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 5th, 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 (7th & 8th 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 2nd 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 2nd 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 3rd 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.”