Avery Zeisler – Bonesteel, SD

Avery Zeisler was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the course. She loves that through cross country, she has been able to make friends and memories from her close-knit team. Avery also loves that her sport helped her become a better leader on and off the course. She is involved in a variety of school activities such as FFA, National Honor Society, Student Council, 4-H, and cross country. With her focus on FFA, Avery won proficiency at the state level in April of 2024 and received silver at the national level, being in the top 15% of the nation. Avery is heavily involved in her church and she spends time volunteering at various community events. To Avery, agriculture is not a job or an occupation, but a lifestyle. It’s where the best life lessons come from and how she has learned many valuable life skills. Avery plans on pursuing a degree in Agricultural Business or Agricultural Communications at a four-year college.

Tate Miller – Howard, SD

Tate Miller was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the field. One thing he loves most about high school sports is being able to compete with his brothers, cousins, and closest friends. He also loves representing his town and school. Tate participates in football, wrestling, track and field, National Honor Society, FFA, and student council, and is his senior class vice president. When Tate is not in school or on the field, he’s involved in 4-H and church activities. Tate lives on a farm, so agriculture means a lot to him and his family. Agriculture is deeply rooted in his family, as both of his parents grew up on farms. He has had many experiences and lessons that he wouldn’t have without agriculture. Tate enlisted into the South Dakota Army National Guard this past July. Upon completion of basic training and other military schooling, he will attend college and plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.

Jason Zeeb – Emery, SD

Jason Zeeb was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the court and field. What he loves most about high school sports is being able to compete with his teammates. Playing high school sports has taught him how important teamwork, leadership, discipline, self-confidence, dedication, and respect are to having a successful season. Jason expressed how sports are a way to keep his body in good physical condition and play an important role in maintaining a healthy mental state. The most important reasons he plays and participates in sports are to go out to do something that he loves and to have fun while gaining experience. Jason competes in football, basketball, and track. He is currently in FFA as the chapter president, a part of the National Honor Society, and is on the A Honor Roll for academics. He also participates in the buddy program, where he mentors elementary students who struggle with making friends or have troubling behaviors, as well as the Heidelberg Youth League and TASC (Teens Actively Serving Christ). It wasn’t until Jason started attending school that he realized growing up on a farm wasn’t considered “normal” or a way of life for many people. However, to him, agriculture is a vital lifestyle and surrounds many in the small rural community in which he lives. Agriculture has allowed him to explore many of his interests. Being in high school and having the opportunity to join FFA has shown him just how diverse agriculture is in the world. Agriculture is his way of life and a passion that he has been blessed to enjoy every day. Jason plans to attend a university to study agriculture science and play college football. It is his dream to further his education and bring back new ideas to the family farm.

Jerrad Wallman – Yale, SD

Jerrad Wallman was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the court and course. The thing he loves most about high school sports is how it brings people together. The social connections he makes throughout the winter are a fun part of basketball. Whether he is having a winning season or a challenging season, people come together to cheer him and his team on and support them. He has made many good friends that he guards on the court, but once the game is over, they are laughing and talking about things they have in common. Jerrad competes in basketball and golf. In his free time, he participates in 4-H, youth group, and various activities at his church such as running the sound booth, VBS crew leader, and service projects. As part of the National Honor Society, Jerrad has helped with the Salvation Army Food Distribution events. As part of band and choir, he has participated in the Salvation Army Christmas Basket fundraiser to sing and play while raising donations to help support the community. At James Valley, he does an annual clean-a-thon where he helps walk to pick up trash in over 50 miles of ditches. Agriculture is Jerrad’s connection to his family and community. He has been working alongside his father and brother on their farm for as long as he can remember. With his family being involved in agriculture, he has been able to spend time with multiple generations of his family. Every day is different on the farm, and he enjoys the variety of work and challenges it brings. Jerrad plans to attend college and ultimately return to his farm. It’s a great place to grow up and he wants to be part of the community that has supported him throughout his life.

Rachel Stranberg – Newell, SD

Rachel Stranberg was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court. The thing she loves most about high school sports is the challenges she faces with teammates. Having teammates is what makes sports fun for her. Rachel is involved in volleyball, basketball, 4-H rodeo, and FFA. She also participates in 4-H day cleanup, play day cleanup, Labor Day help, and FFA community day, and is currently the Newell Labor Day rodeo queen. Agriculture to Rachel is something that the world relies on in their everyday lives. So, to be a part of the agricultural side of life brings her a lot of opportunities to go places and see things. It brings passion to a person. As she makes her way through her last 2 years of high school, she plans to attend college in the field of physical therapy and continue with her passion for sports. She also aspires to continue as an academic athlete at a collegiate level.

