BATH, S.D. – South Dakota FFA is dedicated to premier leadership, personal growth, and career success and is therefore proud to support South Dakota FFA members in their post-secondary education. The following scholarships were awarded at the 97th State FFA Convention in Brookings, SD on Friday, April 4, 2025. Join us in helping them celebrate their success!
The Ernie Wingen Scholarship is provided by the SD FFA Foundation’s Ernie Wingen Memorial Endowment for students studying any field of agriculture. The recipient of this $2000 scholarship is Karlie Stiefvater, McCook Central
The Fred and Joan DeRouchey Family Scholarship is provided by the SD FFA Foundation’s Fred and Joan DeRouchey Family Endowment for students studying animal science. The recipient of this $2000 scholarship is Ginny Warkenthien, Willow Lake
The Jeff Hoffman Memorial Scholarship is funded by Jeff’s family in honor of his devotion to youth in agriculture education and based off an essay. The recipient of this $1000 scholarship is Patty Timmons, Rapid City Stevens
The Gary Grey Agricultural Education Scholarship is awarded to FFA members studying Agricultural Education at a post-secondary institution. The scholarship is sponsored in part by Kelvin and Carol Grey, Ellery Grey and Nickolas Grey, in honor of Kelvin’s brother and Ellery and Nickolas’s dad, Gary who was the State FFA Advisor for 14 years. This year’s scholarship recipients, pictured with Kelvin and Carol Grey, sponsor, are:
Elena Andrews, Beresford
Shayna Ness, Kimball
Madilynn VonEye, Kimball
Taya Kristine, Belle Fourche (Not pictured)
Kendal Thompson Memorial Scholarship is funded by DPI Global for students pursuing degrees in any agricultural major. Kendal was an FFA advisor who moved into the agricultural industry but never lost his heart for agriculture education and FFA. He was visionary and passionate – helping start the 1st SD FFA Leadership Camp, renovate the SD FFA Ag Adventure Center at the State Fair and fund the Leadership and Program Manager Endowment. In his honor, one $1000 scholarship is awarded to a student studying at a 2-year school and one to a student studying at a 4-year school of higher education. This year’s recipients, pictured with Dan Thompson, sponsor, are:
Ashley Schriever, Philip
Caden Phelps, Arlington
The Wade Lang Memorial Scholarship is given in memory of Wade Lang who served as the South Dakota State FFA Treasurer and sponsored by the rest of the 1991-1992 State Officer team. This $1000 memorial scholarship was presented to Josie Nold, Brookings
The Wosje Agricultural Business Scholarship is sponsored by Chad Wosje, South Dakota State University graduate and Sioux Valley FFA Alumni. The recipients of this $750 scholarship is Elena Andrews, Beresford
Mary Hansen Memorial Scholarships 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’s recipients of the $1000 scholarships are:
Brody Stenger, Sioux Falls CTE
Ireland McAreavey, Tri-Valley
Ethan Bovill, Alcester-Hudson
Tyler Strasser, Lennox-Sundstrom
Blue & Gold Scholarships are offered by the SD FFA Association to any graduating senior who has been active in FFA pursuing further education. This year’s recipients of the $750 scholarships are:
Katrina Thon, Bridgewater-Emery
Skyler Plucker, Lennox-Sundstrom
Kate Meyer, Sisseton
Lauren Roling, McCook Central
The Marsh Agricultural Scholarship is for students studying agriculture and is sponsored by Doug and Claire Marsh. The recipients of this $500 scholarship are:
Blaise McGregor, Webster
Bennett Gordon, Sturgis
The District 2 Scholarship is sponsored by past State FFA Officer Ashley Wiesen and her husband Jordan, for someone from FFA District 2 with exemplary leadership traits. This year’s recipient of the $500 scholarship, pictured with Ashley Wiesen, is Samantha Brenden, Willow Lake
The SD Nursery and Landscape Association Scholarship is sponsored by the South Dakota Nursery and Landscape Association for a student pursuing a degree in horticulture. This $500 scholarship was presented to Mackenzie Steinhauer, Brookings
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 Delany Zoss, Mitchell
The South Dakota School of Mines Scholarship is for a student pursuing a degree at South Dakota School of Mines, with preference given to students who participated in the SD FFA Agriscience Fair. This $1000 scholarship is sponsored by South Dakota School of Mines. This year’s recipient is: James Bame, Madison Central
South Dakota Corn Utilization Council As a Four Star Partner with the South Dakota FFA Foundation, South Dakota Corn Utilization Council sponsors four $500 scholarships. This year’s recipients, pictured with Amanda Bechen from SD Corn Utilization Council are:
Brielle Wettlaufer, Howard
Madisyn Raymond, Ethan
Dallas Stoltenberg, Northwestern Area
Lukas VanderMay, Philip
Twin Cities Region Northland Ford Scholarships As a Distinguished Star Partner with the South Dakota FFA Foundation, Twin Cities Region Northland Ford sponsors four $500 scholarships. This year’s recipients are:
Madison Lauck, McCook Central
Kylie Mockler, Beresford
Emery Pearson, Tri-Valley
Adrianna Ratigan, Northwestern Area
Bayer Scholarships As a Four Star Partner with the South Dakota FFA Foundation, Bayer sponsors four $500 scholarships. This year’s recipients are:
Ava Sieverding, McCook Central
Connor May, Brookings
Braxton Jongeling, Estelline
Kayla Jensen, Beresford
CHS Foundation Scholarships As a Four Star Partner with the South Dakota FFA Foundation, the CHS Foundation sponsors four $500 scholarships. This year’s recipients, pictured with Jennifer Johnson, CHS Foundation (left to right) are:
Brooklyn Rische, Redfield
Wyatt Lesmeister, Belle Fourche
Jason Zeeb, Bridgewater-Emery
Taya Kristine, Belle Fourche (not pictured)
Farmers Mutual of Nebraska Scholarships As a Four Star Partner with the South Dakota FFA Foundation, the Farmers Mutual of Nebraska sponsors four $500 scholarships. This year’s recipients are:
Claire Hofer, Freeman
Joseph Grady, McCook Central
Gage Anderson, Lemmon
Abbie Chase, McCook Central
Star Partner Scholarships Funded through the South Dakota FFA Foundation Star partner program, these $500 scholarships are sponsored by Bayer, Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, CHS Foundation, SD Corn Utilization Council, Farm Credit Services of America, First National Bank in Sioux Falls, and Agtegra. Recipients are:
Josie Johnson, Buffalo Christian
Colton Stiefvater, McCook Central
Madilynn VonEye, Kimball
Lydia Main, Belle Fourche
Mikalyn Kelly, Brookings
William Kreth, Ethan
Preston Singrey, Arlington
Minnehaha County Farm Bureau Scholarship is for graduating seniors majoring in any field of agriculture at a South Dakota postsecondary school. This $1000 scholarship is provided by the Minnehaha County Farm Bureau, as a special project of the SD FFA Foundation.
