BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension 4-H members placed in the top five as a team and individually at the 2025 4-H Family and Consumer Science National Championship and Conference, held Jan. 15-17, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
The FCS skill-a-thon team won fifth place in the life skills assessment. The team members were Anna Johnson, Norman Johnson and Ada Sharp, of Brown County; and Mercedes Jones, of Buffalo/Jerauld counties. Their team coach is Aubrey Anderson, SDSU Extension 4-H Educator, Minnehaha County.
Samantha Brenden, of Clark County, placed fourth in modeling and fifth overall for a constructed outfit in fashion revue.
“This is the caliber of youth we have in South Dakota. They can walk into situations that they are unfamiliar with and perform at a high level,” Anderson said. “They are committed to a level of excellence.”
The 4-H FCS National Championship and Conference includes skill-a-thon, consumer decision making, fashion revue, educational presentations and quiz bowl competitions.
The FCS skill-a-thon tests competitors’ knowledge across food and cooking, housing/interior design and sewing/clothing. To compete at the national skill-a-thon contest, 4-H members must qualify during the state contest at the South Dakota State Fair through object identification, oral presentations and judging.
Fashion revue allows competitors to either buy or construct (sew) an outfit. Competitors are evaluated on their oral presentation, the overall appearance of their outfit, responses to judges’ questions, and modeling.
To qualify for the national contest, Brenden placed second in the state fashion revue contest during the 2024 South Dakota State Fair.
For more information, contact Amanda Stade, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth-in-Action Program Manager.
