Proficiency Deadlines
February 1st
Application Due
February 5th
First Review
February
State Judging
March
Finalist Announcement
June 1st
National Qualifying Applications Due
Proficiency Submission
1. Log into TheAET.com
2. Select "Reports
3. Select "Degree / Application Manager"
4. Select a new application by choosing "State Degree"
5. Complete application and upload PDF to the link below.
Proficiency Awarded
All State Finalists will be announced in Mid-March. Proficiency Awards will be presented in various sessions at the South Dakota State FFA Convention.
All State Winning Proficiency Awards will advance to the National Level with final applications due June 1st.
AGRICULTURAL
COMMUNICATIONS
Includes programs in which a member is placed at a newspaper or other agricultural print (such as magazines) facilities to obtain training and practical experience in writing and publicizing in preparation for a writing communications career. Programs may also be at radio and TV stations, fair media rooms, or other businesses requiring speaking skills and knowledge of agriculture. The student may also own and produce an agricultural-related broadcast or show. This area also includes any use of, or development of social media or new technology aimed at communicating the story of agriculture.
NOTE: Projects working with media for the primary purpose of marketing or advertising for others belong in the Agricultural Services proficiency award area.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Hayden Hofer ~ 2025 State Winner / National Bronze
Cash Lehrman ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
Hayden Hofer ~ 2024 State 2nd Place
Quinton Berg ~ 2024 State 3rd Place
Quinton Berg ~ 2023 State 2nd Place
AGRICULTURAL
EDUCATION
Relates to education and extension, including, but not limited to, youth mentoring, agricultural education departmental assistants, PALS mentors and student coordinators, developing and conducting informational materials and presentations for civic organizations and school-aged youth, and students who are involved in SAE's surrounding educating the public about the broad topics of agriculture, agriculture education and FFA.
NOTE: Creation or use of media for use other than educating the public about the stated topics belongs in either the Agricultural Communications or Agricultural Services proficiency award areas, depending on its intended use. Serving as an FFA officer is not an SAE project.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Rylee Terveen ~ 2023 State 2nd Place
Marah Hofer ~ 2021 State 3rd Place
Lindsey Berg ~ 2018 State Winner / National Gold
Lindsey Berg ~ 2017 State 2nd Place
AG. MECHANICS
DESIGN / FABRICATION
Involves the design and construction of agricultural/natural resource equipment and/or structures for use in or related to any existing agricultural proficiency award area. Materials may include wood, metal, plastic, leather, concrete, electrical, plumbing, data communication components, etc. Excavation, heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning for agricultural/natural resource structures or equipment fits this area. May also include the development of new and emerging agricultural technologies such as engineering, remote sensing, precision agriculture, ag-robotics and other new technologies not covered by another proficiency award area.
NOTE: Items such as toys, jewelry, furniture, t-shirts, banners, plaques, art andall facets of residential construction are considered non-agricultural and not eligible.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Holden Wollmann ~ 2026 State 3rd Place
Holden Wollmann ~ 2025 State 3rd Place
Holden Wollmann ~ 2024 State 2nd Place
Aaron Wollmann ~ 2022 State Winner / National Silver
AG. MECHANICS
REPAIR / MAINT. - ENT.
Member owns an enterprise or business involving the repair and maintenance of agricultural equipment (including lawn and landscape equipment) and/or structures, including agricultural power systems such as mechanical, electrical, chemical, wind, solar and/or waterpower. This includes agricultural equipment restoration where a student owns the piece of equipment.
Note: Personal and non-agricultural vehicles/equipment are considered non-agricultural (i.e.: racing or classic cars) and are not eligible.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Anthony Jaeger ~ 2017 State Winner / National Silver
AG. MECHANICS
REPAIR / MAINT. - PL.
Member works for an employer involved in the repair and maintenance of agricultural equipment (including lawn and landscape equipment) and/or structures, including agricultural power systems such as mechanical, electrical, chemical, wind, solar and/or waterpower. This area includes agricultural equipment restoration where the member does not own the piece of equipment.
