Our 2025 Captain & Belle are Barry & Judi O'Connell!
Barry and Judi have lived in Yankton most of their lives. Barry graduated from YHS and from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. Judi graduated from Mount Marty High School and Mount Marty College. During this time, Judi started her dance studio in Yankton.
After college, Judi and Barry married and moved back to Yankton to raise their 3 wonderful children: Kerri, Kristi, and Michael. Judi and Barry now have 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and 1 more on the way.
Barry worked for 40 years in industry in Yankton. He is the past president of the Sertoma Club, where he received the Sertoman of the Year Award. He volunteered for many of their events and projects. He was very involved with the Sertoma Free Hearing Program in schools and the building of the Sertoma Baseball Complex. Barry is the past president of AIIE (American Institute of Industrial Engineers) of Northern IA and Eastern SD. Barry has been the backstage, behind-the-scenes support for all of Judi’s Dance productions, recitals, performances throughout the community, and Riverboat Days.
Judi ran her dance studio (Judi's Dance Studio) for 49 years. She believed in sharing the gifts of dance and movement with the community, so her dancers and gymnasts performed for many events in Yankton and the surrounding areas. They danced in the nursing homes, at the hospital ice cream social, at Czech Days, for community arts functions and service organizations, in the mall, at Crazy Days, and of course at Riverboat Days. In fact, the dancers were one of the first groups to perform at RBD 42 years ago and have performed at every RBD since then. Judi started the first RBD Can Can number, which has become a RBD tradition. Dance performances and RBD have gone hand in hand since the beginning; what a wonderful shout out to all of the talented dancers, gymnasts, and teachers of the Yankton area.
Judi is past president of the Yankton Area Arts Association, the Dance Network of South Dakota, and the Yankton Area Concert Association. She is co-founder of the Dakota Dance Association. Currently, she is a board member for the MMU Gregorian Fine Arts Committee. Judi has received various awards including the YAA Award, the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, and the Outstanding Women's Achievement Award. As well, she is in the Fine Arts Hall of Fame at YHS and MMU. Judi is still teaching dance exercise classes 3 times a week. Barry continues to golf and paint.
Barry and Judi are very honored and proud to represent and promote the Yankton Community and Riverboat Days. They hope everyone has a fun and safe celebration. Come join us at Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival!
After college, Judi and Barry married and moved back to Yankton to raise their 3 wonderful children: Kerri, Kristi, and Michael. Judi and Barry now have 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and 1 more on the way.
Barry worked for 40 years in industry in Yankton. He is the past president of the Sertoma Club, where he received the Sertoman of the Year Award. He volunteered for many of their events and projects. He was very involved with the Sertoma Free Hearing Program in schools and the building of the Sertoma Baseball Complex. Barry is the past president of AIIE (American Institute of Industrial Engineers) of Northern IA and Eastern SD. Barry has been the backstage, behind-the-scenes support for all of Judi’s Dance productions, recitals, performances throughout the community, and Riverboat Days.
Judi ran her dance studio (Judi's Dance Studio) for 49 years. She believed in sharing the gifts of dance and movement with the community, so her dancers and gymnasts performed for many events in Yankton and the surrounding areas. They danced in the nursing homes, at the hospital ice cream social, at Czech Days, for community arts functions and service organizations, in the mall, at Crazy Days, and of course at Riverboat Days. In fact, the dancers were one of the first groups to perform at RBD 42 years ago and have performed at every RBD since then. Judi started the first RBD Can Can number, which has become a RBD tradition. Dance performances and RBD have gone hand in hand since the beginning; what a wonderful shout out to all of the talented dancers, gymnasts, and teachers of the Yankton area.
Judi is past president of the Yankton Area Arts Association, the Dance Network of South Dakota, and the Yankton Area Concert Association. She is co-founder of the Dakota Dance Association. Currently, she is a board member for the MMU Gregorian Fine Arts Committee. Judi has received various awards including the YAA Award, the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, and the Outstanding Women's Achievement Award. As well, she is in the Fine Arts Hall of Fame at YHS and MMU. Judi is still teaching dance exercise classes 3 times a week. Barry continues to golf and paint.
Barry and Judi are very honored and proud to represent and promote the Yankton Community and Riverboat Days. They hope everyone has a fun and safe celebration. Come join us at Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival!
