Julia Helget, daughter of Jenny and Bill, and Jackson Huiras, son of Jennifer Theisen and Corey Huiras, were named the Sleepy Eye Lion’s Club September Students of the Month.  Julia is a senior at St. Mary’s High School while Jackson will graduate in the spring from Sleepy Eye High School.

Morgan Hoffmann, daughter of Mary and Dan, and Jackson Huiras, son of Jen Theisen and Cory Huiras were crowned 2021 Sleepy Eye High School Homecoming royalty at a coronation held Friday Oct. 1. The court included from left: Maddi Helget, Erizen Traconis, Carmen Lendt, Mason Sellner, Maddy Jensen, Jaxon Peterson, Katelyn Capacia, Brennon Meyer, Brooklyn Moldan and Trey Heiderscheidt.

St. Mary’s High School crowned their 2021 homecoming Queen, Reagan Severson, and King, Jacob Stevens. The court included (from left): Carson Domeier, Julia Helget, Joey Herzog, Kya Krzmarzick, Avery Cook, Quinn Cook, Madison Mathiowetz, Jadon Schroepfer, Maya Nelson, Trent Steffensmeier.

Reagan is the daughter of Mark and Rachel Severson and Jacob is the son of Jenny and Joel Stevens.

ighteen Sleepy Eye Ag. students were tagged by the FFA advisors. Front (L-R): Macey Ludewig, Landon Wendinger, Lucia Martinez, and Isabelle Kunkel. Middle (L-R): Samantha Price, Kaleb Butenhoff, Lee Wahlborg, Anna Rossbach, and Nathan Rathman. Back (L-R): Cristal Joy Schmidtknecht, Brooke Arneson, Nayzeth Luna, Daniel Armstrong, Rachel Portner, Caleb Suess, and Jaelynn Schauman. Not pictured: Kyla Capacia.

By: Brooke Arneson, Chapter Reporter

On Thursday, September 16th, numerous FFA members were recognized on National Teach Ag. Day. Members who were selected were “tagged” by Sleepy Eye Ag.Teachers Mrs. Mary Hoffmann, Ms. Katie Emmett, and Mrs. McKenzie Wagelie. National Teach Ag. Day was celebrated here and all around the country as Ag. Teachers showcased a career they love.

There were a total of 18 members who were selected for this award. The chosen members were selected because they show the potential to be a future Ag. Teacher. All of the awarded members were given a Tagged to Teach Ag. T-shirt, designed by Mary Hoffmann. Previously tagged students were able to stop by and get a prize from the National Teach Ag Campaign.

Last year, 132 Ag. Education positions were available across Region 3, which includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The average base starting salary of an Ag. Teacher in the area was approximately $42,069. Additionally, 46 new agricultural education positions and 20 new agricultural education programs were added in Region 3 over the past year due to the interest by students and schools. Ag. Teachers had an average number of 24 extended/summer contract days in 2020.

There is a clear need for more students who are passionate about agriculture to pursue Ag. Education as a career.  National Teach Ag. Day draws more attention to the shortage issue and hopes to inspire students around the country to become Ag. Teachers.

“LOVE WHAT YOU DO, DO WHAT YOU LOVE – TEACH AG!” states Mrs. Hoffmann, Ms. Emmett, and Mrs. Wagelie.

St. Mary’s High School Homecoming Week begins September 25th with the Homecoming Game played October 1st.

Front Row L-R: Junior Attendants Quinn Cook and Avery Cook
Middle Row L-R: Reagan Severson, Madison Mathiowetz, Julia Helget, Maya Nelson, Kya Krzmarzick
Back Row L-R: Jadon Schroepfer, Jacob Stevens, Carson Domeier, Trent Steffensmeier, Joey Herzog.

Jasmine Petermann of the Sleepy Eye FFA chapter had a great Minnesota State Fair. She was the 2nd Place Overall New Exhibitor as well as the 4th Top Overall Exhibitor.

Winsten Nienhaus, Sleepy Eye FFA Officer-at-Large exhibited the Champion Introductory Wood Project at the Minnesota State Fair.

By: Leisha Martinez, Chapter Reporter

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was once again well represented at the State Fair in 2021.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter won the Minnesota State Fair Crop Show with a total of 1646 points. Jackson was awarded 2nd place with 805 points. There were 95 Sleepy Eye FFA members exhibiting 405 crop entries. This was the 11th year that Sleepy Eye has won the Minnesota State Fair in the past 13 years.

Sleepy Eye FFA Members who were Top 10 Finishers in the Minnesota FFA State Fair Crop Show –

Jasmine Petermann – 4th Place

Morgan Hoffmann – 6th Place

Jacob Schultz – 7th Place

Top New Exhibitors for the Minnesota State Fair FFA Crop Show:

Jasmine Petermann – 2nd Place

Carter Lazatin – 3rd Place

Alex Dominguez – 4th Place

Caden Evers – 5th Place

The other division that the Sleepy Eye FFA members exhibited projects in was Ag. Mechanics. Our members and their placings included:

Winsten Nienhaus – Blue Ribbon and Champion in the Introductory Wood Division with his American Flag Shelf

Sophie Kyllonen – 2^nd Place Red Ribbon Introductory Metal Project with her Metal Plant Hanger

Lydia Huiras – Blue Ribbon Introductory Wood with a Wood Planter

Morgan Hoffmann – Blue Ribbon Intermediate Wood with a Bean Bag Board Set and Ladder Golf Combination.

The August Patroller of the Month for Sleepy Eye Public School is Caleb Oscarson – 6th grade