BROOKINGS, S.D. – Two South Dakota teams won first place in the 4-H Range and Homesite categories at the 2026 National Land, Range and Homesite judging contest.
The contest was May 7, 2026, in El Reno, Oklahoma, and is split into two categories: 4-H and FFA. Teams from each state had to win their respective regions to qualify for the national contest.
Corson County 4-H was the first-place team in the 4-H Range judging contest, with team members Darla Barnes, Katelyn Gebhart, Lainee Gebhart, Brooks Foss and coach Renae Gebhart. Haakon County 4-H placed third, and Day County 4-H placed fourth.
Four South Dakotans also placed in the top 10 individually: Darla Barnes, of Corson County, won first place, and Katelyn Gebhart, also of Corson County, placed second. Kaydence Eisenbraun, of Haakon County, took fifth place and Bryn Sippel, of Day County took seventh.
For the FFA Range contest, Sturgis FFA placed seventh as a team with members Jackson Cammack, Garrett Rohloff, Aydan Rhodes, Ellie Storm and instructor Stran Holben.
A total of three states, seven teams and 27 individuals competed in the 4-H division and a total of nine states, 32 teams and 132 individuals competed in the FFA division of the Range contest. Tyler Swan, a soil conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service; Sandy Smart, SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Senior Program Leader and professor; and Kaylee Wheeler, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist, assisted the high school agriculture teachers and their students in preparing for the contest.
Students need to be able to identify 130 plants (39 grasses, 19 legumes, 41 forbs and 31 trees/woody plants). They also need to learn/memorize each plant’s characteristics (life history, season of growth, origin, desirability for bobwhite quail food, cover and cattle food).
South Dakota was represented by two 4-H and five FFA teams in the National Land and Homesite Judging Contest. In the 4-H Homesite category, Wessington Springs 4-H won first place as a team, and Max Klein, of Wessington Springs, won first place individually. Ella Fagerhaug, of Wessington Springs, placed seventh individually. Other Wessington Springs 4-H team members were Kohen Mebius, Remie Roduner and coach Brady Duxbury.
McCook County 4-H placed eighth as a team with members Khloie Klinkhammer, Hadley Flogstad, Hailey Heumiller and Caleb Hoffman, and instructor Terry Rieckman.
For the FFA Homesite judging category, Deubrook FFA placed third as a team, with members Georgia Siddens, Carson Engelstad, Maddie Schulte, Raymond Klein, alternate Nick Navratil and instructor Ashley Wiesen. Siddens also placed fourth individually.
McCook Central FFA placed fourth as a team with members Noah Durfee, Parker Randall, Leah Feterl and Connor Heiberger, and instructor Terry Rieckman.
In the Land competition, Tri-Valley 4-H placed fourth as a team with members Macie Jones, Rylin Fods, Ema Dissing, Chase Jones and instructor Tanner Peterson. Jones also placed second individually.
The land contest involves identifying four sites on various soil parameters, including slope, soil texture, soil structure, land capability class and recommended land treatments. Homesite evaluation includes additional concepts like permeability, soil depth, shrink-swell, depth of water table and flooding. Lance Howe, a soil scientist with NRCS, assisted high school agriculture teachers/FFA advisors and their students practice for the contest.
South Dakota teams typically arrive in El Reno on Saturday and practice Sunday through Wednesday, with the contest held on Thursday morning. When not studying, the students get to tour area sites, visit museums and enjoy local ice cream.
RANGE JUDGING PLACINGS:
4-H team
- Corson County 4-H, first place. Team members: Darla Barnes, Katelyn Gebhart, Lainee Gebhart, Brooks Foss and instructor Renae Gebhart.
- Haakon County 4-H, third place. Team members: Molly Harty, Mackenzie Hovland, Blaise Furnival, Kaydence Eisenbraun, instructor Reed Johnson and coach Tyler Swan.
