Sally and Daryl Isburg are Miss South Dakota Volunteers of the Year
June 30, 2023
In an effort to recognize outstanding volunteers within the Miss South Dakota Organization, an annual award is given during the Miss South Dakota competition. The volunteer is honored and recognized during the final evening of the State competition.
This year’s Volunteers of the Year are Sally and Daryl Isburg of Spearfish, SD, who have been Miss South Dakota volunteers for over 30 years.
“When I learned that this program was about scholarships for young women in the state of South Dakota, I was in,” said Sally reflecting on the moment she decided to become a volunteer.
Sally is currently serving on the Miss South Dakota Board as the State Judges’ Chair where she selects and prepares each year's state judges panel. Sally and her husband Daryl represent vital roles within the organization, some of which include being a host family for the reigning Miss South Dakota throughout her year of service and dedicating time to fundraising for the success of the organization.
Throughout her 30+ years with the organization, Sally has served as a dressing room attendant, local executive director, official chaperone and has held many positions on the state board. Daryl is a long-time ambassador for the Miss South Dakota Organization and has dedicated his time to supporting Sally and the organization in various roles.
The Isburgs were nominated by several former Miss South Dakotas who touted the Isburgs’ dedication to the organization and their love for the people involved.
“While their roles may have changed throughout the years, one thing is for certain, this pair has committed a significant amount of time and effort for the women in this organization,” said Miss South Dakota 2019-2020 and current Miss South Dakota USA 2023, Amber Hulse. “A Miss SD interview is not complete without your pre-show Daryl chat and the Miss South Dakota judges would not be as high standard, professional and well-prepared panels without Sally’s hard work selecting and orienting the judges.”
Miss South Dakota 2021 Kaitlin O’Neill echoes the testament, “Sally and Daryl go above and beyond to make everyone around them feel special and seen, and deserve to be recognized for their kind hearts and dedication to not only the program but the people inside it.”
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Miss South Dakota Organization, working throughout the year as they support local competitions, organize the state competition, guide and provide leadership to candidates, as well as building the set for the competition, putting on the show, acting as judges hosts, and much more. They invest in our delegates by helping them increase their confidence and achieve their goals. The Miss South Dakota Organization thanks all of its volunteers for their many hours of dedication.
Miss South Dakota News
Kianna Healy was crowned Miss South Dakota 2026 at Saturday night's competition. Healy, 23, is from Hartford and graduated from O’Gorman High School and Pace University with a major in Film and Arts and Entertainment Management. Healy won a $13,000 scholarship, a $1,000 preliminary talent award, a $500 preliminary fitness award, and the $500 Callee Bauman Wachter top performing arts award. Healy’s community service initiative is “The Second Chance Project.” For her talent, she sang “I’m a Star” by Scott Alan. She is the daughter of Russ and Michelle Healy and competed as Miss Sioux Falls. First runner-up was Amelie Wilcox of Rapid City, garnering a $5,000 scholarship. Wilcox also won the $5,000 South Dakota Strong award, the overall interview award ($1,000), a $1,000 community service award, and the $500 Hunter Widvey Medical scholarship. Wilcox also took home the $1,000 Ray Peterson Rookie of the Year award given to the highest placing delegate competing at Miss South Dakota for the first time. Second runner-up was Sydney Morgan of Hot Springs, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. She also received the $500 STEM scholarship. Third runner-up was Katie Milbrandt, Brookings, garnering a $3,000 scholarship and the $1,000 Quality of Life Award. Briley Steffensen of Hartford garnered fourth runner-up, in addition to winning a preliminary fitness award for a total earned of $2,500 in awards and scholarships. Rounding out the top ten semi-finalists, each receiving a $750 scholarship, were Thea Tanton of Brookings, Lilly Mae Blume of Redfield, Javonte Madsen of Sioux Falls, Rylin Yerdon of Harrisburg, and Natalie Biegler of Timber Lake. Tanton and Biegler tied for the preliminary talent award. Laney Titze of Mitchell received $1,000 in the South Dakota Strong competition. Winning $500 each in the South Dakota Strong competition were Olivia Granaas, Jensine Matson and Taysan Rouselle. Kyla Andvik of Fargo, ND earned the most talented non-semifinalist award ($250). Jenisha Gurung received the highest score for non-finalist in interview ($250). Top fundraiser ($500 award) was Jayden Bender. Miss Congeniality ($500) was Miss NSU Evelynn Carlson of Aberdeen. Twenty-seven women from across the state competed for the title, which was a record number of candidates. All won scholarships, totalling more than $60,000. Each of the non-semi-finalists received a $300 scholarship. Healy will represent South Dakota at the Miss America Competition this September.
