Mary Hoffmann, Sleepy Eye Ag. Teacher and FFA Advisor inducted into the 2021 Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame.

The Minnesota FFA Alumni Association is proud to announce the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Class of 2021.  These nine inductees will join the 213 members that have been inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame the past seventeen years, including the 75 inaugural members in 2004.  The FFA Hall of Fame is a collaborative effort between the Minnesota FFA Association, Alumni and Foundation.

A selection committee consisting of FFA members, alumni, agricultural educators and foundation representatives selected the final inductees. “We were looking for individuals who have been influential and supportive of Minnesota FFA and who have demonstrated a high level of service and longstanding commitment to agriculture, agribusiness, and/or education in agriculture,” said Steve Olson, co-chair, Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Committee.

Inductees were introduced at the 2021 Minnesota FFA Alumni Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 6^th at the virtual Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters Annual Conference and will be recognized during the virtual State FFA Convention this April.

MINNESOTA FFA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021

• Mary Hoffmann, Sleepy Eye, MN
• Wes Anderson, Appleton, MN
• Dennis Bjorklund, Victoria, MN
• Sarah Dornink, St. Paul, MN
• Michael Dove, New Ulm, MN
• Donna Moenning, Hayfield, MN
• Keith Olander, Staples, MN
• Eric Sawatzke, Kensington, MN
• Harmon Wilts, Kerkhoven, MN

The Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Selection criteria includes:

1. Contributions and service the candidate has provided to agriculture/agribusiness, to education in agriculture and FFA.  Consideration is given to longevity;
2. Leadership to the candidate’s profession, to agriculture, to education and to the FFA;
3. Career accomplishments, honors and recognition;
4. FFA leadership at the local, state, and national level;
5. Leadership and support to other agriculturally related organizations and/or agencies;
6. Responsibilities, leadership and/or services to non-agricultural groups and organizations;
7. Participation and support of philanthropic endeavors; and
8. Service to and participation in activities which promote agriculture, citizenship, education and the FFA.

Mary Hoffmann has been an Ag. Ed. Teacher and FFA Advisor from 1995-present (11 years in Wisconsin and 16 in Minnesota). She has served as a Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators Officer and a National Association of Agricultural Educators Board Member as well as a committee member and chair for numerous region and state committees helping to advance Agricultural Education and FFA.

Hoffmann is a mentor in her school, region, state, and nation. She has hosted numerous summer interns and student teachers from many different colleges in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Hoffmann has also inspired three of her students to become Ag. teachers. She values being able to help a struggling teacher, being able to mentor a student or new teacher, and being there when others need her help and/or motivation. If she can help someone to stay in teaching and not leave the profession, that equals success to her!

Hoffmann is a role model for her students, setting the bar high so they achieve their true potential. She has helped FFA members earn:

• 49 American Degrees
• 153 State Degrees
• 13 State Winning CDE Competitions
• 36 State Winning Proficiencies
• 91 State Top 3 Proficiency Applicants
• 15 National Proficiency Finalist Titles
• 3 National Proficiency Titles
• Qualified 140 State CDE Teams/Events
• Top 10 Land of Service Hours Challenge
• Top 10 National Chapter Award
• Ag. Literacy Challenge Awards
• Gold and Three Star National Chapter Awards
• Minnesota State Fair Crops Show – High Points Chapter

In addition to the organizations she has served, Hoffmann has worked to raise a lot of grant funds. Helping others to continue their professional development and feel value has been a priority for Hoffmann.  She has written different grants in the past seven years to secure funding for state-wide professional development opportunities for Ag. teachers. The grants have included: Basic Woodworking, Food Science and Chemistry, Small Engines, Electricity, Floral Design, Record Keeping, Landscaping, Construction, and Welding for a total of over $150,000. This grant money has been used by hundreds of teachers to better their skills to teach students more advanced techniques in the shop and classroom as well as help provide a better comfort level for teachers in certain areas. This has helped with Agriculture Teacher retention in the state of Minnesota. She also helped plan and find over $8800 in funding for a teacher appreciation and wellness gift packet that will be mailed soon to all 450 agriculture teachers in Minnesota (high school, post-secondary, and farm business management).

