The FFA Summer All-Stars are Announced! These members participated in at least seven summer FFA events in 2021. Front (L-R): Ellen Windschitl, Morgan Hoffmann, Presley Bauer, Isaac Lendt, Winsten Nienhaus, and Kaytlyn Romberg. Middle (L-R): Leisha Martinez, Adam Johnson, Erika Lozano, Marcus Martinez, Alex Confer, and Emma Contreras-Ramirez. Back (L-R): Nayzeth Luna, Mason Myers, Lucia Martinez, Miah Brown, Jake Price, Alex Joramo, Alexys Odegard, Carmen Lendt, Abigail Hornsby, Hailey Meinert, and Sam Price. Not pictured: Dallas Brazle, Brooke Arneson, Gracie Sellner, Katelyn Capacia, and Maddi Helget.

By Brooke Arneson, Chapter Reporter

As the summer comes to an end, the Sleepy Eye FFA chapter is proud to recognize a select group of dedicated members who contributed much of their time to FFA. These 28 members were honored as the 2021 Sleepy Eye FFA Summer All-Stars.

  In order for these students to become a summer all-star, each student had to attend or participate in seven FFA events or activities over the summer months.

Some of the numerous activities that students were able to participate in include: Teaching farm safety at Party in the Park and Farm Fest, End of Summer Celebration Parade, FFA Kiddy Barn at the Brown County Fair, and Hands-on Ag. Classes.

FFA members had many other opportunities that could contribute to their recognition. Students could show livestock at the county fair, attend leadership camps, assist with roadside clean-up as well as the United Way backpack project, and go on the Summer Ag Tours.

These events were able to happen thanks to our dedicated members. Congrats to our Summer All-Stars!

Twenty-nine Ag. Students attended the Jr. High FFA Kick Off Meeting on Friday, August 27th. Pictured left to right: front- Rheanna Stone, Sydney Zarn, Leah Kucera, Andrew Ramos, Maria Galaviz-Camacho, Carter Lazatin, Noah Rossbach, Daniel Armstrong, Jony Flores, Megan Sellner. Middle- Katlyn Romberg, Rylee Jennissen, Macy Martinez, Lucia Martinez, Hannah Meyer, Jacob Fulmer. Back- Damazion Porter, Alex Confer, Karylem Gonzalez, Sophia Chuc-Feliciano, Jaelynn Schauman, Sam Price, Kayden Klein, Gavin Fischer, Shea Evers, Dillon Gerzsik, Carson Uecker. Not pictured: Robert Romberg, Emma Weilage.

On August 27th, seventh and eighth graders from Sleepy Eye Public and St. Mary’s Schools attended the Kick-Off FFA event. These 29 students spent the afternoon learning more about FFA and all of the opportunities it has to offer. The FFA Chapter Officers and Ms. Emmett had much to do with the success of the event.

The event started with kickball and a fun game called ships and sailors. Next students were introduced to FFA opportunities including Career Development Teams, service activities, and more. The students enjoyed pizza and rounded out the event with a game called hot seat.

The junior high students got to have fun, learn about FFA opportunities, and learn more about each other. This event was very successful and encouraged Jr. High students to join and become involved in FFA because it could be life-changing.

From left: Kate Nelson (SEEA President, Mary Hoffmann (Ag Teacher), Mary Ann Christensen, and Sarah Eckstein (School Councilor)

The Sleepy Eye Education Association named Mary Ann Christensen as their 2021-2022 Friend of Education.

Christensen joins previous award winners Mel Cook and Duke Cook, Arneson Distributing, Dave Vosbeck, Julia Coulson, Darla Remus, Karen Okerman, Shari Hittesdorf and Denny Mangen.

The following was the nomination:

“Mary Ann Christensen is a huge supporter for our school and many dif­ferent programs. She is sponsoring the third Ag. Teacher for the program, as well as a counselor for five years! Mary Ann also donated $20,000 to the school last December for Student Incentives, Staff Appreciation, CTE equipment needs, and much more. It has been so fun to give staff members gifts and words of appreciation each week.”

’’Mary Ann is a light in our commu­nity that shines so bright. She believes success breeds success and puts her monetary donations behind it. Never as an educator have I or [counselor] Sarah Eckstein ever been asked by a community supporter, ‘What are the top five things on your wish list?’ And then to have her follow through with the wishes and make them realities has been amaz­ing. Mary Ann Christensen is truly de­serving of this award and is definitely a Friend of Education.”

Adam Johnson, Sleepy Eye FFA 2nd Vice President, is testing the reaction time of youth for this Wheel of Misfortune demonstration on different accidents that can occur on farms. 

On Wednesday, August 4th, FFA members helped to educate people on the numerous farm safety topics. Members included (from left to right): Front- Miah Brown, Morgan Hoffmann, and Nayzeth Luna. Back- Adam Johnson, Leisha Martinez, Jake Price, Taylor Berkner, and Sam Price. 

By: Brooke Arneson, Chapter Reporter

From August 3rd through August 5th, 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 2nd which included putting up the tent and setting up the nine safety stations.