Emily Walz, Parkston
Bryce Larson, Sanborn Central Woonsocket
Avery Zeisler, Gregory County
Continuing Agriculture Education Scholarships assist students currently studying agricultural education at South Dakota State University as they continue their pursuit in a career as an ag teacher. They are made possible through funding provided by SD FFA Star partners: Twin City Region Northland Ford, CHS Foundation, SD Corn Utilization Council, Bayer, Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, Agtegra, Farm Credit Services of America, BankWest, Butler Machinery, Dacotah Bank, First National Bank of Sioux Falls, First Dakota National Bank, C & B Equipment, RDO Equipment, Macksteel Farm & Ranch Equipment, Prairie Grain Partners, and Pioneer-Corteva as a special project of the SD FFA Foundation. Recipients are:
Student Teaching Scholarships:
Meta Tewes; Jackson, MN
Kaylee Steele; Lewiston MN
Allison Britton (not pictured)
Karley Mills; Storm Lake, IA
Sidney Peterson; (not pictured)
Katelyn Maloney; (not pictured)
Agriculture Education Scholarships:
Katelyn Zeug; Lucan, MN
Clare Rennie; Blooming Prairie, MN
Elizabeth Sattler; Emerson, NE
Abigail Otto; Ocheyedan, IA
Elizabeth Will; Estelline, SD
Riata Bultje; Andes Central, SD
Hadlee Peterson; Gering, NE
Post-Secondary Ag Scholarships are for students currently studying any area of agriculture at a SD postsecondary school. They are made possible through funding provided by SD FFA Star partners Twin City Region Northland Ford, CHS Foundation, SD Corn Utilization Council, Bayer, Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, Agtegra, Farm Credit Services of America, BankWest, Butler Machinery, Dacotah Bank, First National Bank of Sioux Falls, First Dakota National Bank, C & B Equipment, RDO Equipment, Macksteel Farm & Ranch Equipment, Prairie Grain Partners, and Pioneer-Corteva as a special project of the SD FFA Foundation. Recipients are pictured with SD
Elliot Hendrix; Piedmont
Megan Stiefvater; Salem, SD
Jordan VanDeStroet; Fairview, SD
Raesa Zelinsky; Brookings, SD
Kelsey Vockrodt; Hartford, SD
Tyler Groenwold, Humboldt, SD
WLC Scholarships are sponsored by the CHS Foundation as a special project of the the South Dakota FFA Foundation to aid high school members in attending the FFA Washington Leadership Conference in Washington DC. Recipients of these $1000 scholarships are:
Cash Martinez, Bridgewater-Emery
Sage Voegele, Parker
Kaylee Klinkhammer, McCook Central
Ava Kerner, Gregory County
The SD FFA Foundation is proud to support Agricultural Education and the FFA’s mission to make a difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more information about the South Dakota FFA Foundation and South Dakota’s FFA programs, visit www.sdffafoundation.org or follow us on Facebook.
22-year old Savannah Standing Bear of Parmalee sent a text message to her mother in the early morning hours of March 25th, saying she was leaving her home to spend some time with two friends. She hasn’t been seen since.
A former South Dakota state worker, Lonna Carroll, has been convicted of stealing over $1.7 million from the Department of Social Services. Carroll, found guilty of two counts of felony grand theft, stole the funds over a span of 13 years while employed by the department. The Hughes County jury reached the verdict in just over an hour of deliberations on the final day of her trial.
Sioux Falls is expanding the use of its outdoor siren system to improve public safety. In addition to tornado warnings, the city’s over 80 sirens will now also sound off for destructive severe thunderstorm warnings, which include hazards like dangerously high wind speeds or baseball-sized hail.
A new summer childcare option could soon be available for Mitchell families. The Mitchell School District and city officials are collaborating on a plan to introduce a full-day summer childcare program in response to high demand from local parents.
Homelessness remains a growing concern in South Dakota, with more than 1,400 people reported to be experiencing homelessness across the state, according to the South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium.
