FFA Members were awarded Star Trophies for their efforts with chapter programs and service projects. These members participated in at least 7 of the activities. Star Award Winners for 2023-24 : L to r, front- Noah Rossbach, Kyle Capacia, Carter Lazatin, Kamille Capacia, Kenedi Wersal, Camryn Maher. Middle- Daniel Armstrong, Chole Howe, Noemi Rodriguez, Taylor Berkner, Lucia Martinez, Alex Confer, Lily Kallevig. Back- Jaelynn Schauman, Winsten Nienhaus, Ari Krzmarzick, Kayden Klein, Logan Ludewig, Marcus Martinez, Katelyn Tauer, Ellen Windschitl, Kenley Jensen, Jaden Stone, Isaac Lendt.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Top Stars and Leadership Award Winners for 2023-24 include, from left to right – front: Noemi Rodriguez, Jace Schauman, Noah Rossbach, Carter Lazatin, Alex Confer, Lily Kallevig, Emma Fischer, Kadence Lund, Kyle Capacia. Back: Chloe Howe, Ari Krzmarzick, Kayden Klein, Logan Ludewig, Isaac Lendt, Winsten Nienhaus, Marcus Martinez, Santiago Martinez, Jaden Stone.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter held the Awards Program on Sunday, May 5^th, 2024. 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: 96 Discovery Degrees (7^th & 8^th graders), 48 Greenhand Degrees, 41 Chapter Degrees and 11 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 throughout the entire . The Sleepy Eye FFA members who participated in at least four of these programs were named 4- 6 Star Members. If members participated in at least 7 of the programs they were named a Star Leader. 24 FFA members were presented with certificates for being a 4-6 Star Member and 28 members were presented with trophies for being a 7-12 Star Leader.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter presented three Diamond Awards to supporters of the Chapter and its members. The Diamond Award went to Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club, Miller Sellner Implement, and Schwartz Farms.

This year there were six Platinum, TOP LEVEL Sponsors – Edward Jones- Bill & Julie Ries, Cunningham Seed Farms, Central Region Cooperative, CoBank, Sleepy Eye Servicemen’s Club, and Mary Ann Christensen.

These businesses and individuals supported FFA members by providing new FFA Jackets, sponsored Chapter and Crop Show Awards, Ag. Program needs, Conventions, 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: Megan Sellner (freshmen), Jaelynn Schauman (sophomore), Nora Coulson (junior), Isaac Lendt (senior).

We also recognized members that participated in CDE’s, Agriscience Fair, State FFA Band & Choir, and State Proficiencies.

The Honorary Chapter Degree award is presented to an individual who supports the Sleepy Eye FFA in exceptional ways throughout the year. This year’s Honorary Chapter Degree was presented to an individual who is a great help to our chapter and school – Alisa Mangen.

There were two groups of people who were presented with an Appreciation Award for 2024: Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club and the Servicemen’s Club.

The fruit sale was a successful fundraiser for our FFA Chapter this year.  A great deal of thanks goes to our 4 top sellers who sold over $7000 of products for the fruit sales. The Top Junior High Fruit Seller was Allanah Urbano  with over $2200 of products sold. The 2^nd Place Junior High Top Seller was Camryn Maher  with over $1400 in sales. Our Top High School Fruit Seller was Destiney Dittbenner with over $2300 of products sold. The 2^nd Place High School Top Seller was Lily Kallevig 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 Jace Schauman and Jaden Stone.  Sophomore recipients included: Noah Rossbach, Logan Ludewig, Carter Lazatin.  Junior winners were Chloe Howe and Noemi Rodriguez. Senior winners included: Marcus Martinez, Kyle Capacia, and Kadence Lund.

The Phoenix Awards are presented each year for Students who are upcoming leaders. These 2 individuals got involved, got others involved, and showed true enthusiasm for the FFA. This year’s Phoenix Award Winners were Ari Krzmarzick and Kayden Klein.

The Star Greenhand Award goes to the most outstanding Freshmen Greenhand degree participant for the year. This award is presented to a first year high school member who is active in the chapter, and who has demonstrated leadership and scholarship.  This year’s Star Greenhand was SANTIAGO MARTINEZ.

The Sophomore Achievement Award states, “Overall Success is Achieved through Hard Work and Dedication.” The Sophomore Achievement Award Winner for 2024 was ALEX.

CONFER.

LILY KALLEVIG 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 EMMA FISCHER.

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

The Star Farmer Award is presented to a member who has an outstanding entrepreneurship SAE program and who is involved in all areas of the chapter’s activities. This year’s winner of Chapter Star Farmer Award was ISAAC LENDT.
The 2023-24 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 2024-25 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! We started out strong by earning the Top 10 Model of Excellence Award at the National FFA Convention. And now, to bring everything to a close with a great State FFA Convention, having 72 individuals go to state is amazing.”

