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Hoffmann Inducted into Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame

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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 6th 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

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:

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:

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.
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