SDState - Agricultural Leadership, Education, Communication & Science

06/05/2026

CAFES offers a Study Abroad International Experience that visits Vietnam annually and Australia/New Zealand each year, alternating between the two locations. This year, students visited either Australia or Vietnam.

Meet 2028 graduate Kylie Mockler from Beresford, SD. Kylie is double-majoring in Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership with concentrations in Communication and Leadership and minoring in Animal Science.

Kylie recently returned from Australia, where she visited the Great Barrier Reef and saw coral, fish, and even a few sea turtles. Kylie chose Australia because " it was somewhere that I have always wanted to go. The scenic views, the animals, and the activities we took part in were also a big factor in my decision. "

"One of the best moments of the trip was going to the cattle station. The producer had 8,500 head of cattle across thousands of acres. We even got to see the helicopter that he uses to round them up." She experienced how a large operation manages cattle and the different systems used to handle them.

Kylie's advice for anyone thinking of traveling abroad, "Do everything, especially if it scares you. I jumped into the class without knowing anybody. I almost dropped the class because I had never been out of the country, and I didn’t have anyone that I was close with. Looking back, I am so thankful I trusted my gut because I met the best people and had a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

05/15/2026

This spring, we celebrated individuals who are committed to shaping the next generation of agriculturalists through agricultural education!

Incoming students had the opportunity to be part of Ag Ed Signing Ceremonies at the South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa State FFA Conventions. We can't wait to have these motivated future teachers on campus as they begin their journey to becoming agricultural educators!

05/04/2026

Plan ahead jackrabbits!

’s 2026 Commencement Ceremonies are May 9! 🎉🎓
Expect increased traffic on campus and throughout Brookings that weekend. Plan ahead with info on parking, traffic updates and other weekend activities: Learn more about the event: https://bit.ly/4efZHxS

04/28/2026

Looking forward to working with this great new team!🐰

Congratulations to our new officer team! 🌟

These individuals were elected at the last general meeting to serve, lead, and host CAFES programming for the coming year.

President – Nolan Schmidt
Vice President – Bryce Haubenschild
Secretary - Keeley Runge
Treasurer – Tyler Groenewald
Ag Week Chair – Jordy Van De Stroet
CAFES Advocate - Kylie Mockler

04/21/2026

As we welcome attendees of the SD FFA State Convention to campus, we are pleased to spotlight Spring '27 graduate Dustin Kolb from Bison, SD. Currently pursuing a dual major in Agricultural Science and Animal Science with minors in Agricultural Business, Agribusiness Marketing, and Ranch Management, Dustin is an FFA alum.

Dustin's involvement in FFA dates back to his high school days, where he held chapter and district officer positions, competing at the national level. He later served as an SD FFA State Officer during his freshman year of college and ran for National FFA office. He says that one of his fondest FFA memories is attending the National FFA Convention during his senior year of high school, where he participated in the Parliamentary Procedure competition. Dustin believes that
"FFA has played a significant role in the development of my character, career goals, and personal growth. It's because of my involvement in FFA that I've been able to step into a wide variety of roles and feel prepared for the challenges they throw at me. "

Dustin chose SDSU "because of the people" and has seamlessly incorporated FFA into his university experience "because SDSU has a strong community around agriculture, and it feels akin to FFA, in that everyone has a common goal."

Thank you, Dustin! We are proud of our jackrabbits with FFA roots and a passion for agriculture. Watch for the blue jackets and future Jackrabbits around campus!

03/16/2026

VOTING CLOSED
Round 1: Agricultural Science🚜

Like the post to vote for AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE.
Voting ends at 11:59 pm on March 16.

03/16/2026

VOTING CLOSED
Round 1: Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership🗣️

Like the post to vote AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP.
Voting ends at 11:59 pm on March 16.

03/16/2026

03/13/2026

In January, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow participated in the National ACT Professional Development Conference in College Station, Texas. Members were able to connect with peers and network with industry professionals.

Ashley Hunter, ACT chapter president, was one of 15 SDSU students to attend PDC this year. “Our members were able to expand their professional networks and share ideas with other ACT chapters across the country,” said Hunter.

Students look forward to attending professional development conference again next year!

03/10/2026

As we dive into the second half of the Spring term, we are pleased to spotlight graduating senior Gabrielle (Gabi) Joos from Hancock, MN. Pursuing a major in Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership with a specialization in Communication, Gabi also minors in Digital and Social Media, Public Relations, and Communication Studies. Gabi chose SDSU "because of the close-knit community that made it feel like a home away from home and SDSU's strong agricultural focus." 🌱

Gabi's passion for Agricultural Communications stems from her desire to make a meaningful impact "by advocating for the everyday farmer, while also gaining a deeper understanding of how to effectively communicate agriculture to various audiences through different communication methods."

Following graduation, Gabi will assume the role of Project Coordinator at Superior Industries in Morris, MN. In her free time, she successfully operates her own entrepreneurial venture, Gabi's Cookie Kitchen. Stay tuned for her social media takeover later today to learn more about this accomplished senior!

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