SD 4-H team wins national land and range judging contest

A team of four people in matching blue button-down shirts stands on stage with their awards, with two people off to the right side
Haakon-Bennett County 4-H Range team won the team contest at the 2024 National Team Land and Range Judging Contest. Team members, from left: Emily Zickrick, Colden Kramer, Ashley Schriever, Tara Schofield, Tyler Swan (NRCS) and coach Reed Johnson.

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota youth once again showed their soil and plant expertise when a South Dakota State University Extension 4-H range judging team won first place at a national contest for 4-H and FFA members.

The Haakon/Bennett County 4-H range judging team won first place at the 2024 National Land and Range Judging Contest held from April 30 to May 2, 2024, in El Reno, Oklahoma. Team members include Bennett County’s Emily Zickrick and Haakon County’s Colden Kramer, Ashley Schriever and Tara Schofield.

Individually, Zickrick won first place overall in range judging. Kramer placed fifth, Schriever 10th and Schofield 15th. Also placing in the top 10 in range judging were the Day County 4-H team taking third place and Corson County placing fifth. 

Seven 4-H and 11 FFA teams from South Dakota competed in the national contest, which divides teams into the range, land and homesite judging categories. FFA and 4-H teams compete separately in each category. Teams from each state had to win their respective regions to qualify for the national contest. 

A group of people in matching orange shirts stands in front of a ballon archway
Day County 4-H Range team placed third out of 12 teams. Team members, from left: Caleb Gaikowski, Bobbi Eidie, Tigh Gaikowski, Caleb Weyh and coach Fred Zenk. Eide placed fourth individually and Gaikowski placed seventh out of 43 national contestants.

In the range contest, youth must be able to identify 130 plants and their characteristics and assess a site’s desirability for bobwhite quail and cattle. 

Sandy Smart, SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Senior Program Leader and professor, and Tyler Swan, soil conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, helped students prepare for the range judging contest. 

Smart said Oklahoma has few plant species in common with South Dakota, putting the South Dakota teams at a disadvantage.  

“It is a lot of work. Teams spent months preparing for this event, including practicing on the unfamiliar Oklahoma terrain in the days leading up to the contest,” Smart said. “Their hard work and dedication paid off on contest day.” 

In land judging, contestants evaluate four pits for slope, erosion, permeability, surface runoff, soil texture, depth of soil, determining land class and recommended land treatments. Lance Howe, soil scientist with NRCS, helped the teachers and their students prepare for the contest. 

Four people stand in front of a balloon archway and a banner that says "National Land and Range Judging Contest"
Corson County 4-H Range team placed fifth out of 12 teams. Team members, from left: Shannon Gebhart, Katelyn Gebhart, Blake Drayton and Sam Weishaar. They were coached by Renae Gebhart.

In homesite, contestants evaluate four pits for soil texture, permeability, depth of soil, slope, erosion, surface runoff, shrink-swell, water table and flooding before making a final determination. 

The South Dakota teams usually arrive on Saturday and practice Sunday to Wednesday, with the contest on Thursday morning. When not studying, the students get to tour some of the area’s interesting sites, museums and a favorite ice cream shop. 

Complete judging contest results follow. 

4-H Range 

Haakon/Bennett County 4-H team won first place out of 12 teams with team members (Bennett County) Emily Zickrick and (Haakon County) Colden Kramer, Ashley Schriever and Tara Schofield. Individually, Zickrick won first place overall, Kramer placed fifth, Schriever 10th and Schofield 15th. 

Day County 4-H members placed third with team members Bobbi Eide, Caleb Weyh, Caleb Gaikowski and Tigh Gaikowski. Eide placed fourth overall individually, Caleb Gaikowski placed seventh and Weyh placed 13th.

Five people in matching floral shirts smile for the camera
West Central Ag (Minnehaha County) 4-H Range team placed eighth out of 12 teams. Team members, from left: Coach Linda Petersen, Sam Handberg, Alex Siemonsma, Stella Siemonsma and Kenasyn Johnson. Alex Siemonsma placed 15th out of 43 national competitors.

The Lemmon (Corson County) team finished in fifth, with team members Katelyn Gebhart placing 11th overall individually and Shannon Gebhart placing 17th. Other team members were Blake Drayton and Samuel Weishaar.

West Central Ag (Minnehaha County) placed eighth with team members Alex Siemonsma, Stella Siemonsma, Samuel Handburg and Kenasyn Johnson. Alex Siemonsma placed 15th individually.

FFA Range

Webster FFA Range team placed 13th out of 24 teams, with team members Tevin Howder, Dylan Carlson, Brayden Aadland and Coach Fred Zenk.

Kadoka FFA Range team placed 15th with team members Kole Hermann, Tance VanderMay, Ayden Amiotte, Shaylee Porch and Coach Kade Bonenberger. 

Wolsey-Wessington FFA Range team placed 17th with team members Harley Roberts, Kate Hamilton, Jett Kleinsasser, Ethan Rearick and Coach Andrew Boersma.  

Three people in matching FFA shirts smile at the camera. Their coach is on the left in a grey suit jacket
Webster FFA Range team placed 13th out of 24 teams. Team members, from left: Coach Fred Zenk, Tevin Howder, Dylan Carlson and Brayden Aadland.

4-H Land

Lennox 4-H Land team placed 11th out of 16 teams, with team members Karin Sweeter, Tyler Strasser, Skyler Plucker, Callie Hammerstrom and Coach Kacey Trocke. Individually, Sweeter placed fifth out of 63 national competitors. 

FFA Land

Wessington Springs FFA Land team placed fifth out of 99 teams, with team members Remie Roduner, Carter Gaikowski, Max Klein, Ella Fagerhaug and Coach Brady Duxbury. Max Klien placed first out of 389 national competitors. 

