The Poultry CDE Team placed 1st at State. Pictured l to r: Zack Dominguez, Leo Fernandez, Logan Ludewig, and Mateo Moreno.
Emma Fischer (left) was named the Star in Ag. Production Placement Region VI Finalist and Isaac Lendt (right) was named the Minnesota Star Farmer Winner at the State FFA Convention. They are pictured with Advisor Mary Hoffmann.
Alex Confer (left) was awarded the State Winner for the Agriscience Plant Systems Proficiency Award. She is pictured here with the award sponsor. Alex also won her Agriscience Fair Category. She advances to nationals in both categories.
Connor Mack (left) and Keeyan Netzke (right) were named the 1st Place Award Winners for the Agriscience Fair – Plant Systems Grades 7-8 Partner Division.
Seventy-two 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 6,000 FFA members, advisors and guests from throughout the state gathered for the convention from Sunday, April 21 – Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
The Sleepy Eye FFA members traveled to Convention with Advisors, Mary Hoffmann, Katie Emmett, and Paul Hendrickx, Assistant Advisor Ben Seifert, SEPS teacher Nichole Voigt, and Alumni member Gracie Sellner.
Sleepy Eye FFA was named the First Place Premier Chapter in the State of Minnesota for the National Chapter Award while at the Convention. The entire officer team and advisors got to go on stage for this huge honor. This award is based on three categories: Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture. This will advance Sleepy Eye to Nationals.
Other Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter Results:
- Sleepy Eye was 3rd in the state for the Land of Service Challenge.
- Sleepy Eye was a Top 10 Chapter for the Ag. Literacy Challenge.
Three hundred ninety-five agriculture, food and natural resources education students from across the state were awarded with Minnesota State FFA Degrees. The degree is given to the top members of a state FFA Association, and only two percent of Minnesota FFA members earn the distinction. It demonstrates the student has put an exceptional amount of time into their FFA experience, and has gone above and beyond in their local chapter and community.
The Sleepy Eye FFA members receiving their State FFA Degrees at Convention included: Courtney Brey, Kadence Lund, Kyle Capacia, Emma Fischer, Isaac Lendt, Winsten Nienhaus, Leo Fernandez, Katelyn Tauer, Nathan Rathman, Ellen Windschitl, and Marcus Martinez
Isaac Lendt from the Sleepy Eye FFA chapter, who has raised 400 hogs each summer on his family’s farm, was named the Minnesota State Star Farmer. His efforts have assured healthy pigs and allowed him to contribute $40,000 toward his college education. He plans to pursue pre-medicine in college.
Emma Fischer, Sleepy Eye FFA member, was recognized as the Star in Ag. Production Placement Region VI Finalist. Emma has worked on three different dairy farms as well as Schwartz Farms for her Supervised Agricultural Experience Project. She plans to attend Ridgewater College in the fall.
The Sleepy Eye FFA Career Development Event (CDE) teams and Leadership Development Event (LDE) participants brought home plaques and success stories after competing at the state level. Eight Sleepy Eye FFA CDE’s and LDE’s placed in the Top Ten for their competitions.
TOP TEN Results:
– Poultry – 1st Place Gold Team (Leo Fernandez- 4th Ind., Logan Ludeiwig- 10th Ind., Zack Dominguez, Mateo Moreno): ADVANCES TO NATIONALS
– Soils – 3rd Place Gold Team (Wyatt Feucht- 1st Ind., Isaac Lendt- 9th Ind., Oliver Trebesch, Winsten Nienhaus)
– Milk Quality – 4th Place Gold Team (Megan Sellner- 2nd Ind., Jaelynn Schauman, Carter Lazatin, Jace Schauman)
– Best Informed Greenhand – 4th Place Gold Team (Ava Sellner, Ethan Evans, Makayla Strong, Santi Martinez)
– Dairy Cattle Evaluation – 6th Place Gold Team (Rachel Portner, Jasmine Petermann, Jared Porther, Lucia Martinez)
– Market Plan – 6th Place Team (Taylor Berkner, Hannah Meyer, Noah Rossbach)
– Floriculture – 10th Place Gold Team (Elsie Trebesch, Lily Kallevig, Yanellie Fernandez, Jose Castorena)
– Creed Speaking – 6th Place Individual (Camryn Maher)
In the proficiency category, the following individuals placed in the Top Three in the state:
Alex Confer – State Winner – Agriscience Research Plant Systems Proficiency (Advances to Nationals)
Logan Ludewig – Runner Up Ag. Mechanics Repair & Maintenance Placement
Isaac Lendt – Swine Production Entrepreneurship: Runner Up at State
Emma Fischer – Dairy Production Placement: 3rd Place at State
We had several junior and senior high students participate in the State Agriscience Fair this year. These are the students who placed in the Top 3 –
- Agriscience Fair Winners – Alex Confer (Plant Systems Grades 10-12), Keeyan Netzke & Connor Mack (Plant Systems Grades 7-8): Advance to Nationals
- Agriscience Fair Runner Up – Kenedi Wersal (Animal Systems Grades 7-8), Karly Wendinger (Plant Systems Grades 7-8)
- Agriscience Fair 3rd Place – Ava Sellner, Breanna Lopez, Mia Davila (Plant Systems Grades 7-8)
Other individuals participating in the State FFA Convention Activities:
State FFA Ambassadors:
- Chloe Howe and Noemi Rodriguez
State FFA Band Participants:
- Lucia Martinez and Anna Johnson
Our chapter also conducted a Service Project Workshop at the Convention. The service projects members from across the state participated in were making cards for nursing home residents and writing thank you notes to advisors. 40 members also participated in a service project on Sunday of Convention by setting up five contest sites.
The Sleepy Eye FFA has a lot to be proud of in 2024. 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 our members! Being named the Top Chapter in Minnesota is the highest honor the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter has received at the state level. I am truly impressed with 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!”