Sept. 4, 2025:
A woman who works at a grocery store in Onida earned the title of South Dakota’s Best Bagger during a contest held at the 2025 State Fair in Huron (Aug. 30, 2025).
Kristen Hermes of Don’s Food Center in Onida took home $500 cash for first place. She also gets an expenses-paid trip to compete at the National Grocers Association competition in February 2026 in Las Vegas, where she has the chance to win $10,000.
Michael Chasing Hawk Jr. of Buche Foods in Gregory took home $200 cash for second place.
The South Dakota Retailers Association hosts the state’s annual Best Bagger Competition. Executive Director Nathan Sanderson said this year, 20 contestants from across the state bagged identical grocery orders. He said they were judged on speed, bag building technique, uniform bag weight, and personal attitude and appearance.
The 18 competitors who didn’t place, each received a $100 cash prize.
Other participants were:
- Gavin Tjeerdsma from Buche Foods Wagner,
- Creighton Chambers from Fareway Meat & Grocery in Harrisburg,
- Henry Romero from Buche Foods in Pickstown,
- Samy Hall from Coborn’s in Huron,
- Galilea Garcia from Fair City Foods,
- Carolyn House from Buche Foods Oacoma,
- Elizabeth Craine from Lynn’s DakotaMart in Summerset,
- Michael Iron Horse from Buche Foods Mission,
- Reghan Hermanson from Fareway Meat & Grocery in Sioux Falls,
- Mahlon Bruguier Jr from Cahoy’s,
- Justin Ekroth from Buche Foods Gregory,
- Bethany Unruh from Maynard’s of Lake Preston,
- Travis Kills Back from Buche Foods Pine Ridge,
- Brandon Venhuizen from Fareway Meat & Grocery in Tea,
- Amber Vega from Lynn’s DakotaMart in Custer,
- Dylan Berg from County Fair Foods,
- Aubrey Peterka from Cahoy’s General Store in Bonesteel,
- Ace Chief from Buche Foods Pine Ridge,
- Cynthia Rankin from Lynn’s DakotaMart Belle Fouche, and
- Adley Scheuerman from Cahoy’s General Store in Tyndall.
South Dakota’s Best Bagger Competition is sponsored by Associated Wholesale Grocers, NW French & Associates and Prairie Farms.
Kristen Hermes.
Courtesy photo.
Courtesy photo.
Kristen Hermes.
Courtesy photo.
Aug. 22, 2025:
The South Dakota Retailers Association is once again partnering with the State Fair to bring the Best Bagger Competition to the Freedom Stage on Saturday, August 30 at 11:30 a.m.
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