Fifty-eight Sleepy Eye FFA Members traveled to the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus,where they participated in the 87th Annual Minnesota FFA State Convention. More than 4,000 FFA members, advisors and guests from throughout the state gathered for the convention from Sunday, April 24 to Tuesday, April 26. The FFA members traveled to Convention with Advisor, Mary Hoffmann, and Assistant Advisors, Ben Seifert and Kelsey Brandt.

Each year, 16 state finalists – four in each category – vie for the association’s top awards: Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness, Star in Production Placement and Star in Agriscience. These awards honor students who have developed outstanding agricultural skills through their supervised agricultural experience (SAE) and earned the state degree. Cassidy Hacker was named the Minnesota FFA Regional Star Farmer Finalist at the 2016 State FFA Convention.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Career Development Event teams brought home plaques and success stories after competing at the state level. Eight Sleepy Eye FFA CDE Teams/Individuals were placed in the top six for CDE contests.

Sleepy Eye CDE RESULTS:

Soils Team – 1st Place: Austin Fischer (9th Place Gold Individual), Adam Steffl (Gold), Jon Mickelson (Gold), Caleb Trebesch (Bronze)

Dairy Handler – 2nd Place Gold Individual: Rebecca Rosenhammer

Small Animals – 3rd Place: Sarah Rossbach (5th Place Individual), Courtney Engholm (Gold), Cassidy Hoffmann (Gold) Kelsie Domeier (Gold)

Milk Quality – 3rd Place: Karlie Ries (9th Place Individual), Jacob Rossbach (Gold), Isabella Portner (Gold), Courtney Sellner (Gold)

Market Plan Team – 4th Place: Harley Braun, Brennon Helget, Kalli Christensen

BIG – 4th Place: Karlie Ries, Cassidy Hofmann, Destiny Perez, Paige Romberg, Estephanie Navarette

Poultry – 5th Place: Colin Hillmer (Gold), Parker Neid (Gold), McKenzie Cselovszki (Gold), Brianna Polesky (Gold)

Nursery Landscape Team – 6th Place: Cassidy Hacker (12th Place Gold Individual), Isaac Nelson (Gold), Hanna Himmelman (Gold), Hannah Schroepfer (Gold)

Floriculture Team: Josie Schieffert (Gold), Courtney Dittbenner (Silver), Mya Ibberson (Silver), Jenna Osmonsen (Bronze)

Fish and Wildlife: Lane Trebesch (Gold), Carter Brinkman (Silver), Colton Gemmill (Silver), Dylan Wersal (Bronze)

Dairy Cattle Evaluation: McKayla Aschenbrenner (Gold), Anna Landkammer (Gold), Tyrah Stoll (Silver), Clarissa Simonsen (Silver)

Forestry: Natasha Neville (Silver), Carter Tauer (Silver), Nicole Ring (Bronze)

Livestock Evaluation: Allison Helget (Silver), John Rosenhammer (Silver). Martina Nienhaus (Bronze), Josh Nelson (Bronze)

In the proficiency category, the following individuals placed first at state and will advance to nationals:

Harley Braun Agricultural Communications

Cassidy Hacker Swine Production Entrepreneurship

Sabrina Portner Dairy Production Entrepreneurship

Our second place State Proficiency finishers included:

Harley Braun Agricultural Education

McKenzie Cselovszki Equine Placement

Cassidy Hoffmann Home &/or Community Development

Isabella Portner Dairy Production Entrepreneurship

The Sleepy Eye FFA had 15 members receive their State FFA Degrees while at the 87th State FFA Convention. They included: Jeniffer Kotten, Rebecca Rosenhammer, Kyle Kjelshus, Lauren Laffen, Natalie Konopka, Natalie Stevens, David Jasso, Jennifer Sanchez, Josie Schieffert, Jacob Rossbach, Kolten Nienhaus, Courtney Engholm, Harley Braun, Cassidy Hacker and Austin Fischer.

In addition, the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was a top ten chapter in the Land of Service Challenge and placed 3rd overall in the Ag. Literacy Challenge. Sleepy Eye FFA was named the 4th top chapter for the National Chapter Award. They also were recognized for the Membership Challenge, which means over 85 percent of students in Ag. Classes are FFA members. Sleepy Eye FFA also was awarded for having over 100 members in the chapter. Sleepy Eye was a Model of Innovation Chapter Finalist for student development from the Tagged to Teach Ag activity that they conduct.

Other happenings at convention included: McKenzie Cselovszki and Josie Lang attending the Teach Ag. Workshop and Livia Nelson being a part of the Minnesota FFA State Choir. Cassidy Hacker, Isabella Portner, and Courtney Engholm presented at the Minnesota Ag in the Classroom Workshop at this year’s convention as well.

The Sleepy Eye FFA has a lot to be proud of in 2016. 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!”