Sleepy Eye School Patroller of the Month for April is 6th grade Jace Schauman  “She patrols with responsibility and always has a smile on her face.”

St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School was honored to join with the residents of the Divine Providence Community Home for a beautiful May crowning celebration on Monday, May 10, 2021. Because of COVID restrictions, the crowning of Our Blessed Mother took place outdoors in the Divine Providence courtyard. Every student in the elementary school (preK-grade 5) presented a flower to Mary and fifth graders Olivia Schieffert and Millie Lax had the honor of placing the crown of flowers on Mary. The ceremony also included the singing of Marian hymns such as “Immaculate Mary”, “Hail Mary”, “Song of Mary’, and “Hail Holy Queen”. Prayers were offered to Mary including the “Act of Consecration”, “The Angelus”, “Hail Mary” with actions” and a “Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary”. The May crowning celebration is a long honored tradition for our school and parish as we honor our patroness, Mary, Help of Christians.

Arbor Day is normally celebrated in Sleepy Eye with a wonderful program for local 4th graders put on by the City of Sleepy Eye. This year, however, COVID restrictions didn’t allow for the program to take place. It’s hard to top the city’s program with Mayor Pelzel’s jokes and history, expert knowledge of planting trees, and performances by the students. Sleepy Eye Public 4th grade students did their best to still celebrate their own Arbor Day on April 30 by planting a sugar maple in front of the school. Students learned the history and importance of Arbor Day and then planted their own tree. Students will get to watch their tree grow over the course of the years to come and possibly recreate the picture by the tree when they graduate.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter held the Awards Program on Sunday, May 2^nd, 2021. It was a great opportunity to honor the members and chapter leaders as well as the major supporters for the chapter throughout the year.

 Successes this year for the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter include: 45 Discovery Degrees (7^th & 8^th graders), 60 Greenhand Degrees, 16 Chapter Degrees and 4 State Degrees. Many awards were presented to the active members and leaders of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter.

This year our FFA Chapter has continued with our Service Theme and conducted several different programs and activities. They include the following: Adopt-a-Senior Program – members participated in making cards for 128 Nursing Home and Countryside Living Residents each month. Wee Deliver Program –members participated in writing letters to 65 third grade students (Pen Pals) each month. Service –members helped with the Backpack Supplies project with United Way, making uplifting quote signs, the Backpack Food Project with Trinity, food redistribution lines, making extra-large Valentines and Spring cards for residents, putting up lights at the park, painting pumpkins and windows, tying blankets, and the people parade at the nursing home.

The Sleepy Eye FFA members who participated in at least three of these programs were named 3- 5 Star Members. If members participated in at least 6 of the programs they were named a Star Leader. 10 FFA members were presented with certificates for being a 3-5 Star Member and 16 members were presented with trophies for being a 6-12 Star Leader.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter presented three Diamond Awards to supporters of the Chapter and its members. The Diamond Award went to Central Region Cooperative, Miller Sellner Implement, and Schwartz Farms.

This year there were three Platinum, TOP LEVEL Sponsors – Edward Jones, Cunningham Seed Farms, and Mary Ann Christensen.

These businesses and individuals supported FFA members by providing new FFA Jackets, sponsored Chapter and Crop Show Awards, Service Projects, and much more.

Each year, top scholar awards are presented to one active FFA member in each grade who has the highest GPA in their respective class. These members received a plaque and a scholarship pin: Lydia Huiras (freshmen), Brooke Arneson (sophomore), Mason Sellner (junior), Sophie Portner (senior).

The Honorary Chapter Degree award is presented to an individual who support the Sleepy Eye FFA in exceptional ways throughout the year. This year’s Honorary Chapter Degree was presented to an individual who is a huge supporter and promoter of our chapter – Jim Bartels of KNUJ Radio. We truly appreciate his support toward the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter. It has been a pleasure working with him over the years with the radio ads and interviews in Sleepy Eye and at National FFA Convention!

There were two community members who were presented with an Appreciation Award for 2021. The first recipient of the FFA Appreciation Award was Sandy Beito. We truly appreciate being able to partner with her on the Backpack Food Program and all of the extensions we have been able to add over the past few years. What Sandy does for our community members in need is inspiring!

The 2^nd recipient of the FFA Appreciation Award was for another great supporter of our chapter. We awarded this award to Beverly Bartz. She has been a supporter for many years donating to our program as well as promoting FFA and what we are doing in the community. We truly appreciate supporters like Beverly!

