BROOKINGS South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce that 133 youth participated in the 41st annual Rangeland and 20th annual Soil Days contests on June 10-11 in Belle Fourche.
A joint effort between SDSU Extension, South Dakota Society for Range Management, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Butte/Lawrence Conservation Districts, Rangeland and Soil Days gave youth an opportunity to compete through displays, presentations, a land and homesite judging contest and a rangeland judging contest.
There are four divisions in the rangeland contest: New Rangers (ages 8-10), Wranglers (ages 11-13), Scouts (ages 14-18) and Go-Getters (ages 14-18 4-H or FFA). By participating in this contest, students learn how to identify ecological sites, determine cattle carrying capacity, evaluate prairie grouse habitat, plant identification and provide management recommendations.
Katelyn Gebhart, of Meadow, won the Top Hand award in the Go-Getter division of the Rangeland Days contest. To be eligible for the top hand award, participants must compete in all three contest categories (display, speech and judging). Gebhart placed first in her display and speech and earned the top score individually in the judging contest.
Winners of the top hand award for each division receive a custom belt buckle. Katy Scott, of Whitewood, won the Top Hand Award in the Wrangler division (age 11-13) and Della Scott, of Whitewood, won the Top Hand Award in the New Ranger division (age 8-10).
Gebhart also received a traveling trophy that will be hers until next years event. Additionally, for winning first place in the speech contest, Gebhart will represent South Dakota at the National Society for Range Management meeting on Feb. 711, 2026, in Monterey, California. She will participate and compete among other high school students from all states in the High School Youth Forum.
Haakon/Corson County was the top Rangeland Contest Go-Getter 4-H team, whose members were Katelyn Gebhart, Darla Barnes, Mackenzie Hovland and Molly Harty. They will represent South Dakota at the National Land and Range Judging Contest in 2026 in Yukon, Oklahoma.
The top Rangeland Contest Go-Getter FFA team was Sturgis FFA, whose members were Ellie Storm, Larie Cichosz, Aydan Rhodes and Quintin Kelly.
The soil contest is for ages 14-18 with the option to compete in 4-H or FFA divisions. By participating in this contest, students learn how to determine soil texture and type, understand soil limiting factors and provide management recommendations. The homesite evaluation portion helps students determine suitability of the site for building foundations, landscaping, septic systems and more.
Jerauld County 4-H was the top soil contest team. Members Ella Fagerhaug, Remie Roduner, Kohen Mebius and Max Klein will represent South Dakota at the National Land and Range Judging Contest in 2026.
We had a fantastic turnout this year. The future of soil, land, and range is bright for South Dakota, said Kaylee Wheeler, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist. Rangeland and Soil Days helps our youth learn about our most important natural resources and threatened ecosystems (soil and rangelands). Its also a great opportunity to build leadership skills, as well as make connections with fellow peers and professionals in range and soil sciences.
For more information on Rangeland and Soil Days, contact Kaylee Wheeler, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist, at [email protected].
2025 Rangeland and Soil Days local winners and rankings:
4-H Go-Getter Division
3. Jerauld County 4-H #1 (Hayes Christensen, Mercedes Jones, Wyatt Arhart, Brooklyn Caffee)
Individual Judging Contest
FFA Go-Getters Division
1. Tessa Hinman (Sunshine Bible Academy FFA)
4-H Go-Getters Division
3. Hayes Christensen (Jerauld County 4-H #1)
9. Lidia Dupraz (Jerauld County 4-H #2)
Scouts Division
3. Chase Temme (Kingsbury County)
Wranglers Division
2. Reed Hinman (Hand County)
4. Dalton Hinman (Sunshine Bible Academy)
New Rangers Division
1. Vada Enfield (Sanborn)
Individual Speaking Contest
Wranglers Division
1. Haven Heber (Wessington Springs)
New Rangers Division
2. Vada Enfield (Sanborn)
3. Harley Heber (Wessington Springs)
Wranglers Division
2. Haven Heber (Wessington Springs)
4. Beau Enfield (Sanborn)
New Rangers Division
1. Harley Heber (Wessington Springs)
Individual Plant Mount Contest
SOIL DAYS RESULTS
4-H Division
1. Jerauld County 4-H (Ella Fagerhaug, Kohen Mebius, Max Klein, Remie Roduner)
2. Kingsbury County 4-H (Coy VanRegemorter, Winchester Temme, Owen Anderson, Sam Crowe).
3. Spink County 4-H (Patrick Maynard, Hunter Heezen, Derek Johnson, Eastin Otto).
Individual Judging Contest
FFA Division
2. Gavin Temme (DeSmet FFA)
4-H Division
1. Ella Fagerhaug (Jerauld County 4-H)
2. Kohen Mebius (Jerauld County 4-H)
3. Coy VanRegemorter (Kingsbury County 4-H)
4. Max Klein (Jerauld County 4-H)
5. Remie Roduner (Jerauld County 4-H)
6. Patrick Maynard (Spink County 4-H)
7. Winchester Temme (Kingsbury County 4-H)
8. Sam Crow (Kingsbury County 4-H)
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