Champions named during State FFA Leadership Development Events in Pierre

Earlier this week (Dec. 5-6, 2021), nearly 600 South Dakota FFA members, advisors and supporters were in Pierre for the State FFA Leadership Development Events.

State president Tessa Erdmann from the Groton FFA Chapter says she enjoys helping members expand their horizons.

I spoke with some of the members to see why they enjoy being in FFA.

Students qualified through district competitions, advancing the top two teams and top three individuals from each of the seven FFA districts in South Dakota.

State-winning teams and individuals now advance to the National FFA Leadership Development Events in Indianapolis next fall.

Parliamentary Procedure teams, consisting of six members per team, demonstrate an FFA business meeting. Our state sponsor is South Dakota Farmers Union. The state level team travel scholarship is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union, Monte and Ruth Mason, and Brett and Tracy Kaltvedt. The team results are as follows:

Belle Fourche: Advisors Austin Bishop, Krystin Hayworth, Nicole Kraft, Olivia Furrow, Reese McKenna, Ava McLennan and Dustin Kolb.
Scotland
Lennox-Sundstrom
Hitchcock-Tulare
Willow Lake

The All-State Parliamentary Procedure Team is comprised of the top individual officer from each position in the Parliamentary Procedure CDE. These competitors are the best-of-the-best in their respective position. These awards are sponsored by Skinner Financial Services. Those selected are:

Chair- Kaylee Bosma, Lennox-Sundstrom

Members At-Large:

Hattie Muellenbach, Milbank

Andy Brooker, Hitchcock-Tulare

Reese McKenna, Belle Fourche,

Nathaniel Collette, Lennox-Sundstrom

Tori Dvorak, Scotland

In Ag Broadcasting/Journalism, students have 30 minutes to prepare a five-minute agricultural radio newscast and then “air” it. This event is sponsored by Ludens Inc. Results were:

Justin Hausmann, Winner
Bailey Feistner, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
Annalese Crazy Bear, Lyman
Paisley Skonhard, Viborg-Hurley
Logan Rolph, Harding County
Josie Nold, Rutland
Gabrielle Rebelien, Sioux Valley
Lydia Hill, Sully Buttes
Jesse Cech, Lennox-Sundstrom
Ember Gabriel, Philip

In Prepared Public Speaking, each contestant presents a 6-8 minute agriculture-oriented speech and answers five minutes of related questions. The event and travel scholarship are sponsored by Ag PhD. The results were:

Matea Gordon, Sturgis
Bailey Feistner, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
Catherine Klein, Deubrook
Gabe Mattson, Deuel
Bobbi Eide, Gettysburg
Kylee Pollman, Bridgewater-Emery
Isabelle Mairose, Kimball
Corrina Ross, Sturgis
Shyla Schipper, Lennox-Sundstrom
Allie Westra, Beresford

In Extemporaneous Public Speaking, an unrehearsed 4-6 minute speech is written and presented onsite. Each contestant is allowed only 30 minutes to prepare. Our state level and travel scholarship sponsor is South Dakota Farmers Union. Results were as follow:

Grace DiGiovanni, McCook Central
Ellie Olsen, Deubrook
Rachel Rickenbach, Hot Springs
Collin White, Brookings
Gage Anderson, Lemmon
Cameron Noethlich, Doland
Sara Sveeggen, Beresford
Mason Moody, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
Lainee Forst, Mitchell
Izzy Cagnones, Selby Area

Employment Interview Skills challenges FFA members to complete a job application, write a letter of application and resume, participate in an actual interview and compose a follow-up letter. Our sponsor is the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The travel scholarships are sponsored by Kindra Gordon and Lance, Shirley, Jordanne and Dalton Howe. The results were:

Megan Sanders, Hot Springs
Sawyer Styles, Northwestern
Grace DiGiovanni, McCook Central
Ella Stiefvater, McCook Central
Mya Dissing, Tri Valley
Sierra Hilgenkamp, Wall
Ashton Massey, Menno
Kathryn Rausch, Hoven
Taylor Even, Gregory County
Ali Zacharias, West Central

Ag Sales team members work together to develop a strategy for selling pre-determined products to specific customer scenarios. Participants also practice their individual sales skills by selling an agricultural product to a customer. This event is sponsored by Wilbur Ellis. The state travel scholarships are sponsored by Wilbur Ellis, Dacotah Diamond Auctions and Equipment, Hoegemeyer Hybrids and Kevin and Amber Blagg. The results were:

Tri Valley: Hunter Foster, Weston VanDerVliet, Brody Ahlquist and Nolan Schmidt
West Central
Wessington Springs
McCook Central
Sioux Valley

The Conduct of Chapter Meetings event is designed for high school freshmen to present a mock FFA meeting. This event and travel scholarship are sponsored by Gary Bachman. The team results were:

McCook Central: Colton Stiefvater, Joe Grady, Karlie Stiefvater, Madison Lauck: Abbie Chase, Ava Sieverding, Lauren Roling
Lennox Sundstrom
Willow Lake
Belle Fourche
Montrose

Creed Speaking participants recite the FFA Creed and answer questions posed by the judges. This event and travel scholarship is sponsored by Craig and Bonnie Dybedahl and Jeremy and Laura Nettifee. The results were:

Bennett Gordon, Sturgis
Ashlyn Roudabush, Mitchell
Veronica Fonder, Milbank
Quynn Nielson, Sioux Valley
Mikael Nielson, Hitchcock-Tulare
Alexa Roland, Rapid City
Madi Raymond, Ethan
Lydia Main, Belle Fourche
Ridge Roduner, Wessington Springs
Jocelyn Rumpca, Webster

In Marketing Plan, teams of students determine a local community need and create a complete strategy for marketing a new agricultural product or company to fill that need. The sponsor is Legend Seeds, Inc., and the state winning team travel scholarship is sponsored by Hurley and Associates. The results are:

Garretson: Sarah Welch, Drew Pederson, Jenna Van Holland
McCook Central
West Central
Parker
Howard

In Ag Issues, a team of 3-7 students discuss the pros and cons of a major agricultural issue facing their area. The sponsor is South Dakota Farmers Union and the state winning team travel scholarship is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union and The Farm Forum. The results were:

West Central: Advisor Linda Petersen, McKenna Sichmeller, Grace Harden, Wilson Droge, Josslin Jarding, Jude Jarding, Maia Kennedy, Keighlor Nolz
Howard
Hot Springs
Sturgis
Harrisburg

The South Dakota FFA consists of over 102 FFA chapters with over 4,900 FFA members. The SD FFA Leadership Development Events are a special project of the SD FFA Foundation. FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Visit http://www.sdffafoundation.org/ for more information, and/or follow us on Facebook (South Dakota FFA Foundation and South Dakota FFA Association).