South Dakota State University Extension invites youth interested in learning more about grasslands and soil health to the 2026 Rangeland and Soil Days in Belle Fourche.
The annual Rangeland Days contest promotes education on South Dakota’s most threatened natural resource – grasslands. Similarly, the purpose of Soil Days is to promote education of South Dakota’s most important resource – soil. Combined, the event provides youth with hands-on experience in understanding rangeland resources and a sense of stewardship in natural resource management. Both FFA and 4-H youth can compete in Rangeland and Soil Days.
This year’s event is June 9-10, 2026, at the Belle Fourche Community Hall. Registration, check-in and student display setup begin on the morning of June 9. Next, students will spend time in the field learning about rangelands and soils and practicing their contest skills. Student displays and speeches will be presented in the evening. The rangeland and soil judging contests begin the morning of June 10, with results and awards presented after lunch.
Registration is $50 per person, which includes lunch and supper on June 9 and lunch on June 10. To register, visit extension.sdstate.edu/events and search “rangeland”. To pay by check, send registration fee to: Butte Conservation District, Attn: Yvette, 1837 Fifth Ave., Belle Fourche, S.D., 57717. Registration is due by May 22.
Rangeland Days students learn plant identification, ecological sites and how to determine suitability for cattle and wildlife. Age categories are: New Rangers (ages 8-10), Wranglers (ages 11-13), Scouts (ages 14-18, typically first-time attendees), and Go-Getters (ages 14-18, previous attendees).
Students who attend Rangeland Days can compete in three different categories: display, talk and judging. Youth who participate in all three contest categories are eligible for the Rangeland Top Hand awards, which are given to the highest overall score in each division.
The top-scoring Scout or Go-Getter in the talk contest will represent South Dakota as a delegate for the high school youth forum at the National Society for Range Management Meeting. Additionally, the top Go Getter Range team in the 4-H divisions will represent South Dakota in the National Land and Range Judging Contest the following year in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
“Participating in the student talks and displays is an excellent opportunity for youth to present their 4-H projects and get feedback on them prior to county fairs later in the summer,” said Kaylee Wheeler, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist.
Soil Days is for youth 14–18 years old. Students learn about soil texture and types, factors that limit soil health, land management recommendations and understanding suitability for building infrastructure.
The Soil Days judging contest includes evaluation of four sites for land and homesite use. The overall top scorer in soils receives the Soils Top Hand award. The top-scoring Soil team in the 4-H division will represent South Dakota in the National Land and Range Judging Contest the following year in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
This year’s Rangeland and Soil Days event is hosted by the Butte and Lawrence County Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service, South Dakota Society for Range Management and SDSU Extension.
For more information about Rangeland Days, contact Kaylee Wheeler, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist, at Kaylee.Wheeler@sdstate.edu or 605-842-1267; or Emily Rohrer, NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist, at Emily.Rohrer@usda.gov. For information about Soil Days, contact Lance Howe, NRCS Soil Scientist, at 605-468-3088.
Students must identify plant types, ecological sites and grazing suitability for cattle and wildlife as part of a Rangeland and Soil Days contest.
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SDSU – 2026