Note: Personal and non-agricultural vehicles/equipment are considered non-agricultural (i.e.: racing or classic cars) and are not eligible.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
AGRICULTURAL
PROCESSING
A member owns an enterprise or works for a business of assembling, transporting, processing, fabricating, mixing, packaging and storing food and nonfood agricultural products. Programs could include processing meat, milk, honey, cheese, raisins and other dried fruits, maple syrup and/or other food processing. Nonfood products could include by-products processing such as meat, bone, fish and blood meal, tallow, hides; processing of wool and cotton, making compost, cubing and pelleting of forages, producing bird seed and other pet foods. Project may include, but not solely be, the sale of the processed product.
NOTE: This area does not include any production of raw products (animals and plants) only processing them. Processing of non-food forest products is not included in the agricultural processing area, see the Forest Management and Products area.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Dylan Wollman ~ 2025 State 3rd Place
Dylan Wollman ~ 2024 State 3rd Place
AGRICULTURAL
SALES - ENT.
A member owns an enterprise focused on the acquiring, marketing, and re-selling of FINISHED agricultural/natural resource products not covered in a more appropriate proficiency award category. This includes sales of feed, seed, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals, agricultural equipment, landscaping materials, horticulture products, agricultural machinery, agricultural structures, etc. This area does not include the production or processing of products.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Landon Stahl ~ 2026 State 3rd Place
AGRICULTURAL
SALES - PL.
A member works for an enterprise or business focused on acquiring, marketing, and selling agricultural/natural resource products not covered in a more appropriate proficiency award category. This includes sales of feed, seed, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals, agricultural equipment, landscaping materials, horticulture products, agricultural machinery, agricultural structures, etc. This area does not include the production or processing of products.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Jaden Eddy ~ 2023 State 1st Place / National Bronze
Jaden Eddy ~ 2022 State 2nd Place
AGRICULTURAL
SERVICES
Member owns or works for an agricultural business whose primary activity is to provide agricultural services that are not covered in any other proficiency award area. This includes agricultural enterprises such as custom equipment operation, agricultural management and financial services, animal breeding services, custom baling, crop scouting, implementing integrated pest management programs, horseshoeing, taxidermy services, auction services (working at or owning the auction business), commercial agricultural well drilling, residential tree removal service, custom and contract feeding services, marketing/advertising of agricultural products through social media, print, radio and TV, soil/crop testing, animal feed ration testing or development and other agricultural services.
NOTE: Activities related to lawn care, landscaping, mowing or other landscape and yard care activities are not included in this area. See Landscape Installation or Turf & Landscape Maintenance.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Benjamin Weber ~ 2026 State 2nd Place
Kristin Kotas ~ 2019 State Winner / National Participant
Kristin Kotas ~ 2018 State 2nd Place
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
ANIMAL SYSTEMS
Are designed for those students actively engaged in agriscience research and experimentation. This includes members who are actively engaged in doing their own research individually or who may be cooperating on research projects with others including but not limited to teams in school, experiment stations or colleges/universities. The applicant must be actively involved in all of the following: development of the experimental design, formulation of the hypothesis, collection of data, interpretation of the data and publicizing the results to be considered for an Agriscience Research Proficiency Award.
Research in the life processes, health, nutrition, genetics , management, and processing of animal systems related to small animals, aquaculture, livestock, dairy, horses and/or poultry.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Joseph Kayser ~ 2026 State 3rd Place
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS
Are designed for those students actively engaged in agriscience research and experimentation. This includes members who are actively engaged in doing their own research individually or who may be cooperating on research projects with others including but not limited to teams in school, experiment stations or colleges/universities. The applicant must be actively involved in all of the following: development of the experimental design, formulation of the hypothesis, collection of data, interpretation of the data and publicizing the results to be considered for an Agriscience Research Proficiency Award.
Research in either Diversified Research (Two or more areas), Environmental, Food Products and Processing, Power, Structural, and Technical Systems, or Social Sciences Research.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
PLANT SYSTEMS
Are designed for those students actively engaged in agriscience research and experimentation. This includes members who are actively engaged in doing their own research individually or who may be cooperating on research projects with others including but not limited to teams in school, experiment stations or colleges/universities. The applicant must be actively involved in all of the following: development of the experimental design, formulation of the hypothesis, collection of data, interpretation of the data and publicizing the results to be considered for an Agriscience Research Proficiency Award.
