RAPID CITY, S.D.(DRGNews)- Around 700 FFA(Future Farmers of America) members and chapter advisors from across South Dakota attended in this year’s State Leadership Development Events held Sunday and Monday in Rapid City.

State FFA Foundation Executive Director Gerri Eide (eye-dee) says South Dakota is seeing growth in its FFA membership.

Eide says FFA members competed in almost a dozen different contests.

Hitchcock-Tulare junior Lainee Humphrey competed in the Ag Broadcasting competition.

Lyman FFA junior Wiley (while-ee) Elwood also competed in the Ag Broadcasting competition.

Gettysburg FFA senior Alexis Genzler says her Ag Issues team looked into the “right to repair” issue.

Langford FFA freshman Brynn Samson took part in the Employment Skills Leadership Development Event.

South Dakota’s FFA membership has grown so much that the organization created an eighth district. Lemmon High School junior Gage Anderson was elected to be the first ever President of that district.

Winners of some of these events earn the right to compete at the National FFA Convention next fall in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The State FFA Leadership Development events had been held in Pierre for many years, but moved to Rapid City because they needed a larger venue.