The fruit sale was a successful fundraiser for our FFA Chapter this year.  A great deal of thanks goes to our 2 top sellers who sold nearly $4000 of products for the fruit sales. The Top Junior High Fruit Seller was Nora Coulson. The 2^nd Place Junior High Top Seller was Caleb Suess. Our Top High School Fruit Seller was Abby Ring with over $2700 of products sold. The 2^nd Place High School Top Seller was Jade Sellner with over $1100 in Sales.

The leadership awards are presented to FFA members from each class who displayed tremendous amounts of leadership skills throughout the year and who participated in numerous FFA events. The freshman winners were Marcus Martinez and Kyle Capacia.  Sophomore recipients included: Alex Joramo and Gracie Sellner.  Junior winners were Maddi Helget and Katelyn Capacia.

The Phoenix Awards are presented each year for Students who are upcoming leaders. These 4 individuals got involved, got others involved, and showed true enthusiasm for the FFA. This year’s Phoenix Award Winners were Leisha Martinez, Winsten Nienhaus, Sophie Kyllonen, and Brooke Arneson.

The Star Greenhand Award goes to the most outstanding Freshmen Greenhand degree participant for the year. This award is presented to a first year member who is active in the chapter, who has demonstrated leadership, and has a strong Supervised Agricultural Experience or SAE program in place. This year’s Star Greenhand was Isaac Lendt.

The Sophomore Achievement Award states, “Overall Success is Achieved through Hard Work and Dedication.” The Sophomore Achievement Award Winner for 2021 was Adam Johnson.

Morgan Hoffmann received the Outstanding Junior Award, called the Blue and Gold Award. This award acknowledges someone for overall achievement in the FFA.

The Star in Ag. Placement Award is presented to a member who has an outstanding production placement SAE program and who is involved in all areas of the chapter’s activities.  A placement SAE program means that you have a project where you work for someone in agriculture. This year’s winner of Chapter Star in Ag. Placement was Kadon Strong.

The Star Farmer Award is presented to a member who has an outstanding production SAE program and who is involved in all areas of the chapter’s activities. This year’s winner of Chapter Star Farmer was Sophie Portner.

This year’s recipient of the Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award was McKenna Strong. This award is presented to the most outstanding senior in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and supervised agricultural experience.

The 2020-21 Retiring FFA Officer Team was recognized for their exceptional efforts in leading the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter for the year. The night ended with the installation with the 2021-22 FFA Officer Team.

Mrs. Hoffmann commented on the year, “I am so proud of all of the hard work and dedication the members show on a daily basis – through their efforts with CDE’s, their SAE’s, Ag. Classes, and Community Services projects. What a great year this has been and now, to bring everything to a close with a great State FFA Convention, having 45 different individuals qualify for state with having all virtual contests during a pandemic is amazing.”

Hoffmann added, “Having Jake Price be a State Proficiency Winner, being a National Chapter Model of Innovation Finalist in 2 out of 3 categories, being the first place chapter in the state for the Ag. Literacy Challenge and 2^nd in the state for the Land of Service Award, and last but not least earning fourth place gold in the state for the National Chapter Award are all fantastic accomplishments this year! The Sleepy Eye FFA is about students developing leadership skills, experiencing personal growth, and serving the Sleepy Eye Community.”

Sophie Portner won first place in the State FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation Contest out of 203 contestants.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Poultry Team earned 2nd Place in the State FFA Career Development Event out of 44 teams. Team members included l to r: Noah Rossbach, Winsten Nienhaus, Isaac Lendt, Adam Johnson, Anna Rossbach

The Sleepy Eye FFA Floriculture CDE Team earned 2nd Place in the State Contest out of 46 teams. Team members include l to r: Emma Braulick, McKenna Dockter, Morgan Hoffmann, Brooke Arneson.

Dairy Evaluation –

Sophie Portner: 1^st place individual out of 203 contestants

Poultry Evaluation – 2^nd place team out of 44 teams

Adam Johnson: 3^rd place individual out of 153 contestants

Isaac Lendt: 4^th place individual

Winsten Nienhaus: 7^th place individual

Anna Rossbach: 24^th place individual

Noah Rossbach: Alternate

Floriculture – 2^nd place team out of 46 teams

Brooke Arneson: 8^th place individual out of 162 contestants

Morgan Hoffmann: 9^th place individual

McKenna Dockter: 20^th place individual

Emma Braulick: 24^th place Individual

Soils – 10^th place team out of 36 teams

Maddison Helget: 25^th place individual out of 121 contestants

Nathan Rathman

Caden Evers

Milk Quality – 14^th place team out of 43 teams

Katelyn Capacia: 17^th out of 147 contestants

Jorden Niebuhr

Victoria Poplow

Sleepy Eye Gold Cord Recipients: Sitting (L-R) Lexanna Lazatin, Morgan Klein, Stephanie Fernandez, Jasmyne Windschitl, Tasha Martinez, Yenesis Cardenas. Middle row: (L-R) McKenna Dockter, Megan Stevens, McKenna Strong, Luis Lopez. Back row: (L-R) Allen Arneson, David Gonzalez, Jack Nelson, Kegan Heiderscheidt, Kadon Strong, Colten Havemeier, Missing Mason Thoms.

