State FFA Champions Named in Leadership Development Events

Several area high school FFA members took part recently in the State FFA Leadership Development Events in Pierre.  Students qualified through district competitions, with the top two teams and top three individuals from each of the seven FFA districts in the state advancing to the state competition.  

The team from McCook Central won the “Conduct of Chapter Meetings” event, with the team from Montrose placing fifth in this event.  A team from McCook Central also took second in the “Marketing Plan” event, and a team from Howard High School took fifth. Howard’s team also placed second in the “Ag Issues” competition. 

Josie Nold of Rutland placed sixth in the “Ag Broadcasting/Journalism” event.

State-winning teams and individuals advance to the National FFA Leadership Development Events in Indianapolis next fall. 

A complete list of the results from the State FFA Leadership Development Event can be found below:

Parliamentary Procedure teams, consisting of six members per team, demonstrate an FFA business meeting. Our state sponsor is South Dakota Farmers Union. The state level team travel scholarship is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union, Monte and Ruth Mason, and Brett and Tracy Kaltvedt. The team results are as follows:

1.      Belle Fourche (pictured left to right): Advisors Austin Bishop, Krystin Hayworth, Nicole Kraft, Olivia Furrow, Reese McKenna, Ava McLennan and Dustin Kolb.

2.      Scotland

3.      Lennox-Sundstrom

4.      Hitchcock-Tulare

5.      Willow Lake

 

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 (pictured left to right):

Chair- Kaylee Bosma, Lennox-Sundstrom
Members At-Large:

Hattie Muellenbach, Milbank

Andy Brooker, Hitchcock-Tulare

Reese McKenna, Belle Fourche,

Nathaniel Collette, Lennox-Sundstrom

Tori Dvorak, Scotland

 

In Prepared Public Speaking, each contestant presents a 6-8 minute agriculture-oriented speech and answers five minutes of related questions. The event and travel scholarship are sponsored by Ag PhD. The results were (pictured left to right 1st, 2nd, 3rd):

1.      Matea Gordon, Sturgis

2.      Bailey Feistner, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket

3.      Catherine Klein, Deubrook

4.      Gabe Mattson, Deuel

5.      Bobbi Eide, Gettysburg

6.      Kylee Pollman, Bridgewater-Emery

7.      Isabelle Mairose, Kimball

8.      Corrina Ross, Sturgis

9.      Shyla Schipper, Lennox-Sundstrom

10.  Allie Westra, Beresford

In Extemporaneous Public Speaking, an unrehearsed 4-6 minute speech is written and presented onsite. Each contestant is allowed only 30 minutes to prepare. Our state level and travel scholarship sponsor is South Dakota Farmers Union. Results were as follows (pictured left to right 1st, 2nd & 3rd):

  1. Grace DiGiovanni, McCook Central
  2. Ellie Olsen, Deubrook
  3. Rachel Rickenbach, Hot Springs
  4. Collin White, Brookings
  5. Gage Anderson, Lemmon
  6. Cameron Noethlich, Doland
  7. Sara Sveeggen, Beresford
  8. Mason Moody, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
  9. Lainee Forst, Mitchell
  10. Izzy Cagnones, Selby Area

 

Employment Interview Skills challenges FFA members to complete a job application, write a letter of application and resume, participate in an actual interview and compose a follow-up letter. Our sponsor is the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The travel scholarships are sponsored by Kindra Gordon and Lance, Shirley, Jordanne, and Dalton Howe. The results were (pictured left to right 1st, 2nd, 3rd):

1.      Megan Sanders, Hot Springs

2.      Sawyer Styles, Northwestern

3.      Grace DiGiovanni, McCook Central

4.      Ella Stiefvater, McCook Central

5.      Mya Dissing, Tri Valley

6.      Sierra Hilgenkamp, Wall

7.      Ashton Massey, Menno

8.      Kathryn Rausch, Hoven

9.      Taylor Even, Gregory County

10.  Ali Zacharias, West Central

 

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 Wilbur Ellis. The state travel scholarships are sponsored by Wilbur Ellis, Dacotah Diamond Auctions and Equipment, Hoegemeyer Hybrids and Kevin and Amber Blagg. The results were:

1.      Tri Valley (pictured left to right): Hunter Foster, Weston VanDerVliet, Brody Ahlquist and Nolan Schmidt

2.      West Central

3.      Wessington Springs

4.      McCook Central

5.      Sioux Valley

 

The Conduct of Chapter Meetings event is designed for high school freshmen to present a mock FFA meeting. This event and travel scholarship are sponsored by Gary Bachman. The team results were:

1.      McCook Central (pictured back row left to right): Colton Stiefvater, Joe Grady, Karlie Stiefvater, Madison Lauck (pictured front row left to right): Abbie Chase, Ava Sieverding, Lauren Roling

2.      Lennox Sundstrom

3.      Willow Lake

4.      Belle Fourche

5.      Montrose

Creed Speaking participants recite the FFA Creed and answer questions posed by the judges. This event and travel scholarship is sponsored by Craig and Bonnie Dybedahl and Jeremy and Laura Nettifee. The results were (pictured left to right Chair, Jeff VanderWal, 1st, 2nd, 3rd):

  1. Bennett Gordon, Sturgis
  2. Ashlyn Roudabush, Mitchell
  3. Veronica Fonder, Milbank
  4. Quynn Nielson, Sioux Valley
  5. Mikael Nielson, Hitchcock-Tulare
  6. Alexa Roland, Rapid City
  7. Madi Raymond, Ethan
  8. Lydia Main, Belle Fourche
  9. Ridge Roduner, Wessington Springs
  10. Jocelyn Rumpca, Webster

 

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. The results are:

1.      Garretson (pictured left to right): Sarah Welch, Drew Pederson, Jenna Van Holland2.       McCook Central3.       West Central4.       Parker5.       Howard

 

In Ag Issues, a team of 3-7 students discuss the pros and cons of a major agricultural issue facing their area. The sponsor is South Dakota Farmers Union and the state winning team travel scholarship is sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union and The Farm Forum. The results were:

  1. West Central (pictured  left to right): Advisor Linda Petersen, McKenna Sichmeller, Grace Harden, Wilson Droge, Josslin Jarding, Jude Jarding, Maia Kennedy, Keighlor Nolz
  2. Howard
  3. Hot Springs
  4. Sturgis
  5. Harrisburg

 

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 Ludens Inc. Results were (pictured left to right 1st, 2nd & 3rd):

  1. Justin Hausmann, Winner
  2. Bailey Feistner, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
  3. Annalese Crazy Bear, Lyman
  4. Paisley Skonhard, Viborg-Hurley
  5. Logan Rolph, Harding County
  6. Josie Nold, Rutland
  7. Gabrielle Rebelien, Sioux Valley
  8. Lydia Hill, Sully Buttes
  9. Jesse Cech, Lennox-Sundstrom
  10. Ember Gabriel, Philip