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Miss Sioux Falls Kianna Healy, and Miss Hub City Briley Steffensen took home preliminary awards at the Miss South Dakota competition Thursday night. Healy is the daughter of Russ and Michelle Healy. Steffensen is the daughter of Emily Smith and Tony Steffensen. Steffensen, who is from Hartford, won the $500 preliminary Health and Fitness Award. Healy, also from Hartford, won the $1,000 preliminary Talent Award singing “I’m a Star” by Scott Alan, Jaye Olszewski, Miss Hub City’s Teen, won the Teen Onstage Question competition. She is from Sioux Falls and her parents are Deana and Jerry Olszewski. Evian Johnson of Brookings, Miss Hot Springs’ Teen, and Nikki Wendt, Miss Fall River Balloon Festival’s Teen were selected as the winners of the Teen STEM scholarships for teen candidates planning on majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics field. They each received $500. The Community Service Award is given to a candidate in both the teen and miss division who demonstrate that they have fulfilled a legitimate need in their community through the creation, development and/or participation in volunteerism. The winner of the Teen Community Service Award for $500 was Jaye Olszewski. The winner of the Miss Community Service Award for $1,000 is Miss Rolling Plains Amelie Wilcox. The Sylvia Tannehill Kindness Award is given to a candidate who excels in their commitment in developing their own personal skills through acts of kindness and generosity within their own community and/or elsewhere. The recipient of this $1,000 award was Miss Huron, Laney Titze of Mitchell. Miss East River Katie Milbrandt won the Quality of Life Award. This $1,000 award goes to a candidate who excels in their commitment to enhancing the quality of life for others through exceptional service with their social impact initiative.
Twelve young women from around the state will compete for the title of Miss South Dakota's Teen 2026, May 29-30. The theme of this year’s competition is United in Harmony with delegates judged on interview, talent, physical fitness, and evening gown. The new titleholder will compete for the title of Miss America’s Teen at West Palm Beach, FL, August 28-September 6. The competition will be held at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings, in conjunction with the Miss South Dakota competition. Showtime will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, and 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 29, with the new Miss South Dakota’s Teen crowned at the conclusion of Friday’s performance. Tickets are available at https://www.misssd.org. The pageant will feature Taya Ritterbush of Hot Springs, the current Miss South Dakota’s Teen. Taya represented South Dakota at the 2025 Miss America’s Teen Competition in Orlando. Throughout its 78-year history, the Miss South Dakota program has impacted over 18,000 young women. This year, over $65,000 in scholarships and awards will be awarded during the three-day event. The Miss South Dakota Scholarship Program’s mission is to uphold the four points of the crown: Service, Scholarship, Success, and Style. Participation in this program provides young women with the opportunity to promote a platform of community service and share their talents, intelligence, and positive values while serving as role models in their communities. The program is run entirely by volunteers and is supported by private donations which help the delegates in their pursuit of academic excellence, service, and lifelong success. The new Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen will take home at least $3,500 in scholarships and awards, in addition to a crowning package worth thousands of dollars. There is more than $11,000 in scholarship and award funds available to teen candidates. The new titleholder will compete at the 2027 Miss America's Teen Competition in September. The Teen Pageant is open to young women ages 14-18 who have not yet graduated from high school or who graduate this spring. The young women competing are (name, age, title, hometown, talent, and Community Service Initiative): Abigail Oaks, 17, Miss Rapid City’s Teen, Rapid City, Talent: Piano, Community Service Initiative: Keys to Confidence Amelia Gubbels, 15, Miss Vermillion’s’ Teen, Canton, Talent: Musical Theater Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Read, Reach, Rise Elaine Reiter, 17, Miss Hot Springs’ Teen, Rapid City, Talent: Jazz Dance, Community Service Initiative: It’s OK to Talk Emmah Scott, 16, Miss McCrory Garden’s Teen, 15, Watertown, Talent: HER Story, Community Service Initiative: Flip the Script Evian Johnson, 18, Miss