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The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter had a State Celebration on Tuesday, April 20th in the Sleepy Eye Public High School Gym. All five State FFA Officers were in attendance along with National FFA Officer, Artha Jonassaint, and the members who qualified for State.

Four members of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter were recognized this week for earning their State FFA Degree. Pictured left to right: Morgan Hoffmann, McKenna Dockter, Kadon Strong, and Sophia Portner. 

This year, the State FFA Convention will take place across two weeks, beginning April 18, 2021. The theme “Worth It” was focused on throughout the week and Sleepy Eye FFA members are definitely “Worth It”! They are worth every struggle, every success, every challenge, and every joy they feel throughout their journey in FFA. Chapter awards and events, workshops, sessions, team and individual competitions will take place during the mostly virtual convention.

Sleepy Eye was honored on Tuesday, April 20^th to have the State FFA Officers and a National FFA Officer come to Sleepy Eye for a short State Celebration.  We had the opportunity to meet and hear from each Minnesota FFA Officer as well as the Southern Region Vice President, Artha Jonassaint, from Florida.

Following officer remarks, the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was presented with several awards. They included:

National Chapter Award – 4^th place in the State

Model of Innovation Finalist – Top 3 in the State for Growing Leaders (Uplifting Quote Signs)

Model of Innovation Winner – Top Chapter in the State for Building Communities (Backpack Food Program)

Land of Service – 2^nd place in the State

Ag. Literacy – Top Chapter in the State

The individual awards that were presented to Sleepy Eye FFA members included:

State FFA Degrees – McKenna Dockter, Morgan Hoffmann, Sophia Portner, Kadon Strong

State FFA Turf Grass Management Proficiency – 1^st place in the State, Jake Price

State FFA Poultry Production Proficiency – 2^nd place in the State, Adam Johnson

The State Officer Team also presented our advisor, Mary Hoffmann, with her Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame award plaque.

On Wednesday, April 21^st, fourteen FFA members competed in the Best Informed Greenhand Competition. They included: Marcus Martinez, Kyle Capacia, Kadence Hesse, Lydia Huira, Brea Mertz, Kenndy Braun, Gaige Bauer, Logan Mack, Evan Thompson, Caden Evers, Austin Uecker, Jazzy Martinez, Natalee Nachreiner, and Isaac Lendt. The team placed 12^th out of 27 teams. Isaac Lendt received a gold rating and was the top placing member on the team and Lydia Huiras also placed gold.

On Thursday, April 22^nd, nine chapter officers interviewed with KNUJ about their experiences in FFA, school, and the convention. The officers who were interviewed by Jim Bartels and Larry Baumgardt included: Morgan Hoffmann, McKenna Dockter, Brennen Meyer, Maddison Helget, Carmen Lendt, Katelyn Capacia, Presley Bauer, Adam Johnson, and Leisha Martinez.

McKenna Dockter, Chapter 1^st Vice President, was also selected and served on the 2021 State FFA Officer Nominating Committee. She participated in interviewing the State Officer Candidates and helped to select the six members from across the state to represent Minnesota as the 2021-22 State Officer Team.

The rest of the CDE competitions will be taking place April 28 – 30 and results will be announced by Monday, May 3^rd.

The Sleepy Eye FFA has a lot to be proud of in 2021. The members worked very hard this year to qualify for their state competitions and with all of the service projects! Advisor Mary Hoffmann states, “I am so proud of all of the hard work that the Sleepy Eye FFA members show on a daily basis! Through their efforts with CDE’s, their SAE’s, Ag. Courses, and Community Service projects, these members show and earn success through their great work ethic and dedication!”

Abby and Annika would like to thank the community for their generous donations to their project. Annika and Abby along with the MHS members were able to make 80 activity bags, 70 hygiene bags, and 10 fleece tie blankets. Abby and Annika are so thankful for everyone’s generosity.