South Dakota FFA sending 21 agri-scientists to national competition

The National FFA Agriscience Fair is for FFA members interested in the science and technology of agriculture. Students compete in one of six categories: animal systems; environmental services/natural resources systems; food products and processing systems; plant systems; power, structural and technical systems; or social systems. There are Jr. High, 9-10^th grade, and 11-12^th grade divisions.

State FFA Agriscience Fair winners submit their written research papers to the national level and ten projects in each division are selected to advance and present their project for competition at the national level. Finalists will give a presentation on their project over zoom to judges and be recognized on stage when the winners are announced during the National FFA Convention. National FFA just released the finalists to advance as national finalists and SD has 12 individual and team projects, consisting of 21 FFA members that will be competing at the national level:

Animal Systems Category –

• Steele Anglin & William Winter, Tri-Valley, Division 2
• Colton Stiefvater & Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central, Division 6

Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems Category –

• Harlee Nielson & Mikael Nielson, Hitchcock-Tulare, Division 6

Courtesy photo.

Food Products and Processing Systems –

• Zoe Dissing & McKenzie Mack, Tri-Valley, Division 6

Plant Systems Category –

• Isaac Chase & Caleb Hoffman, McCook Central, Division 2
• Tanner Eide, Gettysburg, Division 5

Courtesy photo.

Power, Structural and Technical Systems Category –

• Joseph Vanemmerik, McCook Central, Division 1
• Beau Hieronimus & Bentley McMillen, Tri-Valley, Division 2
• Gage Egger & Ty Oyen, Tri-Valley, Division 4
• Lexi Nichols & Sydney L Neel, West Central, Division 6

Social Systems Category –

• Bobbi Eide, Gettysburg, Division 3
• Lauren Roling & Alyssa Roling, McCook Central, Division 6

Courtesy photo.

Through the SD FFA Foundation, finalists receive a travel stipend to assist with expenses, sponsored by Buffalo Ranch Supply, Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic, Fall River Veterinary Clinic, First Dakota National Bank, De-Tye Vet Supply, Eichacker Simmentals, Salem Veterinary Service, Jim Chilson, Grain Millers, McCook Central FFA, Carl & Kari Sanders, ProAg Engineering, Dan & Sheri Kahnke, Next Level Ag, SD Corn Utilization Council, Bayer, SD Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Prairie Grain Partners, SD Biotech Association, BankWest, Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, Pioneer-Corteva, Meyerink Farm Service, C & B Equipment, Dacotah Bank, Summit Contracting, RDO Equipment, Gullickson Family Livestock, Butler Machinery Company, CTE Global.