Four FFA Stars honored at State Convention
Four high school and college students received top FFA honors last night at the 82nd Minnesota FFA Convention in St. Paul.
Winners are:
Star Farmer. Jason Schaefer started buying feeder pigs back in thid grade and now produces 750 market hogs annually. He is a 2010 graduate of Hancock High School and is currently a student at Ridgewater College in Willmar, majoring in agribusiness and farm operations and management. Son of Stanley and Beverly Schaefer, Jason is a member of the Hancock FFA chapter. His adviser is Adam Bjerketvedt.
Star in Agri-Business. Kaylee Samaza has been buying, selling trading and training horses until she had enough money to purchase a quality pair of performance horses. She competes in rodeos, Western Saddle Club Association, National Barrel Racing and National Barrel Horse Association events. Daughter of Robert and Laurie Sazama, Kaylee is a member of the Perham FFA. Her adviser is Carl Aakre. She plans to attend Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas in the fall and to major in equine training and management.
Star in Production Placement. Andrew Steiner grew up in town and found his placement experience at C. R. Koehl & Sons. The Koehl farm operations include 7,500 acres of cropland and more than 5,000 acres of custom field operations near Hancock. Crops include 1,800 acres of alfalfa, kidney beans, wheat, corn, and soybeans. Steiner started out picking rock. His responsibilities have grown to manage work crews, harvesting kidney beans, and operating the disk ripper and tillage equipment. He plans to major in agriculture education. Son of Jeff and Jill Steiner, Andrew is a member of the Hancock FFA. He is advised by Adam Bjerketvedt and his agriculture instructor is Adam Steege.
Star in Agri Science. Ryan Bart is employed at the Central Lakes College Ag Center near Staples, where his responsibilities include assisting researchers from local universities. He has been involved with starting and planting more than 12,000 Miscanthus experimental grass cuttings and working with alternative oilseed crops such as Camelina and Pennycress. With his help, the University of Minnesota completed a project testing the uptake of antibiotic-laden compost in garden vegetables in high tunnel greenhouses. Bart plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Crookston and major in natural resource management and agronomy. Son of Roman and Karen Bart, Ryan is a member of the Staples-Motley FFA. His adviser is Kerry Lindgren.
Each year at the Minnesota FFA convention, 16 state finalists—four in each category— vie for the association's top awards: Minnesota FFA Star Farmer, Minnesota FFA Star in Agri Business, Minnesota FFA Star in Production Placement and Minnesota FFA Star in Agri Science. These awards honor students who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through their supervised agricultural experience; demonstrated outstanding management skills; earned the Minnesota FFA Degree – the Association's highest level of accomplishment; and met other agricultural education, scholastic and leadership requirements. Each finalist was interviewed by a panel of judges, who ultimately named the top candidate in each area. The winner was announced in an onstage convention ceremony and received a plaque and an award of $300. The runners-up also received plaques and $100 each.
The Minnesota FFA Degree recognition programs are sponsored by Ag Star Financial, as a special project of the Minnesota FFA Foundation. The Minnesota FFA Association represents 187 Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education programs and local FFA Chapters, serving more than 9,000 student members across the state of Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, April 6, 2011 - The Minnesota FFA Association and the Minnesota FFA Alumni Association are proud to announce the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Class of 2011.
These seven inductees will join the 134 members that have been inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame the past six years, including the 75 inaugural members in 2004.
They include:
MINNESOTA FFA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2011
§ Rowland Bauck, New York Mills, MN
§ Tom Deming, Plainview, MN
§ Sheryl Meshke, Lake Crystal, MN
§ Steve Sviggum, Kenyon, MN
§ Dr. Larry Klingbeil, Bloomington, MN
§ John (Jack) Larson (deceased), Slayton, MN
§ Vic Richardson, Owatonna, MN
“The Hall of Fame is an excellent opportunity to honor the men and women who, over the years, have demonstrated leadership and commitment not only to the FFA but also to Minnesota’s agricultural industry,” said Jason Troendle, President, Minnesota FFA Association.
A selection committee consisting of FFA members, alumni and agricultural educators selected the final inductees. “We were looking for individuals who have been influential and supportive of Minnesota FFA and who have demonstrated a high level of service and longstanding commitment to agriculture, agribusiness, and/or education in agriculture,” said Steve Olson, co-chair, Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Committee.
An induction ceremony will be held on Monday afternoon, May 2, during the 82st State FFA Convention. The 2011 Hall of Fame Class will be featured on the Minnesota FFA Alumni Association website (www.mnffaalumni.org) as well as the state convention newsletter to be distributed shortly after convention.
