South Dakota FFA proficiency winners recognized during State Convention

South Dakota FFA members were recognized at the 95th South Dakota State FFA Convention (April 16-18, 2023) for excellence in developing career-specific skills through their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Proficiency projects.

The FFA Agricultural Proficiency Awards recognize members who have developed their skills and abilities related to employment, internships, apprenticeships and their future careers at agribusiness or agriculture-related organizations. There are over 40 Proficiency areas for FFA members to participate in. The results are as follows:

Agricultural Communications is sponsored by the Tri-State Neighbor of Sioux Falls.

1. Grace Stoffel, McCook Central
2. Quinton Berg, Bridgewater- Emery

Agricultural Education is sponsored by Dr. Lon Moeller.

1. Tayah McGregor, McCook Central
2. Rylee Terveen, Bridgewater- Emery
3. Lacie Weber, Rutland

 Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fabrication is sponsored by Cammack Ranch Supply, Union Center.

1. Mason Pulse, McCook Central
2. Mason Jacobson, Howard
3. Nolan Schmidt, Tri-Valley

Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance (Placement) is sponsored by Scott Supply Company, Grossenburg Implement( Katriona Koenig in photo); and Sitework Specialists.

1. Weston VanDerVliet, Tri-Valley
2. Brady Braaten, Tri-Valley
3. Owen Murphy, Harrisburg

 Agricultural Processing is sponsored by the SD Soybean Processors of Volga and Candidus and Londa (Vander Wal) Nwadike.

1. Katie Sherman, Howard
2. Lodin Albert, Howard
3. Abbie Chase, McCook Central

Agricultural Sales (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Legend Seeds, Inc. of De Smet.

1. Zachary Jacobson, Howard
2. Joseph Laprath, Colome
3. Grace DiGiovanni, McCook Central

Agricultural Sales (Placement) is sponsored by M&M Cattle Services and Ranchers Feed and Seed, Buffalo Gap.

1. Jaden Eddy, Bridgewater- Emery
2. Tayah McGregor, McCook Central
3. Ethan Koopman, Tri-Valley

Agricultural Services (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored by On Target Agency and Loehr Horse Care.

1. Levi Wieman, Parker
2. Ella Stiefvater, McCook Central (not pictured)
3. Will Maier, Howard

Agriscience Research – Animal Systems is sponsored by the CHS Foundation (Jennifer Johnson in photo).

1. Shayne Luzmoor, West Central
2. Joe Grady, McCook Central
3. Colton Stiefvater, McCook Central

Agriscience Research – Integrated Systems is sponsored at the state level by Terry Jaspers and Valley Queen Cheese.

1. Grace DiGiovanni, McCook Central
2. Ethan Boekelheide, McCook Central
3. Mason Pulse, McCook Central

Agriscience Research – Plant Systems is sponsored by SoDak Labs, Inc (Miranda Smidt in photo).

1. Abby Wagner, McCook Central
2. Tanner Eide, Gettysburg
3. Bela Jimenez, McCook Central

Beef Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Stewart Charolais, Vedvei Charolais, Millborn Seeds (Colin Geppert in photo), and the South Dakota Shorthorn Association.

1. Zachary Connor, Howard
2. Zachary Jacobson, Howard
3. Chloe Hazel, Beresford

 Beef Production (Placement) is sponsored by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the Blair Brothers.

1. Shelby Pankratz, Parker
2. Cody Williams, Gregory County
3. Ryan Blagg, McCook Central

Dairy Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Associated Milk Producers, Inc.

1. Blake Klizke, McCook Central
2. Preston Bradley, McCook Central

Dairy Production (Placement) is sponsored by Associated Milk Producers, Inc.

1. Natalie Haase, Parker
2. Brody Ahlquist, Tri-Valley
3. Derek Schock, McCook Central

Diversified Agricultural Production is sponsored by MinnTex Citrus, Kevin and Amber Blagg (in photo), and Blane and Liz Osterday.

1. Brode Dennis, McCook Central
2. Zachary Jacobson, Howard
3. Landon Roling, McCook Central

Diversified Crop Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Agtegra Cooperative.

1. Landon Roling, McCook Central
2. Elden Blume, Redfield
3. Elliott Chase, McCook Central

Diversified Crop Production (Placement) is sponsored by the South Dakota Seed Trade Association

1. Derek Schock, McCook Central
2. Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central
3. Cody Stevens, Howard

Diversified Horticulture is sponsored by the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition (Jason Kontz in photo).

1. Erika Beck, Tri-Valley

Diversified Livestock Production is sponsored by McFleeg Inc.

1. Ryan Blagg, McCook Central
2. Melanie Calmus, Howard
3. Cassandra Twedt, Beresford

Environmental Science & Natural Resources Management is sponsored by South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts (Matt Eichacker in photo) and Site Work Specialists, Inc.

1. Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central

Equine Science (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Amani Reiners – Tim Anderson and Kim Niven of Milbank.