Willow Lake FFA Land team placed 30th out of 99 teams, with team members Shelby Anderson, James Poppen, Emmerson Larson and Shay Michalski. Their coach was Dan Tonak.

Tri-Valley FFA Land team placed 31st with team members Landon Schenkel, Tyler Groenewold, Isabella Mack, McKenzie Mack and Coach Tanner Peterson.

Kadoka FFA Land team placed 71st with team members Mason Stilwell, Holden Lottman, Makaylan Bonenberger, Alexandria Madsen and Coach Kaycee Jones.

4-H Homesite

McCook County 4-H Homesite team placed sixth out of 14 teams, with team members Karlee Klinkammer, Mandi Schock, Zoe Dissing, Kaylee Klinkhammer and Coach Terry Rieckman. Karlee Klinkhammer placed fourth individually and Zoe Dissing placed 12th out of 54 national competitors.

Four people stand in front of a backdrop that says "Welcome to the 2024 Land and Range judging"
Kadoka FFA Range team placed 15th out of 24 teams. Team members, from left: Kole Hermann, Tance VanderMay, Ayden Amiotte and Shaylee Porch. They were coached by Kade Bonenberger.

De Smet 4-H Homesite team placed 10th out of 14 teams, with team members Tanner Tolzin, Connor Johnson, Logan Nielsen and Coach Dave Vanderwal. Johnson placed third individually.

FFA Homesite

McCook Central FFA Homesite team placed third out of 58 teams, with team members Antone Krempges, Callie Kaufmann, Avery Alley, Clayten Hoffman and Coach Terry Rieckman. Avery Alley placed 15th and Antone Krempges placed 19th out of 228 national competitors.  

Hitchcock-Tulare FFA Homesite team placed 21st, with team members Regan Lutter, Jocelyn Wagner, Rylee Knock, Sienna Stoner and Coach Shane Gross.

De Smet FFA Homesite team placed 26th with team members Gannon Gilligan, Chauncey Driscoll, Breyten Johnson, Chase Temme and Coach Dave Vanderwal.

Lemmon FFA Homesite team placed 43rd with team members Blair Ham, Emma Barnes, Abe Mollman, Brooks Foss and Coach Renae Gebhart.

Wolsey-Wessington FFA Range team smiles at the camera
Wolsey-Wessington FFA Range team placed 17th out of 24 teams. Team members, from left: Harley Roberts, Kate Hamilton, Jett Kleinsasser and Ethan Rearick. They were coached by Andrew Boersma.  
The Lennox 4-H Land team smiles at the camera
Lennox 4-H Land team placed 11th out of 16 teams. Team members, from left: Kacey Trocke (coach), Karin Sweeter, Tyler Strasser, Skyler Plucker and Callie Hammerstrom. Sweeter placed fifth out of 63 national competitors. 
The Wessington Springs FFA Land team smiles at the camera
Wessington Springs FFA Land team placed fifth out of 99 teams. Team members, from left: Remie Roduner, Carter Gaikowski, Max Klein, Ella Fagerhaug and Brady Duxbury (coach). Max Klien placed first out of 389 national competitors. 

Willow Lake FFA land team smiles at the camera
Willow Lake FFA Land team placed 30th out of 99 teams. Team members, from left: Shelby Anderson, James Poppen, Emmerson Larson and Shay Michalski. They were coached by Dan Tonak.
Tri-Valley FFA Land team smiles at the camera in front of a tractor
Tri-Valley FFA Land team placed 31st out of 99 teams. Team members, from left: Landon Schenkel, Tyler Groenewold, Isabella Mack and McKenzie Mack. They were coached by Tanner Peterson.
Kadoka FFA Land team smiles at the camera
Kadoka FFA Land team placed 71st out 99 teams. Team members, from left: Mason Stilwell, Holden Lottman, Makaylan Bonenberger and Alexandria Madsen. They were coached by Kaycee Jones.

McCook County 4-H Homesite team smiles at the camera
McCook County 4-H Homesite team placed sixth out of 14 teams. Team members, from left: Karlee Klinkammer, Mandi Schock, Zoe Dissing, Kaylee Klinkhammer and Terry Rieckman (coach). Karlee Klinkhammer placed fourth out of 54 national competitors and Dissing placed 12th.
The De Smet 4-H Homesite team smiles at the camera
De Smet 4-H Homesite team placed 10th out of 14 teams. Team members, from left: Tanner Tolzin, Connor Johnson and Logan Nielsen. They were coached by Dave Vanderwal. Johnson placed third out of 54 national competitors.
The McCook Central FFA Homesite team smiles at the camera
McCook Central FFA Homesite team placed third out of 58 teams. Team members, from left: Antone Krempges, Callie Kaufmann, Avery Alley, Clayten Hoffman and Terry Rieckman (coach). Avery Alley placed 15th out of 228 national competitors and Antone Krempges placed 19th.  

Hitchcock-Tulare FFA team smiles at the camera
Hitchcock-Tulare FFA Homesite team placed 21st out of 58 teams. Team members, from left: Regan Lutter, Jocelyn Wagner, Rylee Knock and Sienna Stoner. They were coached by Shane Gross.
De Smet FFA Homesite team smiles at the camera
De Smet FFA Homesite team placed 26th out of 58 teams. Team members, from left: Gannon Gilligan, Chauncey Driscoll, Breyten Johnson and Chase Temme. They were coached by Dave Vanderwal.
Lemmon FFA Homesite team smiles at the camera
Lemmon FFA Homesite team placed 43rd out of 58 teams. Team members, from left: Blair Ham, Emma Barnes, Abe Mollman and Brooks Foss. They were coached by Renae Gebhart.

 

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