South Dakota FFA members leave their mark in Indianapolis

Students flooded the city of Indianapolis for the first time in two years as they attended workshops, competed in different events and heard great messages from keynote speakers at the National FFA Convention Oct. 27-30, 2021. SD FFA members and agricultural educators were recognized for months of hard work and preparation as the convention proceedings finished up in Indianapolis. A few highlights to note:

VIP Citation: Terry Rieckman of Salem

National FFA Agriscience Fair Winner in Social Science: Division 1- Lauren Roling of the McCook Central FFA

National FFA Agriscience Fair Winners in Food Products and Processing Systems Division 6- McKenna Sichmeller and Josslin Jarding of the West Central FFA Chapter

2^nd Place Agriscience Fair Animal Systems Division 2: Joseph Grady and Dylan McGregor, McCook Central

2^nd Place Veterinary Science Team- Grace Digiovanni, Ashtyn Wobig, Ella Stiefvater, and Hadley Stiefvater, all of McCoook Central FFA

Runner Up – Poultry Production Entrepreneurship/Placement Proficiency: Kaylee Bosma, Lennox-Sundstrom

Runner Up – Agriscience Research Integrated Systems Proficiency: Matea Gordon, Sturgis

3^rd Place Agriscience Fair Animal Systems Division 3: Avery Miles, Doland

3^rd Place Livestock Evaluation Team- Ryan Blagg, Colton Stiefvater, Lane Deutsh, and Max Nordlund, all of McCook Central FFA

4^th Place Agricultural Technical and Mechanical Systems Individual- Carson Daly of Philip

6^th Place Veterinary Science Individual- Grace Digiovanni of McCook Central FFA

8^th Place Veterinary Science Individual- Ella Stiefvater of McCook Central FFA

9^th Place Livestock Evaluation Individual- Ryan Blagg of McCook Central FFA

Career and Leadership Development Event Results-

Gold teams and individuals:

Veterinary Science Team– McCook Central FFA

Veterinary Science Individual– Hadley Stiefvater, Grace Digiovanni, Ella Stiefvater, Ashtyn Wobig of McCook Central FFA

Agricultural Technical & Mechanical Systems Individual- Carson Daly and Kelton Quinn of Philip FFA

Livestock Evaluation Team- McCook Central FFA

Livestock Evaluation Individual- Ryan Blagg and Max Nordlund of McCook Central FFA

Food Science and Technology Individual- Paul Kaffar of McCook Central FFA

Farm and Agribusiness Management Team- Willow Lake FFA

Farm and Agribusiness Management Individual– Trinity Peterson of Willow Lake FFA

Environmental and Natural Resources Evaluation Individual- Andrew Rick of West Central FFA

Milk Quality Products Individual– Tayah Mcgregor of McCook Central FFA

Silver teams and individuals:

Agricultural Issues Team- Iroquois FFA

Agricultural Sales Team- McCook Central FFA

Agricultural Technical& Mechanical Systems Team- Philip FFA

Agricultural Communications Team- West Central FFA

Employment Skills- Matea Gordon of Sturgis FFA

Environmental and Natural Resources Evaluation Team- West Central FFA

Meats Evaluation and Technology Team-Lennox Sundstrom FFA

Milk Quality Products Team- McCook Central FFA

Poultry Evaluation Team- Chester FFA

Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management Team- Sunshine Bible Academy FFA

Horse Evaluation- Chamberlain FFA

Bronze teams and individuals:

Extemporaneous Public Speaking Individual- Megan Nash of Northwestern Area FFA

Creed Speaking Individual- Brendan Nowell of Hitchcock Tulare FFA

Agronomy Team- Hot Springs FFA

Floriculture Team- Wessington Springs FFA

Food Science and Technology Team- McCook Central FFA

Nursery-Landscape Team- McCook Central FFA

Prepared Public Speaking Individual- Morgan Mackaben of Belle Fourche FFA

Conduct of Chapter Meetings- Highmore FFA

Parliamentary Procedure– Highmore FFA

Marketing Plan- Sturgis FFA

American Degree Recipients:

Bailee Maye Anderson- Chester, Zach Brown- West Central, Jessica L. Cain- Harrisburg, Daniel Bradley DeDeyne- De Smet, Makayla DeDeyne- De Smet, Hunter Eide- Gettysburg, Caden Farmer- West Central, Blake Gessner- McCook Central, Danika G. Gordon- Sturgis, Mary Katherine Hoiten- Montrose, Makoy M. Ivarsen- Harrisburg, Lily Claire Kenton- Chester, Colin Kolbeck- McCook Central, Alisha McMartin- West Central, Morgan Elizabeth Monroe- Rapid City, Ryder Mortenson- Winner, Makayla Nelson- Arlington, Slader Niewenhuis- Harrisburg

National Convention Band: Hattie Muellenbach, Milbank and Ruby Mannes, Harrisburg

National Convention Chorus: Caleb McGregor, Webster and Grace Starr, Harrisburg