Congratulations to the Beresford FFA Chapter! Below, you will find a listing of awards, scholarships, CDE team participants, and a synopsis of how kids across the state embodied the motto, "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve" during the State Convention.
National Chapter Award. Beresford was third overall, third in Growing Leaders, third in Building Communities, and third in Strengthening Agriculture. Pictured: Allie Westra, Vice President Cassandra Twedt, President, Bridget Twedt, Advisor
Proficiency Winners:
Tessa Henderson - 1st in Ag Sales
Cassandra Twedt - 2nd in Diversified Ag
Taten Twedt - 3rd in Equine Science
Cassandra Twedt - 3rd in Sheep Production
Alli Westra - 3rd in Specialty Animal Production
Laney Andrews - 3rd in Swine Production
Beresford Dairy Cattle Team places second in the state: Team members & placings include: Allie Westra 3rd, Grace Norling 4th, Capri Mullinix 13th, Laney Andrews 14th.
FFA Scholarships. The Mary Hansen Memorial Scholarship is provided by the SD FFA Foundation’s Mary Hansen Memorial Endowment for FFA members who are State FFA Degree recipients from Minnehaha or Lincoln counties. This year, Cassie Twedt was a recipient of the $750 scholarship. The 605 Sires+Donors Scholarship is sponsored by 605 Sires+Donors for a student studying anywhere in South Dakota with interest in cattle reproduction or animal science. This $1000 scholarship was presented by Corey Schrag, to Cassandra Twedt, Beresford.
State Degrees. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree of membership conferred by the South Dakota FFA Association. The requirements for this degree include: (a) 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. (b) 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. and (c) Have completed at least 25 hours of community service. The following Beresford FFA members earned their state degrees: Joseph Anderson, Cole Boden, Tessa Henderson, Halle Livingston, Ryan Sveeggen, Cassandra Twedt, and Robert Watkins.
CDE Teams.
Ag Mech team- 9th in the State, Alex Voegeli, Cade Kuiper 15th individual, Wyatt Anderson, & Chris Schoellerman
Agronomy team - Isaac Boden, Robert Watkins, Ian Henderson, Lucas Anderson
Floriculture team - Lillie Boden, Kaylee Ivarson, Halle Livingston, Addison Potter
Food Science - Noah Halvorson, Nevaeh Carlson, Caleb Hansen, not pictured Emma Andrews.
Horse Evaluation -Taten Twedt, Andrew VanKekerix, Easton Knutson, Kailee Gosse
Livestock Evaluation - Cassandra Twedt, Bellamy Westra, Jade Twedt, Carley Crist
Meats Evaluation - Cameron Mullinux, Seth Kjose, Talen Hazel, Landon Voegeli
Nursery Landscape - Ryan Crest, Kylie Mocker, Cole Johnson, Ethan Hauck
Vet Science - Addysen Hauck, Kaitlyn Lounsbery, Payton Vandenbosch, Averie Cotton, Bella Stewart, Allie Vankekerix
Ag Business Management team - Parker Hofer, Kayla Jensen, Cole Boden
FFA members package 48,300 meals during Living to Serve Day. (Bath, SD) – April 22, 2024 – The blue corduroy jacket is a familiar symbol of the FFA organization, worn as part of official dress during most FFA activities. On April 18that the South Dakota FFA convention in Brookings, as part of a SD FFA Living to Serve Day, members removed their jackets and rolled up their sleeves to help stop hunger in South Dakota. Working with industry and Meals of Hope, this South Dakota FFA Foundation hands-on project combats hunger. SD FFA members measured, poured, sealed, and boxed 48,300 meals in assembly line fashion. Members stopped in between workshops and competitive events throughout convention and left the event knowing that by giving a few minutes of their time they would make a significant difference in the life of a person less fortunate than themselves. The Meals of Hope food packages are a hardy Pasta and Tomato Sauce meal. All of the 48,300 meals were donated to Feeding South Dakota based in Sioux Falls and will be distributed across our state. Jennifer Stensaas, Community Engagement Manager for Feeding South Dakota attended and expressed great appreciation for the event, the members' hard work, and SD FFA’s food donation. In addition, when asked how long the supply might last, Jennifer stated that during high need times it may only last 30-60 days.
