South Dakota FFA champions named in Leadership Development Events

BROOKINGS, S.D. — Nearly 600 FFA members from across South Dakota met in Pierre Dec. 5 for the State FFA Leadership Development Events, where the students qualified through district competitions and the top two teams and top three individuals from each of the seven FFA districts in South Dakota advanced.

State-winning teams and individuals, who now advance to the National FFA Leadership Development Events in Indianapolis next fall, include:

Parliamentary Procedure – Consisting of six members per team, the teams demonstrate an FFA business meeting.

1. Scotland
2. Willow Lake
3. Lennox Sundstrom
4. Belle Fourche
5. Harrisburg

Prepared Public Speaking – Contestants present a six to eight minute agriculture-oriented speech and answers five minutes of related questions.

1. Kathryn Loewe, Lennox-Sundstrom
2. Evelyn Ernst, Selby Area
3. Remington Jacobsen, Tea Area
4. Taya Chelmo, Kimball
5. Drew Pederson, Garretson
6. Bailey Feistner, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
7. Nick Kappenman, Madison Central
8. Allie Westra, Beresford

Extemporaneous Public Speaking – An unrehearsed four to six minute speech is written and presented onsite where each contestant is allowed only 30 minutes to prepare.

1. Bennett Gordon, Sturgis
2. Sydney Lockhart, Hot Springs
3. Harlee Nielson, Hitchcock-Tulare
4. Elana Andrews, Beresford
5. Preston Rounds, Deuel
6. Gretta Larson, Lake Preston
7. Emily Knodel, Freeman
8. Gage Anderson, Lemmon

Employment Interview Skills – FFA members complete a job application, write a letter of application and resume, participate in an actual interview and compose a follow-up letter.

1. Bennett Gordon, Sturgis
2. Morgan Mackaben, Belle Fourche
3. Faith Genzlinger, Howard
4. Mya Dissing, Tri-Valley
5. Sheridan Deering, Wall
6. Emily Robbins, Elkton
7. Ashton Massey, Menno
8. Drew Pederson, Garretson

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.

1. Tri-Valley
2. McCook Central
3. Brookings
4. Sunshine Bible Academy
5. Parker

Conduct of Chapter Meetings – High school freshmen present a mock FFA meeting.

1. McCook Central
2. Willow Lake
3. Deubrook
4. Harrisburg
5. Belle Fourche

Creed Speaking – Participants recite the FFA Creed and answer questions posed by the judges.

1. Zetta Kuhl, Hot Springs
2. Vivian Johnson, Madison Central
3. Julia Tinker, Brandon Valley
4. Gracie Pedersen, Tri-Valley
5. Jessica Hadrick, Faulkton
6. Bobbi Eide, Gettysburg
7. Hope Baysinger, Mitchell
8. Ellie Storm, Sturgis

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.

1. West Central
2. Howard
3. Doland
4. Hot Springs
5. Lemmon

Ag Issues – A team of three to seven students discuss the pros and cons of a major agricultural issue facing their area.

1. Rapid City Stevens
2. West Central
3. Howard
4. Parker
5. Beresford

Ag Broadcasting/Journalism – Students have 30 minutes to prepare a five-minute agricultural radio newscast and then “air” it.

1. Rebecca Feldhaus, Howard
2. Katelynn Scherff, Dell Rapids
3. Caroline Witte, Wessington Springs
4. Quynn Nielson, Sioux Valley
5. Dan Soukup, Wagner
6. Ashlynn Lamp, Milbank
7. Keaton Fielder, Selby Area
8. Ember Gabriel, Phillip