August 11, 2024, marked the 6th annual “Best of the West” county showcase held in Wessington Springs, SD. Thirty-three counties were invited to take part in the event. Eighteen counties paid their entry fee as well as some great sponsors including: Bruns Ranch, L4L Sheep Company, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Rolling Hills Vet, First Dakota National Bank, Great Plains Farm Mutual Insurance, Dakota Pro Air, Ravine Creek Ranch, Simplot, JP Livestock, NLC Ranch, American Bank & Trust, Vitylle, Fairley Farms, Olsen Yorkshires. All monies were paid back out to the top five in each division in cash and prizes. The planning committee consisted of Kama Bruns, Marty and Mandy Michalek, Garrett Bischoff, Steve Zoss and Jim and Audra Scheel. Sweet Grass Eatery served a delicious concession stand and the barn was packed with spectators. Champions from each county were invited to attend the showcase after winning their local county 4-H shows. Andy Jensen, Sioux Falls, SD, evaluated the rabbits, poultry, and dairy divisions. Tawnie DeJong, Lincoln NE, selected the top five in the large livestock divisions.
Top Five Breeding Rams: Champion, Brooke Howard, Aurora County; Reserve Champion Jaden Kott, Brule County; 3rd Overall, Cheyenne Fuller, Hughes/Stanley County; 4th Overall, Kaycee Scheel, Jerauld-Buffalo County; 5th Overall, Gracie Feldhaus, Beadle County.
Top Five Breeding Ewes: Champion,KamdenJunck, Union County; Reserve Champion, Carissa Scheel, Jerauld-Buffalo County; 3rd Overall, Katelyn Dorsey, Hyde County; 4th Overall, Shaden Muller, Sully County; 5th Overall, Peyton Bischoff, Beadle County.
Top Five Market Lambs: Champion, Raina Johnson, Union County; Reserve Champion, Shaden Muller, Sully County; 3rd Overall, Wyatt Fairley, Yankton County; 4th Overall, Peyton Bischoff, Beadle County; 5th Overall, Caden Chelmo, Brule County.
Top Five Breeding Goats: Champion, Harlee Heim, Jerauld-Buffalo County; Reserve Champion, Peyton Bischoff, Beadle County; 3rd Overall, Tayzlee Michalek, Brule County; 4th Overall, Delaney Zoss, Sanborn County; 5th Overall, Ranick Fjerstad, Jerauld-Buffalo County.
Top Five Market Goats: Champion, Delaney Zoss, Sanborn County; Reserve Champion, Maisey Peterson, Brule County; 3rd Overall, Swayzee Dunsmore, Hand County; 4th Overall, Carley Crist, Union County; 5th Overall, Ellie Olsen, Yankton County.
Top Five Breeding Heifers: Champion, Memphis Peterson, Brule County; Reserve Champion, Hollis Fawcett, Hand County; 3rd Overall, Kenidey Effling, Hyde County; 4th Overall, TJ Harris, Aurora County; 5th Overall, Roper Moore, Tripp County.
Top Five Market Beef: Champion, Riley Skatvold, Clay County; Reserve Champion, Eden Goeken, Yankton County; 3rd Overall, Makynna Heim, Jerauld-Buffalo County; 4th Overall, Cyrus Blum, Brule County; 5th Overall, Croix Reimann, Hand County.
Top Five Breeding Swine: Champion, Jessie Coyle, Hand County; Reserve Champion, Kenidey Effling, Hyde County; 3rd Overall, Teagan Scheel, Jerauld-Buffalo County; 4th Overall, Lauren VonEschen, Charles Mix County; 5th Overall, Tessa Thompson, Union County.
Top Five Market Swine: Champion, Kenidey Effling, Hyde County; Reserve Champion, Lauren VonEschen, Charles Mix County; 3rd Overall, Mady Peterson, Clay County; 4th Overall, Delaney Zoss, Sanborn County; 5th Overall, Blake Miller, Jerauld-Buffalo County.
Top Five Rabbits: Champion, Bennett DeHaai, Hand County; Reserve Champion, Sophia Schott, Bon Homme County; 3rd Overall, Finn Harr, Brule County; 4th Overall, Elizabeth Wonnenberg, Tripp County; 5th Overall, Oakleigh Reis Elwood, Lyman County.
Top Five Poultry: Champion, Hope Baysinger, Sanborn County; Reserve Champion, Mauer Jones, Jerauld-Buffalo County; 3rd Overall, Sophia Schott, Bon Homme County; 4th Overall, Lainey Day, Union County; 5th Overall, Lydia Wonnenberg, Tripp County.
Top Five Dairy Goats: Champion, Justin Neauharth, Hughes/ Stanley County; Reserve Champion Ashley Engel, Brule County; 3rd Overall, Anna Hunter, Sanborn County; 4th Overall, Oakleigh Reis Elwood, Lyman County; 5th Overall, Carmindy Ferwerda, Bon Homme County.
Top Five Dairy Cows: Champion, Keeleigh Reis Elwood, Brule County; Reserve Carmindy Ferwerda, Bon Homme County; 3rd Overall, Merissa Leonard, Douglas County, 4th Overall, Reagan Flemming, Beadle County, 5th Overall, Elizabeth Wonnenberg, Tripp County.