SD FFA students advance to national leadership event

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Nearly 600 FFA members from across South Dakota met in Rapid City Dec. 4 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 who are SD FFA Star Partners at the Career Carnival. Additionally, state officers from the Montana FFA Association presented workshops on leadership development and identifying leadership qualities for the members to participate in.

FFA members and chapters were recognized for their success in 11 leadership areas at the awards presentation. State-winning teams and individuals highlighted below, now advance to the National FFA Leadership Development Events in Indianapolis next fall.

Parliamentary Procedure teams, consisting of six members per team, demonstrate an FFA business meeting.. The team results are as follows:

1. Willow Lake Shay Michalski, Samantha Brenden, Emma Peterson, Ginny Warkethien, Nora Terhark, Andrew Peterson, and Advisor Dan Tonak.
2. Belle Fourche
3. McCook Central
4. Lennox-Sundstrom
5. Harrisburg

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. Those selected are :

Chair: Kathryn Loewe, Lennox-Sundstrom
Members At-Large: Wyatt Lesmeister, Belle Fourche, Emma Peterson, Willow Lake, Raif Parmeter, Belle Fourche, Tyler Strasser, Lennox-Sundstrom, 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 results were:

1. Laney Andrews, Beresford
2. Vivian Johnson, Madison Central
3. Lexi Nichols, West Central
4. Madelyn Caulfield, Florence
5. Josie Nold, Brookings
6. Julia Tinker, Brandon Valley
7. Remington Jacobson, Tea Area
8. Laramie Nutter, Wall

In Extemporaneous Public Speaking, an unrehearsed 4–6-minute speech is written and presented onsite. Each contestant is allowed only 30 minutes to prepare.  Results were as follows:

1. Lainee Forst, Mitchell
2. Briella Wettlaufer, Howard
3. Emily Knodel, Freeman
4. Cheznie Anderson, Watertown Area
5. Gage Anderson, Lemmon
6. Ashlyn Roudabush, Mitchell
7. Olivia Witing, Watertown Area
8. Carter Ross, Parker

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. The results were:

1. Grace Lindeman, Parkston
2. Tanner Eide, Gettysburg
3. Elliot Hendrix, Rapid City
4. Hope Baysinger, Mitchell
5. Lacie Weber, Oldham-Ramona-Rutland
6. Megan Wiese, Milbank
7. Sydney Lockhart, Hot Springs
8. Tristen Petrik, Platte-Geddes

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.  The team results were:

1. Tri-Valley: Colby Carruthers, Corie Wicks, Ryken Hieronimus, Tyler Groenewold, and Espn Althoff
2. Tea Area
3. McCook Central
4. Lyman
5. Sioux Falls CTE Academy

Ag Sales top individual sellers were also selected from each presentation room. The top individual sellers were:

Room 1: Owen Alley, McCook Central

Room 2: Colby Harrell, Miller

Room 3: Jack Daggett, Tea Area

Room 4: Aiden Gruppe, Watertown

The Conduct of Chapter Meetings event is designed for high school freshmen to present a mock FFA meeting. The team results are as follows:

1. McCook CentralElla Deknikker, Brooke Heumiller, Taylor Thrift, and Julianne Grady, Gavin Kipp, Parker Randall, William Dyen, Tucker Peterson, and Luke Horstman
2. Harrisburg
3. Sioux Valley
4. Hot Springs
5. Belle Fourche

 Creed Speaking participants recite the FFA Creed and answer questions posed by the judges. The results were:

1. Noah McGee, Freeman
2. Emma Caulfield, Florence
3. Coltyn Raymond, Ethan
4. Natalie Yates, Newell
5. Karley Luke, Marion
6. Alexis Roesler, Wessington Springs
7. Allie Hoekeman, Northwestern Area
8. Sienna Leheska, Kimball

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 team results are as follows:

1. McCook Central: Maddy Lauck, Joe Grady, and Lauren Roling
2. Hot Springs
3. Doland
4. West Central
5. Howard

In Ag Issues, a team of 3-7 students discuss the pros and cons of a major agricultural issue facing their area. The team results are as follows:

1. Beresford:  Ethan Hauch, Joseph Anderson, Robert Watkins, Halle Livingston, Kayla Jensee, Kylie Mockler, and Carley Crist
2. Parker
3. Bridgewater-Emery
4. West Central
5. Sturgis

In Ag Broadcasting/Journalism, students have 30 minutes to prepare a four to five-minute agricultural radio newscast. Students must also include a 30 minute commercial, scripted and voiced by them and a market report. There were multiple areas of assessment, including broadcast content, use of content, presentation, timing, with points deducted for every second over and under the allotted time. Results were:

1. Alexandria Madsen, Kadoka
2. Gavin Mattson, Deuel
3. Elle Goehring, Parkston
4. Cash Voegele, Parker
5. Josie Nold, Brookings
6. James Bame, Madison Central
7. Caroline Witte, Wessington Springs
8. Jordan VanDeStroet, Canton

In Ag Communications, teams play the role of communications consultants and develop a media plan for an assigned scenario. The scenario identifies a client with communications need and a budget. The team results are as follows:

1. Gregory County: Ava Kerner, Aubree Miller, Ella Sperl, and Avery Zeisler
2. McCook Central
3. West Central
4. Belle Fourche
5. Parker