BROOKINGS –– South Dakota FFA members were recognized at the 97th 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 over 40 Proficiency areas for FFA members to participate in. The results are as follows:

Dairy Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
1. Skyler Plucker Lennox-Sundstrom
2. Brityn Davies, Lake Preston
3. Lauren Klitzke, McCook Central

Diversified Crop Production (Entrepreneurship) is sponsored by Agtegra Cooperative.
1. Ridge Roduner, Wessington Springs
2. Jason Zeeb, Bridgewater-Emery
3. Thomas Halverson, Howard

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

Forest Management and Products is sponsored by the SD FFA Foundation.
1. Lawden Haak, Howard
2. Daraby Boresma, SBA

Fruit Production is sponsored by myfruitsale.com.
1. Isabella Smithback, Harrisburg
2. Luke Larson, Wessington Springs
3. Renee Uberty, McCook Central

Landscape Management is sponsored by FarmHouse Fraternity-SDSU.

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, Howard
3. Robert Hine, Wessington Springs

Sheep Production is sponsored by the Newell Ram Sale and Rufus & Patty DeZeeuw.
1. Josie Nold, Brookings
2. Melanie Calmus, Howard
3. Carissa Scheel, Wessington Springs