On December 1-2,2024, over 600 South Dakota FFA members met in Box Elder for the State FFA Leadership Development Events (LDEs). Students qualified through district competitions, advancing the top two teams and top three individuals from each of the eight FFA districts in South Dakota. While waiting for competitive events, students had the opportunity to interact with agriculture industry leaders, including the SD FFA Star Partners, at the Career Expo. FFA members and chapters were recognized for their success in eleven leadership areas at the awards ceremony, and winners in ten of the categories advance to nationals next fall.
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 Prairie Winds Humbolt LLC. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Shyla Tvedt, Deuel
2nd Place: Mia Fitzgerald, Philip
3rd Place: Haydn McGillivary, Watertown Area
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Ethan Buchmann, Deubrook
5th Place:Reagan Pearson, Tri-Valley
6th Place: Quinn Boer, Deubrook
In Ag Communications, participants work as a team of communication consultants to develop a written media plan, present the plan to a panel of judges, and, as individuals, apply what they have learned during practicums, a quiz and editing exercise. This challenges students to communicate effectively while advocating to consumers about agriculture and telling the FFA story. This event is sponsored by the SD Broadcasters Association and Farm Progress/ Dakota Farmer. The travel scholarship is sponsored by Farm Progress/Dakota Farmer and Dakota Farm Talk. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Beresford FFA Chapter
2nd Place: West Central FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Parker FFA Chapter
4th Place: Harrisburg FFA Chapter
In Ag Issues, a team of 3-7 students discuss the pros and cons of a major agricultural issue facing their area. This event is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union. The state winning team travel scholarship is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union and Central States Fair Foundation. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Howard FFA Chapter
2nd Place: West Central FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: McCook Central FFA Chapter
4th Place: Lyman FFA Chapter
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 Simplot Grower Solutions. The champion team travel scholarship is sponsored by Kevin & Amber Blagg Family, Mueller Family, Simplot Grower Solutions, Hoegemeyer Hybrids, YieldPro Ag, and Dacotah Diamond Auction. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: McCook Central FFA Chapter
2nd Place: Watertown FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Brookings FFA Chapter
4th Place: West Central FFA Chapter
Ag Sales top individual sellers were also selected from each presentation room and is sponsored by Larson Farms and Sorum Farms. The top individual sellers were
- Dylan McGregor, McCook Central
- Sam Handberg, West Central
- Braxton Yackley, Selby Area
- Carley Crist, Beresford
The Conduct of Chapter Meetings event is designed for high school freshmen to present a mock FFA meeting. This event is sponsored by Patsy Rieckman. The state travel scholarship is sponsored by Patsy Rieckman, YieldPro Ag, and the Dan & Nicole Tonak family. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: McCook Central FFA Chapter
2nd Place: Willow Lake FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Montrose FFA Chapter
4th Place: Harrisburg FFA Chapter
Creed Speaking participants recite the FFA Creed and answer questions posed by the judges. This event is sponsored by YieldPro Ag and Craig and Bonnie Dybedahl. The state winning travel scholarship is sponsored by YieldPro Ag, Craig and Bonnie Dybedahl, and Joshua and Katie Ramsey. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Chloe Sime, Faulkton
2nd Place: Kobi Miller, Sturgis
3rd Place: Tessa Burke, Bridgewater-Emery
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Cooper VanderWal, Sioux Valley
5th Place: Braylon Plucker, Lennox-Sundstrom
6th Place: Rylin Fods, Tri-Valley
Employment Interview Skills challenges FFA members to complete a job application, write a letter of application and resume, participate in an interview, and compose a follow-up letter. Our sponsor is the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The travel scholarship is sponsored by Kindra Gordon, Sadie Frey and the Lance Howe Family. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Atlee Olson, Belle Fourche
2nd Place: Connor May, Brookings
3rd Place: Karley Luke, Marion
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Isabella Smithback, Harrisburg
5th Place: Aedan Klawonn, Madison Central
6th Place: Brody Stenger, Sioux Falls CTE Academy
In Extemporaneous Public Speaking, an unrehearsed 4–6-minute speech is written and presented onsite. Each contestant is allowed only 30 minutes to prepare. The event is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union. The travel scholarship is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union, Crazy Lady Consulting, and Jim and Michelle Andrews Family Farm. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Laney Andrews, Beresford
2nd Place: Bradyn Small, Langford Area
3rd Place: Colton Stiefvater, McCook Central
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Skyler Plucker, Lennox Sundstrom
5th Place: Gage Anderson, Lemmon
6th Place: Briella Wettlaufer, Howard
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 and YieldPro Ag. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Lemmon FFA Chapter
2nd Place: McCook Central FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Harrisburg FFA Chapter
4th Place: Doland FFA Chapter
Parliamentary Procedure teams, consisting of six members per team, demonstrate an FFA business meeting. The sponsor is South Dakota Farmers Union. The travel scholarship is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union, Monte and Ruth Mason, Rachel Mehlhaf, Brett and Tracy Kaltvedt, Ashley and Jordan Wiesen, and Dan and Nicole Tonak. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Willow Lake FFA Chapter
2nd Place: Belle Fourche FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Harrisburg FFA Chapter
4th Place: Brookings FFA Chapter
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: Kate Williamson, Belle Fourche
Members At-Large:
Wyatt Lesmeister, Belle Fourche
Kadee Fankfurth, Willow Lake
Raif Parmeter, Belle Fourche
Izzie Smithback, Harrisburg
Jazlyn Olson, Belle Fourche
In Prepared Public Speaking, each contestant presents a 6–8-minute agriculture-oriented speech and answers five minutes of related questions. The event is sponsored by Hefty Seed Company/Ag PhD. The travel scholarship is sponsored by Jim and Michelle Andrews Family Farm, Central States Fair Foundation, and Hefty Seed Company/Ag PhD. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Bennett Gordon, Sturgis
2nd Place: Josie Nold, Brookings
3rd Place: Julia Tinker, Brandon Valley
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Vivian Johnson, Madison Central
5th Place: Alexis Christensen, Garretson
6th Place: Delaney Zoss, Mitchell
FFA’s sponsors for the event include: Agtegra Cooperative; BankWest; Bayer; Twin Cities Region Northland Ford Dealers; Lynn, Jackson, Shultz, Lebrun, P.C. Attorneys at Law; Beck’s Hybrid; Butler Machinery Company; C&B Equipment; CHS Foundation, Dacotah Bank; Farm Credit Services of America; Titan International; Farmers Mutual of Nebraska; First Dakota National Bank; Lauck and Koepsell Construction; Pioneer/Corteva; Prairie Grain Partners, LLC; Rock Tuff; SD Corn Utilization Council; and the Western Legacy Foundation.
Comments