Research in the life cycles, classifications, functions, practices of plant systems related to crops, turf grass, trees, and shrubs and/or ornamental plants.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Jackson R. Weber ~ 2026 State 3rd Place
BEEF PRODUCTION
ENTREPRENURSHIP
Member owns the enterprise or business that uses the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market beef. This award area is for any animals raised mainly to produce beef and all beef breed animals, including miniature Herefords, Zebu, etc.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Jason Zeeb ~ 2026 State Winner / National Gold
Cash Lehrman ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
Cash Lehrman ~ 2024 State 2nd Place
BEEF PRODUCTION
PLACEMENT
Member works for a livestock producer applying the best managementpractices available to efficiently produce and market beef. This award area is for any animals raisedmainly to produce beef and all beef breed animals, including miniature Herefords, Zebu, etc.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Kadyn Glanzer ~ 2024 State 3rd Place
DAIRY PRODUCTION
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Member owns an enterprise or business and applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market dairy cattle, including the raising of breeding animals for dairy purposes (i.e., bulls and heifers) and raw dairy cattle products. This award area also includes enterprises in which a member leases cattle for dairy production.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Mark Gross ~ 1989 State Winner / National Winner
DAIRY PRODUCTION
PLACEMENT
Member works in an enterprise or business applying the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market dairy cattle, including the raising of breeding animals for dairy purposes (i.e., bulls and heifers) and raw dairy cattle products.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Brandon Jansen ~ 2022 State Winner / National Silver
Brooks Jansen ~ 2022 State 3rd Place
Brooks Jansen ~ 2021 State 2nd Place
Jessica Jaeger ~ 2018 State Winner / National Silver
DIVERSIFIED AG. PRODUCTION
Involves the use of the best management practices available to produce and market a combination of livestock and crops in two or more proficiency areas. These areas include at least one species included in Diversified Livestock and at least one species included in Diversified Crop proficiency area.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Jason Zeeb ~ 2026 State 2nd Place
Cash Lehrman ~ 2025 State Winner / National Silver
Cash Lehrman ~ 2024 State 2nd Place
DIVERSIFIED CROP PRODUCTION - ENT.
Member owns an enterprise or business that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops from two or more of the following proficiency areas: grain production, fiber & oil crop production, forage production, specialty crop production (excluding floriculture production), vegetable production or fruit production.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Mark Gross ~ 1989 State Winner / National Winner
DIVERSIFIED CROP PRODUCTION - PL.
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Member works for a business that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops from two or more of the following proficiency areas: grain production, fiber & oil crop production, forage production, specialty crop production (excluding floriculture production), vegetable production or fruit production.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Jason Zeeb ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
Corbin Glanzer ~ 2024 State 3rd Place
Carson Weber ~ 2022 State Winner / National Finalist
DIVERSIFIED HORTICULTURE
Member owns or works for an enterprise or business that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market plants/arrangements from two or more of the following proficiency areas: landscape installation, nursery operations, turf & landscape maintenance, floricultural production accepted in specialty crop production, and floral design/marketing accepted in agricultural sales.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
DIVERSIFIED
LIVESTOCK
Involves the use of the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market a combination of animals for two or more of the livestock-related proficiency award areas. These areas include beef, dairy, sheep, swine, equine, goat, specialty animal, poultry or small animal production and care. Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management – Entrepreneurship /Placement
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Joseph Kayser ~ 2026 State 3rd Place
Rylee Schultz ~ 2021 State 2nd Place
ENVIRO. SCIENCE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Students receive practical experience concerned with the principles and practices of managing and/or improving the environment and natural resources. Activities may include the areas of management of agriculture waste (excluding common compliance with EPA regulations) recycling of agriculture products, environmental cleanup, land/wetland reclamation, serving in the conservation corps; managing agricultural energy usage (not for building or maintaining), multiple uses of resources, land use regulations pertaining to soil, water and air quality, preservation of wetlands, shorelines, and grasslands, erosion prevention practices; installing subsurface drainage, public relations and education concerning pollution.
