anNora Coulson, daughter of Julia and Casey Coulson and Landon Wendinger, son of Lee and Sara Wendinger were crowned 2024 Sleepy Eye High School Homecoming Royalty. The court includes from left: Jaycee Romberg, Brissa Hernandez, Cody Schultz, Lilly Kallevig, NOlan Weicherding, Nora, Landon, Cole Eckstein, Paige Haala, Damian Sanchez, Cadence Okerman, Waylon Schauman Sleepy Eye United host Wabasso Friday night in their Homecoming Game.

Nora Coulson, daughter of Julia and Casey Coulson and Landon Wendinger, son of Lee and Sara Wendinger were crowned 2024 Sleepy Eye High School Homecoming Royalty. The court includes from left: Jaycee Romberg, Brissa Hernandez, Cody Schultz, Lilly Kallevig, Nolan Weicherding, Nora, Landon, Cole Eckstein, Paige Haala, Damian Sanchez, Cadence Okerman, Waylon Schauman.  Sleepy Eye United hosts Wabasso Friday night in their Homecoming Game.

Ari Krzmarzick, Sleepy Eye FFA Officer (middle) participated in the FFA Small Engines Contest at the Minnesota State Fair. He is joined by Big Ideas USA staff that sponsored the competition.

Sleepy Eye FFA had a great Minnesota State Fair with Jasmine Petermann showing three Registered Holsteins.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter earned several Premier Exhibitor Awards including: the Overall Crops Division, Overall Ag Literacy Division, and the Overall Ag Technology Mechanics Division as well as the Chapter Demonstration Competition. Pictured here: l to r- Kayla Hecht (Champion Woods), Alex Confer (Champion Oats), Jasmine Petermann (Overall Top Crop Exhibitor), Carter Lazatin (Chapter Competition), and Logan Ludewig (Live Woods Competition Reserve Champion).

0.Sleepy Eye FFA wins the Chapter Demonstration Competition at the Minnesota State Fair! Pictured l to r: front- Kenedi Wersal, Noah Rossbach, Daniel Armstrong, Mateo Hornsby, Carter Lazatin, Camryn Maher, Karina Martinez, Madi Martinez, Kamille Capacia. Back- James Moore, Noah Christensen, Kayden Klein.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was once again well represented at the State Fair in 2024. 12 members participated in the Chapter Demonstration Competition. 160 members participated in exhibiting over 700 entries for the Ag. Technology, Ag. Literacy, and Crops Competitions at the Minnesota State Fair. Jasmine Petermann showed livestock at the fair.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter earned the first place Premier Chapter Award for the Minnesota State Fair Crop Show with a total of 2237 points. Jackson was awarded 2nd place with 576 points. This was the 15th year that Sleepy Eye has won the Minnesota State Fair Crops Competition in the past 17 years.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter earned several Premier Exhibitor Awards including: the Overall Crops Division, Overall Ag Literacy Division, and the Overall Ag Technology Mechanics Division as well as the Chapter Demonstration Competition.

The Crop Show Exhibitors earned the following placings:

• Isaac Lendt exhibited the Champion Ear Corn and was named Overall Best in Show for Crops.
• Alex Confer earned the Crops Champion for the Oats Division.
• Caleb Suess had the Champion Barley sample.
• Makayla Strong exhibited the Champion Organic Grain at the MN State Fair.
• Carsten Nienhaus earned the Crops Champion for the Winter Wheat Division.
• Overall Crops Individual Placings:

o   Jasmine Petermann was the Overall High Point exhibitor for the Crops Division at the Minnesota State Fair.

o   Other members placing in the Top Ten: 3^rd Ava Sellner, 4^th Makayla Strong, 6^th Carter Lazatin, 7^th Alex Confer, 9^th Caleb Suess, 10^th Dawson Friton

o   Overall High Point New Exhibitors: 4^th Oziel Lozano

FFA Chapter Demonstration Competition:

• Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was the Grand Champion Winner with their Safety Carnival earning a $1000 premium. The twelve members presented farm safety demonstrations for this competition in the Chapter Leadership House and on the Christensen Farms Stage at the Minnesota State Fair.
• Camryn Maher recited the FFA Creed on the Christensen Farms Stage as well. This was part of the individual demonstration competition.