- Day County 4-H, fourth place. Team members: Caleb Gaikowski, Bryn Sippel, Mackenzie Atherton, Teven Howder, Lola Wells (alternate) and instructor Fred Zenk.
4-H individual
- Darla Barnes, Corson County 4-H, first place.
- Katelyn Gebhart, Corson County 4-H, second place.
- Kaydence Eisenbraun, Haakon County 4-H, fifth place.
- Bryn Sippel, Day County 4-H, seventh place.
- Molly Harty, Haakon County 4-H, 11th place.
- Caleb Gaikowski, Day County 4-H, 14th place.
- Tevin Howder, Day County 4-H, 15th place.
- Mackenzi Hovland, Haakon County 4-H, 18th place.
- Mackenzi Atherton, Day County 4-H, 19th place.
- Lainee Gebhart, Corson County 4-H, 20th place.
- Brooks Foss, Corson County 4-H, 23rd place.
- Blaise Furnival, Haakon County 4-H, 26th place.
FFA team
- Sturgis FFA, seventh place. Team members: Jackson Cammack, Garrett Rohloff, Aydan Rhodes, Ellie Storm and coach Stran Holben.
- Hitchcock-Tulare FFA, 13th place. Team members: Rylee Knock, Preston Wipf, Braxton Jacobs, Tucker Buchholz and coach Shane Gross.
- Florence FFA, 15th place. Team members: Beau Hemmingson, Dawson Lantgen, James Kahnke and coach Adam Koll.
- Wessington Springs FFA, 17th place. Team members: Brooklyn Caffee, Tucker Thompson, Ryder Roduner, Hayes Christensen and coach Brady Duxbury.
- West Central FFA, 20th place. Team members: Eva Schaefer (alternate), Aubriana Horn (alternate), Hailey Goebel, Lyric Riepma, Alex Siemonsma, Noah Erickson and coach Linda Petersen.
FFA individual (to top 100)
- Ellie Storm, Sturgis FFA, 15th place.
- Hayes Christensen, Wessington Springs FFA, 20th place.
- Jackson Cammack, Sturgis FFA, 23rd place.
- Beau Hemmingson, Florence FFA, 33rd place.
- Preston Wipf, Hitchcock-Tulare FFA, 34th place.
- James Kahnke, Florence FFA, 38th place.
- Braxton Jacobs, Hitchcock-Tulare FFA, 46th place.
- Rylee Knock, Hitchcock-Tulare FFA, 49th place.
- Garrett Rohloff, Sturgis FFA, 53rd place.
- Aydan Rhodes, Sturgis FFA, 58th place.
- Tucker Buchholz, Hitchcock-Tulare FFA, 62nd place.
- Alex Siemonsma, West Central FFA, 65th place.
- Ryder Roduner, Wessington Springs FFA, 67th place.
- Lyric Riepma, West Central FFA, 69th place.
- Noah Erickson, West Central FFA, 72nd place.
- Tucker Thompson, Wessington Springs FFA, 75th place.
- Brooklyn Caffee, Wessington Springs FFA, 76th place.
- Hailey Goebel, West Central FFA, 80th place.
- Dawson Lantgen, Florence FFA, 81st place.
LAND JUDGING PLACINGS:
4-H team
- Tri-Valley 4-H, fourth place. Team members: Macie Jones, Rylin Fods, Ema Dissing, Chase Jones and coach Tanner Peterson.
4-H individual
- Chase Jones, Tri-Valley 4-H, second place.
- Rylin Fods, Tri-Valley 4-H, 13th place.
- Macie Jones, Tri-Valley 4-H, 21st place (tie).
- Ema Dissing, Tri-Valley 4-H, 23rd place (tie).
FFA team
- West Central FFA, 12th place. Team members: Eva Healy, Joslyn Stahl, Ganon Lienhard, Darryn Beck and instructor Linda Petersen.
- Kadoka FFA, 41st place. Team members: Cayden Patterson, Noah Johnson, Dalton Grimes, Zachary Varner and instructor Kaycee Jones.
