Thirty-Five members from the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter attended Timberland Leadership Camp June 1st-4th, along with the Sleepy Eye Advisors. Pictured left to right: front- Anna Sievert (State Secretary), Mattea Quigley (State Vice President), Daniel Armstrong, Alex Confer, Elsie Weicherding, Ali Almanza, Karina Martinez, Lily Uys, Aubrey Kuelbs, Kinley Bertrand, Maddy Jensen, Breanna Lopez, Ava Sellner, Madi Martinez, Kamille Capacia, Kylie Fischer, Isabella Robb, Xavier Salazar, Luke McCrea (State President) and Edward Winters (State Treasurer). Back: Emerson Johnson, Aranza Tovar Garces, Kaliya Confer, Emma Bluhm, Madison Seifert, Elsie Trebesch, Miah Rayas, Ella Arkins, Kenley Jensen, Chloe Okerman, Paola Gonzalez, Mateo Hornsby, Jony Flores, Ethan Feucht, Carsten Nienhaus, Sam Rodriguez and CJ Martinez.

NEW LONDON – Thirty-Five Sleepy Eye Future Farmers of America (FFA) members traveled to Sibley State Park, near New London, from June 1st-4th, 2026. Sleepy Eye FFA Advisors, Katie Emmett, Paul Hendrickx, and Alyssa Mitchell; Summer Intern, Sarah Jensen; along with several members from the Tracy, Springfield, Martin County West FFA chapters, and 4 State Officers attended the camp.

While at the leadership camp, FFA members got to experience many things including: get to know each other activities, a hike to Mount Tom, teamwork activities, archery, and sessions about writing goals and the various opportunities in FFA. The Chapter Advisors do all of the programming, activities, and food for the camp for the week. 

Camp-goers learned about different activities that other FFA chapters do and different things in FFA that they can become involved in, such as, Career Development Events and Supervised Agricultural Experiences. Teamwork was an important topic members learned about at the camp. Members of each chapter conducted their own ceremonies as they raised and lowered the flag each day at camp. Campers could also swim; play volleyball and nine square, or try other fun activities in their free time.

On the last night of the camp, a banquet was held by the newly elected camp officers. The camp officers from Sleepy Eye included: Isabella Robb, Elsie Weicherding, Maddy Jensen, Kinley Bertrand and Aubrey Kuelbs. Following the banquet, FFA members gathered for the camp talent show and a dance. 

Timberland Leadership Camp was a fantastic opportunity for all who attended. Camp-goers will be forever grateful for the opportunity to meet new people, create new friendships, grow personally, try new things, set goals, meet some of the state officers, and find out more about what FFA has to offer.