Pancake Breakfast, Other Events Feed FFA Week at High School
The Belle Plaine FFA Chapter and almost 7,500 others across the nation are making their annual observance of National FFA Week, which began Monday and will continue through Sunday.
This year's National FFA theme is "Infinite Potential.” Through this, members are “encouraged to envision, discover and achieve their potential within their communities.”
The Belle Plaine chapter’s six officers and dozens of other members have a number of activities planned this week that will continue through Sunday.
The annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday will take place at Chatfield Elementary School from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (see ad in this week’s Herald for more information).
The Maynard Harms Memorial Euchre Tournament honoring long-time Belle Plaine FFA Advisor Maynard Harms will be held Sunday from 1-5 p.m., also at Chatfield Elementary School. There will be a silent auction throughout the day, proceeds from which will go to leadership scholarship activities.
On Tuesday, Belle Plaine FFA members were scheduled to visit fourth-grade students to talk about the state’s fruit and vegetable industry and make mini-pumpkin pies. Today (Wednesday), members will gather with third-grade students to talk about plant growth, corn and soybeans, and complete a “Soyboys” activity.
2011 National FFA Week highlights GRFFA accomplishments
Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 12:00 pm
The Grand Rapids FFA has had many accomplishments to highlight this year as the chapter prepares for state competition in May.
The year has been highlighted by an unprecedented chapter performance at the University of Minnesota, Crookston's Agriculture and Natural Resources Day in early December. The chapter earned $4,500 in scholarships through performances in several career development events held that day. The recipients of $750, first place individual scholarships were Josie Johnson in Floriculture, Torey Belich in Wildlife, and Kachina Lilley in Small Animals. The recipients of $600, second place individual scholarships were Max Madoll in Forestry, Travis Belich in Wildlife, and Lukas Maercker in Meats. The lone recipient of a $450, third place individual scholarship was Jessica Haig in Forestry. The chapter had 32 student participants, and 28 out of the 32 participants placed in the top third of their field in their respective career development events in Wildlife, Floriculture, Forestry, Small Animals, Meats, Agricultural Mechanics, Horse Judging, and Hippology.
FFA Week!
This past week (including today) was the National FFA week. Every school and every FFA chapter celebrates this week in a different way but the base principle for FFA week remains the same, to raise agriculture awareness and to let the community know that the FFA is still a strong and unified organization. Here at Red Wing, we had dress up days for each day of the week, we had a teacher appreciation breakfast, and we have a lock in tonight (Friday the 25th and February). The schedule for the dress up days goes as follows.
Tuesday: Blue Day
Wednesday: Gold Day
Faculty and Students at the Teacher Appreciation Breakfast.
Thursday: Duct Tape Day
Friday: Flannel Friday
The dress up days were mostly just for fun and to raise FFA awareness. Our biggest project for FFA week was a Leadership Lock-in that we planned at the Red Wing Gymnastics Center. It is literally a lock in, because it starts at seven pm tonight and goes until seven in the morning. Some of our activities will include dodge ball, team building activities, leadership strengthening games, diving into the foam pit, and socializing with friends. We have high hopes for this event and we already have many people signed up to attend.
Hopefully our efforts have raised awareness about FFA and provided fun and beneficial opportunities for the students at Red Wing High.
Zach Phillips
Red Wing FFA Reporter
Farm Bureau and FFA - Working Together
02/14/11 1:35:34 PM
The Minnesota Farm Bureau (MFB) salutes FFA during National FFA Week, February 19-26. This week is a great reminder of the many reasons why Farm Bureau maintains such strong support for the FFA program.
Farm Bureau invests in FFA throughout the year because Farm Bureau sees future farmers, future agricultural leaders and future Farm Bureau members involved in this organization.
Below are some of the ways Farm Bureau partners with FFA throughout the year.
*The MFB Young Farmers & Ranchers and MFB Foundation sponsor the Minnesota FFA Discussion Meet contest.
*The MFB Foundation sponsors the extemporaneous speaking state contest and serves as a general sponsor of the Minnesota FFA Convention.
*MFB Foundation recognizes an FFA Advisor of the Year and sponsors the Minnesota Association of Ag Educators Young Educator of the Year award.
*The MFB has a representative on the Minnesota FFA Foundation board of directors and provides assistance to state FFA contests.
*Minnesota FFA state and regional officers serve as timekeepers at the MFB Young Farmers & Ranchers state discussion meet contest.
*MFB is a sponsor of the Minnesota FFA Foundation Golf Outing scheduled for July 28.
