BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension 4-H members won second place in the national Family and Consumer Sciences Skill-a-thon.
The 4-H FCS National Championship and Conference was Jan. 14-17, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. The competition includes Skill-a-thon, Consumer Decision Making, Fashion Revue, educational presentations and quiz bowl competitions. To compete, 4-H youth must qualify at a state contest.
Representing South Dakota on the Skill-a-thon team were: Lydia Helkenn, Beadle County; Lexy Faulhaber, Aurora County; Lillie Boden, Lincoln County; and Regan Rasmussen, Union County. In addition to their second-place finish, the team placed third in the life skills assessment, and Helkenn won second place overall individually.
In the Skill-a-thon, contestants must be able to identify 25 sewing and clothing items, 25 interior design/housing items, 25 food and cooking items and answer 25 questions related to the items. The life skills assessment is completed as a team, giving them a scenario and a limited amount of time to develop and present their response.
Wendy Sweeter, SDSU Extension 4-H Educator - Lincoln County, said the team came together in November and gelled quickly. Sweeter and Aubrey Anderson, SDSU Extension 4-H Educator - Minnehaha County, co-coached the team, meeting via Zoom throughout December to prepare. She added that South Dakota doesn’t offer the life skills contest, making the team’s third-place finish in the category even more impressive.
“It’s just a testament to how good our teams are at communicating and working together,” Sweeter said. “It was very exciting for our team.”
Aubrey Underwood, Brookings County, competed in Fashion Revue, after placing first in the 2025 4-H Fashion Revue contest at the South Dakota State Fair.
Fashion Revue competitors 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.
“We are incredibly proud of our 4 H team’s outstanding performance at the FCS Skill-a-thon. Earning second place as a team and celebrating Lydia, who also placed second individually, speaks to their dedication, teamwork and the hours of preparation they invested,” said Amanda Stade, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth-In-Action Program Manager. “Their success reflects the strength of our youth program and the bright future these young leaders are building.”
For more information, contact Amanda Stade, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth-in-Action Program Manager.
