South Dakota FFA members were recognized at the 96th 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 is sponsored by the Tri-State Neighbor.

1. Avery Zeisler, Gregory County
2. Hayden Hofer, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Quinton Berg, Bridgewater-Emery

Agricultural Education is sponsored by Dr. Lon (pictured) and Mary Moeller.

1. Brea Janes, Tri-Valley
2. Lacie Weber, ORR
3. Gracie Pedersen, Tri-Valley

 Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fabrication is sponsored by Cammack Ranch Supply.

1. Mason Jacobson, Howard
2. Holden Wollman, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Nolan Schmidt, Tri- Valley

Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Grossenburg Implement and Sitework Specialists.

1. Landon Roling, McCook Central

Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance (Placement) is sponsored by Titan Machinery (Amanda Schjenken) and C&B Equipment (Jay Penner).

2. Owen Murphy, Harrisburg
3. Brady Braaten, Tri-Valley
4. Reece Gerlach, West Central

Agricultural Processing is sponsored by the SD Soybean Processors LLC and Candidus and Londa (Vander Wal) Nwadike.

1. Londin Albert, Howard
2. Abbie Chase, McCook Central
3. Dylan Wollman, Bridgewater-Emery

Agricultural Sales (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Legend Seeds, Inc.

1. Tessa Henderson, Beresford
2. Joseph Laprath, Colome
3. Ava Sieverding, McCook Central

Agricultural Sales (Placement) is sponsored by M&M Cattle Services, Ranchers Feed and Seed, and SD Aviation Association.

1. Tayah McGregor, McCook Central
2. Cassie Fenske, Brookings
3. Isabela Jimenez, McCook Central

Agricultural Services (Entrepreneurship/Placement) is sponsored by On Target Agency and Loehr Horse Care.

1. Kyle Sanders, Hot Springs
2. Garret Anson, Wessington Springs
3. Josie Johnson, Buffalo Christian

Agriscience Research – Animal Systems is sponsored by the CHS Foundation.

1. Joseph Grady, McCook Central
2. Kelsey Vockrodt, West Central
3. Colton Stiefvater, McCook Central

Agriscience Research – Integrated Systems is sponsored by Terry Jaspers and Valley Queen Cheese.

Sponsor: Terry Jaspers

1. Mason Pulse, McCook Central
2. Paul Kaffar, McCook Central
3. Espn Althoff, Tri-Valley

Agriscience Research – Plant Systems is sponsored by SoDak Labs, Inc.

1. Tanner Eide, Gettysburg
2. Abby Wagner, McCook Central

Beef Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Stewart Charolais, Vedvei Charolais, Renovo Seed, SD Shorthorn Association.

1. Shelby Pankratz, Parker
2. Cash Lehrman, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Ireland McAreavey. Tri-Valley

Beef Production (Placement) is sponsored by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the Blair Brothers.

1. Lucas Feldhaus, Howard (not pictured)
2. Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central
3. Kaydn Glanzer, Bridgewater-Emery

Dairy Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (Scott Goeken)

1. Natalie Haase, Parker
2. Skyler Plucker, Lennox Sundstrom
3. Jacob Post, Sioux Valley

Dairy Production (Placement) is sponsored by Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (Harold Peters)

1. Brody Ahlquist, Tri-Valley
2. Kellen Kueter, Montrose
3. Aidan Healy, West Central

Diversified Agricultural Production is sponsored by Sioux Nation Ag, Kevin and Amber Blagg, and Blane and Liz Osterday.

1. Landon Roling, McCook Central
2. Cash Lehrman, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Tanner Eide, Gettysburg

Diversified Crop Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Agtegra Cooperative.

1. Garret Anson, Wessington Springs
2. Elden Blume, Redfield

Diversified Crop Production (Placement) is sponsored by the South Dakota Seed Trade Association

1. Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central
2. Ridge Roduner, Wessington Springs
3. Corbin Glanzer, Bridgewater-Emery

Diversified Horticulture is sponsored by the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition (Cindy Zenk).

1. LaMiya Baker, Viborg-Hurley
2. Kaylee Klinkhammer, McCook Central
3. Jude Jarding, West Central

Diversified Livestock Production is sponsored by McFleeg Inc.

1. Melanie Calmus, Howard
2. Cassandra Twedt, Beresford
3. Marah Schock. McCook Central

Environmental Science & Natural Resources Management is sponsored by South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts and Site Work Specialists, Inc.

1. Owen Alley, McCook Central

Equine Science (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Amani Reiners – Tim Anderson and Kim Niven of Milbank.

1. Dylan McGregor, McCook Central
2. Josie Nold, Brookings
3. Taten Twedt, Beresford

Equine Science (Placement) is sponsored by Scott Cammack, Dawn Nagel, Susan Stoterau, Webster FFA (Norah Zubke).