Siouxland’s Teen, Brookings, Talent: Lyrical Dance, Community Service Initiative: Use Your Power Jaye Olszewski, 16, Sioux Falls, Miss Hub City’s Teen, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: More than a Feeling Jerica Ratigan, 18, Miss State Fair’s Teen, Frankfort, Talent: Jazz Dance, Community Service Initiative: ADHD Awareness in Women Jessie Ratigan, 17, Miss Missouri River’s Teen, Frankfort, Talent: Jazz Dance, Community Service Initiative: Young Adult Communication Julia Shanks, 18, Miss Brookings’ Teen, Sioux Falls, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: YESdakota (Young Entrepreneurs of South Dakota) Nikki Wendt, 14, Miss Fall River Balloon Festival’s Teen, Rapid City, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Ronald McDonald House Charities Reese Henja, 18, Miss West River’s Teen, Tabor, Talent: Athletic Jump Rope Routine, Community Service Initiative: Strength in Change Suri Uhl, 17, Miss Jacks’ Teen, Dakota Dunes, Talent: Lyrical Dance, Community Service Initiative: Inclusion Throughout
Twenty-seven young women from across the state will showcase their talents, public speaking skills, fitness, poise and stage presence in the 79th annual Miss South Dakota competition, taking place in Brookings May 28-30. Twenty-seven candidates is a record number, beating out the previous count of 25 in 2007. Ranging in age from 19 to 24 and representing hometowns from Aberdeen to Yankton, they will compete for over $65,000 in scholarships and awards and the role of Miss South Dakota. The new Miss South Dakota will take home at least $13,000 in scholarships and awards, plus a crowning package worth thousands of dollars. She will represent South Dakota at the Miss America competition in West Palm Beach, FL, August 28-September 6. The preliminary competitions will be 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29. The final competition will take place at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 30. The Miss South Dakota’s Teen competition will be held in conjunction with the Miss competition Thursday and Friday evenings, with the new Miss South Dakota’s Teen being crowned at the conclusion of Friday’s event. All competitions will take place at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings. The competition finals on Saturday will be available on livestream. Ticket information for in-person events as well as the livestream available at https://www.misssd.org/. The pageant will feature Jamee Kattner, Miss South Dakota 2025. Jamee represented South Dakota at the Miss America competition in September 2025 in Orlando, FL. She spent the year advocating for her community service initiative, “Melodies of Joy” and singing and speaking at numerous appearances around the state. The candidates will be judged on a private interview with the judges (30%), talent/HER Story™ (20%), health and fitness (20%) evening gown (20%) and on-stage conversation (10%). The young women competing are (name, age, title, hometown, talent, and community service initiative): Adrian Gruis, 20, Miss Fall River Balloon Festival, Onida, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Ability Inclusion and Awareness Amélie Wilcox, 20, Miss Rolling Plains, Rapid City, Talent: Electric Bass Guitar, Community Service Initiative: Seeing the Invisible: Autoimmune Disease Awarenes sAngela Miller, 20, Miss Missouri River, Madison, WI, Talent: Musical Theatre, Community Service Initiative: Teach The Truth: Bringing Asian America History to Classroom sBriley Steffensen, 19, Miss Hub City, Hartford, Talent: Musical Theatre Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Be True 2 Yo uEllie Becker, 19, Miss Central States Fair, Howard, Talent: Slam Poetry, Community Service Initiative: Children Nutrition Progra mEmily Hofer, 22, Miss Pride of the Dakotas, Hartford, Talent: Flute, Community Service Initiative: Rewriting Recover yEvelynn Carlson, 22, Miss Northern State University, Aberdeen, Talent: Piano, Community Service Initiative: Fully Alive: Forming Women of Virtue and Visio Javonte Madsen, 22, Miss Vermillion, Sioux Falls, Talent: Jazz Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Common Ground Jayden Bender, 20, Miss Badlands, Britton: Talent: Jazz Dance, Community Service Initiative: Backing the Brave Jenisha Gurung, 20, Miss Dakota Prairie, Sioux Falls, Talent: Nepali Cultural Dance, Community Service Initiative: OKK Period Jensine Matson, 22, Miss Railroad Junction, Ramona, Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: Speak Your Power: Childhood Trauma Awareness Kamella Kopp, 21, Miss Dakota Rose, Yankton, Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: The Golden Heart