Wyat James – Bruce, SD

Wyat James was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the court and field. What he loves most about high school sports is the family he has created with his teammates while participating in various activities. Wyat is currently involved in football, basketball, and FFA. Outside of school and sports, he participates in his Trinity Lutheran Youth Group and 4-H. To Wyat, agriculture is his life. He is a fifth-generation cattle producer, and his family has made a living in this industry. As a freshman, he purchased a herd of registered Angus cattle which he has continued to grow throughout high school. He then plans to use the cattle to help pay for college. After graduating, Wyat will be attending Lake Area Technical College next fall for building trades technology. After college, he looks forward to continuing his family’s legacy. He plans to use his degree to help bring additional money to his family when he returns to the farm.

Katelyn Schroeder – Redfield, SD

Katelyn Schroeder was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court. The things she loves most about high school sports are the deep connections and life lessons that she has learned from participating. Sports have taught her to manage her time and stay organized as well as how to be a leader and create connections with people to work as a team. Katelyn is involved in and competes in volleyball, basketball, FFA, FCCLA, and student council. Outside of school and sports, she is confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, does community service, works on her farm, and previously participated in 4-H. Agriculture to Katelyn means generations of love, commitment, hard work, and determination. Agriculture has been a huge part of her life and has taught her work ethic, precision, and patience. Katelyn plans to attend Northern State University for a potential major in agri-business alongside playing on the Northern State volleyball team.

Emma Moller – Alcester, SD

Emma Moller was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court and field. What she loves most about high school sports is that even when she thinks she can’t go further, she gets up and plays. She plays for herself, her team, and the younger kids looking up to her. Her participation in high school sports has taught her resilience, leadership, and the value of hard work. She will forever be grateful for all the important lessons sports have taught her. Emma competes in basketball, softball, and volleyball and serves as the captain of her volleyball and softball teams. She is also involved in FCCLA as a member VP of the chapter, is a football statistician, part of the National Honors Society, and is on the Alcester Hudson Honor Roll. When she isn’t in school or playing sports, Emma is spending her time volunteering. She created the Royal Ball, which is an annual event that creates a magical night for boys and girls of all ages. All proceeds go to Santa and Mrs. C’s Kids, a non-profit to help families within a 30-mile radius of Alcester during the holidays. She also created Christmas in July, where young girls earn Christmas-themed titles and spend the year volunteering for the same cause. In addition to volunteering for Santa and Mrs. C’s Kids, each titleholder will be required to complete no less than ten additional volunteer hours with any nonprofit they choose. These projects not only support families in need but also inspire children to embrace service, proving that leadership can be both fun and transformative. You can also find her volunteering at the South Dakota Safety House, Ag Appreciation Day Sioux Empire Fair, painting cancer ribbons on driveways for donation for the Kobee Sherman Cancer Drive, assisting Miss South Dakota Jr. Teen, and being a Washington DC Youth Tour recipient. Beyond her career goals, her roots in her community run deep. Agriculture to Emma means heritage, hard work, and the foundation of life itself. Her future goal is to manage her family’s farm while bringing medical advancements to the people who need them most. As Emma grew up in a small town in South Dakota, she has always known that hard work is a way of life for many. In communities like hers, people don’t just wear one hat, they wear ten. The mayor isn’t just the mayor; he’s also the local bus driver, a farmer, a volunteer board member, a t-ball coach, a Sunday school teacher, an EMT, and a firefighter. Everyone pitches in, and no one has time to be laid up for long periods. That’s why she is passionate about pursuing a career in radiology, especially in non-invasive cancer screening and image-guided surgery. Advancements like these in the medical world can make a real difference in rural communities like hers, where access to healthcare can often be limited, and taking time off work for medical care is not always an option. 

Tristan Geditz – Ipswich, SD

Tristan Geditz was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court and field. The thing she loves most about high school sports is knowing that she is working hard at something she truly cares about, which can be very satisfying. High school sports have taught her many life lessons such as working together with a group of people to accomplish a common goal. She enjoys spending time with her teammates and working to improve her athletic ability. She also loves to represent her school and community in a positive sportsman-like manner. Tristan competes in basketball, volleyball, and track and field. She participates in football stats, assisting in youth basketball, and Ipswich student council. In her community, Tristan is involved in a church youth group, Ipswich trails days, refereeing basketball tournaments, and assisting wrestling meets. It is difficult for Tristan to describe what agriculture means to her because it is a big part of her life considering she has lived on a farm her entire life and helped on other family farms in the area. Therefore, saying that agriculture is a huge part of her life is an understatement. Although only a sophomore in high school, Tristan expressed how being nominated for this award is a great honor. She is very humble and grateful to be considered for this award. She always puts 100% of everything into all that she does. She plays with a lot of heart and effort, this is no different from how she has lived her life outside of athletics, especially her agriculture and community-related experiences. 