The following members helped with setting up and conducting activities for the week: Erika Lozano, Hailey Meinert, Maddi Helget, Presley Bauer, Adam Johnson, Morgan Hoffmann, Jake Price, Miah Brown, Alex Joramo, Leisha Martinez, Marcus Martinez, Ellen Windschitl, Sean Martin, Kaytlyn Romberg, Mateo Hornsby, Abi Hornsby, Nayzeth Luna, Taylor Berkner, Sam Price, and Gracie Sellner.

FFA advisors, Mary Hoffmann, Katie Emmett, McKenzie Cselovszki, along with the summer intern, Taylor Peck, also attended the event. Throughout the three days that FFA members were present at Farmfest, they were able to educate over 1,000 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, Land ‘O Lakes, Redwood Area Chamber Ag. Committee, and Bayer.

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.

Sleepy Eye School Staff Recognition was held Monday (Aug. 16) with the following being recognized: First Row: Barb Seifert-15 years, Sarah Eckstein-10 years, Caitlyn Pietig-5 years, Emily Reding-5 years, Deanna Nelson-15 years, Megan Koenigs-5 years. Second Row: Alicia Beltz-5 years, Kari Schieffert-15 years, Shane Laffen-15 years, Kevin Schneider-20 years, Sandy Brinkman-30 years, Casie Braulick-10 years and Kate Nelson-10 years.

FFA Members attend leadership camp in Sleepy Eye. Pictured l to r – Front: Nicole Koziolek (State FFA Secretary), Miah Brown, Winsten Nienhaus, Presley Bauer, Anna Ridenour (State FFA Reporter). Row 2: Wyatt Halvorson (State Vice President), Maddi Helget, Morgan Hoffmann, Nayzeth Luna, Brooke Arneson, Sean Martin, Kyle Thomas (State Treasurer). Back: Baleigh Peterson (State Sentinel), Leisha Martinez, Marcus Martinez, Alex Joramo, Ellen Windschitl, Emily Matejka (State President).

Summer 2021 has been marked by a return to activity after nearly a year and a half of restrictions.  July 26 – August 6 found Minnesota FFA members taking advantage of a brand new opportunity – one-day events held in seven locations across Minnesota.

Twelve Sleepy Eye FFA members ranging from 8^th – 12^th grade participated in the one day camp in Sleepy Eye.

“After the challenges of 2020 and 2021, we knew that we needed to help students take the step toward engaging in in-person opportunities and that it might require us to reimagine how we’ve traditionally delivered state level leadership events,” Minnesota FFA’s Executive Director Juleah Tolosky said.

For much of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, Minnesota FFA programs were developed as virtual or hybrid experiences to safeguard not only the health and safety of individual students, but the schools they would return to.  The alleviation of restrictions at the end of spring made it possible to imagine in-person events that would reengage students in activities on the local, regional and state levels.

Partners throughout Minnesota opened their doors to make the events possible.  Braham High School, Central Lakes College in Staples, Ridgewater College in Willmar, Sleepy Eye Public High School, North Dakota State University, Kingsland High School in Spring Valley and South Central College in Mankato all committed time and space.  The Minnesota FFA Foundation and Minnesota FFA Alumni committed funds to keep participation fees as low as possible.

“I am thankful not only that we get to interact with FFA members in person but that we get to do it in a setting that lets us experience the local culture of so many of our partners and programs,” State FFA Secretary Nicole Koziolek shared.  Whether seeing program highlights in Braham, getting hands-on career exploration in Staples or Willmar or celebrating Minnesota’s Agricultural Education Teacher of the Year in Sleepy Eye, events held throughout the state allowed the student leaders to experience the diverse achievements and opportunities available to Minnesota FFA members.

“Our goal is to provide an experience that lights the fire underneath FFA members again after a long period of time where almost every event felt like it was cancelled. We want students to return to the upcoming year eager to grab opportunities and lead their schools.  We want them to know that it is okay to be excited, again… and we also want them to know that we all have some room for growth and we need to take responsibility for seizing those opportunities if we want them to happen.”

FFA members participated in activities focused on leading after difficulty, recruiting others, evaluating their chapter’s strengths and opportunities, recognizing opportunity, taking ownership of their attitude and levelling up their personal FFA experience.

This group of FFA members helped to inventory all of the school supplies for the United Way Backpack Project. Pictured l to r – Adam Johnson, Brooke Arneson, Morgan Hoffmann, Presley Bauer, Maddison Helget, Leisha Martinez, and Alex Joramo.

Each year, approximately 400 backpacks are filled with grade and school district appropriate school supplies and given to qualifying children throughout Brown County through the United Way Backpack Project.

Children in grades K-8 in Brown County who qualify for the free lunch program can participate in this program. United Way has teamed up with local school districts, the Salvation Army, BIC Graphic, Bank Midwest and many area businesses to make this opportunity available to families in the Brown County area.

Supplies that have been donated need to be sorted and inventoried to figure out which supplies still need to be purchased. The Sleepy Eye FFA had 11 volunteers come together to help sort the supplies at the New Ulm Event Center on Thursday, July 29. Our volunteers included: FFA members, our FFA advisors, and our Sleepy Eye Summer Ag. Program Intern. Later, after all of the supplies had been gathered, volunteers will help to pack the 400 backpacks for the students in need.

Thank you to the local businesses who helped collect donations in our communities this July for the project. Our FFA members are able to utilize United Way funds to help cover costs for FFA events throughout the year and we were happy to give back by helping out with this project!