BROOKINGS, S.D. – More than 100 youth participated in the 40th annual Rangeland and 19th annual Soils Days on June 12-13, 2024, in Watertown.
Adrik Schoon, of White River, won the Top Hand Award in the 14-18 age division of the rangeland contest. For the all-around award, Schoon won first place in the Go-Getter rangeland speech contest, second in the display contest and fifth individually in rangeland judging. He received a traveling trophy that will be his until next year’s event.
Schoon lives on a ranch, and credits that upbringing, along with his dad’s influence, with instilling an early love of the land. He said Rangeland and Soils Days are a fun way to meet new people and learn from experts and his peers.
“I learned a lot from so many talks this year,” he said. “That was really cool, to see a lot of young people stepping up to that.”
A joint effort between South Dakota State University Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Codington County Conservation District, Rangeland and Soils Days gave youth an opportunity to compete through displays, presentations, a land and homesite contest, and a rangeland contest. There are four 4-H and FFA divisions in the rangeland contest: New Rangers (ages 8-10), Wranglers (ages 11-13), Scouts (ages 14-18) and Go-Getters (ages 14-18).
The top Go-Getter range judging 4-H team is from Jerauld County, and was comprised of Ridge Roduner, Hayes Christensen, Robert Hine and Landen Christensen, all of Wessington Springs. The top 4-H soils judging team is from Kingsbury County, with Gavin Temme, Chase Temme and Breyton Johnson, all of De Smet. Both teams will represent South Dakota at the National Land and Range Judging Contest in 2025.
Youth involved in 4-H and FFA ages 14-18 can participate in the Land and Homesite contest to learn more about soils. In the contest they determine soil texture and type, interpret soil limiting factors, and determine land capability while providing management recommendations. The Homesite Evaluation helps students determine suitability of the site for building foundations, lawns and landscaping, septic systems and sewage lagoons.
“Rangeland and Soils Days helps students learn critical skills to determine soil type, plant communities, habitat suitability, and soil suitability for homesites, among other skills,” said Krista Ehlert, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Range Specialist. “Students also can develop their public speaking skills in a speech contest and spend time with professionals in both range and soil sciences, giving them ideas and exposure to future career opportunities and mentors.”
For more information on Rangeland and Soils Days, contact Krista Ehlert, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Range Specialist, at 605-394-2236 or Krista.Ehlert@sdstate.edu.
Complete 2024 Rangeland and Soils Days winners (photos linked in text):
Rangeland contest results
Team contests
4-H Go-Getter Team Results
1. Jerauld County Team 1: Ridge Roduner, Hayes Christensen, Robert Hine and Landen Christensen, all of Wessington Springs. Coached by Wade Christensen and Brady Duxbury.
2. Jerauld County Team 2: Peyton Walz, Nathan Gaikowski, Bailey Yost and Mercedes Jones, all of Wessington Springs. Coached by Wade Christensen and Brady Duxbury.
3. SD Invaders: Colt Pickell, Leola; Adrik Schoon, White River; Johnathon Neuharth, Fort Pierre; and Lidia Dupraz, Aurora.
FFA Go-Getter Team Results
1. Sunshine Bible Academy FFA: Dakota Boersma, Daraby Boersma and Tessa Hinman. Coached by Jason Burma.
2. West Central FFA: Alex Siemonsma, Humboldt; Sam Handberg, Stella Siemonsma and Kenasyn Johnson, all of Hartford. Coached by Linda Petersen.
3. Florence FFA: James Kahnke, Karter Kohlenberg, Keaton Zubke and Logan Kahnke. Coached by Adam Koll.
Wrangler Team Judging
1. Spink County: Haven Heber, Wessington Springs; Kinze Haskell, Wyatt Lambert, and Leo Johnson, all of Frankfort.
2. Lawrence County: Katy Scott and Tayzi Herrmann, both of Whitewood.
Individual results
4-H Go-Getter Judging
1. Ridge Roduner, Wessington Springs
2. Landen Christensen, Wessington Springs
3. Hayes Christensen, Wessington Springs
4. Mercedes Jones, Wessington Springs
5. Adrik Schoon, White River
6. Bailey Yost, Wessington Springs
7. Robert Hine, Wessington Springs
8. Johnathon Neuharth, Fort Pierre
9. Peyton Walz, Wessington Springs
FFA Go-Getter Judging
1. Dakota Boersma, Sunshine Bible Academy FFA
2. Daraby Boersma, Sunshine Bible Academy FFA
3. Kenasyn Johnson, West Central FFA
4. James Kahnke, Florence FFA
5. Sam Handberg, West Central FFA
6. Ketan Zubke, Florence FFA
7. Stella Siemonsma, West Central FFA
8. Karter Kohlenberg, Florence FFA
9. Alex Siemonsma, West Central FFA
10. Tessa Hinman, Sunshine Bible Academy FFA
Go-Getter Talks
2. Johnathon Neuharth, Fort Pierre
Go-Getter Display
1. Johnathon Neuharth, Fort Pierre
Scouts
Scouts Judging
2. Caleb Roth, Highmore
3. Karlie Kammerer, Piedmont
4. Faith Frink, Wall
5. Skyler Plucker, Lennox
Scouts Talk
Wranglers
Wranglers Judging
Wranglers Talks
1. Haven Heber, Wessington Springs
Wranglers Displays
Wrangler Plant Mounts
New Rangers
New Rangers Judging
2. Emelia Stoebner, Webster
3. Vada Enfield, Letcher
4. Neva VanderPoel, Pipestone, MN
5. Brielle Schoon, White River
New Rangers Talks
1. Harley Heber, Wessington Springs
2. Vada Enfield, Letcher
3. Beau Enfield, Letcher
New Rangers Display
1. Harley Heber, Wessington Springs
2. Della Scott, Whitewood
3. Beau Enfield, Letcher
New Rangers Plant Mounts
2. Skylar Bender, Britton
3. Vada Enfield, Letcher
Top Hand Awards
New Ranger
Harley Heber, Wessington Springs
Wrangler
Go-Getter
Adrik Schoon, White River
Soils Days results
Team contests
4-H Team Soils Judging Results
1. Kingsbury County 4-H: Gavin Temme, Chase Temme and Breyton Johnson, all of De Smet. Coached by Dave VanderWal.
2. SE Land No. 1: Ryker Bradley, Luke Horstman and Tucker Peterson, all of Salem. Coached by Tanner Peterson, Tri-Valley.
3. SE Land No. 2: Espn Althoff, Kendall McAreavey and Ireland McAreavey, all of Crooks; and Logan Raap, of Montrose. Coached by Tanner Peterson, Tri-Valley.
Individual contests
4-H Soils Judging
2. Ryker Bradley, SE Land No. 1
3. Chase Temme, Kingsbury County
4. Espn Althoff, SE Land No. 2
5. Jocelyn Wagner, Spink County
6. Breyten Johnson, Kingsbury County
7. Tucker Peterson, SE Land No. 1
8. Remie Roduner, Jerauld County Team 1
9. Gavin Temme, Kingsbury County
10. Kendall McAreavey
FFA Soils Judging
