This fall 140 South Dakota FFA members from 47 chapters earned their own FFA jackets through the SD FFA Foundation Blue Jackets Bright Futures FFA Jacket Program. Jackets were sponsored by various individuals through the SD FFA Foundation program designed to give young SD FFA members a chance to earn their own FFA jacket instead of purchasing one. 218 FFA members filled out the Blue Jackets Bright Futures FFA Jacket Program application, answering four short essay questions about their FFA experience and goals, competing for the jackets.

The 2012 recipients are:

Alcester-Hudson: Rachel Boyer, Brigita Rasmussen

Arlington: Shain Parker

Baltic: Kyler Johnson

Beresford: Matthew Bogue

Bison: Reed Arneson, Collin Palmer, Paden Sexton

Bowdle: Kristen Hoffman, Rieley Maier, Taylor Stotz, Leah Wipf

Bridgewater-Emery: Mark Schultz, Sawyer Wollmann

Brookings: Bri Becher, Brooke Gnirk, Kaia Jo Kleinlein, Brittany Krogman, Taylor Neuman

Centerville: Adam Austin, Lacie Cook, Tyler Knutson, Hailee Matlock, Madeline Olson, Abby Ostrem, Logan O'Toole

Clark: Savannah Fisher, Raegan Florey, Wyatt Helkenn, Kathryn Paulson

De Smet: Makayla Fox

Dell Rapids: Austin Eulberg, Riley Jurgensen

Deubrook: Brock Christie, Katelyn Crooks

Elkton: Courtney Mulder, Desire Routier

Faulkton: Michael Karn

Flandreau: Daniel Johanson, Dylan Rice

Florence: Riley Gilbertson, Hannah Hintz, Jaci Kwasniewski, Wyatt Sprung

Garretson: Jesika Benson, Cassondra Faber, Matt Hulscher, Christian Morris, Bryce Wollmann

Groton: John Jenson

Harrisburg: Alyvia Ahnberg, Sydney Gibson, Jordan Janak, Macy Moir, Carmen Moir, Kailyn Mutsch, Shaylyn Norris

Hitchcock-Tulare: Grayson Binger, Jordan Michlitsch, Saige Peterson

Howard: Cooper Eliason, Damon Jacobsen, Nathaniel Klinkhammer

Lake Preston: Dylan Hageman

Lemmon: Kelly Schopp, Raechael Seidel

Lennox Sundstrom: Samuel Metivier, John Oldenkamp

Lyman: Matt Boyle

Madison Central: Ashley Briggs, Stephany Brown, Mari Clarke, Cassidy Cudmore, Brodie Frederiksen, Sydney Gustaf, Mitch Hansen, Katie Neises

McCook Central: Ryan Butzke, McKenzie Erikson, Kylar Hansen, Anne Mayrose, Bailey Parmelee, Sam Pulse, Cara Rabenhorst, Cooper Seamer, Branden Stone, Andrew Streff, Beth Wolf

Milbank: Rachelle Gabriel, Kayla Holtquist, Anna Kurtz, Rebecca Leddy, Jamie Mundwiler

Miller: Adam Bertsch, Megan Fiala, Clayton Keck, Tate Ketelhut

Mitchell: Shelby Riggs

Parker: Dusty Dykstra, Becky Johnson

Platte-Geddes: Jedediah Cooley

Rapid City: Kyle McGuire

Rutland: Braden Kisor, Tanner Olson, Erin Wessler

Sanborn Central: Joshua Feiner, Cordell Nicholson

Sioux Valley: Olivia Papiernik, Collin Vander Wal, Danielle Wosje

Stanley County: Martee Larson

Tri-Valley: Connor Hickman, Lauren Kulzer, Mykah Wiseman

Viborg-Hurley: Chelsea Carroll, MaKenzie Ericksen, Mariah Houtcooper, Alison Knutson, Dustin Richards

Wagner: Emily Brunsing, Sadie Fitemiller

Wall: Readon Anderson, Josie Blasius, Camden Sawvell, Rylee Schreiber

Webster: Megan Knutson, Madison Koslowski

West Central: Lauren Dolly, Rachel Kapperman, Kaitlyn Schmecichel, Miranda Sundermann, Sara Waldner

Willow Lake: Maggie Edleman, Spencer Hovde, Jennifer Tonak

Wolsey-Wessington: Brittany Bergqiust, Kallie Carey, Alyssa Fernholz, Lane Langbehn

Woonsocket: Johathan Linke

"Whether it's getting your jacket for the first time, seeing a mob of 50,000 blue jackets wandering the streets of Indianapolis, or proudly hanging your jacket in the closet after an event, each FFA jacket tells a story. Thank you to all the sponsors who have helped members get their stories started this year." said FFA member Ashley Tonak.

When students join the FFA, they typically purchase or borrow jackets to compete in the many Career Development Events offered through FFA. The jacket is their team "uniform" to be worn at all official FFA events. The blue corduroy FFA jacket has been the status symbol of the national FFA organization since 1933, when delegates to the national convention voted to adopt it as the organization's official jacket.

Individuals and businesses interested in sponsoring an FFA jacket for a SD FFA member should contact Gerri Ann Eide, SD FFA Foundation Executive Director at 605-765-4865 or gerri@sdffafoundation.org. Sponsorships are $55 per jacket.

–SD FFA