Hoffmann added, “Having 2 Runner Up Proficiency Finalists- Isaac and Emma, having a State Winning Proficiency with Alex, and Isaac being named Star Farmer… being a top ten chapter in the state for the Ag. Literacy Challenge and 3^rd in the state for the Land of Service Award, and last, but certainly not least, earning the #1 Premier Chapter in the state for the National Chapter Award. These are all fantastic accomplishments! The Sleepy Eye FFA is about students developing leadership skills, experiencing personal growth, and serving the Sleepy Eye Community and I am extremely honored to work with them each day.”

Sleepy Eye High School May Students of the Month:

Social Studies – Gaige Bauer – Gr. 12

            English – Envy Morales – Gr. 12

            Mathematics – Cadence Okerman – Gr. 11

            Physical Education – Wyatt Reinarts – Gr. 9

            Health – Chloe Okerman – Gr. 8

            Agriculture – James Moore – Gr. 11

            Career Exploration – Eleazar Gonzalez – Gr. 10

            Music – Ava Sellner – Gr. 8

            Science – Carter Lazatin – Gr. 10

            World Languages – Priscila Chuc-Feliciano – Gr. 12

            Careers – Madison Engesser – Gr. 12

April  2024- Students of the Month 

  Kdgn           Carsen Trebesch

  Kdgn           Evelyn Hillesheim

  1^st              Aubrey Hernandez

  1^st              Aaliyah Fuchs

  2^nd              Waylon Schauman

  2^nd              Keaton Evers

  3^rd              Natalie Neubarth

  3^rd              Harley Deree

  4^th               Jada Schauman

  4^th                    Cooper Fischer

  5^th              Miles Krzmarzick           

  5^th              Leslie Marquez

  6^th              Landen Thedens

  6^th              Kendall Haala

The Poultry CDE Team placed 1^st at State. Pictured l to r: Zack Dominguez, Leo Fernandez, Logan Ludewig, and Mateo Moreno.

Emma Fischer (left) was named the Star in Ag. Production Placement Region VI Finalist and Isaac Lendt (right) was named the Minnesota Star Farmer Winner at the State FFA Convention. They are pictured with Advisor Mary Hoffmann.

Alex Confer (left) was awarded the State Winner for the Agriscience Plant Systems Proficiency Award. She is pictured here with the award sponsor. Alex also won her Agriscience Fair Category. She advances to nationals in both categories.

Connor Mack (left) and Keeyan Netzke (right) were named the 1st Place Award Winners for the Agriscience Fair – Plant Systems Grades 7-8 Partner Division.

Seventy-two Sleepy Eye FFA Members traveled to the University of Minnesota Campuses and State Fairgrounds, where they participated in the Annual Minnesota FFA State Convention. More than 6,000 FFA members, advisors and guests from throughout the state gathered for the convention from Sunday, April 21 – Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

The Sleepy Eye FFA members traveled to Convention with Advisors, Mary Hoffmann, Katie Emmett, and Paul Hendrickx, Assistant Advisor Ben Seifert, SEPS teacher Nichole Voigt, and Alumni member Gracie Sellner.

Sleepy Eye FFA was named the First Place Premier Chapter in the State of Minnesota for the National Chapter Award while at the Convention. The entire officer team and advisors got to go on stage for this huge honor. This award is based on three categories: Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture. This will advance Sleepy Eye to Nationals.

Other Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter Results:

• Sleepy Eye was 3^rd in the state for the Land of Service Challenge.
• Sleepy Eye was a Top 10 Chapter for the Ag. Literacy Challenge.

Three hundred ninety-five agriculture, food and natural resources education students from across the state were awarded with Minnesota State FFA Degrees. The degree is given to the top members of a state FFA Association, and only two percent of Minnesota FFA members earn the distinction. It demonstrates the student has put an exceptional amount of time into their FFA experience, and has gone above and beyond in their local chapter and community.

The Sleepy Eye FFA members receiving their State FFA Degrees at Convention included: Courtney Brey, Kadence Lund, Kyle Capacia, Emma Fischer, Isaac Lendt, Winsten Nienhaus, Leo Fernandez, Katelyn Tauer, Nathan Rathman, Ellen Windschitl, and Marcus Martinez

Isaac Lendt from the Sleepy Eye FFA chapter, who has raised 400 hogs each summer on his family’s farm, was named the Minnesota State Star Farmer. His efforts have assured healthy pigs and allowed him to contribute $40,000 toward his college education. He plans to pursue pre-medicine in college.

Emma Fischer, Sleepy Eye FFA member, was recognized as the Star in Ag. Production Placement Region VI Finalist. Emma has worked on three different dairy farms as well as Schwartz Farms for her Supervised Agricultural Experience Project. She plans to attend Ridgewater College in the fall.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Career Development Event (CDE) teams and Leadership Development Event (LDE) participants brought home plaques and success stories after competing at the state level. Eight Sleepy Eye FFA CDE’s and LDE’s placed in the Top Ten for their competitions.