Initiative- Raising Awareness on Elder Abuse Katie Milbrandt, 24, Miss East River, Brookings, Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: Speak Up: Stopping the Stigma by Starting the Conversation Kianna Healy, 23, Miss Sioux Falls, Hartford, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: The Second Chance Project Kyla Andvik, 21, Miss Brookings, Fargo, ND, Talent: Lyrical Dance, Community Service Initiative: Breaking the Silence Laney Titze, 23, Miss Huron, Mitchell, Talent: Piano, Community Service Initiative: Teagan’s Light Lilly Mae Blume, 20, Miss Sunflower Fields, Redfield. Talent: Speed Sand Painting, Community Service Initiative: Tractor Tracks to Farm Safety McKenzie Hassebroek, 24, Miss Brown County Fair, Rapid City. Talent: Speed Painting, Community Service Initiative: Well-fed Minds Misty Vonderleith, 20, Miss USD, Sioux Falls. Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: Partnering with local animal shelters, every animal deserves a home. Natalie Biegler, 21, Miss State Fair, Timber Lake, Talent: Unicycle/Monologue, Community Service Initiative: Career Catalyst: Launching Young People into their Futures Olivia Granaas, 24, Miss McCrory Gardens, Vermillion, Talent: Dance, Community Service Initiative: Sleep in Heavenly Peace Olivia Walz, 21, Miss West Riverl, Mitchell, Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: You Are Not Alone: A Journey of Hope, Healing, and Empowerment Rylin Yerdon, 23, Miss Siouxland, Harrisburg, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Pursuing Success: The First Step Forward Sydney Meissner, 21, Miss SDSU, Rapid City, Talent: Tap Dance, Community Service Initiative: Lights, Language, Leadership Sydney Morgan, 21, Miss Hot Springs, Hot Springs, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Community at Heart: Connecting Generations Taysan Rouselle, 19, Miss Black Hills, Sturgis, Talent: Country Pop Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Showered with Hope Thea Tanton, 21, Miss Heart of the Prairies, Brookings, Talent: Speed Painting, Community Service Initiative: Ripples of Change
Jamee Kattner was crowned Miss South Dakota 2025 at Saturday night's competition. Kattner is from Huron and graduated from SDSU with a major in music education this spring. Kattner won a $13,000 scholarship with the title, and a $500 South Dakota Strong award. Kattner’s community service initiative is “Melodies of Joy: Music's Power to Inspire.” As her talent, she sang “Art is Calling Me,” an operatic vocal from the Enchantress by Victor Herbert. She is the daughter of Linc and Kristi Kattner and competed as Miss Siouxland. First runner-up was Katie Milbrandt, Brookings, garnering a $5,000 scholarship. Milbrandt also won a $1,000 South Dakota Strong award, the $1,000 Dorothy Barnett Award for top overall interview, as well as a $750 STEM scholarship and a $1,000 Community Service Award. Second runner-up was Kianna Healy of Harrisburg, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. Healy also won a $500 preliminary health and fitness award and a $500 South Dakota Strong award, as well as the $1,000 Ray Peterson Rookie of the Year award given to the highest placing delegate competing at Miss South Dakota for the first time. Third runner-up was Emily Deinken of Sioux Falls, receiving a $3,000 scholarship. Deinken also won a $1,000 preliminary talent award. Natalie Biegler of Timber Lake was fourth runner-up, receiving a $2,000 scholarship. Biegler also earned the top South Dakota Strong award for $5,000, the Sylvia Tannehill Kindness Award for $1,000, and the Hunter Widvey Medical Scholarship for $500. Rounding out the top ten semi-finalists, each receiving a $750 scholarship, were Payton Steffensen of Sioux Falls, Jenisha Gurung of Vermillion, Sydney Morgan of Hot Springs, Adrian Gruis of Onida, and Thea Tanton of La Vista, NE. Payton Steffensen received preliminary awards for talent of $1,000 and health and fitness for $500. Adrian Gruis took home the $500 Miss South Dakota Legacy award and also received $500 for being the top fund-raiser. Jenisha Gurung received the $1,000 Stan Nase Business scholarship. Sydney Morgan received a $500 South Dakota Strong award as well as a $750 STEM scholarship. Javonte Madsen of Rapid City accepted the most talented non-semifinalist ($250 award). Julia Stanek received the highest score for non-finalist in interview ($250). Miss Congeniality was Olivia Walz of Mitchell. Twenty women from across the state competed for the title. All won scholarships, totalling $54,250. Each of the non-semi-finalists received a $300 scholarship. Kattner will represent South Dakota at the Miss America Competition this September.
