Jaclyn Nessett

Parent(s) Name(s): Greg and Sheila Nesset

Siblings: Jesse Widmer, Jacob Widmer, Sam Liete, Dean Nesset, Christ Nesset

Activities: Dance, Volleyball, Softball, Cheerleading, Three Act Play, One Act Play, NHS

Future Plans: University Of Minnesota Duluth, majoring in dance and minoring in business.

If you got to relive a moment in high school what would it be? Very first football game I cheered at freshman year.

Advice for underclassmen: Don’t be afraid to be yourself and be confident with yourself.

Favorite quote: “ Success isn’t defined by those who fought and never fell, but by those who fought, fell and then rose again.” -Nastia Luikin

Member of the Month

Matthew Sellner is a senior at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for five years. He joined FFA to learn more about the ins and outs of agriculture and farming as well as to be in the fun activities FFA has to offer. Matthew’s SAE is working at Schutz Family Foods, bagging groceries and loading them into customer vehicles. His favorite FFA activity is State FFA Convention and he is looking forward to receiving his State FFA Degree. Matthew was on the Fish and Wildlife CDE Team. He enjoyed learning about different animals, insects, and birds that live in Minnesota. He has learned many useful skills while being in Ag. Classes and FFA including: cooking, woodworking, electrical wiring, teamwork, and leadership. Matthew is proud of qualifying for State for the Fish & Wildlife CDE every year since 8^th grade. The award that he is the most proud of is earning his State FFA Degree. He and the other seniors will be honored with this degree in an online celebration during the Virtual Minnesota State FFA Convention May 19-21.

Member of the Month

Juan Cortez is a senior at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for six years. He joined FFA to try something new. Juan’s SAE was working at Hackers Tree Farm and Nursery where he did shearing, planting seeds, did cuttings, landscaping, and planting trees in the summer. In the fall, he was loading and unloading trees, selling trees, filling and moving pots, pruning, and shearing trees. His favorite FFA activity is the Animal Carnival where he loved to be around all the animals and the elementary kids. Juan was on the Forestry CDE Team. He enjoyed meeting new people and learning new things. He has learned many useful skills while being in Ag. Classes and FFA and that teamwork is essential. The awards that Juan is the most proud of are the Phoenix Award for a rising student in FFA and the State FFA Degree.

Member of the Month

Jacob Meyer is a senior at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for six years. He joined FFA to try something new. Jacob actually has had 4 parts to his SAE. At Chuck Spaeth Ford, he detailed cars. At Hackers Tree Farm and Nursery, Jacob loaded and unloaded trailers, Moved/Filled pots, and helped with customer orders. At Paul’s Electric, he mowed the lawn, did prefab work, delivered parts, and dug trenches. Finally, at Schwartz Farms, Jacob checked sows, fed piglets, and did sow records. His favorite FFA activity is Animal Carnival where he loved working with his friends while teaching kids about animals. Jacob learned throughout high school how fun the Ag. Classes are to be in and that learning can be fun. He has been part of the Soils CDE Team and liked helping the team qualify for state. The award that Jacob is the most proud of is earning his State FFA Degree.

Member of the Month

Evan Fischer is a senior at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for six years. He joined FFA because his family has always been involved with FFA and he wanted to be a part of it as well. Evan’s SAE is working at Hackers Tree Farm and Nursery where he unloaded and loaded trailers, moved trees, moved pots, made wreaths, cleaned greenhouses, and completed other tasks as assigned. His favorite FFA activity is State FFA Convention and he is looking forward to receiving his State FFA Degree this year at the Virtual Convention. Evan was on the Forestry CDE Team. He enjoyed learning about different trees and tools. Evan says while being in Ag. Classes and FFA, he learned a lot about leadership. Evan is proud of qualifying for State for the Forestry CDE and the award that he is the most proud of is earning his State FFA Degree.

Morgan Hoffmann, Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter Student Advisor, was able to make all of the goodie bags for the families enrolled in the Weekend Backpack Food Program with 12 different items inside.

This week, the Sleepy Eye FFA is able to utilize funds from a National FFA Mini Grant to provide a bag of goodies to the families in the Weekend Backpack Food Program. This bag contains: a box of cereal and crackers; toothpaste, toothbrush and holder; napkins; dish soap, towel, and cloth; lotion and body wash; and a Smarties treat bag.

