BATH – South Dakota FFA will recognize 319 members for receiving their State FFA Degree at the 96th South Dakota State FFA Convention, Friday April 19th, 2024. Join us in helping them celebrate! You can also watch the convention live at www.sdaged.org, Newscenter1.tv, and ConnectCenter1.tv and KAUN TV stations.

The State FFA Degree is the highest degree of membership conferred by the South Dakota FFA Association. The requirements for this degree include:

● Having earned and productively invested at least $1,000 or worked at least 300 hours in excess of scheduled class time, or a combination thereof, in a Supervised Agricultural Experience program.

● Demonstrated leadership ability by performing ten procedures of Parliamentary Law, giving a six-minute speech on an agriculture or FFA-related topic, and serving as an officer, committee chairperson, or participating member of a chapter committee.

● Have completed at least 25 hours of community service.

As a special project of the SD FFA Foundation, South Dakota FFA members will receive the golden charm of the State Degree and a framed certificate, thanks to the following sponsors: Todd & Barbara Powell; Barry & Jenny Jacobson; The Jacobson Group, LLC; West Central FFA Alumni; Rechelle & Eric Dissing; Dan Streff Family; Sandy Osterday; CharLee Bachman; Kent Buchholz; Noelle & Andrew Swanson; Kevin & Amber Blagg; Steven Zemlicka; Myles & Mercedes Snedeker; Red River Farm Network; Dacotah Diamond Auctions and Equipment; Jeff & Beth Vanderwal; Peterson Livestock; First PREMIER Bank; Lance & Shirley Howe; Wyatt & Zana DeJong; Dani Herring; Stella Nagel; Olson Family; Brad & Trixie Grill; Dawnwind Dairy Goats and Wendy Mortenson Agency.

The Heartland Area FFA members who received their State FFA Degree are:

Wolsey-Wessington
Tierney Breen
Mercedez French
Kate Hamilton
Payton Kemnitz
Kelsie Roberts
Grant Timm

Willow Lake
Shelby Anderson
Macy Bochek
Jalen Hohm
Ryder Juntunen
Jonah Loppnow
Emma Peterson
James Poppen

Wessington Springs
Garett Anson
Raylee Fagerhaug
Troy Fastnacht
Carter Gaikowski
Alyssa Grohs
Hannah Heezen
Abigail Kolousek
Blake Larson
Avery Orth

Redfield
Benson Beckler
Elden Blume
Lilly Blume
Grady Fey
Chase Frericks
Evan Jaton
Justin Ratigan
Kevin Weller

Miller
Treyton Anson
Paton Coyle
Hagen Fritzsche
Teagan Foreman
Maya Howard
Sabrah Morris
Alex Schmuacher
Landon Wagner
Tanner Wallman

Lake Preston
Andru Andrews
Maddison Rieck

Iroquois
Nathan Enninga
Rebecca Bich

Huron
Peyton Bischoff
Kayeleigh Bowden
Chloe Culver

Hitchcock-Tulare
Presley Binger
Harlee Nielson
Brendan Nowell
Weston Wagner
Kaleb Watson
Jesse Woodward

Doland
Jodyn Bawek
Cameron Noethlich
Mason Tschetter

DeSmet
River Hornig
Connor Johnson
Trace D. Van Regenmorter
Edger Wilkinson

Clark
Aaron Zemlicka
Brianna Dale
Collin Gaikowski
Jack Helken
Connor Mudgett
Christian Ramirez

About the South Dakota FFA
As part of the National FFA Organization, the South Dakota FFA Association encompasses 111 FFA chapters with 6,347 South Dakota FFA members. The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 945,988 student members as part of 9,163 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

The SD FFA Foundation provides an avenue of funding for the SD FFA Association as they build leaders, grow communities and strengthen agriculture. To discover more about the South Dakota FFA Association or the South Dakota FFA Foundation, visit them both at www.aged.sdstate.edu or on Facebook or Twitter.