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

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.