 FFA Ag. Mechanics and Live Ag. Mechanics Competition:

• Kayla Hecht earned the Champion Woods Project at the Minnesota State Fair.
• Ari Krzmarzick competed at the Minnesota State Fair in the FFA Small Engines Contest. He took apart an engine, put it back together, and ran it for more than 30 seconds in only 1 hour and 28 minutes!
• Noah Rossbach and Logan Ludewig competed in the FFA Live Building Construction Competition at the MN State Fair! They made a raised planter bed in less than 2 hours while fair-goers watched them work. They received Reserve Champion!
• James Moore competed in the MN State Fair FFA Welding Competition. He MIG Welded a fire pit wheel measuring out spokes at 30 degrees in less than 90 minutes.

FFA Dairy: Jasmine Petermann

• Jasmine Petermann exhibited three Registered Holsteins at the MN State Fair FFA Dairy Show! She received two seconds and a third.

FFA Ag. Literacy Division:

• Jace Schauman and Megan Sellner, along with the Exploring Ag Class had the Champion Project Poster with the Minnesota Ag. Commodities Display.
• Gavin Strong exhibited the Champion Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Exhibit.

Congratulations to the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter on their accomplishments at the Minnesota State Fair!

The FFA Summer All-Stars are Announced! These members participated in at least seven summer FFA events in 2024. Front, l to r – Camryn Maher, Jace Schauman, Karina Martinez, Ava Sellner, Lily Kallevig, Alex Confer. Row 2 – Kaylie Fulmer, Carter Lazatin, Jace Schauman, Natalie Fulmer, Maddy Goldschmidt, Katylyn Romberg, Ella Arkins. Row 3 – Kenedi Wersal, Kenley Jensen, Makayla Strong, Carsten Nienhaus, Charlie Hoffmann, Noah Rossbach, Michael Pool, Taylor Berkner. Back row – Mateo Hornsby, Anna Johnson, Daniel Armstrong, Colton Romberg, Robert Romberg, Ari Krzmarzick, Cameron Moore, Kayden Klein, Logan Ludewig, Eric Lozano, James Moore, Breanna Lopez. Not pictured: Ethan Feucht, Elsie Trebesch, Millie Lax, Travis Mages, Ruby Tauer, Zack Dominguez, Jaden Stone, Emerson Johnson, Lucia Martinez, and Noah Christensen.

The Sleepy Eye FFA chapter would like to recognize a select group of distinguished members who donated much of their time to the Ag. Program and community throughout the summer. These 43 members were named the 2024 Sleepy Eye FFA Summer All-Stars. This is the highest number of Summer All-Stars the chapter has had. The amount of student participation in the summer has grown year after year!

In order for these students to become a summer all-star, each student had to attend or participate in at least seven FFA events or activities over the summer months. The summer FFA/Ag. activities included: Summer Ag. Courses, Ag.Tour Days, United Way Backpack Project, Roadside Clean-up, Attending Officer Workshop, Timberland Leadership Camp, Summerfest, County Fair Exhibitor or Kiddy Barn Volunteer, Farmfest, Region VI Summer Ag. Tour, and much more.

We truly appreciate all that our members do in the summer to help out at community events and grow as leaders. Members learned many new Ag. skills and were able to participate in many service events throughout the summer. We look forward to another great year for the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter.

Sleepy Eye High School honored Sydney Geiger as their 2024 Teacher of the Year. Geiger is a physical education, health education and wellness teacher and is the head volleyball coach.

FFA Officers plan for the upcoming year! Pictured here: front row- left to right:  Anna Johnson, Lucia Martinez, Lily Kallevig, Alex Confer, Carter Lazatin, Jace Schauman. Back: Eric Lozano, Taylor Berkner, Jaelynn Schauman, Logan Ludewig, Ari Krzmarzick, Charlie Hoffmann, Noah Rossbach, Daniel Armstrong.

