South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce the 16 recipients of 4-H state-level scholarships.
Youth with at least five years of active membership in 4-H, current high school seniors, or those enrolled at SDSU are eligible to apply for the scholarships. These scholarships are funded through donors and SDSU Extension’s 4-H program.
Seven different scholarship opportunities are awarded based on scholarship-specific criteria – such as what area of study students intend to pursue – plus a mix of academic achievement, 4-H project involvement, community service and leadership, character and financial need.
2023 State 4-H Scholarship winners:
Bob Healy Memorial 4-H Scholarship ($2,000) – Emily Robbins, Brookings County. Robbins will attend SDSU, majoring in agricultural business and agricultural communications. Robbins has participated in Brookings County 4-H for 10 years. She has participated in several 4-H projects, including sheep, public presentations and clothing. Robbins also served as a State 4-H Ambassador for three years and is currently the vice president for the State 4-H Ambassadors.
John F. and Beryl Younger 4-H Scholarship ($650) – Jeffrey Schnabel, Tripp County. Schnabel graduated from Tripp-Delmont High School and plans to attend SDSU, majoring in history and education this fall. Schnabel participated in many 4-H project areas, including dog, welding, public speaking and community service. Schnabel also helped lead his club as the treasurer, vice president and president over the years.
Matz Family Scholarship ($2,000) – Maggie DeMers, Tripp County. DeMers graduated from Winner High School and plans to major in animal science with an interest in pre-veterinary medicine this fall at SDSU. DeMers learned a love for animals through her experiences with 4-H, especially the beef project. DeMers has been a State 4-H Ambassador and has participated in many 4-H projects. DeMers also helped other 4-H members learn to show beef cattle and hogs.
Robert and Maxine Olson 4-H Endowment ($1,500) – Ella Stiefvater, McCook County. Stiefvater is currently attending SDSU and majoring in agricultural communications. Her goal is to become a broadcast reporter covering agriculture. Stiefvater’s 4-H experiences influenced her choice of major by introducing her to several activities that cultivated her passion for agriculture. Stiefvater was a State 4-H Ambassador, participated in the State 4-H Legislature program, participated in public speaking contests and excelled in photography. Her favorite 4-H projects include raising and showing market lambs and photography.
Folkerts Family Scholarship ($1,100) – Madison Preston, Custer County. Preston currently attends SDSU and is majoring in human biology, with plans to pursue a doctor of chiropractic degree in the future. Preston was a Custer County 4-H member for 10 years and the president of her club for four years. Preston enjoyed doing community service with her club, including making blankets for nursing home residents, gathering food for their local food pantry and donating to their local humane society. Preston’s favorite 4-H projects include shooting sports and a wood display exhibit.
Sokota Scholarships (6 awards, $1,750 each):
Kacy Goehring, Hutchinson County. Goehring graduated from Parkston High School and plans to attend SDSU this fall to major in animal science with a minor in agricultural business. Goehring’s 4-H experiences have helped her teach other 4-H members skills in the horse and goat projects. Goehring also served as a youth member on the State 4-H Goat Committee and State 4-H Horse Committee.
William Karels, Grant County. Karels is attending SDSU and majoring in mechanical engineering. Karels was heavily involved in consumer decision making, public presentations and engineering project areas as a 4-H member. Karels also served as a State 4-H Ambassador.
Kaitlyn Preszler, Edmunds County. Preszler attends SDSU and is majoring in wildlife and fisheries sciences and ecology and environmental sciences with a specialization in rangeland management. Preszler was interested in rangeland management after seeing soil demonstrations at her county achievement days. Preszler enjoyed helping younger 4-H members learn animal showmanship in the dog, cat, rabbit and poultry programs. Preszler was able to share her passion for showing and teach younger members the importance of respecting their animals. Preszler’s favorite 4-H projects were the dog project and archery.
Jessemy Sharp, Brown County. Sharp attends SDSU and is majoring in dairy manufacturing and food science. Sharp’s career decisions were greatly influenced by her 4-H experiences with showing dairy cattle. She would like to pursue a career that is connected to the research and development of dairy products. Sharp has held the role of president of her 4-H club and was also a State 4-H Ambassador. In addition to showing dairy cattle, Sharp enjoyed participating in the public speaking project.
Ashlynn Smith, Union County. Smith graduated from Alcester-Hudson High School and will attend SDSU this fall to major in agronomy with minors in precision agriculture and agricultural business. Smith’s career goals are to work for or own a seed company. Smith learned many important skills in 4-H, including leadership, social and teamwork. Her favorite 4-H activity is showing livestock, including pigs, rabbits and cattle.