NOTE: Projects that solely install/maintain drainage tiling systems belong in agricultural services. Activities primarily for the purpose of creating or improving wildlife habitat or producing and managing wildlife are not eligible in this area, see Wildlife Production and Management.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Jackson Harberts ~ 2022 State Winner / National Gold
Jackson Harberts ~ 2021 State 2nd Place
EQUINE SCIENCE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Student owns an enterprise or business that provides experiences in horse production, breeding, marketing, showing and other aspects of the equine industry. Programs may also include the training and/or management of horses for activities such as but not only roping, racing, rodeo, show, riding lessons and therapeutic horseback riding if horses are owned and/or managed by the member. Miniature horses are included in this proficiency area.
NOTE: Participation in events in which equine are used but where activities do not involve the above may belong in other areas.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Katrina Thon ~ 2023 State 2nd Place
Rebecka Hoffman ~ 2017 State 2nd Place
EQUINE SCIENCE
PLACEMENT
Student works for an employer providing experiences in horse production, breeding, marketing, showing and other aspects of the equine industry. Programs may also include the training and/or management of horses for activities such as but not only roping, racing, rodeo, show, riding lessons and therapeutic horseback riding if horses are not owned but are managed by the member. Miniature horses are included in this proficiency area. Note: Participation in events in which equine are used but where activities do not involve the above may belong in other areas.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Cash Martinez ~ 2026 State Winner / National Participant
Cash Martinez ~ 2025 State 3rd Place
FIBER AND OIL CROP
PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops for fiber and/or oil such as cotton, sisal, hemp, soybeans, sesame seed, flax, mustard, canola, castor beans, sunflower, peanuts, dill, spearmint, and safflower. The harvesting, baling, marketing, and selling of straw and/or corn stalks for all purposes other than forage fits in this area. (Projects which include producing grain include the straw as a portion of the grain production project and apply in Grain Production.)
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Benjamin Weber ~ 2026 State Winner / National Bronze
Jason Zeeb ~ 2024 State 3rd Place
Carson Weber ~ 2023 State Winner / National Silver
Jason Zeeb ~ 2023 State 3rd Place
FORAGE CROP
PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops for forage such as alfalfa, clover, brome grass, orchard grass, grain forages, corn and grass silages, all pastures and sorghum (not used for grain).
NOTE: Custom bailing activities more appropriately fit in the Agricultural Services award area.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Jason Zeeb ~ 2025 State Winner / National Silver
FOREST MANAGMEENT AND PRODUCTS
Member owns the enterprise, or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to conserve or increase the economic value of a forest and/or forest products through such practices as thinning, pruning, weeding, stand improvement, reforestation, insect and disease control, planting, harvesting, Christmas tree farming, making and selling cedar shakes, firewood, wood chips/mulch and working for local, state or federal forest management agencies.
NOTE: This area does not include food items harvested from the forest, residential tree removal services or processing/use of lumber beyond processing at the lumbermill
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
FRUIT AND NUT PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops for fruit and nuts such as stone fruits, pome fruits, citrus fruits, pineapples, coconuts, berries, cranberries, melons, grapes, olives, nuts (not peanuts) and all common fruits. (Pome fruits include apples, mayhaws, and pears. Stone fruits include peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries).
NOTE: SAEs involving processing fruits/nuts beyond the raw product are better suited to theAgricultural Processing award area.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
GOAT
PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that involves the use of the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market goats and all raw goat products.
NOTE: Processed products are better suited to the Agricultural Processing award area.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Cash Martinez ~ 2026 State 2nd Place
Cash Martinez ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
GRAIN CROP PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a crop producer or grain production related business that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops for grain production such as corn, barley (including the malting types), millet, buckwheat, oats, grain sorghum, milo, wheat, rice and rye. Production of certified grain seed is included in this area. Straw/stalks, as a by-product of these crops, is included.
