The Retiring Officer Team for 2021-22 included: L to r – front: Brooke Arneson (Reporter), Alex Joramo (Treasurer), Winsten Nienhaus (Officer at Large), Isaac Lendt (Sentinel), Adam Johnson (2nd Vice President). Back: Miah Brown (Historian), Presley Braun (Student Advisor), Leisha Martinez (Reporter), Carmen Lendt (Secretary), Morgan Hoffmann (President), Gracie Sellner (Student Advisor), Maddi Helget (1st Vice President), Katelyn Capacia (Historian). SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW
The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter held the Awards Program on Sunday, May 1st, 2022. 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: 82 Discovery Degrees (7th & 8th graders), 48 Greenhand Degrees, 42 Chapter Degrees and 10 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. They include the following: Adopt-a-Senior Program – members participated in making cards for 140 Nursing Home and Countryside Living Residents each month. Wee Deliver Program –members participated in writing letters to 65 third grade students (Pen Pals) each month. Service –members helped with the Backpack Supplies project with United Way, the Backpack Food Project with Trinity, making extra-large Valentines and Spring cards for residents, putting up lights at the park, painting pumpkins, and tying blankets.
The Sleepy Eye FFA members who participated in at least three of these programs were named 3- 5 Star Members. If members participated in at least 6 of the programs they were named a Star Leader. 38 FFA members were presented with certificates for being a 3-5 Star Member and 28 members were presented with trophies for being a 6-12 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, Co-Bank, 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: Nora Coulson & Landon Wendinger (freshmen), Isaac Lendt (sophomore), Brooke Arneson (junior), Morgan Hoffmann (senior).
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 huge supporter of our chapter and school – Mary Ann Christensen. She is truly inspiring!
There were two community members who were presented with an Appreciation Award for 2022. The first recipient of the FFA Appreciation Award was Doug Miller of Miller Sellner Implement. We truly appreciate his support for the Sleepy Eye Ag. Program as well as his willingness to help with the fruit sale each year.
The 2nd recipient of the FFA Appreciation Award was for another great supporter of our chapter. We awarded this award to Schwartz Farms, Inc. This company has been a supporter for many years donating to our program as well as providing tours and learning opportunities in and out of the classroom as well as donating piglets to our Animal Carnival.
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 $5000 of products for the fruit sales. The Top Junior High Fruit Seller was Trevor Rathman with over $1000 of products sold. The 2nd Place Junior High Top Seller was Rheanna Stone with over $600 in sales. Our Top High School Fruit Seller was Morgan Hoffmann with over $2100 of products sold. The 2nd Place High School Top Seller was Jacob Mellen with over $1300 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 Chloe Howe and Izzy Kunkel. Sophomore recipients included: Isaac Lendt and Marcus Martinez. Junior winners were Leisha Martinez, Brooke Arneson, and Jake Price. Senior winners included: Maddison Helget, Katelyn Capacia, and Presley Braun.
The Phoenix Awards are presented each year for Students who are upcoming leaders. These 4 individuals got involved, got others involved, and showed true enthusiasm for the FFA. This year’s Phoenix Award Winners were Lily Kallevig, Kyle Capacia, Nathan Rathman, and Noemi Rodriguez.
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 NORA COULSON.
The Sophomore Achievement Award states, “Overall Success is Achieved through Hard Work and Dedication.” The Sophomore Achievement Award Winner for 2022 was WINSTEN NIENHAUS.
ADAM JOHNSON 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 , Region VI Star, and State Star Finalist was SOPHIE KYLLONEN.
This year’s recipient of the Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award was MORGAN HOFFMANN. This award is presented to the most outstanding senior in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and supervised agricultural experience.
The 2021-22 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 2022-23 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 and now, to bring everything to a close with a great State FFA Convention with 59 Sleepy Eye members attending.”
Hoffmann added, “Having Jake Price, Morgan Hoffmann, and Adam Johnson be State Proficiency Winners, having the Poultry Team earn first place and a trip to nationals, being a National Chapter Model of Innovation Finalist, being the first place chapter in the state for the Ag. Literacy Challenge and 4th in the state for the Land of Service Award, and last but not least, earning Runner Up 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.”
The 2021-22 FFA Chapter Leader Trophy Recipients included, from left to right – Front: Adam Johnson, Mateo Hornsby, Noah Rossbach, Kyle Capacia, Lucia Martinez, Isaac Lendt, Same Price, Alex Confer. Middle: Presley Braun, Hailey Meinert, Brooke Arneson, Katelyn Capacia, Gracie Sellner, Maddi Helget, Miah Brown, Nathan Rathman, Winsten Nienhaus. Back: Leisha Martinez, Morgan Hoffmann, Carmen Lendt, Marcus Martinez, Jake Price, Taylor Berkner, Katylyn Romberg, Ellen Windschitl, Alex Joramo.
The 2021 FFA Top Scholars include, from left to right: Brooke Arneson, Morgan Hoffmann, Landon Wendinger, Isaac Lendt, and Nora Coulson.
The Top FFA Stars and Leadership Award Winners for 2021-22 include, from left to right – Front: Brooke Arneson, Chloe Howe, Izzy Kunkel, Sophie Kyllonen, Winsten Nienhaus, Nathan Rathman, Adam Johnson, Nora Coulson, Maddi Helget. Back: Presley Braun, Katelyn Capacia, Morgan Hoffmann, Lily Kallevig, Noemi Rodriguez, Jake Price, Marcus Martinez, Kyle Capacia, Leisha Martinez, Isaac Lendt.
Representatives from Christensen Farms, Schwartz Farms, Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club, Cunningham Seed Farm, and Central Region Cooperative are pictured with 2021-22 Chapter President Morgan Hoffmann for their efforts and support of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter.
FFA Advisors, Katie Emmett (left) and Mary Hoffmann (right), are pictured with Mary Ann Christensen (middle), Platinum Level Sponsor and Honorary Chapter Degree Recipient for 2022.