- Hitchcock-Tulare FFA, 46th place. Team members: RaeAnna Knock, Tucker Gilbert, Sawyer Miller, Breckan Estey and instructor Shane Gross.
- De Smet FFA, 51st place. Team members: Samuel Crowe, Donovan Sandven, Karlie Stofferahn, Macailyn Pillar and instructor Dave Vanderwal.
- Wessington Springs FFA, 73rd place. Team members: Tenley Olinger, Mitchell Orth, Holden Jackson, Jalene Reiner and instructor Brady Duxbury.
FFA individual (to top 100)
- Dalton Grimes, Kadoka FFA, 33rd place.
- Ganon Lienhard, West Central FFA, 42nd place.
- Breckan Estey, Hitchcock-Tulare FFA, 50th place.
- Joslyn Stahl, West Central FFA, 52nd place.
- Eva Healy, West Central FFA, 53rd place.
HOMESITE JUDGING PLACINGS:
4-H team
- Wessington Springs 4-H, first place. Team members: Ella Fagerhaug, Max Klein, Kohen Mebius, Remie Roduner and coach Brady Duxbury.
- McCook County 4-H, eighth place. Team members: Khloie Klinkhammer, Hadley Flogstad, Hailey Heumiller, Caleb Hoffman and instructor Terry Rieckman.
4-H individual (to top 100)
- Max Klein, Wessington Springs 4-H, first place.
- Ella Fagerhaug, Wessington Springs 4-H, seventh place.
- Remie Roduner, Wessington Springs 4-H, 20th place.
- Hailey Heumiller, McCook County 4-H, 21st place.
- Hadley Flogstad, McCook County 4-H, 22nd place.
- Caleb Hoffman, McCook County 4-H, 30th place.
- Kohen Mebius, Wessington Springs 4-H, 44th place.
- Khloie Klinkhammer, McCook County 4-H, 47th place.
FFA team
- Deubrook FFA, third place. Team members: Carson Engelstad, Georgia Siddens, Maddie Schulte, Raymond Klein, alternate Nick Navratil and instructor Ashley Wiesen.
- McCook Central FFA, fourth place. Team members: Noah Durfee, Parker Randall, Leah Feterl, Connor Heiberger and instructor Terry Rieckman.
- Lemmon FFA, 13th place. Team members: Kyle Gebhart, Riley Storm, Sutton Peterson, Sam Drieskev and instructor Renae Gebhart.
- Tri-Valley FFA, 18th place. Team members: Hanna Dolge, Gavin Crosby, Sullivan Snethen, Bennett Hickenbotham and instructor Tanner Petersen.
- Northwestern Area FFA, 35th place. Team members: Lilly Haven, Kyara Ratigan (alternate), Kylee Henjum, Chesnie Heim, Faith VanHatten and instructor Noelle Swanson.
FFA individual (to top 100)
- Georgia Siddens, Deubrook FFA, fourth place.
- Noah Durfee, McCook Central FFA, 13th place.
- Leah Feterl, McCook Central FFA, 15th place.
- Sutton Peterson, Lemmon FFA, 16th place.
- Carson Engelstad, Deubrook FFA, 20th place (three-way tie).
- Connor Heiberger, McCook Central FFA, 29th place.
- Sullivan Snethen, Tri-Valley FFA, 30th place.
- Bennett Hickenbotham, Tri-Valley FFA, 41st place.
- Raymond Klein, Deubrook FFA, 44th place.
- Riley Storm, Lemmon FFA, 57th place.
- Sam Dreiske, Lemmon FFA, 68th place.
- Parker Randall, McCook Central FFA, 76th place.
- Madelyn Schulte, Deubrook FFA, 78th place.
- Hannah Dolge, Tri-Valley FFA, 81st place.
- Gavin Crosby, Tri-Valley FFA, 88th place.
- Chesnie Heim, Northwestern Area FFA, 92nd place.
- Faith VanHatten, Northwestern Area FFA, 93rd place.