Originally, the Sleepy Eye FFA applied for this grant to do a workshop at the State FFA Convention. Since the State Convention is going virtual, the funds could be utilized in a different manner. Mrs. Hoffmann asked permission to do this bag of goodies for the families and received approval from National FFA.

Morgan Hoffmann, Chapter Student Advisor, was able to make all of the bags for the families. The SE Public School Staff and Bus Service will be delivering the bags. Thanks to all who helped in the process. We love to serve and sometimes it takes a chain of people to make it happen!

More about the Backpack Food Program- The Backpack Program is a collaboration between Sleepy Eye Elementary, Trinity Lutheran Church and others in the Sleepy Eye community supplying students with nutritional support by providing weekend meals each Friday. Each backpack provides the equivalent of two weekend meals and snack.

Brynja Mielke

Parent(s) Name(s): John and Angela Mielke

Siblings: Jacob, Matthew, Luke, Nicholas

Activities: NHS, Softball, Change to Chill, Three Act Play

Future Plans: Attend a 4 year university.

If you got to relive a moment in high school what would it be? 2019 Softball playoffs.

Advice for underclassmen: Enjoy the moments, it goes by fast.

Favorite Quote: “When life gives you diabetes, don’t make regular lemonade.”

Jacob Meyer

Parent(s) Name(s): Brian and Shari Meyer

Siblings: Brennon, Hannah

Activities: Football, Baseball, Three Act Play, FFA

Future Plans: Ridgewater to be an Electrician.

If you got to relive a moment in high school what would it be? Another trip to state baseball in the hotels.

Advice for underclassmen: Appreciate every moment.

On Tuesday, April 28^th Sleepy Eye FFA is teaming up with Schutz Foods, SE Public Schools, and Mrs. Judy Surprenant to provide a fresh Taco Tuesday Bag to the 30 families signed up for the Weekend Backpack Food Program.

Through National FFA, the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter applied for and received a Yearlong Living to Serve Grant. With school going to distance learning in March, the chapter didn’t spend the entire grant for the Elementary and Middle School snacks and pantry. Mrs. Hoffmann asked Mrs. Surprenant for ideas and she along with many others felt a fresh food bag would be a great idea.

Schutz Foods was contacted to help put together the fresh items for the Taco Tuesday Bag that will be delivered via the school busses with the lunches for the day to the 30 families on the Backpack Food Program list. We are so appreciative of all involved to provide this opportunity to get fresh food to the families!

More about the Backpack Food Program- The Backpack Program is a collaboration between Sleepy Eye Elementary, Trinity Lutheran Church and others in the Sleepy Eye community supplying students with nutritional support by providing weekend meals each Friday. Each backpack provides the equivalent of two weekend meals and snack.

The FFA feels so fortunate to have helped with this program the last two years as well as being able to add to the program with the Birthday Boxes and snacks provided as well as providing fruit for the Backpack meals.

The Taco Tuesday fresh bag is the final part of this Living to Serve grant. The FFA is working on more grants for the future to continue to helping our community members with their hunger needs and more!

CAPTION: Adam Johnson (left) and Mason Sellner (right), Sleepy Eye FFA Members and Schutz Family Foods Employees, are displaying the Taco Tuesday Bags that will go to the families in the Sleepy Eye Public Backpack Food Program. The items were purchased from Schutz Foods with funds from the Sleepy Eye FFA Living to Serve Grant.

Anthony Ziegenhagen

Parent(s) Name(s): Brian and Paula Ziegenhagen

Siblings: Zach, Brianna, Kaitlyn

Activities: Football, Basketball, Baseball, FFA

Future Plans: Attend college to a Carpenter.

If you got to relive a moment in high school what would it be? Junior Year.

Advice for underclassmen: Try early before it is too late.

Isabel Martinez

Parent(s) Name(s): Jose and Juana Martinez

Siblings: Melanie, Leslie, Liesha, Marcus

Activities: Volleyball, FFA

Future Plans: Go to college for cosmetology.

If you got to relive a moment in high school what would it be? 2019 prom with my friends.

Advice for underclassmen: Do your work, listen in class and if you have a question, don’t be afraid to ask.

Favorite Quote: “ To be old and wise you have to first be young and stupid.”

