BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota FFA members were recognized at the 93rd South Dakota State FFA Convention for excellence in developing career-specific skills through their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Proficiency projects.
The FFA Agricultural Proficiency Awards recognize members who have developed their skills and abilities related to employment, internships, apprenticeships and their future careers at agribusiness or agriculture-related organizations. There are 45 Proficiency areas for FFA members to participate in. The results are as follows:
Agricultural Communications (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Bader Rutter and Associates, and Wire Company-Red Brand. Our state level sponsor is the Tri-State Neighbor of Sioux Falls.
1. Taylor Tennant, Gettysburg
2. Matea Gordon, Sturgis
3. Ella Stiefvater, McCook Central
Agricultural Education (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation. Our state level sponsor is Dr. Lon Moeller.
1. Kayle Lauck, McCook Central
2. Tayah McGregor, McCook Central
3. Marah Hofer. Bridgewater-Emery
Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fabrication (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Lincoln Electric. Our state level sponsor is Cammack Ranch Supply, Union Center.
1. James Nussbaum, Garretson
2. Nickolas Litterick, Howard
3. Mason Pulse, McCook Central
Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance (Placement) is sponsored nationally by Tractor Supply Company. Our state level sponsors are Scott Supply Co. and Jeremy and Laura Nettifee.
1. Kyle DeBoer, McCook Central
2. Isaak Pulse, McCook Central
3. Jacob Schmidt, Garretson
Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored nationally by Kubota Tractor Corporation and Mystik Lubricants. Our state level sponsors are Site Work Specialists, Inc and Grossenburg Implement.
1. Jaedon Wobig, McCook Central
Agricultural Processing (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsors are the SD Soybean Processors of Volga and Candidus and Londa (Vander Wal) Nwadike.
1. Jacob Dold, Howard
2. Kane Muth, McCook Central
3. Avery Feterl, McCook Central
Agricultural Sales (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored nationally by Nutrien Ag Solutions and Valent USA Corporation. Our state level sponsor is Legend Seeds, Inc. of De Smet.
1. Aubree Kranz, McCook Central
Agricultural Sales (Placement) is sponsored nationally by Fastenal and Cargill. Our state level sponsor is Ranchers Feed and Seed, Buffalo Gap.
1. Gabby Feterl, McCook Central
2. Samuel Callies, Howard
3. Kassandra Knutson, Viborg-Hurley
Agriscience Research – Animal Systems is sponsored nationally by Zoetis. Our state level sponsor is the CHS Foundation.
1. Ella Stiefvater, McCook Central
2. Mitchell VanderWal, Northwestern Area
3. Abby Blagg, McCook Central
Agriscience Research – Integrated Systems is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsors are Terry Jaspers and Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc.
1. Matea Gordon, Sturgis
2. Kayle Lauck, McCook Central
3. Megan Nash, Northwestern Area
Agriscience Research – Plant Systems is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is SoDak Labs, Inc.
1. Lauren Stiefvater, McCook Central
Agricultural Services (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsors are CHS River Plains, and Loehr Horse Care.
1. Lane Wieman, Parker
2. Alvena Batin, Miller
3. Blake Jensen, Beresford
Beef Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored nationally by Merck Animal Health and Rabo Agri Finance. Our state level sponsors are Jensen, Stewart and Vedvei Charolais Breeders, Millborn Seeds, Sleepy Hollow Farm, and the South Dakota Shorthorn Association.
1. Mitchell VanderWal, Northwestern Area
2. Korbin Leddy, Milbank
3. Abby Blagg, McCook Central
Beef Production (Placement) is sponsored nationally by Zoetis. Our state level sponsor is the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the Blair Brothers.
1. Tate Johnson, Beresford
2. Avery Schut, Chester Area
3. Ty Beryer, Howard
Dairy Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored nationally by New Holland. Our state level sponsor is Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
1. Geoff Dunkleberger, Parker
2. Steven Paulson, Groton
3. Derek Schock, McCook Central
Dairy Production (Placement) is sponsored nationally by Kuhn North America and Nasco Agriculture. Our State level sponsor is Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
1. Jordan Schock, McCook Central
2. Brooks Jansen, Bridgewater Emery
3. Harry Brok, Howard
Diversified Agricultural Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is Sioux Nation Ag Center of South Dakota.
1. Elliot Chase, McCook Central
2. Brode Dennis, McCook Central
3. Gayden Johnson, Beresford
Diversified Crop Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is Agtera.
1. Elliot Chase, McCook Central
2. Landon Roling, McCook Central
Diversified Crop Production (Placement) is sponsored nationally by AgReliant Genetics and CHS Foundation. Our state level sponsors are Jason and Gail Gullickson and the South Dakota Aviation Association.
1. Jaedon Wobig, McCook Central
2. Jason Ebeling, Parker
3. Joe Loudenburg, McCook Central
Diversified Horticulture (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by The Toro Company. Our state level sponsor is South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.
1. Jake VanHout, McCook Central
Diversified Livestock Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Wahl Clipper Corporation, Tractor Supply Company and Bekaert Corporation. Our state level sponsor is McFleeg Feed.
1. John Callies, Howard
2. Rylee Schultz, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Alana Howard, Miller
Environmental Science & Natural Resources Management (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the CHS Foundation. Our state level sponsor is South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts and Site Work Specialists, Inc.
