Sleepy Eye FFA and advisor Mary Hoffmann accepted the Sleepy Eye FFA Award for Runner Up Premier Chapter. Pictured l to r- Presley Braun, Kyle Capacia, Gracie Sellner, Marcus Seifert, Morgan Hoffmann, Leisha Martinez, Miah Brown. SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW
Fifty-nine Sleepy Eye FFA Members traveled to the University of Minnesota Campuses and State Fairgrounds, where they participated in the Annual Minnesota FFA State Convention. More than 4,700 FFA members, advisors and guests from throughout the state gathered for the convention from Sunday, April 24 – Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
The Sleepy Eye FFA members traveled to Convention with Advisors, Mary Hoffmann, Katie Emmett, and McKenzie Wagelie, Assistant Advisor Ben Seifert, and Student Teacher Kaiya Novacek.
The Sleepy Eye FFA Career Development Event teams brought home plaques and success stories after competing at the state level. Nine Sleepy Eye FFA CDE Teams placed in the Top Thirteen for CDE contests.
Sleepy Eye CDE Results:
Poultry Team: State Winner – Advanced to Nationals!
- Isaac Lendt (1st at State), Adam Johnson (2nd at State), Winsten Nienhaus (6th at State), Noah Rossbach
Milk Quality Team: 2nd Place Gold at State
- Katelyn Capacia (4th place at State), Megan Sellner, Rylee Jennisen, Jace Schauman
Market Plan: 5th at State
- Gunny Coulson, Alexis Garza, Lee Wahlborg
Floriculture Team: 7th Place Gold at State
- Brooke Arneson (8th individual at State), Morgan Hoffmann, Presley Bauer, Miah Brown
Soils Team: 10th Place Gold at State
- Maddi Helget, Caleb Suess, Nathan Rathman, MacKenna Fischer
Dairy Team: 11th Place Gold at State
- Rachel Portner (13th individual at State), Gracie Sellner, Emma Fischer, Lucia Martinez
Best Informed Greenhand (BIG) Team: 12th & 13th Place Gold at State
- Chloe Howe (12th place individual), Jose Castorena, Nora Coulson, Yanellie Fernandez, Tim Friton, Brissa Hernandez, Lily Kallevig, Izzy Kunkel, Manny Poplow, Adam Rodriguez, Noemi Rodriguez, Cody Schultz, and Nolan Weicherding
Meats: Silver at State
- Alex Confer, Yuridia Fernandez, Trevor Rathman, Gavin Fischer
Nursery Landscape Team: Silver at State
- Kyle Capacia, Marcus Martinez , Leisha Martinez, Austin Uecker
Forestry Team: Bronze at State
- Daniel Armstrong, Jaelynn Schauman, Sam Price, Hannah Meyer
In the proficiency category, the following individuals placed in the top three in the state:
Morgan Hoffmann – Ag. Communications: 1st at State – Advanced to Nationals
Jake Price – Landscape Management: 1st at State – Advanced to Nationals
Adam Johnson – Poultry Production: 1st at State – Advanced to Nationals
Isaac Lendt – Swine Production Entrepreneurship: Runner Up at State
The Sleepy Eye FFA had 10 members receive their State FFA Degrees while at the State FFA Convention. They included: Wyatt Barnes, Presley Braun, Katelyn Capacia, Alexis Garza, Maddison Helget, Sophie Kyllonen, Taylor Lambrecht, Carmen Lendt, Brennen Meyer, and Jacob Schultz.
Sophie Kyllonen was recognized as a State Finalist for Minnesota Star in Ag. Production Placement. We are so proud of her and all of her accomplishments with her Dairy Production Placement Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Project.
We had several junior high students participate in the State Agriscience Fair this year. These are the results from the Top 3 at State:
Daniel Armstrong – Plant Systems, Division I, 2nd place
Yuridia Fernandez and Maria Galaviz-Camacho – Plant Systems, Division II, 1st place
Destiney Dittbenner and Taylor Berkner – Plant Systems, Division II, 2nd place
Ari Krzmarzick and Emma Weilage – Plant Systems, Division II, 3rd place
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Sleepy Eye FFA was named the Runner Up Chapter in the State of Minnesota for the National Chapter Award. In addition, the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was recognized for their participation in the Land of Service Challenge and the Ag. Literacy Challenge. Sleepy Eye was the Top Chapter for the Ag. Literacy Challenge and 4th place in the state for the Land of Service Challenge. Sleepy Eye FFA was also recognized as a Model of Innovation Finalist for Growing Leaders – Wee Deliver Buddies Program with 3rd graders.
