Youth crop watcher takes opportunities to grow through FFA

Janelle Atyeo
May 20, 2025
May 20, 2025

Crop Watcher Kerner (2) - worked.jpg — Ava Kerner tags a calf on her family's Burke, S.D., farm.
Submitted photo

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Wrapping up her junior year at Burke High School, Ava Kerner already has a busy summer planned.

Crop Watcher Kerner (1).jpeg — Ava Kerner tags a calf on her family's Burke, S.D., farm.
Submitted photo

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Crop Watcher Kerner (3).jpeg — Ava Kerner writes out tags for new calves. Calving started in late April and was expected to wrap up in early June.
Submitted photo

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Crop Watcher Kerner (4) - worked.jpg — Ava Kerner removes a wrap from a bale. Her summertime work on the family farm involves a lot of hay moving and fix fencing.
Submitted photo

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Raised in small town South Dakota, Janelle is enjoying her time as editor of Tri-State Neighbor and Midwest Messenger while raising kids, chickens and no till vegetables in central Sioux Falls. Reach her at janelle.atyeo@lee.net.