Taya Ritterbush, 18, was crowned Miss South Dakota’s Teen Friday evening. For her talent, she sang the Italian art song, “Se Tu M’Ami.” Her community service initiative is “Swimming in Inclusion, Floating in Diversity.” She is from Hot Springs and plans to attend the University of South Dakota and major in music education and performance. The title comes with a $3,500 scholarship. Ritterbush also won top private interview ($250) and top onstage conversation ($150). Her local title was Miss State Fair. Her parents are Nate and Alison Ritterbush. First runner-up was Evian Johnson of Brookings. She received $1,200 in scholarships, and was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants, an additional $500 scholarship. Johnson also received the $200 STEM award. Second runner-up went to Hallie Carlson of Mitchell, earning $900 in scholarships. Carlson garnered the top overall talent award, an additional scholarship of $250, and the Community Service award for $250. Arianna Galles of Rapid City won the top fundraiser award for $500, and the People’s Choice scholarship, which was selected through online voting, for $250. Ritterbush will represent South Dakota at the 2025 Miss America's Teen Competition this September.
Miss Black Hills, Kianna Healy of Hartford, and Miss Rapid City, Payton Steffensen of Sioux Falls won preliminary awards at the Miss South Dakota competition Friday night. Healy took the preliminary health and fitness award of $500. She is a recent graduate of Pace University NYC. Her parents are Michelle Healy and Russell Healy. Steffensen won the preliminary talent award of $1,000 doing a musical theater/acro dance to “Don’t Lose Your Head” from the musical Six. She graduated from American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York and is currently working as a dancer, choreographer and educator. Two $750 STEM awards were announced. The awards are sponsored by Civil Design, Inc. and selected by an application process. They are for candidates majoring or graduated in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics field. The winners of the STEM awards this year were Katie Milbrandt and Sydney Morgan. Stanley Nase, CPA, has been a resident of Hot Springs since November 1971. Stan has served as a longtime auditor for the Miss South Dakota Program, and is sponsoring a scholarship for a candidate interested in pursuing a higher degree in the Business field. The winner of the $1,000 Stan Nase scholarship was Jenisha Gurung. The Hunter Widvey Medical scholarship for $500 goes to a contestant in this year’s competition who is either actively attending medical school or has plans to attend medical school in the near future, or is in another field of study closely related to medicine such as nursing, physical therapy, or chiropractic. Natalie Biegler was the winner of the inaugural Hunter Widvey medical scholarship. The competition continues Saturday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. with the finals and the crowning of the 78th Miss South Dakota at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD.
Miss Rapid City, Payton Steffensen of Sioux Falls, and Miss Brookings, Emily Deinken of Sioux Falls, took home preliminary awards at the Miss South Dakota competition Thursday night. Deinken is the daughter of Brian and Michelle Deinken. Steffensen is the daughter of Emily Smith and Tony Steffensen. Steffensen won the $500 preliminary Health and Fitness Award. She graduated from American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York and is currently working as a dancer, choreographer and educator. Deinken won the $1,000 preliminary Talent Award playing the Carmen Flute Fantasie from Habanera. She is a middle school music teacher in Sioux Falls and is pursuing her master’s degree in music education from Florida State University. Evian Johnson of Brookings, Miss Hot Springs’ Teen, was selected as the winner of the Teen STEM scholarship for teen candidates planning on majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics field. The Community Service Award is given to a candidate in both the teen and miss division who demonstrate that they have fulfilled a legitimate need in their community through the creation, development and/or participation in volunteerism. The winner of the Teen Community Service Award for $500 was Miss Jacks’ Teen Hallie Carlson. The winner of the Miss Community Service Award for $1,000 is Miss Rolling Plains Katie Milbrandt. The program continues tonight at 6:30 p.m. with the preliminary competitions for Miss South Dakota, and the crowning of Miss South Dakota's Teen 2025 at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center at South Dakota State University. The crowning of Miss South Dakota 2024 will be on Saturday night.
