Caption: Forty-three members from the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter attended Timberland Leadership Camp June 3rd-6th, along with the Sleepy Eye Advisors and the Minnesota State FFA Officers. Pictured left to right: Front Row- Emma Braford (State Vice President), Kaylie Fulmer, Laylana Hoffmann, Abigail Krzmarzick, Lucia Martinez, Alex Confer, Lily Kallevig, Paola Gonzalez, Taylor Berkner, Jace Schauman, Jaelynn Schauman, Chloe Okerman, Karina Martinez, Torri Gunderson (State Sentinel), Kamille Capacia, Ruby Tauer, Cole Sundeen (State Treasurer). Middle: Mrs. Hoffmann, Lauren Stoel (State President), Kaiya Grossman (State Secretary), Sam Rodriguez, Kaiya Confer, Anna Johnson, Aranza Tovar Garces, Breanna Lopez, Megan Sellner, Madi Martinez, Makayla Strong, Kenley Jensen, Ava Sellner, Natalie Fulmer, Elsie Trebesch, Eric Lozano, Natalie Clemenson (State Reporter), Mr. Hendrickx, Ms. Emmett. Back row: Emerson Johnson, Zack Dominguez, Mateo Hornsby, Noah Christensen, Carsten Nienhaus, Jose Castorena, Cameron Moore, Kayden Klein, Logan Ludewig, Dawson Friton, Charlie Hoffmann, Ari Krzmarzick, Noah Rossbach, Carter Lazatin, Ethan Feucht. Not pictured: Ellie Rosales.

  Forty-three Sleepy Eye FFA members traveled to Sibley State Park, near New London, from June 3^rd-6^th, 2024. Sleepy Eye FFA Advisors, Mary Hoffmann, Katie Emmett, and Paul Hendrickx; Camp Assistants, Morgan Hoffmann and Katalina Gonzalez; along with several members from the Tracy, Marshall, Mt. Lake, Springfield, and Miami East (Ohio) FFA chapters, attended the camp.

The Chapter Advisors, along with State Officers, do all of the programming, activities, and food for the camp for the week.

While at the leadership camp, FFA members got to experience many things including: get to know each other activities, a hike to Mount Tom, teamwork activities, survival in the forest, archery, and sessions about writing goals and the various opportunities in FFA.

Camp-goers learned about different activities that other FFA chapters do and different things in FFA that they can become involved in, such as, Career Development Events (CDE’s) and Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE’s). Teamwork was an important topic members learned about at the camp. Members of each chapter conducted their own ceremonies as they raised and lowered the flag each day at camp. Campers could also swim; play volleyball and nine square, or try other fun activities in their free time.

Camp members were joined by the entire 2024-25 State FFA Officer Team. They led sessions with activities regarding FFA opportunities and how to use your own personal qualities to contribute to a team.

On the last night of the camp, a banquet was held by the newly elected camp officers. The camp officers from Sleepy Eye included: Jose Castorena, Chloe Okerman, Kenley Jensen, Ava Sellner, Elsie Trebesch, Kamille Capacia, Paola Gonzalez, Karina Martinez, and Natalie Fulmer. Following the banquet, FFA members gathered for the camp talent show, minute-to-win it games, and finally, a dance.

Timberland Leadership Camp was a fantastic opportunity for all who attended. Camp-goers will be forever grateful for the opportunity to meet new people, create new friendships, grow personally, try new things, set goals, and find out more about what FFA has to offer.

Members of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter went to the Sleepy Eye Rehabilitation Center and Countryside to wrap up the year of the Adopt-a-Senior Program. Pictured l to r – front: Alex Confer, Charlie Hoffmann, Lucia Martinez, Carter Lazatin, Karina Martinez, Jaelynn Schauman. Middle: Anna Johnson, Ruby Tauer, Kamille Capacia, Laylana Hoffmann, Camryn Maher, Kenedi Wersal, Nora Coulson, Natalie Fulmer, Kaylie Fulmer, Santi Martinez, Jace Schauman. Back: Noah Rossbach, Zack Dominguez, Logan Ludewig, Ari Krzmarzick, Kayden Klein, Eric Lozano, Taylor Berkner, Lily Kallevig, Anders Coulson, Jaden Stone. Not pictured: Abigail Krzmarzick.

The end of the year is a time to wrap up the Adopt-a-Senior Program for FFA members. We had a get-together for the Adopt-a-Senior Program where we went to the Sleepy Eye Rehabilitation Center and Countryside to play bingo with the residents on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

77 FFA members participated in the Adopt-a-Senior program from the beginning of the school year by making cards each month for “senior” residents in the community through the Adopt-a-Senior Program. Members also painted pumpkins in the fall and made XL Valentine posters in February for the residents.

The purpose of this project is to help members connect with a different generation and learn to appreciate the relationships they can make. FFA teaches students to reach out and give more of themselves to others by being involved in the Adopt-A-Senior Program.

At the event, the FFA members helped residents at the Rehabilitation Center and at Countryside they called out the Bingo numbers. FFA also brought all of the prizes for the residents at both facilities. All the members and residents finished with smiles on their faces. This program will continue to thrive and grow within the Sleepy Eye community in future years.

• Valedictorian Award Noah Simonsen

Sleepy Eye High School an­ nounced the following scholarships awards (totaling over $60,000) pre­ sented to members of the senior class.
• Kaylie Hogue Memorial: Isaac Lendt
• Tyler Hadley Athletic Achievement Award: Breaunna Mertz
•American Legion Post 7: Isaac Lendt
• Sleepy Eye Servicemen’s Club: Austin Uecker
• Fischer Groen Law & Groen Title Company Scholarship: Julia Berkner
• SEEA Scholarship: Isaac Lendt
• American Red Cross Scholarship: Julia Berkner
• Americana Community Bank Scholarship: Cameron Schottle
• Nuvera/ R.T. Rodenberg Memorial Scholarship: Lydia Huiras

• L.A. Amundson Scholarship: Julia Berkner
• Lions Club: Evan Thompson
•John Mangen Scholarship: Katelyn Tauer, Caden Evers
• Hilbert Hansen Memorial Scholarship: Evan Thompson, Emma Contreras

• Richard & Mary Lou Mathiowetz Family Scholarships: Isaac Lendt, Julia Berkner, Emma Contreras- Ramirez, Winsten Nienhaus
• Mildred W. Steinke Memorial

•Class of 1964 Scholarship: Madison Engesser, Kadence Hesse, Jazzibelle Martinez, Austin Uecker
• 2024 Trades Prep Scholarship: Jimena Arroyo, Gaige Bauer, Devin Kunkel
•Farmers Scholarship: Emma Contreras-Ramirez, Lydia Huiras, Issac Lendt
• John & Barb Ladd Memorial Scholarship: Leonardo Fernandez
• Lilly Fischer Memorial •Scholarship, 2-year: Gaige Bauer, Caden Evers, Bryent Finstad; 4-year: Kyle Capacia, Emma Contreras-Ramirez
• Melvin & Carol Speckman Memorial Scholarship: Isaac Lendt, Natalee Nachreiner
• Sleepy Eye Education Foundation Scholarship: Courtney Brey, Lydia Huiras, Natalee Nachreiner, Julia Berkner, Evan Thompson
• Sue Windschitl Scholarship: Isaac Lendt

•Jeff Ristau Scholarship: Katelyn Tauer
•Scholarship: Madison Engesser

• Class of 1959: Katelyn Tauer, Isaac Lendt

•Sleepy Eye Area Chamber Of Commerce: Evan Thompson