The Sleepy Eye FFA Dairy Team took 1st at their Region contest in Pipestone. The team included: l to r Dustin Portner, Lucia Martinez Paredes, Charlie Hoffmann, Rachel Portner (1st place Individual), Jared Portner, and Isaac Christensen.
The Sleepy Eye FFA Soils Team placed first at the Region VI Contest in Sherburn. Pictured l to r – front: Wyatt Feucht (1st place Individual), Oliver Trebesch, Ethan Feucht, Carson Sellner
The Sleepy Eye FFA members competed in their first Region VI Contests on October 3 and 10, 2024. The Dairy Team and Soils Teams placed 1st in their contest! The Poultry and Horse Teams both took 2nd and the Forestry Team received 4th place.
For the Dairy Contest, Rachel Portner, Jared Portner, Dustin Portner, Lucia Martinez Paredes, Charlie Hoffmann, Isaac Christensen evaluated several classes of Holstein dairy cows and heifers on October 3rd in Pipestone.
They also answered questions on one class of cows and recited reasons on the other class of cows. They judged a pedigree class where they judged cows based on their records and a sire selection class where they chose the best bull for their cow as well. The final portion of the contest is a team activity with dairy trivia and management questions.
The Dairy team placed 1st out of 7 teams and Rachel Portner was the highest scorer in the contest and earned 1st place individual.
On October 10th, FFA members competed in four other Career Development Events (CDE’S) at Sherburn in the Region VI Fall CDE competition.
In the soils contest, members judge different soil profiles, and identify soil characteristics, including texture, depths, and erosion potential.
The soils team placed 1st in the competition out of 13 teams. Team members included: Wyatt Feucht (1st place Individual Overall), Oliver Trebesch (2nd place Individual Overall), Ethan Feucht, and Carson Sellner.
The poultry team was the 2nd Place team out of 14 schools. The team consisted of Mateo Hornsby (1st place Individual), Kayden Klein (7th place Ind.), Carsten Nienhaus, Ava Sellner, and Makayla Strong.
The Poultry CDE involves judging chicken and turkey carcasses, eggs, processed poultry, chicken parts identification, and taking a poultry knowledge test.
The horse team took also took 2nd place in the competition out of 13 teams. Team members included: Leah Kucera (3rd place Individual Overall), Millie Lax (4th place Individual Overall), Kenedi Wersal (5th place Individual Overall), Paola Gonzalez, and Breanna Lopez.
For the Horse CDE, members judge halter classes, performance classes (western pleasure, hunt seat, English pleasure, western riding, western horsemanship, and trail), and also identify breeds, colors, markings, and tack.
The forestry team placed 4th in the Region VI Contest out of 6 teams. The team members included: Daniel Armstrong (6th place Individual Overall), Clark Lazatin (12th place Individual Overall), Kaylie Fulmer, and Ella Arkins.
For the forestry contest, members identify trees, wood, and tools used in the forestry industry; measure trees; take a forestry exam; solve business management problems; and use a compass and pacing to figure out the bearing and distance.
All of the teams also advanced to State Competition which will be held in the Twin Cities in April.