NOTES: Grain Production does not include any of the mentioned crops if intended for forage (See Forage Production). For projects ONLY harvesting straw/stalks see Fiber &/or Oil Crop Production.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Benjamin Weber ~ 2026 State 2nd Place
Jason Zeeb ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
Jason Zeeb ~ 2024 State 3rd Place
Carson Weber ~ 2023 State Winner
HOME AND
COMMUNITY
Student owns the enterprise, or works for a business that involves improving and protecting the beauty of an area by using natural vegetation or commercial ornamental plants and/or modernizing the home for better health and comfort through installation or improvement of water and sanitary facilities, heating and air conditioning or labor saving devices. Also includes community development activities such as volunteerism, community development and community betterment activities.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Katrina Thon ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
Alexis Golder ~ 2024 State Winner
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes experiences with designing and installing landscapes (outdoor and indoor), including plants, shrubs, turf and trees. Includes sprinkler installation, hardscaping, and the installation of decorative rock, etc.
NOTE: Projects including only the building of landscape structures belong in the Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication proficiency area. (Note: Does not include mowing)
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
NURSERY
OPERATIONS
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that provides experience in growing, marketing, and selling ornamental plants, vegetable starter plants, shrubs and/or tree production for the purpose of transplanting or propagation. Includes water garden plants and sod/turf grass produced for sale.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Macie Weber ~ 2026 State Winner / National Bronze
Macie Weber ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
Quinn Culhane ~ 2024 State 2nd Place
Mara Zorr ~ 2023 State Winner / National Silver
Mara Zorr ~ 2022 State 2nd Place
Hunter Uptagrafft ~ State Winner / National Bronze
OUTDOOR
RECREATION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that develops or provides outdoor recreational activities for public or family use as experiential or income-producing enterprises. These enterprises could include agritourism, vacation cabins and cottages, camping and/or picnic areas, recreational fishing, and/or hunting areas, winter sports, shooting preserves, guide services, riding stables, trail rides (ATV, horseback, etc.), vacation farms and guest ranches, natural scenic or historic areas, and running petting zoos and rodeo events where the member does not own or manage animals.
NOTE: Personal participation in outdoor recreation activities is not an SAE. Working as a lifeguard of any type does not qualify as an SAE.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Rylee Terveen ~ 2023 State Winner / National Silver
Julie Jaeger ~ 2022 State 2nd Place
POULTRY
PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market chickens, turkeys, domestic fowl such as ducks, geese and guinea, and their raw products.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Katrina Thon ~ 2025 State 3rd Place
SERVICE
LEARNING
Member researches an agriculturally related community need(s), develops a written plan which defines the identified need and the proposed service solution. Member submits the plan or plans to a local review committee of stake holders and the FFA advisor, completes the project and provides a summary report of the project’s impact to the same review committee. Service must benefit a school, public entity, or a substantial portion of the community. Service provided to the member’s own FFA Chapter is not eligible. Service project(s) must require the member to use agricultural skills and knowledge gained in the agriculture classroom to complete and must be of sufficient scope for the member to apply skills and abilities from the nationally accepted agriculture, food, and natural resource standards.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Katrina Thon ~ 2026 State 3rd Place
Katrina Thon ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
Alexis Golder ~ 2024 State 2nd Place
Alexis Golder ~ 2023 State 2nd Place
Mara Zorr ~ 2022 State 3rd Place
Morgan Terveen ~ 2021 State Winner / National Bronze
SHEEP
PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market sheep, raw sheep products and wool.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Landon Berg ~ 2026 State Winner / National Finalist
Charles Liesinger ~ 2008 State Winner / National ????
SMALL ANIMAL PRODUCTION / CARE
Student owns the enterprise, or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market small animals such as all rabbits, cats, dogs, mice, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, lizards, snakes, small birds (such as canaries, cockatiels, cockatoos, parakeets, parrots, etc.) and programs that typically provide a service in caring for the well-being of pets. Programs could include working at a pet shop, as a groomer, as a dog trainer, providing pet sitting services, working at a kennel, or preparing guide and assistance animals.
NOTE: Employment at a veterinary clinic or similar veterinary care enterprise assisting veterinarians in performing duties related to the health and welfare of animals belongs in the Veterinary Science proficiency area.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Taylor Hawley ~ 2026 State 3rd Place
Katrina Thon ~ 2025 State Winner / National Silver
Taylor Hawley ~ 2025 State 3rd Place
Katrina Thon ~ 2024 State 2nd Place
Mary Duerksen ~ 2023 State 2nd Place
Morgan Terveen ~ 2022 State 3rd Place
SPECIALTY ANIMAL PRODUCTION
Applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market specialty animals and their raw products within the agriculture industry. Members in this area must demonstrate that they are producing and marketing specialty animals not covered in any of the existing award areas. Placement experiences could include roles as a zoo worker or placement at any specialty animal facility. In their supervised work experience, students must participate in hands-on activities including feeding, inoculating, performing basic animal care, weighing, measuring, showing, and possibly marketing animals in an entrepreneurial or work placement environment.