Matthew Birkeland, Jones County. Birkeland graduated from Jones County High School and will major in business finance this fall. Birkeland has been a 4-H member for 11 years and held numerous positions in his club, including reporter, sergeant of arms, vice president and president. Birkeland has been involved in many 4-H projects but has really enjoyed shooting sports and wood science projects.
Scholarship applications are due to the State 4-H Office each year at the beginning of April. Application instructions are available online on the South Dakota State 4-H Scholarship Application page.
The state 4-H shooting sports committee awards six scholarships to youth in the shooting sports program. These scholarships are funded through entrance fees paid at the shooting sports state match. A group of volunteers reviewed the applicants and selected their top candidates.
2023 4-H scholarship recipients:
Matthew Birkeland ($1,000) – Birkeland graduated from Jones County High School and will major in business finance this fall. Birkeland has been a 4-H member for 11 years and held numerous positions in his club, including reporter, sergeant of arms, vice president and president. Birkeland has been involved in many 4-H projects but has really enjoyed shooting sports and wood science projects.
Elizabeth Shultz ($750) – Shultz graduated from Sioux Valley High School and plans to attend Mitchell Technical College this fall to major in animal science and agricultural business. Shultz participated in the Brookings County 4-H shooting sports program for nine years. She has participated in several disciplines, including BB gun, air rifle, .22 rifle, .22 pistol, and muzzleloader. Shultz competed at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships in muzzleloader in 2021. She placed sixth on the bullseye target and helped lead the team to a third-place finish. Shultz also competed at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships in .22 rifle in 2022. She placed 10th individually for 3-P (three-position) and helped lead the team to a third-place finish in 3-P. Shultz looks forward to becoming a rifle coach after her career in 4-H.
Mya Dissing ($500) – Dissing graduated from Tri-Valley High School and plans to attend SDSU this fall to major in wildlife and fisheries sciences. Dissing started the shooting sports program with BB guns at 8 years old. She has qualified for Daisy Nationals three times in her BB gun career. Dissing also has competed with air rifles in many different competitions. She reached her personal best score of 554 in 3-P. Dissing also qualified for 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships in 2022, where she received third place 3-P individual, fifth place standing individual and helped her team to finish first place 3-P team, third place standing team, and fifth place silhouette team.
Jenna Kruger ($500) – Kruger graduated from T.F. Riggs High School and plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Crookston this fall to major in animal science and agricultural business. Kruger has participated in 4-H shooting sports for nine years in many disciplines, including BB gun, air rifle, air pistol and .22 rifle. In 2022, Kruger placed first in the state air rifle division and qualified for nationals. She placed seventh air rifle 3-P, ninth standing, and 11th overall at nationals. To finish her 4-H shooting sports career, Kruger was a member of the .22 rifle team at the 2023 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships. The team placed second overall, with first-place team awards in CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) on 3-P day and a second-place finish on silhouette day. Kruger earned second individual overall by placing first in CMP, seventh in 3-P and sixth in silhouettes.
Ashlynn Smith ($500) – Smith graduated from Alcester-Hudson High School and will attend SDSU this fall to major in agronomy and minor in precision agriculture and agricultural business. Smith has been involved in 4-H shooting sports for seven years and has participated in all nine shooting disciplines offered by her 4-H club. She finished in eighth place at state for .22 pistol in 2022. Smith was selected as an alternate for the 4-H National Shooting Sports in .22 pistol. Smith plans to volunteer for her club to help new members learn proper form and safety in the shooting sports program.
Skyler Ruth ($250) – Ruth graduated from T.F. Riggs High School and plans to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology to major in mechanical engineering. Ruth has been participating in 4-H shooting sports since he was 11. He has learned patience and how to push himself out of his comfort zone through the different shooting disciplines. In 2022, Ruth was selected to be part of the South Dakota’s air rifle team at 4-H Shooting Sports Nationals. He placed fifth overall in 3-P and helped the team earn first place overall in the discipline. The team also placed third in standing, fifth in silhouettes and fourth overall for the competition. To finish his 4-H shooting sports career, Ruth competed with the .22 rifle team at the 2023 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships. The team placed second overall, with first-place team awards in CMP and 3-P day and a second-place finish on silhouette day. Ruth individually placed fifth overall by placing ninth in CMP, fifth in 3-P and seventh in silhouettes.