On Friday, November 19th, fifth and sixth graders from Sleepy Eye Public and sixth and seventh graders from Sleepy Eye Saint Mary’s attended JA BizTown in St. Paul. They prepared by learning how to balance a checkbook and write checks, learn about different careers, as well as be interviewed by community members. At JA BizTown, a simulated town, each student was assigned a job and had to successfully perform the duties. They also needed to be an engaged citizen who spent money at other businesses in order for the town to succeed. The students learned a lot of valuable lessons and had a great time.

Kdgn- Everlee Rasmussen  Kdgn- Spencer Fix

1^st – Bentley Cooper          1^st – Pablo Castro

2^nd– Madison Hoffman        2^nd – Isabella Ruiz

3^rd – Aubrey Kuelbs            3^rd – Miles Krzmarzick

4^th –Sebastian Gonzalez     4^th – Landen Thedens

5^th – Natalie Fulmer             5^th – Suri Hernandez-Espinoza

6^th – Chloe Okerman           6^th – Connor Mack

The St. Mary’s Elementary Student Council organized a Thanksgiving Food Drive for the pre-k-12 grades at St. Mary’s Catholic School. They collect 276 pounds of food for the Sleepy Eye Food Shelf. (Clockwise from left) Darrin Mathiowetz, Mason Mathiowetz, Tommy Schwartz, Grady Folkens, Cooper Walter, Jalen Brandl, Nolan Kucera, Kate Windschitl, Izik Heiderscheidt, Dustin Portner, Scarlett Armbruster, Ethan Helget, and Miles Pelzel (not pictures: Mason Krzmarzick and Anna Pollard).

Front Row: Brennen Meyer-Social Studies, Shelby Hertling-Art, Cristal Schmidtknecht-Music, Noemi Rodriguez-Mathematics, and Mateo Hornsby-Science. Back Row: Dawson Friton-Career Exploration, Taylor Lambrecht-English, Brissa Hernandez-Physical Education, Arath Cortez-Agriculture, Landon Wendinger-World Languages,  and Brayden Heiderscheidt-Health

By: Chapter Reporter, Brooke Arneson

Member of the Month

Kyle Capacia is in 10th grade and has been in FFA for 4 years. He joined FFA because his siblings are in FFA and he wanted to try something new. Kyle is on the Nursery and Landscape team. His favorite part of his CDE is the variety of plants and tools that he gets to look at and study. Kyle’s favorite FFA activity was the lock-in. He is looking forward to Timberland Camp the most this year. So far from being in FFA, Kyle has become more comfortable and better at speaking in front of people. He has also learned how to be more responsible and a better leader. The awards Kyle is most proud of include the Freshman Leadership Award and the Try Hard Award in the volleyball tournament.

Member of the Month 

Nathan Rathman is in 10th grade and has been in FFA for 4 years. He is on the Soils team and enjoys going to competitions. For his SAE, Nathan does field work for Diversified Crop Production. His favorite FFA activity was the lock-in and he would like to try crop judging in the future. So far Nathan has learned how to weld from being in Ag. class and he has really enjoyed helping out the officer team this year. Nathan is most proud of earning the Top Fruit Sales award.

Member of the Month 

Leah Kucera is in 7th grade and this is her first year in FFA. She joined FFA because Ms. Wagelie invited her to join the horse judging team, which is her CDE. She enjoys her CDE because she loves horses and it is a fun way to study them. For Leah’s SAE, she works and trains with horses. Her favorite FFA activities so far were the CDE competition and the FFA horse show in Slayton. Leah is looking forward to seeing what FFA is all about and meeting more people. So far she has learned more about horses and FFA in general, as she did not know much prior to joining. The award she is most proud of is placing 7th out of 59 individuals at her first horse judging competition.

Officer of the month 

Maddi Helget is in 12th grade and has been in FFA for 6 years. She originally joined FFA because her friends were members, but she has continued to stay in FFA to gain new skills and build better relationships. Maddi is serving as the 1^st Vice President for our FFA Officer Team. As the vice president, she likes to coordinate and organize events like monthly meetings and Wee Deliver. For her CDE, Maddi participates on the Soils team. She enjoys making new friends through the team and learning more about soil since her dad works in a soil testing lab. Maddi’s favorite FFA activity is officer bonding. For the rest of the year, she is looking forward to possibly another lock-in, as well as more officer bonding activities. By being in FFA, Maddi has learned that FFA is not just about farming, but that almost everything we do relates to agriculture in some way and we should learn to appreciate it. The awards that Maddi has earned that she is most proud of include: the Phoenix Award, winning first at Invitationals, Regions, and State, and having the opportunity to attend Nationals for Poultry.

St. Mary’s Elementary School’s Top 20 Pledge Earners for the Marathon for Non-Public Educations include (back row, left to right): Landon Platz, Cooper Walter, Harper Armbruster, Stella Schieffert, Ruby Tauer, Scarlett Armbruster, and Miles Pelzel. Middle row: Lillian Schwartz, Shelby Schmid, Adam Tauer, Justin Marti, Jaxon Schroepfer, Mason Mathiowetz, and Easton Walter. Front row: Blake Schwartz, Ben Schwartz, Leo Seidl, Ryker Lux, Sam Schultz, and Henry Armbruster.

By Leisha Martinez, FFA Reporter

Member of the Month

Daniel Armstrong is in the 8^th Grade and has been in FFA for two years. He joined FFA because he wanted to get more involved in school activities and wants to be a farmer when he grows up. Daniel is on the Forestry CDE team and enjoys it because he likes to be outside and he wanted to try something new. His SAE is working at a gas station. Daniel’s favorite FFA activity is painting pumpkins for the nursing home residents. Something he would like to try in FFA would be going on an Ag tour to a farm for a day and going to State for Forestry. Daniel has learned a lot from Ag. classes including: how to make butter, how to properly operate shop tools and so much more. The awards he is most proud of are being Tagged to Teach Ag., becoming a Jr FFA Officer, and Member of the Month.

