The Soils Team was 5th in the Region VI FFA Contest. Pictured l to r – Maddi Helget, Nathan Rathman, Caleb Suess
The Forestry Team placed 4th in the Region Contest. Pictured l to r – Taylor Berkner, Sam Price, Jaelynn Schauman, Hannah Meyer, Daniel Armstrong.
The Horse Team took tied for 3rd place at the Region Contest. Pictured l to r – Ellen Windschitl, Sophie Gustafson, Leah Kucera, Sydney Zarn.
The Poultry Team took 2nd in the Region VI FFA Contest in Sherburn on October 12th: Pictured l to r – Adam Johnson, Isaac Lendt, Winsten Nienhaus, Anna Rossbach.
By: Leisha Martinez, Reporter
On October 12th, FFA Members in four Career Development Events (CDE’S) ventured to Sherburn to compete in the Region VI Fall CDE competition.
The Poultry CDE involves judging chicken and turkey carcasses, eggs, processed poultry, chicken parts identification, and taking a poultry knowledge test.
The poultry team was the 2nd Place Team overall and qualified for the state competition in the spring. The team consisted of Adam Johnson (1st place individual), Isaac Lendt (2nd place individual), Winsten Nienhaus (6th place individual), and Anna Rossbach.
For the Horse CDE, members judge halter classes, performance classes (western pleasure, hunt seat, English pleasure, western riding, western horsemanship, and trail), and also identify breeds, colors, markings, and tack.
The horse team tied for third place in the competition. Team members included: Leah Kucera (7th place individual), Sydney Zarn, Sophie Gustafson, and Ellen Windschitl.
In the soils contest, members judge different soil profiles, and identify soil characteristics, including texture, depths, and erosion potential.
The soils team placed 5th in the competition and earned a trip to state. Team members included: Maddi Helget (7th place individual), Nathan Rathman, and Caleb Suess.
For the forestry contest, members identify trees, wood, and tools used in the forestry industry; measure trees; take a forestry exam; solve business management problems; and use a compass and pacing to figure out the bearing and distance.
The forestry team placed 4th overall in the Region VI Contest and qualified for state. The team members included: Daniel Armstrong (top scorer on team), Jaelynn Schauman, Sam Price, Hannah Meyer, and Taylor Berkner.
By: Chapter Reporter, Leisha Martinez
Member of the Month
Sam Price is in 8th grade and has been in FFA for 2 years. She originally joined FFA for all the fun activities and meeting new people. Sam is on the Forestry team. She likes the team because she likes nature and measuring trees. Sam’s favorite FFA activity is the Summer Ag activities. She is looking forward to being on the Junior FFA officer team. Through FFA, she’s learned that it is good to go out of your comfort zone and try new things. Sam is proud of getting 8 awards for her crops in the Crop Show.
Member of the Month
Kaleb Butenhoff is in 11th grade and has been in FFA for 2 years. He joined FFA for its fun activities! For Kaleb’s SAE, he is working at Casey’s General Store. His favorite FFA activity is Volleyball nights at the meetings. He’s looking forward to more meetings to come. What Kaleb has learned from Ag. Classes and FFA is that you don’t have to be a farmer to be in FFA. He is most proud of earning this Member of the Month Award.
Member of the Month
Andrew Ramos is in 8th grade and has been in FFA for one year. He originally joined FFA to learn about his community, to have fun, and to improve his resume. Andrew is on the Horse team. He likes the team for its adventures and his teammates make it very exciting. One of Andrew’s favorite FFA activities is Horse judging. He is also striving to become our very own president when he’s older. In Ag. Classes, he has learned that teamwork does really work and about dairy including how milk is processed.
