Representatives from Lendt Farms & Corn and Soybean Growers (Keith Lendt), Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club (Sam Domeier), Mary Ann Christensen, Christensen Farms (Tyler TeGrotenhuis) and Baumgardt Farms & KNUJ (Larry Baumgardt) are pictured with their awards for their efforts and support of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter.
The 2023 FFA Top Scholars include: left to right – Brooke Arneson, Isaac Lendt, Nora Coulson, and Taylor Berkner.
The Retiring Officer Team for 2022-23 included: L to r – front: Gracie Sellner (2nd Vice President), Brooke Arneson (Secretary), Leisha Martinez (1st Vice President), Noemi Rodriguez (Historian), Chloe Howe (Reporter), Izzy Kunkel (Historian). Back: Adam Johnson (President), Winsten Nienhaus (Student Advisor), Alex Joramo (Sentinel), Conor Strong (Officer-at-Large), Marcus Martinez (Student Advisor), Isaac Lendt (Treasurer), and Kyle Capacia.
Honorary Chapter Degree Recipient and FFA Appreciation Award Winners for 2023 included: l to r – Mike Hardin, Keith Lendt, Amanda Boomgarden, Diane Stoks, and Pam Wendt. Not pictured: Mindy Hardin and Anita Johnson.
The Top FFA Stars and Leadership Award Winners for 2022-23 include, from left to right – Front: Brooke Arneson, Alex Confer, Noemi Rodriguez, Izzy Kunkel, Kyle Capacia, Chloe Howe, Gracie Sellner, Leisha Martinez. Back: Carter Lazatin, Winsten Nienhaus, Logan Ludewig, Alex Joramo, Marcus Martinez, Adam Johnson, Gunny Coulson, Jake Price, Conor Strong, Isaac Lendt, Ari Krzmarzick. Not pictured: Daniel Armstrong. Jaelynn Schauman, Destiney Dittbenner.
The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter held the Awards Program on Sunday, May 7th, 2023. 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: 98 Discovery Degrees (7th & 8th graders), 54 Greenhand Degrees, 44 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. They include the following: Adopt-a-Senior Program – members participated in making cards for 94 Nursing Home and Countryside Living Residents each month. Wee Deliver Program –members participated in writing letters to 64 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 cards for residents, putting up lights at the park, packing meals for Food for Kids, 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. 34 FFA members were presented with certificates for being a 3-5 Star Member and 20 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, CHS, 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: Taylor Berkner (freshmen), Nora Coulson (sophomore), Isaac Lendt (junior), Brooke Arneson (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 support 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 – Keith Lendt.
There were two groups of people who were presented with an Appreciation Award for 2023. The first recipient of the FFA Appreciation Award was the Sleepy Eye Public Office Staff. We truly appreciate all of their work and support for the Sleepy Eye Ag. Program including FFA.
The 2nd recipients of the FFA Appreciation Award were Mike and Mindy Hardin. These individuals have helped out with the trap team the past few years and have been supporter of the chapter for many years. We appreciate them very much.
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 $4500 of products for the fruit sales. The Top Junior High Fruit Seller was Kenedi Wersal with over $1000 of products sold. The 2nd Place Junior High Top Seller was Trevor Rathman with over $1000 in sales. Our Top High School Fruit Seller was Destiney Dittbenner with over $1500 of products sold. The 2nd Place High School Top Seller was Nathan Rathman with over $1000 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 Daniel Armstrong and Krzmarzick. Sophomore recipients included: Izzy Kunkel and Noemi Rodriguez. Junior winners were Winsten Nienhaus and Marcus Martinez. Senior winners included: Brooke Arneson, Conor Strong, Alex Joramo, and Gunny Coulson.
We also presented a Special Senior Award to Amy Van Bragt. She is from the Netherlands and is an exchange student at SEPS who added so much to our chapter and school this year.
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 Jaelynn Schauman, Alex Confer, Destiney Dittbenner, and Carter Lazatin.
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 LOGAN LUDEWIG.
The Sophomore Achievement Award states, “Overall Success is Achieved through Hard Work and Dedication.” The Sophomore Achievement Award Winner for 2022 was CHLOE HOWE.
ISAAC LENDT 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 GRACI SELLNER.
This year’s recipient of the Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award was LEISHA MARTINEZ. This award is presented to the most outstanding senior in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and supervised agricultural experience.
The Star in Agribusiness Award is presented to a member who has an outstanding SAE program at a business and who is involved in all areas of the chapter’s activities. This year’s winner of Chapter Star Agribusiness Award was JAKE PRICE.
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 ADAM JOHNSON.
The 2022-23 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 2023-24 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 71 Sleepy Eye members attending.”
Hoffmann added, “Having two Runner Up Proficiency Finalists- Isaac Lendt and Sophie Kyllonen, being a National Chapter Model of Innovation Finalist, being the Runner Up chapter in the state for the Ag. Literacy Challenge and 3rd in the state for the Land of Service Award, and last but not least, earning the Top 3 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.”