South Dakota FFA Updates
Published May 4, 2026
State Staff Contacts
- Caroline Hansen, Leadership & Program Manager
- caroline.hansen@sdaged.org
- 605-380-7308
- Wyatt DeJong, Executive Secretary
- wyatt.dejong@sdaged.org
- 605-842-5683
- Mercedes Snedeker, State Advisor
- mercedes.snedeker@state.sd.us
- 605-295-4446
Meet Audra Scheel
It is with great excitement that we get to share with you that Audra Scheel from Alpena, SD has accepted the role as Executive Secretary for the SD FFA Association! She will begin on June 1st. We are working on getting her new email and contact information updated and will have that available by her start date. Until that time, all questions can still be directed to Wyatt, Mercedes, and Caroline. After June 1, we'll start to loop Audra in so she has adequate time to transition before Wyatt's final day on June 30th.
Please read more about her below. We're excited to have her join the FFA team!
Audra Scheel is a youth development educator from Alpena, SD, with over 14 years of experience supporting young people through hands-on learning, leadership programs, and community engagement. She currently serves as a 4-H Educator with South Dakota State University Extension, where she directs multi-county programming, leads volunteer teams, and develops innovative educational initiatives that connect youth to real-world opportunities.
Audra has created and led several impactful programs, including classroom agricultural experiences, youth leadership development initiatives, and farm-to-school partnerships. Her work often brings together education, agriculture, and community involvement, helping youth build confidence, skills, and career awareness.
In addition to her Extension role, Audra is deeply involved in the agricultural community as a co-owner of Scheel Livestock and as director of the South Dakota Junior Point Show. She has extensive experience in event coordination, budget management, volunteer leadership, and grant writing.
Known for her creativity, strong organizational skills, and passion for mentoring, Audra is committed to building meaningful programs and fostering connections that benefit both youth and the broader community. Audra was involved in FFA as a youth growing up, and her children are all part of the organization. Audra enjoys volunteering in her community and spending time in the garden, and raising livestock. She is excited to join the FFA team!
- May 15: Camp Registration Due (primary contact: Sadie)
- June 1: State Deadline for American STARs/Honorary American and Distinguished Service (primary contact: Sadie)
- June 1: American Degree Applications due (Final Round) (primary contact: Sadie)
- June 15: State Deadline for National applications for Agriscience, Proficiencies and National Chapter (primary contact: Sadie)
Upcoming Dates
- May 14: Board of Directors Meeting (primary contact: Sadie)
- Students at 4, Adult at 4:30pm
- June 16-19: East River Leadership Retreat
- June 29-July 2: West River Leadership Retreat
- July 26-29: SDACTE Summer Conference/District Officer Retreat
- September 2-7: SD State Fair
State Ambassador Application Live
If you have any students who would be interested in applying for the ambassador positions. Please have them fill out the application below by May 8th at 11:59pm.
Ambassadors will be appointed by the Board of Directors at their May meeting.
2027 State Convention Dates
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
Updates from National FFA
American Heroes Student Art Contest
To help celebrate the 250th Birthday of America, the National Endowment for the Humanities invites students to participate in the American Heroes Student Art Contest. Submissions for the contents are due on Monday, June 1. Final awardees will win a trip to Washington, D.C., in July to see their arts and essays exhibited at the Great American State Fair. They will be recognized in an awards ceremony.
Culver's Scoops of Thanks Day
Thursday, May 7, is the 12th annual Scoops of Thanks Day at Culver’s. Guests of Culver’s who donate $1 to a local FFA chapter will receive a scoop of fresh frozen custard. This year, the day will feature a brand-new, agricultural-inspired flavor of the day: Blue Barn Brownie.
Share Your Ideas at the National FFA Convention!
Do you have an engaging activity, an innovative classroom strategy, a leadership lesson, or a student-focused experience worth sharing? Consider presenting a student or teacher workshop at the National FFA Convention & Expo! If you’re interested in leading an interactive session and making an impact on attendees from across the country, submit your proposal today!
Awards and Recognition Historical Awards Database
Are you looking to confirm your chapter’s historical records? You can access the Awards and Recognition Historical Database through FFA.org. State staff and teachers may use this article to navigate to the database through Profile. If you have questions, please reach out to Carol Herl, cherl@ffa.org.
Explore.Act.Tell. Program: A National FFA Endorsed Activity
The Explore.Act.Tell. Program is a no-cost, standards-aligned service-learning program that challenges middle and high school students to become community leaders. By focusing on food insecurity and civic engagement, the program provides educators with resources to foster student-led projects with measurable impact. Additionally, teams can enter the Challenge to win a grant of up to $5,000.