Officer of the month
Brooke Arneson is in 11th grade and has been in FFA for 3 years. She joined FFA so that she could gain more knowledge of agriculture, important life skills, and to make more friends. Brooke has been serving as a reporter for our FFA Officer Team. She enjoys taking pictures during FFA events and writing articles so that the public can learn more about our chapter. Brooke is on the Floriculture team. She enjoys learning about the names of new plants and flowers. She also enjoys making floral arrangements at the floriculture competitions. For Brookes SAE, she is a lifeguard and teaches swimming lessons at the Sleepy Eye Aquatic Center. Her favorite FFA activity is writing letters to her third grade pen pal. Brooke is looking forward to all the fun chapter meetings each month. By being in FFA, she’s learned the history of agriculture and lots of information regarding numerous plants and animals. The awards Brooke is most proud of include: Top Scholar and the Phoenix Award.
The Sleepy Eye FFA Trap Shoot Team Members who attended at least two shooting events including the State Trapshooting Event at Marshall included: from l to r – Jacob Fulmer, Josh Sellner, Ari Krizmarzick, Caleb Suess, Noah Rossbach, Jake Price, Nathan Rathman, Carter Swenstad, Emma Fischer, Winsten Nienhaus, Kayla Hecht, Gavin Fischer, Jared Trebesch.
Caleb Suess places 5th out 103 individuals in the Sportings Clays Competition at the State Shoot in Marshall.
Jake Price wins Annie Oakley Competition at the Mountain Lake Shoot.
By: Leisha Martinez, FFA Reporter
The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter has completed its trap shooting season. There are three shoots for the season: Springfield, Mt. Lake, and then the State Shoot at Marshall.
Trap shooting and sporting clays are two of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting. The objective of the trap shooting team is to involve students in the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship, ethical behavior, along with safe and responsible use of firearms. The program also helps members develop self-confidence, personal discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork.
The 2021 Sleepy Eye FFA Trap Shoot Team Members who participated in the shoots this year included: Jake Price, Josh Sellner, Carter Swenstad, Gavin Fischer, Nathan Rathman, Sam Price, Caleb Suess, Kayla Hecht, Ari Krzmarzick, Noah Rossbach, Jared Trebesch, Jacob Fulmer, Winsten Nienhaus and Emma Fischer.
The first Trap Shoot event was in Springfield on Saturday, Sept. 11th. Top placing members were Jake Price, Caleb Suess, and Gavin Fischer.
The team then traveled to Mountain Lake on September 18th. At this shoot, the top placing members included: Gavin Fischer (8th top individual overall), Caleb Suess, and Jacob Fulmer. Team 3 finished 3rd overall and members included: Jake Price, Josh Sellner, Carter Swenstad and Gavin Fischer.
Jake Price was also the winner of the Annie Oakley Competition. Annie Oakley rules are as follows: Starting with the shooter on the far left end of the line, the shooting begins. The first shooter calls for a target and must shoot the target on the rise. If he/she hits the target, the next shooter to his/her right will call for a target. If the first shooter misses his/her target, the second shooter must shoot at it. If he/she hits the target, the first shooter is out. If the second shooter misses the target, the third shooter has the option of shooting at it. If he/she hits the target, the first and second shooters are out. If he/she misses it, all shooters are safe and the second shooter will start the next round. This sequence is repeated down the line. When the next-to-last shooter is first, it makes the person on the far left the third shooter. The rotation will continue until there is only one shooter left.
On September 25th, the Sleepy Eye members traveled to Marshall to compete in the State Trap Shoot Event. Top Trap Shooting members included: Caleb Suess, Jake Price and Jared Trebesch. Top Sporting Clay members were Gavin Fischer, Jake Price, and Caleb Suess (5th top individual overall out of 103 participants). Sleepy Eye teams placed 8th and 9th in the state at the Sporting Clays event. The 8th place team included: Jared Trebesch, Jacob Fulmer, Winsten Nienhaus, Kayla Hecht, Emma Fischer. The 9th place team included: Nathan Rathman, Caleb Suess, Ari Krzmarzick, Noah Rossbach.
This year the team was sponsored by the Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club and MDHA Sunriser Chapter. They sponsored shooting registration fees, team T-shirts, and trap loads. Their support is much appreciated by the team members! Also, a big thank you to Mike and Mindy Hardin for helping coach and coordinate the team and events. The team had a great season and is looking forward to next year!
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.