1. Delany Zoss, Mitchell
2. Shayda Ness, Kimball
3. Allison Brost, West Central

Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production is sponsored by SD Soybean Research and Promotion Council (David Iverson).

1. Derek Schock, McCook Central
2. Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central
3. Jason Zeeb, Bridgewater-Emery

Forage Production is sponsored by Kuecker Seed Farm, Inc. of Webster.

1. Lexi Nichols, West Central
2. Tanner Wallman, Miller
3. Brode Dennis, McCook Central

Fruit Production is sponsored by Minntex Citrus.

1. Rowen Kizer, Howard
2. Isabella Smithback, Harrisburg
3. Luke Larson, Wessington Springs

Goat Production is sponsored by Hamilton Farms of Hitchcock (Nicole Roth).

1. Abigail Kolousek, Wessington Springs
2. Kelsey Vockrodt, West Central
3. Vanessa Dunkelberger, Parker

Grain Production is sponsored by the Dakota Mill and Grain Inc. and the South Dakota Wheat Commission.

1. Ridge Roduner, Wessington Springs
2. Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central
3. Jason Zeeb, Bridgewater-Emery

Home and Community Development is sponsored by Harrisburg FFA.

1. Noah Schnee, McCook Central
2. Luly Nelsen, Viborg-Hurley
3. Vivian Koepsell, McCook Central

Landscape Management is sponsored by FarmHouse Fraternity-SDSU.

1. Hannah Frewaldt, Garretson
2. Avery Alley, McCook Central
3. Hunter Foster, Tri-Valley

Nursery Operations is sponsored by Twin Cities Region Northland Ford Dealers.

1. Emily Walz, Parkston
2. Quinn Culhane, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Madi Burma, Iroquois

Outdoor Recreation is sponsored by Jack’s Campers of Mitchell, Central Dakota Guide Service and South Dakota Walleye Charters.

1. Connor May, Brookings
2. Lacie Weber, ORR
3. Kaizha Blase, McCook Central

Poultry Production is sponsored by Josh Johnson (pictured) and the South Dakota Poultry Industries Association.

1. Elden Blume, Redfield
2. Preston Singrey, Arlington
3. Mikayla Iverson, Chester

Service Learning is sponsored by Dr. Laura Hasselquist and Toby Uecker (pictured).

1. Abbie Chase, McCook Central
2. Alexis Golder, Bridgewater-Emery

Sheep Production is sponsored by the Newell Ram Sale and Rufus & Patty DeZeeuw (pictured).

1. Emily Robbins, Elkton
2. Carissa Scheel, Wessington Springs
3. Cassandra Twedt, Beresford

Small Animal Production and Care is sponsored by Salem Veterinary Service (Carie Stiefvater), SD Veterinary Medical Association, and Robert & Sandy Rennolet.

1. Bridget Benest, Viborg-Hurley
2. Katrina Thon, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Maddison Rieck, Lake Preston

Specialty Animal Production is sponsored by Wendy Mortenson Agency.

1. Hanna Sletto, Hot Springs
2. Abbie Chase, McCook Central
3. Allie Westra, Beresford

Specialty Crop Production is sponsored by Howe Seeds, Inc., McLaughlin and Hansmeier & Son Inc. of Bristol.

1. Hagen Fritzsche, Miller

Swine Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by the South Dakota Pork Producers Council (Abbey Riemenschneider).

1. Lacie Weber, ORR
2. Carter Ross, Parker
3. Dawson Plagmann, Bridgewater-Emery

Swine Production (Placement) is sponsored by GroMaster, Kevin and Sandy Ortberg, Wally & Kathy Knock, and United Animal Health.

1. Haden Stoffel, McCook Central
2. Landon Roling, McCook Central
3. Elena Andrews, Beresford

Turf Grass Management is sponsored by Renovo Seed.

1. Samare Wolf, McCook Central
2. Karlie Klinkhammer, McCook Central
3. Tate Miller, Howard

Vegetable Production is sponsored by Clark and Lyla Hanson in memory of Bill and Stella Hanson.

1. Callie Kaufman, McCook Central
2. Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central
3. Bobbi Eide, Gettysburg

Veterinary Science is sponsored by Salem Veterinary Service (Mike Stiefvater).

1. Kelsey Vockrodt, West Central
2. Sabrah Morris, Miller
3. Colton Stiefvater, McCook Central

Wildlife Production and Management is sponsored by Craig and Maure Weinkauf (pictured).

1. Hailey Kizer, Howard
2. Joseph Grady, McCook Central
3. Blake Larson, Wessington Springs