Sleepy Eye FFA Officers attended an officer workshop to plan for the upcoming school year and to get to know their fellow officers better. The team, with the help of advisors Ms. Emmett, Mr. Hendrickx, Mrs. Hoffmann and Summer Intern Morgan Hoffmann, covered a lot of business such as officer duties, the chapter’s budget, and team goals.

The 2024-25 Sleepy Eye Officer Team includes: President – Lily Kallevig, 1^st Vice President – Alex Confer, 2^nd Vice President – Logan Ludewig, 3^rd Vice President – Lucia Martinez, Secretary – Carter Lazatin, Treasurer – Noah Rossbach, Reporter – Jaelynn Schauman, Social Media Reporter – Taylor Berkner, Student Advisors – Daniel Armstrong and Kayden Klein, Historians – Jace Schauman and Anna Johnson, Sentinel – Ari Krzmarzick, Parliamentarian – Charlie Hoffmann, and Officer-at-Large – Eric Lozano. At the workshop, each member chose different activities to help with and organize during the year.

The team chose their goals for the year based on the needs of the chapter. The 2024-25 team goals include:

1- To complete 2250 service hours this year.

2- To have at least 40 high school and 35 junior high members attend their respective chapter meetings.

3- To have 4 officer bonding events and for officers to dress up at every theme meeting.

The team also discussed the new motto for the coming year. The Sleepy Eye FFA motto for this 2024-25 is Celebrating 85 Years of Timeless Traditions. The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was chartered in 1939, which makes this the 85^th Anniversary of the chapter’s existence.

The Officer team also reviewed their budget which reminded them of how important sponsors are to the chapters program. It is because of them that our chapter is able to operate and provide such amazing experiences for its members.

The officer team will continue to do community service this year, including cards for nursing home and assisted living residents, Wee deliver PALS with elementary, roadside clean-up, helping with the Weekend Backpack Food Program, and other service events that arise.

Throughout the business-filled meeting, the team did many team building activities and began to understand how to use each of their strengths to work together for a successful year. The officers are extremely excited about what’s in store for the upcoming year and are looking forward to growing as leaders, serving the community, and influencing other chapter members.

40 Sleepy Eye FFA Members worked at the Kiddy Barn during shifts at the Brown County Fair. This is the crew from Wednesday night. Pictured l to r – front: Jace Schauman, Karina Martinez, Daniel Armstrong, Anders Coulson, Noah Rossbach, Carter Lazatin, Breanna Lopez, Madi Martinez, Nora Coulson, Camryn Maher, Kenedi Wersal. Back: Eric Lozano, Mateo Hornsby, James Moore, Robert Romberg, Kayden Klein, Logan Ludewig, Jaelynn Schauman, Charlie Hoffmann.

Isaac Lendt (right), of the Sleepy Eye FFA, earned all Corn Champions and Overall Best in Show in the Crop Show at the Brown County Fair. He is pictured with Noah Rossbach (left), Chapter Treasurer.

Nathan Rathman, of the Sleepy Eye FFA, earned the Overall Best in Show for Ag. Mechanics at the Brown County Fair with his Horse Shoe Tire Rim Fire Pit.

Winsten Nienhaus, Sleepy Eye Member, earned the Best in Show Poultry Exhibit Award at the FFA Show at the Brown County Fair as well as Reserve Overall for rabbits.

Leah Kucera of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was the Overall High Point Exhibitor for the Horse Show at the Brown County Fair.

Sleepy Eye FFA chapter members had many different roles at the 2024 Brown County Fair from August 7-11.  The members showcased their crop, mechanics, Ag. literacy, and livestock projects and also helped run the FFA Kiddy Barnyard and FFA shows at the Brown County Fair.

Livestock exhibitors included: Dairy- Rachel, Jared, and Dustin Portner. Beef- Elsie Trebesch, Ethan Feucht, Jasmine Petermann.  Poultry- Winsten and Carsten Nienhaus. Sheep- Elsie Trebesch. Swine- Ethan Feucht. Rabbit- Winsten and Carsten Nienhaus. Horse- Mia Walter, Millie Lax, Leah and Nolan Kucera, Sydney Zarn, Kaylie Piehl, Kenedi Wersal.