Hoffmann has also been a contributor to the local community in several ways including:

• County Food Redistribution Lines Volunteer
• United Way Backpack Program Volunteer
• Sleepy Eye Wide Awakes 4-H Club Leader
• Food for Kids Meal Packing Volunteer
• Coordinated/Made Valentine’s Cards for Veterans
• Coordinated/Made/Donated Tie Blankets to Community
• Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (FS4JK) Chapter and Activities Coordinator

Hoffmann and her students have been fortunate to be able to conduct so many different service projects in Sleepy Eye in the past 15 years, including coming up with new service projects throughout the pandemic. She never wanted to tell people what they couldn’t do because of the pandemic, but think of what they could do instead! I love to show my students what we CAN do for others!

“I am extremely honored to be selected and inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame. It is an elite group of people to be a part of. I love what I do and to be recognized for all of my efforts is very rewarding!” Hoffmann stated.

By: Carmen Lendt, FFA Reporter

Sleepy Eye FFA members competed in the Region VI FFA Floriculture and Nursery Landscape Contests virtually from Sleepy Eye Public School on March 24th and 25th. Both teams will be advancing to the State Competition.

The Floriculture team placed 1st overall out of 11 teams. The team members included: Morgan Hoffmann, Emma Braulick, Brooke Arneson and McKenna Dockter. The components of the Floriculture CDE are Identification of Cut Flowers, Potted Greenhouse Crops, Annual Flowers, and Tools as well as a Knowledge Test, a Problem Solving Activity, and Corsage Practicum. Everyone on the team placed in the Top Ten individually. Morgan placed 2nd, Emma was 3rd, Brooke was 4th, and McKenna placed 9th.

Sleepy Eye FFA Team members for Nursery Landscape included: Kyle Capacia, Leisha Martinez, Marcus Martinez, and Austin Uecker. The CDE consists of Identification of Deciduous Trees and Shrubs, Evergreen Trees and Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals, Weeds, Equipment, and Pests as well as a Knowledge Test and Problem Solving. There are also two practicums each year. This year’s practicums were calculating volume and area for different plots and estimating materials for a given landscape plan. Kyle was the highest scorer on the team.

Students of the Month for March 2021

Brinley Peterson- K, Trygve Coulson- K, Madison Hoffman- 1, Grace Wersal-1, Delia Juarez-2, Jax Ramirez-2, Reid Romberg- 3, Alexis Hoffman- 3, Natalie Fulmer- 4, Suri Hernandez- 4, MaKayla Strong- 5, Madelyn Martinez- 5, Jacob Fulmer- 6, Wyatt Reinarts- 6.

Portner takes 1^st place in Region VI Dairy Competition. Team earns second. Pictured l to r: Sophie Portner, Gracie Sellner, Sophie Kyllonen.

Three Sleepy Eye FFA members competed in the Region VI Dairy Evaluation Career Development Event on Thursday, March 18. The team members included: Sophie Portner, Gracie Sellner, and Sophie Kyllonen.

Sophie Portner placed first in the contest with 41 individuals competing. The team placed second out of 11 teams.

For the Dairy Evaluation competition, the team members evaluated 6 classes of Holstein and Jersey dairy cows or heifers. Two of the classes had questions to answer based on the class of animals. They also judged a pedigree class where they judged cows based on their records and did sire selection where they picked bulls based on their data.  The final part of the contest was a dairy management and trivia test.

The Dairy team advanced to State Competition. All State FFA Competitions will take place virtually this year between April 19 and 30, 2021.