1. Kolt Koepsell, Howard
2. Katrina Thon, Bridgewater- Emery
3. Erin Osmotherly, Hot Springs

Equine Science (Placement) is sponsored by Northern Hills Veterinary Clinic, Dawn Nagel (in photo), Susan Stoterau, Roger DeRouchey and the Webster FFA chapter.

1. Vanessa Dunkelburger, Parker
2. Kailee Mullins, Lennox-Sundstrom
3. Marah Schock, McCook Central

Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production is sponsored by SD Soybean Research and Promotion Council (Jerry Schmitz in photo).

1. Carson Weber, Bridgewater-Emery
2. Derek Schock, McCook Central
3. Jason Zeeb, Bridgewater-Emery

Forage Production is sponsored by Kuecker Seed Farm, Inc. of Webster (Amy Kuecker in photo).

1. Kaleb Antonsen, Groton
2. Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central
3. Brode Dennis, McCook Central

Forest Management and Products is sponsored by the Black Hills Resource Association.

1. Austen Hoiten, McCook Central
2. Jackie Kreber, Canton
3. Natalie Maritan, Howard

Goat Production is sponsored by Hamilton Farms of Hitchcock.

1. Taya Chelmo, Kimball
2. Ryan Blagg, McCook Central
3. Abigail Kolousek, Wessington Springs

Grain Production is sponsored by the Dakota Mill and Grain Inc. and the South Dakota Wheat Commission.

1. Carson Weber, Bridgewater Emery
2. Elliott Chase, McCook Central
3. Lauren Roling, McCook Central

Home and Community Development is sponsored by Harrisburg FFA.

1. Alexis Golder, Bridgewater-Emery
2. Noah Schnee, McCook Central
3. Vivian Koepsell, McCook Central

Landscape Management is sponsored by FarmHouse Fraternity-SDSU (Lucas Tesch and Hunter Williamette in photo).

1. Jackson Hofer, Beresford
2. Hunter Foster, Tri-Valley
3. Gia Miller, Viborg-Hurley

Nursery Operations is sponsored by Twin Cities Region Northland Ford Dealers.

1. Mara Zorr, Bridgewater-Emery
2. Emily Walz, Parkston

 Outdoor Recreation is sponsored by Jack’s Campers of Mitchell, Central Dakota Guide Service and South Dakota Walleye Charters.

1. Rylee Terveen, Bridgewater-Emery
2. Lacie Weber, Rutland

Poultry Production is sponsored by Josh Johnson (in photo) and the South Dakota Poultry Industries Association.

1. Colton Stiefvater, McCook Central
2. Elden Blume, Redfield
3. Swade Reis, Chamberlain

 Service Learning is sponsored by Dr. Laura Hasselquist and Toby Uecker.

1. Madison Lauck, McCook Central
2. Alexis Golder, Bridgewater-Emery

Sheep Production is sponsored by the Newell Ram Sale.

1. Ella Stiefvater, McCook Central (not pictured)
2. Morgan Mackaben, Belle Fourche
3. Taya Chelmo, Kimball

Small Animal Production and Care is sponsored by Salem Veterinary Service, SD Veterinary Medical Association, and Robert Rennolet of Menno.

1. Ashtyn Wobig, McCook Central (Not Pictured)
2. Mary Duerksen, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Emilyrose Harrington, Lennox Sundstrom

Specialty Animal Production is sponsored by R&R Pheasant Hunting.

1. Maddison Hoffman, Rapid City Stevens
2. Abbie Chase, McCook Central
3. Hanna Sletto, Hot Springs

Specialty Crop Production is sponsored by Howe Seeds, Inc., McLaughlin and Hansmeier & Son Inc. of Bristol.

1. Lauren Roling, McCook Central

Swine Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by the South Dakota Pork Producers Council (Cagney Effling in photo).

1. Faith Genzlinger, Howard
2. Lacie Weber, Rutland
3. Carissa Scheel, Wessington Springs

Swine Production (Placement) is sponsored by GroMaster, Lester Moeller, Kevin and Sandy Ortberg, Wally & Kathy Knock, and United Animal Health.

1. Carter Ross, Parker
2. Laney Andrews, Beresford
3. Landon Roling, McCook Central

Turf Grass Management is sponsored by Millborn Seeds (Colin Geppert in photo).

1. Karsten Hamilton, Howard
2. Samare Wolf, McCook Central
3. Jackson Harberts, Bridgewater-Emery

Vegetable Production is sponsored by Clark and Lyla Hanson in memory of Bill and Stella Hanson.

1. Jason Zeeb, Bridgewater Emery
2. Carson Weber, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Bobbie Eide, Gettysburg

Veterinary Science is sponsored by Salem Veterinary Service (Mike Stiefvater in photo).

1. Tessa Henderson, Beresford
2. Sabrah Morris, Miller
3. Colton Stiefvater, McCook Central

Wildlife Production and Management is sponsored by Craig and Maure Weinkauf (Craig in photo), in memory of Arthur J. Weinkauf.

1. Kade Shumaker, Howard
2. Riley Roduner, Wessington Springs
3. Hailey Kizer, Howard