Other happenings at convention included: hearing from great speakers, Courtney Zimmerman (National FFA Officer) and P.J. Fleck (Gophers Football Coach) as well as State FFA Officer retiring addresses, Leisha Martinez participating in the 2022 State FFA Officer Nominating Committee, and our chapter helping with two major service projects (making cards/posters for nursing home residents and helping to set up the Career Connections booths).
The Sleepy Eye FFA has a lot to be proud of in 2022. The members worked very hard this year to qualify for and excel at their state competitions! Advisor Mary Hoffmann states, “I am so proud of all of the hard work that the Sleepy Eye FFA members show on a daily basis! Through their efforts with CDE’s, their SAE’s, Ag. Courses, and Community Services projects, these members show and earn success through their great work ethic and dedication!”
The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter had an amazing 2022 State FFA Convention in the Twin Cities! They were named the Runner Up chapter for the National Chapter Award. 59 members participated in the convention and numerous members earned awards as well as the chapter. Pictured to l to r, front: Trevor Rathman, Noemi Rodriguez, Chloe Howe, Izzy Kunkel, Maria Galaviz-Camacho, Nora Coulson, Brooke Arneson, Katelyn Capacia, Daniel Armstrong, Noah Rossbach, Jose Castorena, Lucia Martinez, Alex Confer, Rylee Jennissen, Jace Schauman. Row 2- Adam Johnson, Isaac Lendt, Emma Fischer, Miah Brown, Mackenna Fischer, Alexis Garza, Morgan Hoffmann, Maddi Helget, Sophie Kyllonen, Carmen Lendt, Gracie Sellner, Yanellie Fernandez, Presley Braun , Taylor Berkner, Megan Sellner, Destiney Dittbenner, Hannah Meyer, Lily Kallevig, Juridia Fernandez, Sam Price. Back- Jake Price, Adam Rodriguez, Winsten Nienhaus, Gunny Coulson, Nathan Rathman, Austin Uecker, Cadence Okerman, Lee Wahlborg, Ari Krizmarzick, Marcus Martinez, Leisha Martinez, Jon Baures, Caleb Suess, Gavin Fischer, Tim Friton, Kyle Capacia, Nolan Weicherding, Manny Poplow, Jaelynn Schauman, Brissa Hernandez, Brennen Meyer, Jacob Schultz, Taylor Lambrecht.
The Poultry CDE Team placed 1st at State and will be advancing to Nationals! Pictured l to r: team members Noah Rossbach, Isaac Lendt (1st place individual), Adam Johnson (2nd place individual), Winsten Nienhaus (6th place individual), and Advisor and Coach, Mary Hoffmann.
Baleigh Peterson (left), State FFA Sentinel, awarded the 2nd place Milk Quality Team plaque to the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter. Team members include: Katelyn Capacia, Megan Sellner, Jace Schauman, and Rylee Jennissen.
Emily Matejka, State FFA President, (left) presented Sophie Kyllonen (right) with her State Finalist plaque for Star in Ag. Production Placement.
Ten Sleepy Eye FFA members earned their State Degrees at the Minnesota FFA State Convention. (l to r): Alexis Garza, Sophie Kyllonen, Maddi Helget, Katelyn Capacia, Carmen Lendt, Presley Braun, Brennen Meyer, Jacob Schultz, and Taylor Lambrecht. Not pictured- Wyatt Barnes.
Kyle Thomas, State FFA Treasurer, presented Morgan Hoffmann with the 1st place award for the State FFA Ag. Communications Proficiency.
Wyatt Halvorson, State FFA Vice President, presented Jake Price with the 1st place award for the State FFA Landscape Management Proficiency.
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Wyatt Halvorson, State FFA Vice President, presented Yuridia Fernandez and Maria Galaviz-Camacho with the Plant Systems, Division II, 1st Place Award for the Agriscience Fair.
