Sleepy Eye Elementary School Students of the month for April 2021

Kolby Heyer- K, Rachel Hulsey- K, Jaime Torres- 1, Thomas Flores-1, Bella Eckstein-2, Brayden Deibele-2,  Kelly Rodriguez- 3, Landen Thedens- 3, Maci Lang- 4, Dhwani Patel- 4,

Maddelyn Goldschmidt- 5, Brianna Ziegenhagen- 5, Blaine Arneson- 6, Emma Thibado- 6.

Sleepy Eye Schools March Patroller of the Month –  Carson Uecker – 6th grade

By: Katelyn Capacia, FFA Reporter

Natalie Marti is an eleventh grader at St. Mary’s Schools and has been in FFA for five years. She joined FFA to be more involved and to have more experience under her belt. Natalie’s SAE is learning about wildlife animals. She studies different wild animals and their habitats. Her favorite FFA activity is making cards for the nursing home residents and for her 3^rd grade pen pal. Natalie is most looking forward to growing her knowledge in agriculture, FFA, and wildlife. She’s also looking forward to meeting new friends. By being in Ag. Classes, Natalie has learned about different plants and animals. Natalie is most proud of earning this Member of the Month Award.

Miranda Rendon is a twelfth grader at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for one year. She joined FFA because when she heard about Adopt a Senior, she fell in love with the idea of making someone’s day. Miranda’s SAE is baking and she is making a dessert that has Oreos and brownies. Her favorite FFA activities are Adopt-a-Senior and crops. Miranda is most looking forward to trying something that involves helping other people and creating cards for the nursing home. By being in FFA, she learned that the little things really matter. She also learned that there is more to agriculture than farming. Miranda is most proud of earning this Member of the Month Award.

Priscilla Martinez is an eleventh grader at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for five years. She joined FFA because she thought it would be really fun. Her favorite FFA activity is volleyball nights. Priscilla is most looking forward to getting to know others and attending Timberland Camp. By being in Ag. Classes and FFA, she learned how to make wood projects and a lot about leadership. Priscilla is most proud of earning her Member of the Month Award.

Jake Price is a tenth grader at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for four years. He joined FFA in order to learn more about agriculture and to help out the community. His CDE team is Fish and Wildlife. He likes to learn about different species of mammals and fish through this team. Jake’s SAE is having his own lawn mowing business. His favorite FFA activity is the Lock-In. Jake is most looking forward to more fun nights and activities. By being in Ag. Classes and FFA, he learned about the environment, different species of animals, and where our food comes from.  Jake is most proud of being the Minnesota FFA Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award Winner.

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.