1. Megan Stiefvater, McCook Central
2. Jackson Harberts, Bridgewater-Emery
Equine Science (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored nationally by Red Brand Wire and Zoetis. Our state level sponsor is Amani Reiners – Tim Anderson and Kim Niven of Milbank.
1. Madisen Koepsell, McCook Central
2. Michaela McCormick, McCook Central
Equine Science (Placement) is sponsored nationally by Tractor Supply Co and Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment. Our state level sponsors are Northern Hills Veterinary clinic, Dawn Nagel, Susan Stoterau, Roger DeRouchey and the Webster FFA chapter.
1. Myra Whitehead, Lennox Sundstrom
2. Brianna Even, McCook Central
3. Kayla Kommes, Howard
Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Bunge North America. Our state level sponsor is the SD Soybean Research and Promotion Council.
1. Landon Roling, McCook Central
2. Collin Kolbeck, McCook Central
3. Elliott Chase, McCook Central
Forage Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Claas of America. Our state level sponsor is Kuecker Seed Farm, Inc. of Webster.
1. Brianna Duerre, Webster
2. Jaedon Wobig, McCook Central
3. Samuel Dold, Howard
Forest Management and Products (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by John Deere. Our state level sponsor is State Black Hills Resource Association.
1. Joren Peterson, McCook Central
Fruit Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is MinnTex of Windom, Minnesota.
1. Dakota Buck, McCook Central
Goat Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Tractor Supply Company. Our state level sponsor is Hamilton Farms of Hitchcock, South Dakota.
1. Tessa Erdmann, Groton
2. Matea Gordon, Sturgis
3. Taya Chelmo, Kimball
Grain Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Valent USA Corporation and Wilbur Ellis. Our state level sponsor is Dakota Mill and Grain Inc.
1. Evan Bly, Garretson
2. Landon Roling, McCook Central
3. Elliot Chase, McCook Central
Landscape Management (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Tractor Supply Company. Our state level sponsor is the FarmHouse Fraternity at SDSU.
1. Jacob VanVelzen, Parker
2. Bailey Hansen, Centerville
3. Jake VanHout, McCook Central
Nursery Operations (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Nufarm Americas. Our state level sponsor is the Twin Cities Region Northland Ford Dealers.
1. Hunter Uptagrafft, Bridgewater-Emery
Outdoor Recreation (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Yamaha Motor Corporation USA. Our state level sponsors are Jack’s Campers of Mitchell, Central Dakota Guide Service and South Dakota Walleye Charters.
1. Hunter Eide, Gettysburg
Poultry Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Tractor Supply Company. Our state level sponsors are Mr. Josh Johnson and the South Dakota Poultry Industries Association.
1. Kaylee Bosma, Lennox Sundstrom
2. Colton Stiefvater, McCook Central
3. Will Benson, Tri-Valley
Service Learning (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsors is Ranchers Feed and Supply, Edgemont
1. Morgan Terneen, Bridgewater-Emery
Sheep Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is the Newell Ram Sale.
1. Hadley Stiefvater, McCook Central
2. Caleb McGregor, Newell
3. Tanner Calmus, Howard
Small Animal Production and Care (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Tractor Supply Company and Elanco. Our state level sponsors are Salem Veterinary Service, SD Veterinary Medical Association, and Robert Rennolet of Menno.
1. Rachael Schallenkamp, McCook Central
2. Aubrey DeHaai, Miller
3. Ashtyn Wobig, McCook Central
Specialty Animal Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is R&R Pheasant Hunting.
1. Mason Jenson, Tri-Valley
2. Hadley Stiefvater, McCook Central
3. Matthew Krempges, McCook Central
Specialty Crop Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor’s are Howe Seeds, Inc., McLaughlin and Hansmeier & Son Inc. of Bristol.
1. Landon Roling, McCook Central
Swine Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is the South Dakota Pork Producers Council.
1. Rylee Schultz, Bridgewater-Emery
2. Alana Howard, Miller
3. Briar Feldhaus, Howard
Swine Production (Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsors are Gro Master, Smithfield Hog Production, Lester Moeller, United Animal Health, Kevin & Sandy Ortberg and Wally & Kathy Knock
1. Kenna Brown, Chester Area
2. Ashton Ross, Parker
3. Jade Adolph, Deuel
Turf Grass Management (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by John Deere. Our state level sponsor is Millborn Seeds.
1. Kyle Schoon, McCook Central
2. Jaxon Kampshoff, Howard
3. Sydney Grasma, McCook Central
Vegetable Production (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by Wilbur-Ellis Company and Tractor Supply Company. Our state level sponsor is in memory of Bill and Stella Hanson by Clark and Lyla Hanson.
1. Brandt Marsh, Parker
2. Brode Dennis, McCook Central
3. Kam Sveegen, Beresford
Veterinary Science (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is Salem Veterinary Service.
1. Destrie Morris, Miller
2. Myah Hepnew, Beresford
3. Ella Stiefvater, McCook Central
Wildlife Production and Management (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored nationally by the National FFA Foundation. Our state level sponsor is Craig and Maure Weinkauf, in memory of Arthur J. Weinkauf.
1. Macy Shiley, Lemmon
2. Jackson Grady, McCook Central
