INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A Belle Fourche, S.D. FFA student is among the national finalists for National Chapter Awards, National FFA Agriscience Fair and Agricultural Proficiency Awards that have been announced ahead of the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo, November 1-4, 2023 in Indianapolis.
The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food, and natural resources. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Participation begins at the local level and progresses to state and national levels.
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, 9-10th grade, and 11-12th 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 the top three in each division will be announced and recognized on stage during the National FFA Convention.
Among the national finalists, South Dakota has seven individual and team projects, consisting of eight FFA members that will be competing at the national level:
Animal Systems Category – Atlee Olson, Belle Fourche, Division 3
Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems Category – Khloie Klinkhammer, McCook Central, Division 1 and Lauren Roling, McCook Central, Division 3
Plant Systems Category – Tanner Eide, Gettysburg, Division 5
Power, Structural and Technical Systems Category – Abbie Chase & Ava Sieverding, McCook Central, Division 4
Social Systems Category – Alyssa Roling, McCook Central FFA, Division 1 and Madison Lauck, McCook Central FFA, Division 3
Finalists receive a travel stipend to assist with expenses as a special project of the SD FFA Foundation and multiple sponsors. .