*MFB is a sponsor of the Minnesota FFA Foundation Twins event.
County Farm Bureaus and Farm Bureau leaders also support FFA programs by sponsoring local FFA activities or individuals, jointly hosting events such as safety camps and serve as a driving force to maintain FFA programs in local school districts.
Farm Bureau congratulates FFA in Minnesota and all of the youth and leaders who make FFA such an impressive organization. Farm Bureau is proud to be a strong supporter of FFA.
Welcome FFA Student Officers
Commissioner Brenda Cassellius welcomed Future Farmers of America (FFA) student officer team: Kirsten Pagel, Fulda; Maddie Collin, Southwest Star Concept; Jason Troendle, St. Charles; Justin Crowley, Howard Lake Waverly Winsted; Erin Daninger, Forest Lake; Liz Rabbe, Martin County West
The students met with the commissioner as a part of National FFA Week 2011 and shared information about the Minnesota FFA Ag Literacy Challenge, Land of Service Project, and the 2011 Minnesota FFA Convention to be held May 1-3 at the University of Minnesota. Visit the Minnesota FFA site.
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The 35 students that make up Montevideo’s FFA Chapter are pretty identifiable around school.
Their creativity spills out on their t-shirts, which are worn under their traditional FFA jackets.
“That blue and gold jacket is largely unchanged since the very first time it was put on. And the strengths that it stands for — leadership, personal growth, career success — those aren’t going to change either,” said FFA advisor, Brian Albers.
Albers has been Montevideo’s FFA advisor for 24 years. He has seen students come and go, but the quality has stayed the same. And it can be summed up in two words: corn drive.
“We go out in the country and we ask for donations of corn, or soybeans, or money. And all the donations will go to Camp Courage, which is a camp for kids with disabilities,” said FFA president, Rebekah Landmark.
They raised $2,000 last fall, and over the years have raised more than $100,000 for Camp Courage.
“It makes me smile really big because I know that our work has made a difference in those kids’ lives,” said Landmark.
“I feel that we, as students, get a lot from the community. And this is just one small way to give back to those less fortunate,” said FFA vice president, Jordan Voorhees.
Montevideo FFA members also built miniature buildings for the county fair, so kids could get a taste of farm life. They hold a Homecoming hot dog feed every year, and on Friday morning they served their annual pancake breakfast as part of National FFA Week.
“It’s so important to me,” said Landmark. “I love serving others.”
The FFA has received numerous awards over the years and was recognized in the local paper this week. That’s why WCCO is recognizing a group of small town students doing big things as this week’s Community Spotlight winner.
“Whether or not (there is) a monetary reward … we are just totally thrilled watching them grow and see the good students they’ve become,” said Albers.
Albers said the club will use the $500 Community Spotlight award money to help pay for next fall’s Homecoming hot dog feed and for leadership camps this summer.
Community Spotlight is sponsored by Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum, and Carey.
Minnesota Farm Bureau and FFA – Working Together
MFB recognizes the importance of youth in agriculture and supports various activities throughout the year.
Compiled by staff
Published: Feb 21, 2011
The Minnesota Farm Bureau salutes FFA during National FFA Week, Feb. 19-26.
This week is a great reminder of the many reasons why Farm Bureau maintains such strong support for the FFA program.
Farm Bureau invests in FFA throughout the year because Farm Bureau sees future farmers, future agricultural leaders and future Farm Bureau members involved in this organization.
Below are some of the ways Farm Bureau partners with FFA throughout the year.
*The MFB Young Farmers & Ranchers and MFB Foundation sponsor the Minnesota FFA Discussion Meet contest.
*The MFB Foundation sponsors the extemporaneous speaking state contest and serves as a general sponsor of the Minnesota FFA Convention.
*MFB Foundation recognizes an FFA Adviser of the Year and sponsors the Minnesota Association of Ag Educators Young Educator of the Year award.
*The MFB has a representative on the Minnesota FFA Foundation board of directors and provides assistance to state FFA contests.
*Minnesota FFA state and regional officers serve as timekeepers at the MFB Young Farmers & Ranchers state discussion meet contest.
*MFB is a sponsor of the Minnesota FFA Foundation Golf Outing scheduled for July 28.
*MFB is a sponsor of the Minnesota FFA Foundation Twins event.
County Farm Bureaus and Farm Bureau leaders also support FFA programs by sponsoring local FFA activities or individuals, jointly hosting events such as safety camps and serve as a driving force to maintain FFA programs in local school districts.
Source: MN FB
Larry Case Retirement Annoucement
All,