TOP TEN Results:

– Poultry – 1^st Place Gold Team (Leo Fernandez- 4^th Ind., Logan Ludeiwig- 10^th Ind., Zack Dominguez, Mateo Moreno): ADVANCES TO NATIONALS

– Soils – 3^rd Place Gold Team (Wyatt Feucht- 1^st Ind., Isaac Lendt- 9^th Ind., Oliver Trebesch, Winsten Nienhaus)

– Milk Quality – 4^th Place Gold Team (Megan Sellner- 2^nd Ind., Jaelynn Schauman, Carter Lazatin, Jace Schauman)

– Best Informed Greenhand – 4^th Place Gold Team (Ava Sellner, Ethan Evans, Makayla Strong, Santi Martinez)

– Dairy Cattle Evaluation – 6^th Place Gold Team (Rachel Portner, Jasmine Petermann, Jared Porther, Lucia Martinez)

– Market Plan – 6^th Place Team (Taylor Berkner, Hannah Meyer, Noah Rossbach)

– Floriculture – 10^th Place Gold Team (Elsie Trebesch, Lily Kallevig, Yanellie Fernandez, Jose Castorena)

– Creed Speaking – 6^th Place Individual (Camryn Maher)

In the proficiency category, the following individuals placed in the Top Three in the state:

Alex Confer – State Winner – Agriscience Research Plant Systems Proficiency (Advances to Nationals)

Logan Ludewig – Runner Up Ag. Mechanics Repair & Maintenance Placement

Isaac Lendt – Swine Production Entrepreneurship: Runner Up at State

Emma Fischer – Dairy Production Placement: 3^rd Place at State

We had several junior and senior high students participate in the State Agriscience Fair this year. These are the students who placed in the Top 3 –

• Agriscience Fair Winners – Alex Confer (Plant Systems Grades 10-12), Keeyan Netzke & Connor Mack (Plant Systems Grades 7-8): Advance to Nationals
• Agriscience Fair Runner Up – Kenedi Wersal (Animal Systems Grades 7-8), Karly Wendinger (Plant Systems Grades 7-8)
• Agriscience Fair 3^rd Place – Ava Sellner, Breanna Lopez, Mia Davila (Plant Systems Grades 7-8)

Other individuals participating in the State FFA Convention Activities:

State FFA Ambassadors:

• Chloe Howe and Noemi Rodriguez

State FFA Band Participants:

• Lucia Martinez and Anna Johnson

Our chapter also conducted a Service Project Workshop at the Convention. The service projects members from across the state participated in were making cards for nursing home residents and writing thank you notes to advisors. 40 members also participated in a service project on Sunday of Convention by setting up five contest sites.

The Sleepy Eye FFA has a lot to be proud of in 2024. The members worked very hard this year to qualify for and excel at their state competitions! Advisor Mary Hoffmann states, “I am so proud of our members! Being named the Top Chapter in Minnesota is the highest honor the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter has received at the state level. I am truly impressed with 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 Services projects, these members show and earn success through their great work ethic and dedication!”

By Alex Confer, Chapter Reporter

Elsie Trebesch is a seventh grader and has been involved in FFA for one year. Elsie joined FFA because she wanted to learn about agriculture and meet new people. Elsie is on the Floriculture Career Development Event (CDE) team. She likes the team because she gets to learn more about floral production, plant identification, and floral design. Elsie’s favorite FFA activity is the Junior High bowling trip. Elsie is looking forward to trying welding and building projects in the future. Since joining FFA, Elsie has learned a lot of interesting information about floriculture. An achievement Elsie made is placing second on the team with her CDE.

Emma Fischer is a senior at St. Mary’s and is in her sixth year of FFA. Emma joined FFA because she wanted to be part of a group and expand her knowledge of the Ag industry. Emma was on the Dairy CDE team. She liked meeting people from different chapters while at competitions. Emma’s SAE is dairy production placement that has consisted of working at three different farms over the past four years doing a variety of chores. Her favorite FFA activity is the Animal Carnival. This year, Emma is looking forward to attending State Convention and walking across the big stage. Since Emma has joined Ag. Classes and FFA, she has learned how to weld, communication skills, responsibility, and small engine skills. An award Emma is proud of earning is her Region Star in Ag Production Placement Award.

Taylor Berkner is a sophomore at Sleepy Eye Public High School and has been in FFA for four years. Taylor joined FFA because she wanted to learn more about agriculture, farming, and expanding her horizons. Taylor is on the Floriculture CDE team and enjoys making flower arrangements. Taylor’s SAE consists of growing, weeding, picking, and selling pumpkins with her sister and cousins. She is most looking forward to going to the State FFA Convention and expanding her SAE for future years. Taylor’s favorite FFA activity is the Lock-In’s. Since joining FFA, she has learned leadership skills and has been given the opportunity to make new friends. A couple awards Taylor is proud of earning are the Top Scholar Award and placing first regionally for her SAE in Vegetable Production.

Natalie Fulmer is a seventh grader at Sleepy Eye Public High School and has been involved in FFA for one year. Natalie joined FFA because she wanted to make fun memories while learning new things. Natalie is on the Companion Animals CDE team. She likes the team because she gets to identify different breeds of animals. Natalie’s favorite FFA activities are the black light dance and the fruit sales reward trip. Natalie is looking forward to attending Timberland this summer. Since joining Ag. Class, Natalie has learned about what FFA is and what it truly means to be a member. An achievement Natalie is proud of is winning her own FFA jacket.