Huron, SD – Kristen Hermes of Don’s Food Center in Onida took the top prize at the South Dakota Best Bagger Competition on Saturday, August 30.
Hosted by the South Dakota Retailers Association and sponsored by Associated Wholesale Grocers, NW French & Associates, and Prairie Farms, 20 contestants from across the state went head-to-head to compete for the title of South Dakota’s Best Bagger.
“South Dakota is home to countless outstanding grocers,” said Retailers Association Executive Director Nathan Sanderson. “Hosting the Best Bagger Competition at the State Fair is the perfect opportunity to showcase our state’s grocery industry in an exciting way.”
All contestants bagged identical grocery orders and were judged on speed, bag building technique, uniform bag weight, and personal attitude and appearance.
As the top prize winner, Hermes received $500 cash and an expenses-paid trip to compete at the National Grocers Association’s National Competition in Las Vegas, where she has the chance to win $10,000. Michael Chasing Hawk Jr. of Buche Foods in Gregory took home second place and $200.
Other participants included Gavin Tjeerdsma from Buche Foods Wagner, Creighton Chambers from Fareway Meat & Grocery in Harrisburg, Henry Romero from Buche Foods in Pickstown, Samy Hall from Coborn’s in Huron, Galilea Garcia from Fair City Foods, Carolyn House from Buche Foods Oacoma, Elizabeth Craine from Lynn’s DakotaMart in Summerset, Michael Iron Horse from Buche Foods Mission, Reghan Hermanson from Fareway Meat & Grocery in Sioux Falls, Mahlon Bruguier Jr from Cahoy’s, Justin Ekroth from Buche Foods Gregory, Bethany Unruh from Maynard’s of Lake Preston, Travis Kills Back from Buche Foods Pine Ridge, Brandon Venhuizen from Fareway Meat & Grocery in Tea, Amber Vega from Lynn’s DakotaMart in Custer, Dylan Berg from County Fair Foods, Aubrey Peterka from Cahoy’s General Store in Bonesteel, Ace Chief from Buche Foods Pine Ridge, Cynthia Rankin from Lynn’s DakotaMart Belle Fouche, and Adley Scheuerman from Cahoy’s General Store in Tyndall. Each received a $100 cash prize.
Watch for the Best Bagger Competition at the 2026 South Dakota State Fair!
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