The horse judging team included: Sophie Gustafson- 2nd Place Ind., Clara Lemarr- 4th Place Ind., Trisha Ludewig, Alexys Odegard, Ellen Windschitl, and Hana Zeig. The team placed 4th out of 9 teams.

Several Sleepy Eye FFA teams and individuals competed in Career and Leadership Development Events in the last few weeks. They included: Ag. Sales, Employment Skills, Food Science, and the Horse Team.

The Ag. Sales team members included: Alex Joramo, Carmen Lendt, and Jade Sellner. The purpose of the Minnesota FFA Agricultural Sales Career Development Event is to evaluate skills that are essential for an individual to be successful in the agricultural sales field. The process of selling agricultural products is essential for production and marketing of agricultural products. The product for 2021 was an Animal Health- Parasitic Control.

Sleepy Eye FFA had one member, McKenna Dockter, compete in an individual LDE (Leadership Development Event) called Employment Skills. This event is developed to help participants in their current job search (for SAE projects, internships, part-time and full-time employment). The contest parts included: Resume, Cover Letter, Application, Interview, and Follow Up Letter.

There was a new Food Science Team this year for Sleepy Eye FFA. The team members included: Chloe Dolly, Kayla Hecht, Isabella Kunkel, and Noemi Rodriguez. The Food Science and Technology Career Development Event requires students to have an in-depth understanding of food product development, food presentation and food safety issues. Participants also use their sensory skills to solve problems and make sound decisions.

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 advanced to State Competition. All State FFA Competitions will take place virtually this year between April 19 and 30, 2021.

By: Katelyn Capacia, Chapter Reporter

Chloe Dolly is a seventh grader at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for one year. She joined FFA because she thought it would be something fun to do. She is on the Food Science CDE Team and she likes it because she enjoys making the food. Her favorite FFA activity was going on the FFA bowling trip. Chloe is looking forward most to trapshooting. By being in FFA, she learned that it is fun to be involved in FFA activities. Chloe is most proud of her Member of the Month Award.

Sophie Kyllonen is an eleventh grader at St. Mary’s Schools and has been in FFA for two years. She joined FFA to grow her agriculture knowledge and make memories. She is on the Dairy CDE Team and she likes it because she likes being informed about dairy and what to look for in a cow. Sophie’s SAE is working at Roseview Dairy where she is in charge of scraping pens and helping out with daily chores. Occasionally, she helps milk and feed calves.  Her favorite FFA activity is the Animal Carnival. Sophie is most looking forward to the dairy judging competition.  By being in FFA, she learned more about how to manage and judge dairy cows. Sophie is most proud of her Member of the Month Award.

Kadon Strong is a twelfth grader at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for six years. He joined FFA to take advantage of all of the fun activities. He was on the Fish and Wildlife CDE and he liked it because he enjoys learning about his favorite hobby, fishing. Kadon’s SAE is doing pig vaccinations for farmers in southern Minnesota. His favorite FFA activity is Trapshooting. Kadon is most looking forward to the State Convention. By being in FFA and Ag. Classes, he learned more about different animals, how to weld, and about landscaping and floriculture. Kadon is most proud of earning his State FFA Degree this year.

Gunny Coulson is a tenth grader at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for four years. He joined FFA in order to gain leadership qualities that will be important in his adult life. One of Gunny’s SAE projects was designing, building, and finishing a desk to use as a part of his home workstation. His favorite FFA activity is the FFA bowling trip. Gunny is most looking forward to the Summer Ag. Tour and the summer Ag. classes. By being in FFA, he learned that there are many ways to serve in Sleepy Eye. Gunny is most proud of earning the Freshman Top Scholar Award and the 6 Star Leader Award in 2020.

Sleepy Eye Schools February’s Patroller of the Month is 5th Grader Kenedi Wersal. “She stuck it out, doing her job during our recent cold spell,” said Sue Kanzenbach, Safety Patrol Supervisor. “Can you say Dedication!”