Submitted photo Members of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter at the Minnesota State FFA Convention.

ST. PAUL — Sixty-three Sleepy Eye FFA Members traveled to the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus, where they participated in the 88th Annual Minnesota FFA State Convention. More than 3,600 FFA members, advisors and guests from throughout the state gathered for the convention from April 23 to April 25. The FFA members traveled to Convention with Advisors, Mary Hoffmann and Nathan McMullen, and Assistant Advisor, Ben Seifert.

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. Hunter Rose was named the Minnesota FFA Regional Star Finalist in Agribusiness at the 2017 State FFA Convention.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Career Development Event teams brought home plaques and success stories after competing at the state level. 14 Sleepy Eye FFA CDE Teams/Individuals were placed in the top seven for CDE contests.

Sleepy Eye CDE RESULTS:

Milk Quality – 1st Place, Advancing to Nationals – Isabella Portner (2nd Place Individual), Karlie Ries (4th Place Individual), Sarah Rossbach (6th Place Individual), Courtney Sellner (Gold), Lauren Klein (Silver)

Poultry – 1st Place, Advancing to Nationals: Brianna Polesky (2nd Place Individual), Parker Neid (3rd Place Individual), McKenzie Cselovszki (4th Place Individual), Trey Heiderscheidt (Gold)

Best Informed Greenhand Team #1 – 3rd Place, Advancing to Nationals: Cali Rossbach (9th Place Individual), Martina Nienhaus (Gold), Maranda Braulick (Silver), Edwin Flores (Silver)

Small Animals – 5th Place Team: Cassidy Hoffmann (Gold), Courtney Engholm (Gold), Kelsie Domeier (Gold), Morgan Hoffmann (Silver)

Nursery Landscape Team – 5th Place Team: Cassidy Hacker (12th Place Individual), Isaac Nelson (14th Place Individual), Hanna Himmelman (Gold), Hannah Schroepfer (Gold)

Market Plan Team – 6th Place: Josie Lang, Morgan Klein, Tasha Martinez

BIG Team #2 – 7th Place: Kalli Christensen (4th Place Individual), Emma Fischer (Gold), Brittney Dittbenner (Silver), Kathryn Schroepfer (Bronze)

Soils Team – 14th Place: Kyle Christensen (Gold), Carter Fischer (Gold), Owen Braun (Silver), Isaac Johnson (Silver)

Dairy Handler – Sophie Portner (Silver), Emily Ludewig (Silver)

Floriculture Team: Courtney Dittbenner (Gold), Mariah Miller (Silver), Mya Ibberson (Silver), Jenna Zuhlsdorf (Silver)

Fish and Wildlife: Landon Strong (Gold), Colton Gemmill (Gold), Lane Trebesch (Gold), Matthew Sellner (Silver)

Dairy Cattle Evaluation: Clarissa Simonsen (Gold), Anna Landkammer (Silver), McKayla Aschenbrenner (Silver), Macy Schenk (Bronze)

Forestry: Andrew Rose (Silver), Jadon Haala (Silver), Hunter Rose (Silver)

Meats: Crystal Portner (Gold), Maranda Braulick (Bronze), Kathryn Schroepfer (Bronze), Nick Ludewig (Bronze)

In the proficiency category, the following individuals placed in the top three in the state:

Harley Braun – State Winner: Agricultural Education

Isabella Portner – State Winner: Dairy Production Entrepreneurship

Cassidy Hoffmann – State Winner: Home and/or Community Development

Josie Lang – 2nd Place: Ag. Communications

Cassidy Hacker – 2nd Place: Specialty Animal Production

McKenzie Cselovszki – 3rd Place: Goat Production

The Sleepy Eye FFA had 15 members receive their State FFA Degrees while at the 88th State FFA Convention. They included: Allison Helget, Isabella Portner, John Rosenhammer, Natalie Sellner, McKayla Aschenbrenner, Cheyenne Garness, Colton Gemmill, Melissa Kral, Anna Landkammer, Zoe Macklanburg, Sarah Rossbach, Adam Steffl, Hunter Rose, Tyrah Stoll, Lane Trebesch

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 FFA was named the 3rd top chapter for the National Chapter Award. The chapter was recognized for the Membership Challenge, which means over 85% 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 named a Triple Crown Award Winner.