The Sleepy Eye FFA chapter was very successful with their projects. Our members earned a total of $2888 in FFA premium money at the Brown County Fair this year for exhibiting all of these projects. The following are their placings and the resulting champions for exhibitors at the Brown County Fair.

 Crops Champions

Ear Corn: Champion – Isaac Lendt

Ear Corn: Reserve Champion – Alex Confer

Shelled Corn: Champion – Isaac Lendt

Shelled Corn: Reserve Champion – Jasmine Petermann

Soybeans: Champion – Logan Mack

Soybeans: Reserve Champion – Jose Castorena

Oats: Champion – Oliver Trebesch

Oats: Reserve Champion – JP Montemayor

Winter Wheat: Champion – Gavin Fischer

Winter Wheat: Reserve Champion – Wyatt Feucht

Spring Wheat: Champion – Wyatt Feucht

Spring Wheat: Reserve Champion – Oliver Trebesch

Miscellaneous: Champion – Makayla Strong

Miscellaneous: Reserve Champion – Cassie Muehlbauer

Organic Ear Corn: Champion – Jasmine Petermann

Organic Shelled Corn: Champion – Jasmine Petermann

Organic Shelled Corn: Reserve Champion – Jasmine Petermann

Organic Soybeans: Champion – Makayla Strong

Organic Soybeans: Reserve Champion – Ava Sellner

Organic Oats: Champion – Alex Confer

Organic Oats: Reserve Champion – Jasmine Petermann

Organic Wheat: Champion – Ethan Feucht

Organic Wheat: Reserve Champion – Jasmine Petermann

Ag Literacy:

Animal Science Grades 7-9

Champion – Laylana Hoffmann

Reserve Champion – Mia Walter

Leadership Grades 7-9

Champion – Jace Schauman

Reserve Champion – Megan Sellner

Plant Science Grades 7-9

Champion – Natalie Fulmer

Reserve Champion – Jaxon Saenz

Plant Science Grades 10-12

Champion – Emma Weilage (Overall Best in Show)

Reserve Champion – Kyle Capacia

Natural Resources and Environmental Systems Grades 7-9

Champion – Ethan Feucht

Reserve Champion – Elsie Trebesch

 Natural Resources and Environmental Systems Grades 10-12

Champion – Gavin Strong

Reserve Champion – Noemi Rodriguez

 Animal Science Grades 10-12

Champion – Kadence Hesse

Reserve Champion – Kadence Lund

Food Products and Processing Grades 10-12

Champion – Jose Castorena

Reserve Champion – Kadence Lund

Ag Mechanics:

Electrification

Champion – Nathan Rathman

Reserve Champion – Katalina Gonzalez

Metals:

Small Project

Champion – Brayden Suess

Medium Project

Champion – Kamille Capacia

Reserve Champion – Makayla Strong

Small Decorative Project

Champion – Kennedy Braun

Reserve Champion – Cameron Schottle

Medium Decorative Project

Champion – Logan Mack

Reserve Champion – Caden Evers

Large Decorative Project

Champion – Nathan Rathman (Overall Best in Show)

Reserve Champion – Cameron Moore

Multi Class/Other:

Small Project

Champion – Carsten Nienhaus

Reserve Champion – Arianna Hernandez

 Medium Project

Champion – Ari Krzmarzick

Reserve Champion – Logan Ludewig

 Large Project

Champion – Jasmine Petermann

Reserve Champion – Winsten Nienhaus

Wood Working:

Small Project

Champion – Jared Trebesch

Reserve Champion – Caleb Suess

Medium Project

Champion – Manuelle Poplow

Reserve Champion – Jared Trebesch

Large Project

Champion – Ari Krzmarzick

Reserve Champion – Logan Ludewig

LIVESTOCK RESULTS

FFA Beef: Breeding Beef

Reserve Champion – Jasmine Petermann

FFA Poultry:

Chickens Overall Champion, Best in Show – Winsten Nienhaus

Ducks

Reserve Champion – Carsten Nienhaus

 FFA Rabbit:

Large Breed Champion, Reserve Overall Best in Show – Winsten Nienhaus

FFA Sheep:

Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb – Elsie Trebesch

The FFA chapters within Brown County also conducted the FFA Kiddy Barn during the five days of the fair. It was a huge success thanks to the many FFA members from Sleepy Eye, Springfield, and New Ulm who worked shifts during the fair as well as the people who donated animals for the Kiddy Barn. 40 members of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter participated in helping children have a great experience with baby animals and learning about farm safety and agriculture while at the fair.