NOTE: This award area does not include further processing of specialty animal products (i.e., honey, llama wool, etc.), processing of these products belongs in the Agricultural Processing Proficiency area
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Joseph Kayser ~ 2026 State 2nd Place
Oakley Weber ~ 2026 State 3rd Place
Joseph Kayser ~ 2025 State 2nd Place
SPECIALTY CROP
PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise, or works fora business that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market raw crops not covered in any of the existing award categories such as: native prairie plants, sugar beets, dry edible beans, green peanuts, gourds, tobacco, specialty corns (popcorn, white corn, Indian corn), all grass seed production, herbs and spices, mushrooms, sugar cane, hops, sorghum cane, confectionary sunflowers, production of crop seed and floriculture production. (such as chrysanthemums, daylilies, etc.)
NOTE: This award area does not include further processing of these products, processing belongs in the Agricultural Processing Proficiency area
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
SWINE PRODUCTION
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Member owns an enterprise that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market swine and their raw products.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Dawson Plagmann ~ 2025 State Winner / National Silver
Dawson Plagmann ~ 2024 State 3rd Place
Rylee Schultz ~ 2021 State Winner / National Bronze
SWINE PRODUCTION
PLACEMENT
Member works for an employer that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market swine and their raw products.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
TURF AND LANDSCAPE
MAINTENANCE
Member owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes experiences with maintaining plants and shrubs, landscaping, grounds keeping, sprinkler repair/maintenance, lawn mowing and care services and sport field or golf course grounds maintenance.
NOTE: Producing turf grass for sale/transplant belongs in the Nursery Operations area. Installation of new landscaping belongs in the Landscape Installation area.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Jackson Harberts ~ 2023 State 3rd Place
Jackson Harberts ~ 2022 State 2nd Place
Nicholas Hofer ~ 2008 State Winner / National ???
VEGETABLE
PRODUCTION
Member owns the enterprise or works for abusiness that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and marketunprocessed crops such as asparagus, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkins, sweet corn,tomatoes, onions, zucchini, hot peppers and all common garden vegetables.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Parker Burke ~ 2025 State 3rd Place
Jason Zeeb ~ 2023 State Winner / National Silver
Carson Weber ~ 2023 State 2nd Place
Carson Weber ~ 2022 State 2nd Place
Mollie Keating ~ 2008 State Winner / National ????
VETERINARY
SCIENCE
Member owns the enterprise or works for abusiness that includes working with veterinarians in clinical practice, research facilities, colleges ofveterinary medicine, animal health industry, or any other environment in which they assist veterinariansin performing duties related to the health of people and/or the health and welfare of large and smallanimals. This experience must be under the supervision of a veterinarian and may include wageearning, entrepreneurial or exploratory activities not limited to hands-on care of animals, managementof business aspects of a veterinary practice, or working on legislation or regulations relating to animals.
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
WILDLIFE PRODUCTION
& MANAGMENET
Member owns the enterpriseor works for a business that includes the improvement and the availability of fish and wildlife throughpractices such as land and water habitat improvement or development, wildlife surveys, trapping or thestocking of fish and wild game. This area includes activities conducted with local, state or federal fish &wildlife or natural resource agencies managing wildlife and habitat specifically for wildlife. The legalproduction of wild species for stocking such as ducks, geese, quail, pheasants, etc. are eligible if used asan income enterprise. Legal harvest of wildlife or fish for resale as an income enterprise is included inthis category. NOTE: Personal participation in recreational or subsistence hunting or fishing is not
STATE & NATIONAL
FINALISTS & WINNERS
Caden Schulz ~ 2026 State 2nd Place
Rylee Terveen ~ 2022 State Winner / National Bronze
Morgan Terveen ~ 2020 State Winner / National Bronze