State FFA Degree: South Dakota's Highest Honor for FFA Members - News Directory 3

State FFA Degree: South Dakota’s Highest Honor for FFA Members

April 23, 2026 Robert Mitchell News
News Context
At a glance
  • Three hundred seventy South Dakota FFA members were recognized for receiving their State FFA Degree during the 98th South Dakota State FFA Convention on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
  • The ceremony took place during the second session at First Bank and Trust Arena in Brookings, sponsored by the SD Army National Guard.
  • The State FFA Degree is the highest honor the South Dakota FFA Association can bestow upon its members.
Original source: mitchellrepublic.com

Three hundred seventy South Dakota FFA members were recognized for receiving their State FFA Degree during the 98th South Dakota State FFA Convention on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

The ceremony took place during the second session at First Bank and Trust Arena in Brookings, sponsored by the SD Army National Guard.

The State FFA Degree is the highest honor the South Dakota FFA Association can bestow upon its members.

Recipients have dedicated several years to developing their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs, building leadership skills, and contributing to their communities through service and involvement.

As a special project of the South Dakota FFA Foundation, State Degree recipients receive a golden charm and certificate, symbolizing their growth and achievement.

Certificates and charms are sponsored by Dacotah Diamond Auctions; First Premier Bank; Red River Farm Network; The Dan Streff Family; The Jacobson Group LLC; Wyatt & Zana DeJong; Rechelle & Eric Dissing; Dani Herring; Kent Buchholz; Lance Howe; Barry & Jenny Jacobson; Rick and Sandy Osterday; Todd & Barbara Powell; Jeff and Beth Vander Wal; The Olson Family; the Wendy Mortenson Agency; Steven Zemlicka; Kevin and Amber Blagg; Jordane & Kyle Arbach; Mercedes & Myles Snedeker; and Dawn Wind Dairy Goats.

The 370 FFA members who received their State FFA Degree include:

  • Arlington — Jake Burns; Rachel Steffensen; Kaelyn Ulschmid
  • Belle Fourche — Tucker Hughes; Atlee Olson; Jazlyn Olson; Andrew Pruitt; Kate Williamson
  • Bennett County — Kaylee Byrne; Jace Harris
  • Beresford — Carley Crist; Parker Hofer; Taten Twedt
  • Bison — Cheyenne Hendrickson
  • Bon Homme — Emma Balvin; Zach Humpal; Peyten Nielson; Sidney Pavel; Miley Schweitzer; Colby Soukup; Seraya Strickland; Tarynn Torsney
  • Brandon Valley — Hallie Painter; Julia Tinker
  • Bridgewater-Emery — Landon Berg; Kadyn Glanzer; Oliver Guenthner; Cash Martinez; Peyton Roskens; Benjamin Weber; Holden Wollman
  • Brookings — Kennedy Behrend; Ava Couser; Emerson Cramer; Brynn Flemming; Nadalee Gerjets; Shane Harming; Amelie Krogman; Sophia Loomis; Katherine Marshall; Clayton Nelson; Ladd Nelson; Madison Ravenhorst
  • Buffalo Christian — Clara VanderVliet
  • Canton — Jack Trumm
  • Centerville — Dylan Brandsrud; Colter Johnson; Josiah Knutson
  • Clark — William Hovde; Kaden Janisch; Jarrett Maynard; Tye McGraw; Logan Parker; Lincoln Reidbum; Logan Seefeldt; Michael Severson; Lucas Zemlicka
  • Colome — Emme Nelsen; Gracie Rhode
  • DeSmet — Brooklyn Couglin; Chauncey Driscoll; Breyton Johnson; Logan Nielsen