On December 7 & 8, 2025, over 600 FFA members from across South Dakota 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 at the Career Expo and participate in a hands-on workshop provided by South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. FFA members and chapters were recognized for their success in twelve leadership areas at the awards ceremony.
State-winning teams and individuals in eleven of the twelve contests below now advance to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis 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: Ethan Buchmann, Freeman
2nd Place: Sage Voegele, Parker
3rd Place: Keaton Fiedler, Selby Area
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Mia Fitzgerald, Philip
5th Place:Alexis Roesler, Wessington Springs
6th Place: Jenna Schaefers, Miller
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 Tri-State Livestock News and Farm Progress/ Dakota Farmer. The travel scholarship is sponsored by Beresford FFA, Farm Progress/Dakota Farmer and Dakota Farm Talk. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Harrisburg FFA Chapter
2nd Place: West Central FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Howard FFA Chapter
4th Place: Brookings 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 and team winning travel scholarship is sponsored by Grossenburg Implement, Beresford. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: West Central FFA Chapter
2nd Place: Beresford FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Parker FFA Chapter
4th Place:Harrisburg 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 Simplot Grower Solutions, Mueller Family Suffolks-Shane and Breanna Mueller, Hoegemeyer Hybrids, YieldPro Ag, Kevin & Amber Blaff Family, Dacotah Diamond Auctions, and Bobbie Jo Donavan. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Tri-Valley FFA Chapter
2nd Place: McCook Central FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Belle Fourche FFA Chapter
4th Place: Lyman 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
-Nathan Bowers, Belle Fourche
-Leah Feterl, McCook Central
-Kasey Dobesh, Belle Fourche
-Chase Jones, Tri-Valley
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: Belle Fourche FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Wessington Springs FFA Chapter
4th Place: Montrose 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: Aaliyah Lennon, Belle Fourche
2nd Place: Sutton Plucker, Lennox Sundstrom
3rd Place: Harper Hanisch, Garretson
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Callan Johnson, Sturgis
5th Place: Bailey Smith, Lyman
6th Place: Bentlee Holt, Lake Preston
Spanish Creed Speaking participants recite the FFA Creed and answer questions posed by the judges in the Spanish Language. This event is sponsored by the South Dakota FFA Association. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Yaretzi Gonzalez Mendez, Mitchell
In the Silver Medal Division:
2nd Place: Maddie Dragt, Tea Area
Employment Interview Skills challenges FFA members to complete a job application, write a letter of application and resume, participate in a zoom pre-interview, and in-person interview. 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: Summer Schmaltz, Sioux Falls CTE Academy
2nd Place: Mercedes Jones, Wessington Springs
3rd Place: Lorick Pirlet, Lake Preston
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Allyson Couser, Brookings
5th Place: Bobbi Eide, Gettysburg
6th Place: Ray Sanders, Hot Springs
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 Golden Harvest. The travel scholarship is sponsored by Golden Harvest, Lindsey & Jeremy Haven, Crazy Lady Consulting, and Jim and Michelle Andrews Family Farm. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Jessica Hadrick, Faulkton
2nd Place: Madeline Enderson, Brookings
3rd Place: Chase Temme, DeSmet
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Taryn Bartel, Wessington Springs
5th Place: Bobbi Eide, Gettysburg
6th Place: Raiden Hanner, Beresford
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: Brookings FFA Chapter
2nd Place: Marion FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Tea Area FFA Chapter
4th Place: McCook Central FFA Chapter
Parliamentary Procedure teams, consisting of six members per team, demonstrate an FFA business meeting. The sponsor is Chris & Penny Nelson. The travel scholarship is sponsored by Chris & Penny Nelson, Dan & Nicole Tonak, Ashley & Jordan Weisen, Rachel Mehlhaf, Monte & Ruth Mason, and Tracy & Brett Kaltvedt. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Belle Fourche FFA Chapter
2nd Place: Harrisburg FFA Chapter
In the Silver Medal Division:
3rd Place: Willow Lake FFA Chapter
4th Place: DeSmet 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:
-Izzie Smithback, Harrisburg
-Justus Marshall, Belle Fourche
-Raif Parmeter, Belle Fourche
-Brooke Garman, Belle Fourche
-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, Lura Roti, Webster FFA, and Hefty Seed Company/Ag PhD. The results are as follows:
In the Gold Medal Division:
1st Place: Quynn Nielson, Sioux Valley
2nd Place: Alexis Christensen, Garretson
3rd Place: Zetta Kuhl, Hot Springs
In the Silver Medal Division:
4th Place: Vivian Johnson, Madison Central
5th Place: Emma Caulfield, Florence
6th Place: Elizabeth VonEye, Kimball
The awards session was sponsored by Culvers of Rapid City; First National Bank of Omaha; Golden Harvest; Western Legacy Foundation; Lauck & Koepsell Construction; Lynn, Jackson, Shultz, Lebrun, P.C. Attorneys at Law; RockTuff; Pioneer Bank & Trust;Twin Cities Region Northland Ford Dealers; Bayer; CHS Foundation; Farmers Mutual of Nebraska; SD Corn Utilization Council; Agtegra Cooperatives; Farm Credit Services of America; SD Farmers Union; The First National Bank in Sioux Falls; BASF; BankWest; Butler Machinery Company; C&B Equipment; Dacotah Bank; First Bank & Trust; First Dakota National Bank; Pioneer/Corteva; Prairie Grain Partners, LLC; Riverview LLP; Titan International; and Wilbur Ellis.
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