Madison Lauck – Salem, SD

Madison Lauck was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court and course. What she loves most about high school sports is being part of a team. As one of the team captains this year, she wanted to lead by example by having a positive attitude and encouraging her teammates when times got hard on the court. As for golf, she has valued building her ability to handle stress independently on the course and discovering her mental strength and ability to perform successfully under pressure. She has been blessed to grow up in a small community where she can be highly involved, allowing her to develop time management skills, work as a team, and become a leader. Madison competes in volleyball and golf. She is involved in the FFA for 6 years and holds the office of chapter secretary, 4-H for 10 years, Student Council and holds the position of president, band, co-section, Tri-M music honor society group as the secretary, National Honors Society as the fundraising chairperson, and FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Madison spends her time volunteering in numerous church and community activities, like serving at the Triotel appreciation banquet, 4-H barn clean up before achievement days, serving the annual harvest meal to the farmers, serving at the pancake feed during FFA week, serving Salem Community Women Ladies Night Out meal and working concession stand with the golf and volleyball team. Madison is most proud of the senior project that she developed to benefit her community. She went on a two-year journey to create a statewide campaign with Trashie, a company that prides itself on zero-waste fashion. She developed a knowledge check survey of upcycling and the effects of textile waste on the environment. She then created an educational video on upcycling, environmental concerns with textile waste, and how people can be part of the solution. She wanted to not only complete a final research project, but also to put it into action and make actual change, bring awareness to the importance of limiting textile waste, and gain knowledge of ways upcycling can help the environment. Agriculture to Madison is a way of life. More importantly, it is a community. She has been blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who work tireless hours and will drop everything to help a neighbor or community member. FFA has provided her with invaluable knowledge of agriculture’s importance, leadership skills development, and how agriculture will play a role in the rest of her life. Madison plans to attend South Dakota State University to earn her undergraduate degree in human biology while in the honors program. She will then obtain her physician assistant degree potentially at the University of South Dakota. She plans to practice with her physician assistant license for a few years while earning her functional medicine license. She hopes to use her future career to help those in her community. 

Emma O’Donnell – Keldron, SD

Emma O’Donnell was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the field and court. Her favorite part about being in high school sports is being with her friends, going on long bus rides, and creating memories she can tell her future kids about. She enjoys how much she has grown and matured throughout sports. She can learn a lot about taking accountability and personal development. Throughout her high school career, she has faced many challenges, from injuries to mental battles. Over her years in many sports, she has learned to talk to coaches even when she was afraid. In a way, this has helped her grow as a person and understand what the next stage of life will be like. Emma has competed in volleyball and track and field all for four years and was a team captain this year on her volleyball team. She has been involved in FFA since her eighth-grade year. She has been lucky enough to attend state for CDE every year and win many district competitions. Additionally, she has been on her land and range teams over the years and will be attending nationals this April, representing the state of South Dakota. Emma has also been a member of Yearbook for the past two years and has participated in her school’s one-act play. Outside of school and sports, you can find Emma volunteering at her local community with various activities such as cleaning and decorating her local church and tying blankets to donate to people in need. Her basketball and volleyball teams volunteer each year to host a camp for elementary school kids to come and improve their skills. She works on the volunteer ambulance as a cadet to help EMTs and she has also helped at the local Lemmon Jr. Livestock Show. Agriculture has always been a huge part of Emma’s life. She has lived on her family farm and ranch her entire life, and it’s made her who she is today. She has been through agricultural hardships and successes, which has made her see the beauty and lessons through it all. Working in agriculture, she has learned many life skills and her father has instilled in her a good work ethic. Emma plans to attend BSC to pursue a degree in diagnostic medical sonography. She will also get her realtor license to help her family farm and ranch by selling and buying land and renting out land. After completing her degree, she plans to return to a rural community to give back to small communities in great need of medical help. She believes that growing up in a small community teaches the value of helping others. Throughout her years in Lemmon, she has seen the community rally around to help fundraise or donate to someone in need, and she hopes to one day move to a small community and be a member who helps others out.

Blake Leenderts – Garretson, SD

Blake Leenderts was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the field and court. The thing he loves most about high school sports is the people. He expressed that he feels very blessed to have a wonderful team with some of the best teammates. These teammates are uplifting people with a great work ethic. Everyone has brought energy to his team and he believes that is the reason they are so successful. Blake competes in football, basketball, and track and field. He is involved in the math league, Knowledge Bowl, FFA, and CEO. When he is not in school or playing sports, Blake participates in 4-H and RCYF. Agriculture is very important in Blake’s life as well as many others. It is what puts food on the table for millions of people around the world. It is important to him because he had the opportunity to grow up on a farm. Agriculture has taught him so much like a strong work ethic and a strong mentality. He feels it is truly a blessing to be able to grow up in and around agriculture. Blake’s plan for the future is to attend South Dakota State University for civil engineering. Once he has completed his schooling, he plans to find a civil engineering job within the area to help develop his community.