South Dakota FFA Updates

• Caroline Hansen, Leadership & Program Manager
• caroline.hansen@sdaged.org
• 605-380-7308
• Audra Scheel, Executive Secretary
• audra.scheel@sdaged.org
• 605-545-0402
• Mercedes Snedeker, State Advisor
• mercedes.snedeker@state.sd.us
• 605-295-4446

With Audra's transition, we have a new mailing address for Checks and Payments! Please update your information and let your schools know to send those to:

SD FFA Association

c/o Audra Scheel

PO Box 82

Alpena, SD 57312

• August 31: Adopt An Animal Form Due
• September 1: National Convention Housing Block Closes
• September 14: Chapter Service Grants Due (Foundation)
• September 21: Blue Jacket FFA Applications Due (Foundation)
• October 1: Roster/Affiliation Deadline Due

• September 2-7: SD State Fair
• September 2: Land & Range School - Lemmon
• September 9: Land & Range School - Brookings
• September 10: Land & Range School - DeSmet
• September 16: Land & Range School - Redfield
• September 23: West Region/North Central/South Central Land & Range Judging Contest
• September 23: Energy PD **Ask Mercedes for more details
• September 30: Northeast Land & Range Judging Contest

The Board of Directors met on Monday, July 20th. You can access meeting minutes here under "Previous minutes" and then in the "2026" folder.

The next Board of Directors meeting will be September 9th with the Students meeting at 12pm CT and the Adults meeting at 5pm CT.

Those helping at the state fair or dropping off projects on Wednesday, please enter through Gate 4, drop off your things, and promptly exit through Gate 3.5 (Leave the grounds and park BEFORE setting up any chapter displays!) They will have a list of chapters and those signed up to help that will hopefully make the process smooth. You *should* be able to drive in to drop things off. I apologize in advance if they stop you at the gate, sometimes the messages don't get to the right people through the State Fair chain of command.

Adopt An Animal Form:

Here is the Adopt An Animal Form: https://forms.gle/hkyEY4SfrWCkEJA47

POA Submission:

You can also bring the POA to registration but if you would like to submit it online use this form: https://forms.gle/A8KBMM9MPRj2zrxU9

Advisor Sign-Up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BA4AE2EA7F8C07-64925791-2026#

District Officer Sign-up for Ag Adventure Center:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BA4AE2EA7F8C07-64921927-2026

Advisor Letter of Support: For those who need it, here is a letter you can provide your school administration on why help is needed at the State Fair from Advisors. If you need something more concrete or need us to send an email directly to your school administration, please let us know!

Save the Date!

There will be an Energy PD sponsored by Northwestern Energy in Mitchell, SD on September 23rd. Registration: https://sded.sd.gov/browse/division-of-college-career-and-student-success/office-of-career-and-technical-education/courses/energy-cluster-professional-development-26-27

Contact Mercedes Snedeker for more information.

All the guidebooks, scantrons, and dates for Land, Range, and Homesite have been updated on the website. We've also added a resources folder to keep it clear which scorecards are used contests and which are simply resources for your classroom.

Those that handle scoring at a regional level, there is also a help sheet created by Lance Howe on how to merge land and homesite scores with judgingcard.

• Lucas Oil Stadium Clear Bag Policy
• You may still bring your personal backpacks, bags, boxes, and other items into the Convention Center only. However, clear bags are highly encouraged to enter Lucas Oil Stadium for sessions. This includes any shopping bags collected at the convention center! Please plan ahead and plan accordingly! A mandatory clear bag policy will go into effect for the 2027 convention.
• Housing Block - Must block rooms before September 2nd
• There is still rooms available in the housing block. Use this link to reserve: https://book.passkey.com/gt/221234674?gtid=876bad4862fbbfb6fb9717d78500cf56

The 2027 State FFA Convention will be held April 18-20, 2027.

• District Reporting Forms Due March 31st
• Lottery Names released April 1st
• Registration due April 2nd

The 2028 State FFA Convention will be held April 23-25, 2028!

• Online Auction Date set for September 16th. If you have ideas for donations, please send them to Gerri.
• Chapter Community Service Grants (Due September 14): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIcMAJivaF7Laz672jipklxpkxSlo5AXxDIiENnuhqq3nO0Q/viewform
• Blue Jacket Applications (Due September 21): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRbjOGJW_JgqXZylpNGiYMgJ4mtiU_Jw5FBHMZKg45BBA73Q/viewform

Applications Opening Soon for 2027 Next Gen Conferences

Do you have students interested in pursuing a career in Plant Systems, Food Products and Processing Systems, or Environmental Services and Natural Resources Systems? Good news! The 2027 Next Gen conferences will focus on these pathways! Applications will open on Aug. 15. Encourage your students to apply!

National FFA Board of Directors Dues Recommendations

After reviewing the National FFA Organization Financial Reports and Budget, the National FFA Board of Directors moved and passed to recommend to the delegates at the National FFA Convention and Expo that National FFA Organization membership dues and program affiliation fees remain the same as the previous year for the 2027–28 school year. Find out more information on the fee breakdown.

Membership Numbers Announced

The National FFA Organization continues its record-setting growth with yet another increase in membership over last year. Current membership is 1,053,847 student members with 9,591 active student chapters. Alumni membership for the year is 840,865.

National Agricultural Proficiency Awards, Agriscience Fair, and National Chapter Judging Results

The 2026 National Finalist Selection results have been finalized for the Agriscience Fair, Agricultural Proficiency, and National Chapter Awards. These results are currently available to state staff only and can be accessed here. Please do not share this information until after the public release on Friday, Aug. 7. Orientation packets and interview schedules will be posted on the specific program pages of FFA.org following the public release of results. A congratulations email with links to the orientation packet will be sent to each National Finalist with copies to their chapter FFA advisor(s).

Career and Leadership Development Events

Orientation packets and resource materials are now posted on the CDE/LDE webpage. Each orientation packet provides information on the event schedule, certification process, accommodation requests, competition details and more.

The 2025 Exams, Practicums and resources are now available for all events EXCEPT Forestry. Forestry has an early fall state qualifying event. Those exams and practicums will be released about Oct. 1.

Volunteers Needed: National Winner Selection Virtual Interviews
National FFA is seeking volunteers to support the next round of judging. All interviews are conducted virtually via Zoom, making it convenient to get involved from the comfort of your home or office. Sign up today! Be sure to select the date and time that matches your schedule. Feel free to sign up for more than one date/time. Virtual judges will review applications, craft personalized questions and help determine who will be named national winners at the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo! Interview dates and times are available Sept. 14-23 and Sept. 23-24. Please feel free to forward to others who may be interested!

Volunteer as a Virtual Room Host for the National Winner Selection Interviews

Have a hand in who will be named National Winner at the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo by serving as a room host this fall, where you'll serve as the proctor for virtual finalist interviews. You'll welcome and guide judges and national finalists through the experience, manage the Zoom-based interview process (using a Zoom account provided by National FFA), and ensure everything runs smoothly and fairly. Sign up today.