- Kyle Gebhart, Lemmon FFA, 99th place.
Day County 4-H Range Judging Team placed fourth out of seven teams. From left: team members were Caleb Gaikowski, Bryn Sippel, Mackenzie Atherton, Teven Howder, Lola Wells (alternate) and Fred Zenk (instructor). Sippel received seventh place individually.
Sturgis FFA Range Judging Team placed seventh out of 32 teams. From left: team members were Jackson Cammack, Garrett Rohloff, Aydan Rhodes and Ellie Storm. They were coached by Stran Holben.
Hitchcock-Tulare FFA Range Judging Team placed 13th out of 32 teams. From left: team members were Rylee Knock, Preston Wipf, Braxton Jacobs and Tucker Buchholz. They were coached by Shane Gross.
Florence FFA Range Judging Team placed 15th out of 32 teams. From left: team members were Beau Hemmingson, Dawson Lantgen and James Kahnke. They were coached by Adam Koll.
Wessington Springs FFA Range Judging Team placed 17th out of 32 teams. From left: team members were Brooklyn Caffee, Tucker Thompson, Ryder Roduner and Hayes Christensen. They were coached by Brady Duxbury.
West Central FFA Range Judging team placed 20th out of 32 teams. From left to right team members included Eva Schaefer (alternate), Aubriana Horn (alternate), Hailey Goebel, Lyric Riepma, Alex Siemonsma, and Noah Erickson. They were coached by Linda Petersen (instructor).
Tri-Valley 4-H Land Judging Team placed fourth out of nine teams. From left: team members were Macie Jones, Rylin Fods, Ema Dissing, Chase Jones and Tanner Peterson (instructor). Jones received second place individually.
McCook County 4-H Homesite Judging Team placed eighth out of 15 teams. From left: Terry Rieckman (instructor) and team members Khloie Klinkhammer, Hadley Flogstad, Hailey Heumiller and Caleb Hoffman.
West Central FFA Land Judging Team placed 12th out of 102 teams. From left: team members were Eva Healy, Joslyn Stahl, Ganon Lienhard and Darryn Beck. Their instructor was Linda Petersen.
Kadoka FFA Land Judging Team placed 41st out of 102 teams. From left: team members were Cayden Patterson, Noah Johnson, Dalton Grimes and Zachary Varner. Their instructor was Kaycee Jones.
Hitchcock-Tulare FFA Land Judging Team placed 46th out of 102 teams. From left: team members were Raeanna Knock, Tucker Gilbert, Sawyer Miller and Breckan Estey. Their instructor was Shane Gross.
De Smet Land Judging Team placed 51st out of 102 teams. From left: team members were Samuel Crowe, Donovan Sandven, Karlie Stofferahn and Macailyn Pillar. Their instructor was Dave Vanderwal.
Wessington Springs FFA Land Judging Team placed 73rd out 102 teams. From left: team members were Tenley Olinger, Mitchell Orth, Holden Jackson and Jalene Reiner. Their instructor was Brady Duxbury.
McCook Central FFA Homesite Judging Team placed fourth out of 55 teams. From left: team members included Noah Durfee, Parker Randall, Leah Feterl, Connor Heiberger and Terry Rieckman (instructor).
Lemmon FFA Homesite Team placed 13th out of 55 teams. From left: team members were Kyle Gebhart, Riley Storm, Sutton Peterson and Sam Drieskev. Their instructor was Renae Gebhart.
Tri-Valley FFA Homesite Judging Team placed 18th out of 55 teams. From left: team members were Hanna Dolge, Gavin Crosby, Sullivan Snethen and Bennett Hickenbotham. Their instructor was Tanner Petersen.
Northwestern FFA Homesite Judging Team placed 35th out of 55 teams. From left: team members were Lilly Haven, Kyara Ratigan (alternate), Kylee Henjum, Chesnie Heim and Faith VanHatten. Their instructor was Noelle Swanson.
