dani Herring says COVID-19 caused the 2020 convention to take place virtually and is also behind the move to Rapid City. She says with restrictions on social gatherings and outside visitors still in place on the South Dakota State University campus, the Association Board of Directors voted to move the convention last month (Jan. 22). Additionally, if case numbers spiked, Herring says there was a possibility the event would have to be canceled last-minute.
The State FFA Convention move to Rapid City does come with modifications because of COVID-19. Herring says attendees will wear masks and participation will be limited to members competing in the agriscience fair, proficiency awards, scholarship winners and district qualifying Career Development Events teams. There will be no student workshops, talent or choir performances. Event sponsors will be welcome, but must remain distanced.
There will be ticketed general sessions Monday evening and Tuesday morning for the state officers to give their retiring addresses and to announce award winners.
Herring says it’s difficult to replicate some FFA competitions– such as floriculture, milk quality judging and ag mechanics– virtually. She says it’s also important for members to get the opportunity to network with other students, and experience being in a room with judges.
South Dakota FFA started in 1928. Since the beginning, the state convention has taken place on the campus of what was then South Dakota State College in Brookings. Only during World War II was the convention canceled because of gas rationing.
State FFA officers are: State Reporter Dirby Bawek, back left, Vice President Jackson McFaden, Secretary Hunter Eide, and Sentinel Ryder Mortenson with President Samantha Olson, left front, and Treasurer Elizabeth DeBoer. All are SDSU students.
Photo credit SD FFA Association.
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