BROOKINGS – One of the hallmarks of agricultural education and FFA is the opportunity to showcase skills learned in classrooms and spotlighted through competitive events. This is a source of pride and students look forward to the state-level events each year to determine who will represent South Dakota at the national level in the fall. This year, South Dakota agricultural teachers explored options to safely conduct these events – and determined it was best to proceed with a virtual event versus conducting them in a more traditional manner. Those events happened May 6-7 and were announced May 14 during the virtual state convention.
FFA’s Career Development Events are built around ag industry careers, expose members to many of the opportunities and needs in the agriculture sector, and enable them to develop and refine their abilities to critically evaluate, effectively communicate and ultimately, succeed in future careers. Career Development Event winners from the area were:
Floriculture
Awards and travel scholarships are sponsored by Dr. David Graper, Kari Rogers, and Gettysburg FFA. Supplies sponsored by North American Wholesale Florists and Hy-Vee of Brookings.
First-place team: Brookings – Ellen Fitzpatrick, Abby Fitzpatrick, Morgan White and Kaitlin Feldhaus, adviser is Joshua Johnson.
Livestock evaluation
Awards sponsored by S.D. Pork Producers Council and the team travel scholarships are sponsored by Dakotaland Feeds, Inc. of Huron, Travis Hoffman and Kimball Livestock Exchange, LLC.
First-place team: Brookings – Liberty Thompson, Kestlyn Willert, Raesa Zelinski and Cody Larson, adviser Joshua Johnson.
Milk quality and products
Awards sponsored by Agropur Inc-Cheese and Whey Products, and the team travel scholarships are sponsored in memory of Justin Maass and by Agropur Inc- Cheese and Whey Products.
First-place team: Sioux Valley – (individual photos of team members) Gabriel Papiernik, Preston VanderWal, Merick Olson and Michael Larson, adviser is Don Sutera
Environment and resources
Environment and Natural Resources Awards sponsored by SD Grasslands Coalition, and the team travel scholarships are sponsored by SD Grasslands Coalition, Jeff Vander Wilt and John Lentz.
First-place team: Brookings – Braden Tilly, Gabe Boyer, Denae Baker and Wim Reuvekamp, adviser is Joshua Johnson
First-place individual: Braden Tilly, Brookings
Veterinary Science
Awards sponsored by Susan A. Stoterau, DVM, and Alice Harty, DVM. The travel scholarships are sponsored by Susan A. Stoterau, DVM, and Alice Harty, DVM, and the SD Veterinary Medical Association.
Second-place team: Brookings
