BROOKINGS, S.D. – FFA members are preparing for agriculture careers, learning the role agriculture plays in feeding and clothing the world, and looking for opportunities to grow the industry. FFA’s Career Development Events (CDEs) 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.
One of the hallmarks of agricultural education and the FFA is the opportunity to showcase skills learned in classrooms and spotlighted through CDEs. It 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, 1500 South Dakota FFA members competed in 15 Career Development Events at the State FFA Convention held in Rapid City, SD. The Hitchcock-Tulare FFA Chapter had seven teams qualify to participate in CDEs at State Convention. Below is the chapter’s results from convention.
State Convention CDE Results
Ag Business Management – 15th Place Team
Danielle Nowell – 23rd (Silver)
Agronomy – 6th Place Team
Harlee Nielson – 2nd (Gold)
Kaleb Watson – 27th (Bronze)
Brendan Nowell – 35th (Bronze)
Meats – 3rd Place Team
Caden Bottum – 7th (Gold)
Jed Waldner – 8th (Gold)
Mason Bottum – 12th (Silver)
Carter Binger – 19th (Silver)
Nursery Landscape – 6th Place Team
Yesenia Spinsby – 6th (Gold)
Cole Schroeder – 21st (Silver)
Jessica Godfrey – 27th (Bronze)
Presley Binger – 48th
Poultry – 9th Place Team
Raymond Cole – 21st (Silver)
Kyle Hamilton – 38th (Bronze)
Andrew Brooker – 50th
The Hitchcock-Tulare FFA Chapter also placed 3rd overall in the National Chapter Award. National Chapter Award is the highest honor an FFA chapter can receive and recognizes chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the FFA. Chapters recognized have developed an active Program of Activities and conducted meaningful events. For the overall state award, a chapter must complete at least 15 activities: one for each of the five quality standards in each of the three divisions - Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture, and meet the minimum requirements outlined in the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards. The award is sponsored by Reinke Gray Wealth Management in memory of John Rist, and the winners were:
1st McCook Central
2nd Bridgewater-Emery
3rd Hitchcock-Tulare
4th Garretson
5th Beresford
About the South Dakota FFA Association: The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 760,113 student members as part of 8,739 local FFA chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. As part of the National FFA Organization, the South Dakota FFA Association encompasses over 94 chapters with over 4,600 South Dakota FFA members. 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.