SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Sept. 20, 2013

Media Contact: Candi Hettinger, 605.353.7340

South Dakota State Fair Scholarship Pageant Awardees

HURON, S.D. - Jade Possail of Tyler, Minn. was awarded the title Miss South Dakota State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013 during the State Fair in Huron. 

Possail is 20 years old and a senior business major at South Dakota State University (SDSU). Her platform is “Crave a Difference: A Healthy Start for Healthy Kids.” Possail also won top honors with scholarships for most talented, best interview and lifestyle and fitness. Her talent included song and dance to “Roxy” from the musical, “Chicago.” She is the daughter of Duane and Jeanna Possail of Tyler, Minn.

The pageant is a preliminary qualifier to the Miss South Dakota and Miss America Pageants. Talent and community service are key components that set the Miss America Organization apart from other pageant systems. The State Fair’s pageant is sponsored by donors and businesses from the Huron community and the State Fair, and is administered by volunteers.  

Jade has been a 4-H competitor in the

past and was thrilled to take on the Miss State Fair duties while she made event introductions, announcements and presentations, flagged the start of races, and met and mingled with vendors and fairgoers.

The first-runner-up scholarship in the Miss division was awarded to Carrie Wintle, a 20-year-old native of Huron who attends the University of South Dakota. Carrie made an outstanding showing as she performed a jazz dance routine for talent. She is the daughter of Bruce and Susan Wintle of Huron.

Cecilia Knutson, a 21-year-old senior at SDSU, majoring in ag education and animal science, was voted Miss Congeniality by her peers. May it be mentioned that this is a well-deserved honor that Cecilia frequently wins where ever she goes. Cecilia performed a tap dance routine to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”. Cecilia is the daughter of Brett & Carolyn Knutson of White, SD.

Kaci Johnson, a 16-year-old junior attending Rapid City Stevens High School, won the title of Miss State Fair’s Outstanding Teen, in addition to winning the most talented scholarship award. Johnson performed a self-choreographed jazz dance to “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” Johnson is the daughter of David and Karen Johnson of Rapid City, SD.

Congratulations to Johanna Jensen for winning the title of Miss Heartland Valley’s Outstanding Teen and the best interview scholarship award. Jensen is a 16-year-old sophomore attending Arlington High School. She is the daughter of Brian and Becky Jensen of Badger, SD. She competed in talent with a dramatic monologue: “Women behind the Walls.”

Jensen’s platform is “Farm to Table” where she hopes to educate the public about how food is grown, the care of livestock and nurturing of plants and the challenge to produce enough food for the world, as well as advocate for the farmer’s way of life. 

Grace Rickenbach, a 16-year-old junior attending Hot Springs High School, was voted Miss Congeniality by her teen peers. Rickenbach performed a modern dance routine to “Believe Me”.  She is the daughter of Joel and Bonnie Richenbach of Hot Springs, SD.

Special thanks goes out to all our sponsors for scholarships including PepsiCo, Nordby Enterprise Inc., Huron Regional Medical Center, Overbuilt and Potter’s Shoes, Bush and Susan Fullerton, Creative Printing, Dave and Linda McGirr, Prostrollo Motors, John and Laurie Deniger, James and Paulette White and Marilyn Hoyt.

Judges, auditors and assistants also deserve thanks. The pageant director and contestants are deeply grateful for all program sponsors including the State Fair Organization & Tech Crew, PepsiCo, Landstrom’s Gold Jewelry, Smith Jewelry, Avenue of Flowers, Mt. Olivet Church and Pastor David Erdman, Jack’s Campers of Mitchell, Tulare Meats, Subway, the Ptak and Cruse families and the gracious host home owners that put out the welcome mat for our contestants and their mothers. 

Agriculture is South Dakota's No. 1 industry, generating over $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 122,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SDAgDept and Twitter @SDAgriculture.

 Photo Attached (left to right): Jennifer McKee, Corina Arnett, 2013 Miss State Fair Jade Possail, Carrie Wintle, Cecilia Knutson

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