Member of the Month

Jaellynn Schauman is in the 8^th grade and has been in FFA for two years. She joined FFA because she thought it would be full of fun opportunities. Jaelynn is on the Forestry CDE team. She likes her team and going to the competitions so she can put all of her hard work into place. Jaelynn’s favorite FFA activity is making cards for the Adopt-a-Senior and Wee Deliver Programs for the elderly and her 3^rd grade buddy. Something she is looking forward to is getting to meet her Wee Deliver Buddy. Jaelynn has learned a lot in Ag classes, such as how to cook different foods in Farm to Table and in her CDE she has learned a lot about trees, how to measure them and figure out the board feet. Jaelynn is most proud of making it to state for Forestry, this Member of the Month Award, and getting her Discovery Degree.

Member of the Month

Marcus Martinez is in the 10^th grade and has been in FFA for four years. He joined FFA to find new friends and learn about agriculture. Marcus is on the Nursery Landscape CDE team and he has learned how to identify plants and tools in the landscape industry. His SAE is taking down siding. Marcus’s favorite FFA activity is FFA Volleyball Tournaments. He is looking forward to running for an FFA officer position next year. By being in Ag. Classes and FFA, Marcus has learned that there are opportunities for everyone to make friends and learn about agriculture through FFA activities. The awards he is the most proud of include: Freshman Leadership Award, Summer FFA All-Star, and the Hardest Server Award for the Volleyball Tournament.

Officer of the Month

Katelyn Capacia is in the 12^th grade and has been an FFA member for six years. She joined FFA because her older brother was in it when he was in school and he said FFA was fun. Katelyn is the Chapter Historian where she makes the picture posters for the Ag. Room. She enjoys taking pictures and looking through all of the pictures of the different FFA events. Katelyn is on the Milk Quality and Products CDE team and loves being able to eat the cheese. Her favorite FFA activity is Officer Bonding. Something she is looking forward to this year is going to State FFA Convention. Katelyn is hoping many CDE teams are able to advance to state so they can attend. Through FFA, Katelyn has learned that being involved in the FFA activities can really help you build leadership skills.  The awards she is the most proud of include: placing 1^st individually in the Region Contest for Milk Quality, being a Summer FFA All-Star, and being a FFA Junior Leadership Award Winner.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter had 9 members attend the 94th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Pictured L to r – front: Presley Bauer, Erika Lozano, Hailey Meinert, Katelyn Capacia, Miah Brown. Back: Lee Wahlborg, Gunny Coulson, Adam Johnson, Alex Joramo, Advisor Katie Emmett.

SLEEPY EYE NAMED THREE STAR NATIONAL CHAPTER: Sleepy Eye FFA was named a THREE Star National Chapter for growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture activities. Pictured l to r on stage at National FFA Convention- Paxton Dahmer, National FFA Central Region Vice President; Katelyn Capacia, Chapter Historian; Presley Bauer, Chapter Student Advisor.

By: Brooke Arneson, Chapter Reporter

The 94th National FFA Convention took place from October 26-October 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. In attendance were over 50,000 FFA members from around the country, along with some of our own dedicated members. The city was encompassed with the colors of blue and gold as FFA members spread the message of agriculture. Members also learned how to be successful in life and met many new members from across our nation.

Nine Sleepy Eye FFA members attended the National Convention, including Erika Lozano, Hailey Meinert, Miah Brown, Presley Bauer, Katelyn Capacia, Adam Johnson, Alex Joramo, Gunny Coulson, and Lee Wahlborg. Ms. Katie Emmett was the chaperone for the trip.

Students were exposed to an agricultural based career expo, heard dynamic speakers, and were inspired by energetic and motivating general sessions at the largest annual student convention in the country.

During Convention, the Sleepy Eye FFA was named a THREE Star National Chapter for growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture activities that the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter highlighted in their National Chapter Award application. Three stars is the highest ranking out of 1, 2, or 3 stars being awarded by National FFA. Officers Katelyn Capacia and Presley Bauer accepted this award on behalf of our chapter.

Along with the FFA Convention, members were given the opportunity to attend several tours in Indiana. The tours include: Broken Wagon Bison, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ozark Fisheries, and Not Just Popcorn. The convention also featured a country music concert, a rodeo, and a hypnotist show. Our members were able to get great hands-on learning experiences and opportunities while making lots of memories.

While at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, all of the Sleepy Eye FFA members took time to work behind the scenes at the KNUJ Media Booth. They assisted Jim Bartels in interviewing different FFA Chapters around the state of Minnesota about their convention experiences and FFA activities. Our members also interviewed on the radio about their own experiences and activities they are participating in for FFA.

We want to thank our Sleepy Eye Ag. Boosters, local businesses, and the Sleepy Eye School district for supporting our FFA chapter and providing the chance for our members to attend convention. Without your support, our members would not have opportunities like these.

October 2021 Students of the Month

Kdgn- William Petersen      Kdgn- Karmela Krenz

1^st – Brynnley Helget          1^st – Kaitlyn Ziegenhagen

2^nd– Evelin Larios – 2^nd        2^nd – Jaxon Bastian

3^rd – Madelyn Jensen          3^rd – Jax Ramirez

4^th – Kylie Fischer               4^th – Miah Rayas

5^th – Kaylie Fulmer             5^th – Joceleen Cortez

6^th – Luis Rodriguez            6^th – Makayla Strong

The St. Mary’s MN Honor Society students collected 706 pounds of food on Halloween night for the Sleepy Eye Area Food Shelf.