The FFA Kiddy Barnyard exhibited newborn farm animals donated by several families including:  Spring Creek Dairy (Holstein Calf), Port Haven Dairy (Brown Swiss Calf), Alex Schroeder (Ayrshire Calf), and Cold Creek Farms (Piglets), Runnings (Chicks).

The FFA Kiddy Barnyard also had an agriculture coloring & activity station as well as a safety carnival. At the safety carnival, FFA members conducted several games with safety questions covering grain, ATV’s, tractors & machinery, animals, and chemicals. The members of the Sleepy Eye chapter had a great time teaching youth at the Kiddy Barnyard about animals and safety as well as showcasing their FFA projects during the Brown County Fair.

This is one of the four groups of Sleepy Eye FFA members that helped out at Farmfest during the week. Pictured l to r – front: Alex Confer, Karina Martinez, Anna Johnson, Clark Lazatin, Noah Rossbach, Carter Lazatin. Back: Charlie Hoffmann, Eric Lozano, Robert Romberg, Colton Romberg, Kayden Klein, Daniel Armstrong, James Moore, Cameron Moore.

From August 6th through August 8th, FFA members from Sleepy Eye traveled to Farmfest to teach youth and families about various farm safety topics. Set up for the event was August 5th which included putting up the tent and setting up the nine safety stations.

The following 28 members helped with setting up and conducting activities for the week: Karina Martinez, Kenley Jensen, Ari Krzmarzick, Lucia Martinez Paredes, Thomas Gent, Alex Confer, Ethan Feucht, Clark Lazatin, James Moore, Taylor Berkner, Noah Rossbach, Carter Lazatin, Eric Lozano, Cameron Moore, Kailey Fulmer, Natalie Fulmer, Ella Arkins, Colton Romberg, Robert Romberg, Jace Schauman, Jaelynn Schauman, Kayden Klein, Daniel Armstrong, Anna Johnson, Charlie Hoffmann, Mateo Hornsby, Ava Sellner, Logan Ludewig.

FFA advisors, Mary Hoffmann, Katie Emmett, and Paul Hendrickx also attended the event along with summer intern Morgan Hoffmann. Throughout the three days that FFA members were present at Farmfest, they were able to educate over 1716 youth and their families.

The Sleepy Eye FFA worked with the RedBrownVille Farm Safety for Just Kids chapter which includes members from three counties and sponsorship from AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Farmward/Ag. Quest, Kibble Equipment, Redwood Area Chamber Ag. Committee, and IDEAg.

The name Farm Safety for Just Kids is a collaboration of Redwood, Brown, and Renville counties who have worked together since 2006 to help inform and prevent injuries and accidents on the farm and around machinery, making the farm a safer place by showing kids the danger of certain situations.

The youth who attended had the opportunity to play nine safety games/demonstrations including Pinch Points (Chains and Belts), Tractor Safety, Auger Safety, Wheel of Misfortune, Plinko (Farm Safety Trivia), Bridged Grain, Gravity Wagon Safety, Chemical Safety, and Tug of War with Grain.

Each kid was given a card that was then marked off at every station. When they had finished going to each station, they were given prizes. The prizes included: water bottles, cinch bags, coloring books, pencils, flashlights, and more.

Sleepy Eye FFA worked alongside the Wabasso, Redwood Valley, and Tracy FFA Chapters. All of the members who volunteered their time at the safety carnival successfully helped inform youth while also making it a fun experience for those who attended.

If you would like to be a part of Farm Safety Just for Kids feel free to contact Mary Hoffmann, FFA advisor at Sleepy Eye Public School