Member of the Month

Martina Nienhaus is a senior at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for six years. She joined FFA because agriculture has always been a big part of her family’s life, her brother Kolten was in FFA, and she liked agriculture and wanted to learn more about it. Martina has several SAE’s including: her working at Carl’s Corner making pizzas, replenishing the salad bar, frying chicken, and washing dishes; working at Preferred Capital Management changing air filters in hog barns, completing filter testing, training new workers, and repairing barn necessities; and working at Schwartz Farms processing and observing farrowing, weaning, and breeding as well as daily chores and health checks. Her favorite FFA activity is the Summer Ag. Tour. Martina was on the Poultry CDE team which made it all the way to nationals. She enjoyed learning about all of the different parts to the poultry contest and her teammates. By being in FFA and Ag. class, Martina has learned to be a better public speaker and leadership skills. She is also more open to trying new things since being in FFA. She is most proud of earning the Phoenix Award and her State FFA Degree as well as 1^st place Individual at the Region Poultry Contest and 1^st Place Team at State for Poultry. Martina would like to earn her American FFA Degree in the future.

Member of the Month

Owen Braun is a senior at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for six years. He joined FFA because he likes farming and Ag. classes and he wanted to be on the trapshooting team. Owen has a 3-part SAE as well including working on his family farm and with his dad’s trucking business; working at Miller Sellner changing oil in skid loaders, washing equipment, and other tasks; and working at Del Monte last summer operating the cart for pea harvest. His favorite FFA activities are the animal carnival, State FFA Convention, and driving his tractor to school during FFA Week. Owen is part of two CDE’s – Soils Team and Trapshooting. He enjoys going to the competitions and being with his friends on the teams. He has learned many things in Ag. Classes and FFA including: how to weld, how to judge soils, and how to trouble shoot and problem solve. The award that Owen is the most proud of is earning his State FFA Degree. He will be honored with this degree in an online celebration during the Virtural Minnesota State FFA Convention May 19-21.

Officer of the Month

Kalli Christensen is a senior at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for six years. She joined FFA because there were a lot of older students promoting it and because her whole family was in FFA. Kalli’s SAE in Ag. Services is working in the office at Christensen Farms where she is based in the Supply Chain department. She has also worked with Maintenance and Repair department as well as the Feed Department for project analysis and development. Kalli is a Vice President for the FFA Chapter. She likes the variety of responsibilities and feels it has been an honorable leadership position where she supports other officers and members and is helping to leave a good legacy for future members. Kalli’s favorite FFA activities are ones where she gets to work directly with animals like the Animal Carnival, County Fair Kiddy Barn, and State Fair Oink Booth.  She has learned many things in Ag. Classes and FFA including: learning bits of info she didn’t know she didn’t know and the value of opportunity and community that FFA provides. She has also loved seeing how so many people have different talents and so much to give as well as seeing how everyone’s potential is brought out through Ag. and FFA. Kalli is most proud of earning her State FFA Degree, earning 1^st place at Regions and 2^nd place at State for her Ag. Services Proficiency, and Runner-up for Region VI Star in Agribusiness.

Officer of the Month

Isaac Huiras is a senior at Sleepy Eye Public School and has been in FFA for three years. He joined FFA because some friends got him into it. Once he joined, he was so impressed that there were so many opportunities he could take advantage of and that there truly is something for everyone in FFA! Isaac’s SAE is working with his dad in the hog barns where he loads and unloads hogs, clean barns, and other tasks. He says the best part of this SAE is that he gets to work with his dad. Isaac is also a Vice President for the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter. He loves this responsibility and feels good about representing Sleepy Eye and our chapter as well as how FFA is such a big part of this town. Isaac’s CDE is Milk Quality. This was his first year of doing this team and he loved it. Isaac says his team is amazing and he enjoyed the fun practices, his teammates, and his coach. His favorite FFA activities are Chapter Theme Meetings, State FFA Convention, and Timberland Leadership Camp. By being in FFA and Ag. class, Isaac has learned the opportunities through FFA and agriculture are endless. He is looking forward to coming back to say hi to everyone after graduating because once you are in the FFA family, you are always in the FFA family. Isaac is most proud of earning 1^st Place Team at Regions for Milk Quality and his State FFA Degree as well as being a Chapter and Region FFA Officer.