By Cassidy Hoffmann

Chapter Reporter

SLEEPY EYE — Fifty-six Sleepy Eye FFA Members traveled to the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus, where they participated in the 89th Annual Minnesota FFA State Convention. More than 3,600 FFA members, advisors and guests from throughout the state gathered for the convention from Sunday, April 22 – Tuesday, April 24, 2018. The FFA members traveled to Convention with Advisors, Mary Hoffmann and Nathan McMullen, Assistant Advisor, Ben Seifert, and Student Teacher Kylie Lessman.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Career Development Event teams brought home plaques and success stories after competing at the state level. 13 Sleepy Eye FFA CDE Teams/Individuals were placed in the top ten for CDE contests.

Sleepy Eye CDE RESULTS:

Poultry – 2nd Place

Maddison Helget – 2nd individual, Emma Fischer – 5th individual, Cali Rossbach – 8th individual and Martina Nienhaus – 9th individual

Best Informed Greenhand Team 1 – 3rd Place, Advancing to Nationals!

Trey Heiderscheidt – 7th individual, Morgan Hoffmann – 10th individual, McKenna Dockter, Trisha Ludewig, Alyssa Romberg

Market Plan – 4th place at state

Maranda Braulick, Kalli Christensen, Karlie Ries

Milk Quality – 5th Place

Paige Romberg – 9th individual, Abby Hoffmann, Trey Heiderscheidt, Leslie Martinez

Floriculture Team – 9th Place Team

Courtney Dittbenner (Gold), Mya Ibberson (Gold), Jenna Zuhlsdorf (Gold), Mariah Miller

Nursery Landscape Team – 10th Place Team

Isaac Nelson (Gold), Hannah Schroepfer (Gold), Hanna Himmelman, Jack Schroepfer

Small Animals – Gold Team

Kelsie Domeier (Gold), Isaac Huiras (Gold), Cassidy Hoffmann, Morgan Hoffmann

Soils Team – Silver Team

Isaac Finstad (Gold), Gavin Gratz, Jacob Meyer

Dairy Cattle Evaluation – Silver Team

Sophia Portner (Gold), Clarissa Simonsen, Macy Schenk, Gracie Sellner

Meats – Silver Team

Brittney Dittbenner (Gold), Maranda Braulick, Kathryn Schroepfer, Nick Ludewig

BIG Team 2 – Silver Team

Presley Bauer, Clara Lemarr, Tasha Martinez, Morgan Klein

Fish and Wildlife – Silver Team

Landon Strong, Kadon Strong, Matthew Sellner, Logan Mickelson

Forestry – Silver Team

Jadon Haala, Edwin Flores, Juan Cortez, Evan Fischer, Zyndi Cuvillier

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

Cassidy Hoffmann – State Winner: Agricultural Education

Parker Neid – State Winner: Ag. Mechanics Design & Fabrication

Isaac Nelson – State Winner: Dairy Production Entrepreneurship

McKenzie Cselovszki – State Winner: Goat Production

Cassidy Hacker – State Winner: Specialty Animal Production

McKenzie Cselovszki – 2nd Place: Equine Production Placement

Josie Lang – 2nd Place: Ag. Communications

The Sleepy Eye FFA had 15 members receive their State FFA Degrees while at the 89th State FFA Convention. They included: Brianna Polesky, Caleb Trebesch, Clarissa Simonsen, Courtney Dittbenner, Courtney Sellner, Hanna Himmelman, Isaac Nelson, Jon Mickelson, Josie Lang, Karlie Ries, Lauren Klein, Mariah Miller, McKenzie Cselovszki, Nick Ludewig, and Parker Neid.

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 4th 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.

Other happenings at convention included: Maranda Braulick, Edwin Flores, and Brittney Dittbenner attending the Teach Ag. Workshop. Josie Lang, Chapter President, was also selected and served on the 2018 State FFA Officer Nominating Committee.

The Sleepy Eye FFA has a lot to be proud of in 2018. 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!”

We look forward to wrapping up the year with the Annual FFA Awards Banquet on Sunday, May 6th at 6:30 p.m. in the HS Cafeteria.