MINNEAPOLIS — The final day of the 94th Minnesota FFA Convention saw a new slate of state officers installed to lead the organization as the event concluded.
The newly installed 2023-2024 Minnesota FFA state officer team includes:
- President – Katelyn Ketchum, Lewiston-Altura
- Vice President – Tyler Ratka, ROCORI
- Secretary – Alison Murrell, Braham
- Treasurer – Mason Grams, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart
- Reporter – Miriana Eiden, Buffalo
- Sentinel – Mackenzie Kuschel, Sebeka
Among the team’s responsibilities in the coming year are the planning of FFA leadership events and the 2024 Minnesota State FFA Convention.
Final retiring addresses, keynote given
Natalie Beckendorf, state vice president, from the Renville County West FFA Chapter gave her retiring address. “Our decisions determine our destiny,” said Beckendorf in her retiring address.
Caidyn Johnson, state reporter from the Fertile-Beltrami FFA Chapter, gave the last of six retiring addresses. The title of his address was “Note to Self.“ “It is just as important to show the same love to ourselves that we show to others,” said Johnson.
Offering the session keynote was Gian Paul Gonzalez, a motivator with the Hope and Future Foundation, whose mantra, “All In,” matched the FFA Convention theme of “All In. For All.” When you are all in, it’s the things that you do when no one is looking that means you are all in,“ he told the crowd. “‘All in’ is a lifestyle, and something we choose to do every day.”
Premier Chapters celebrated
The top three premier FFA chapters in Minnesota were recognized. The chapters have spent the past year working on projects, furthering their education and carrying out community service. The top three premier chapters were:
- First place, Rockford High.
- Second place, Rockford Middle.
- Third place, Sleepy Eye.
Proficiency winners awarded
Supervised Agricultural Experience state winners in the categories of Power, Structural and Technical Systems and Environmental Natural Resources Systems were recognized. Projects range from research, to forest management, to mechanical entrepreneurship.
Power, Structural and Technical System Proficiency winners:
- Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication, sponsored by John Deere Company – David Thaden, Willmar.
- Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship, sponsored by NAPA – Hunter Bruckhoff, United South Central.
- Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Placement, sponsored by Lynnes Welding Training – Caldyn Huper, United South Central.
Environmental Natural Resources System Proficiency winners:
- Environmental Natural Resources, sponsored by Johnson Outdoors – Mason Eichhorn, Maple River.
- Forest Management and Products, sponsored by Vermeer Sales and Service – Samuel Connelly, Grand Rapids.
- Outdoor Recreation, sponsored by Summit Carbon Solutions – Autumn Kietzman, Park Rapids.
- Wildlife Management, sponsored by George and Mary Peichel – Ethan Maras, Morris.
Supervised Agricultural Experience state winners in the Agribusiness category were recognized. Projects range from research, to education, to sales. The winners were:
- Ag Communications, sponsored by The Farmer – Keegan Lorang, Cedar Mountain.
- Ag Education, sponsored by Jim Ertl Endowment Fund – Karly Flom, Faribault.
- Ag Processing, sponsored by CHS Foundation – Jana Johnson, Mankato.
- Ag Sales Entrepreneurship, sponsored by Bremer Bank – Lainey Brandt, Sibley East.
- Ag Sales Placement, sponsored by Peterson Farms Seed – Lydia Rylaarsdam, Edgerton.
- Ag Services, sponsored by Rosen’s Diversified – Jacob Walsh, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg.
- Food Service, sponsored by McDonald’s of Minnesota and western Wisconsin – Trenton Nelson, Rockford.
- Service Learning, sponsored by Minnesota BioFuels Association – Shae Fath, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg.
Students awarded for work in CDEs/LDEs
Several thousand FFA members students who competed and placed in Career and Leadership Development Events during the convention were recognized. The winners were recognized for each event, with many moving on to compete at national convention. They are:
- Ag Communications, sponsored by Steve and Carolyn Koziolek, Mary Buschette and Mike Balak: Individual – Katie Fuchs, Rockford High School.
- Companion Animal Science, sponsored by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation: Team – Sauk Rapids-Rice; Individual – Joshua Price, Morris.
- Crops, sponsored by Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council: Team – Cannon Falls; Individual – Cameron Addington, Cannon Falls.
- Farm Business Management, sponsored by John Deere Company: Team – Hancock; Individual – Kody Wassman, Mountain Lake.
- Fish and Wildlife, sponsored by Minnesota FFA Foundation: Team – Grand Rapids; Individual – Isaac Palecek – Grand Rapids.
- Meats, sponsored by Mark and Donna Moenning Family: Team – Pipestone; Individual – Rylee Folkerts, Pipestone.
- Ag Issues, sponsored by Syngenta: Team – Dassel-Cokato.
- Best Informed Greenhand, sponsored by Dr. Curt Youngs: Team – Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted; Individual – Kayden Klein, Sleepy Eye.
- Discussion Meet, sponsored by Minnesota Farm Bureau: Individual – Katie Radman, Randolph.
- Marketing Plan, sponsored by Red River Farm Network: Team – Rockford.
- Agricultural Mechanics, sponsored by Midwest Machinery Co., John Deere and Kibble Equipment: Team – Fergus Falls; Individual – Lars Dropik, Alexandria.
- Dairy Handlers, sponsored by Midwest Dairy: Individual – Tyler Ratka, ROCORI.
- Dairy Evaluation, sponsored by AMPI: Team – Tri-City United; Individual – Emily Brogan, St. Charles.
- Floriculture, sponsored by Bachman’s: Team – Menahga; Individual – Emma Vrieze, Park Rapids.
- Forestry, sponsored by University of Minnesota Forest Resources: Team – Grand Rapids; Individual – Alfred Necas, Grand Rapids.
- Horse Evaluation, sponsored by Nutrena: Team – Thief River Falls; Individual – Chloe Wieweck, Dassel-Cokato.
- Livestock Evaluation, sponsored by Central Livestock: Team – Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Individual – Ava Schoenfeld, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton.
- Milk Quality and Products, sponsored by South Dakota State University: Team – Maple River; Individual – Eliana Cole, Battle Lake.
- Nursery Landscape, sponsored by Bailey Nurseries: Team – Maple River; Individual – Gabby Epple, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted.
- Poultry, sponsored by Minnesota Turkey Research Promotion Council: Team – Westbrook-Walnut Grove; Individual – Cortney Waldorf, Rockford.
- Soils, sponsored by CF Industries: Team – Grand Meadow; Individual – Jace Kraft, Grand Meadow.
- Extemporaneous Speaking, sponsored by Minnesota Farm Bureau: Individual – Kiya Williamson, Belle Plaine.
- Employment Skills, sponsored by National Grid Renewables: Individual – Mackenzie Kuschel, Sebeka.
- Talent, sponsored by Ruth Meirick: Individual – Samantha Tiede, Tri-City United.
- Conduct of Chapter Meetings, sponsored by Dr. Curtis Youngs: Team – ROCORI.
- Parliamentary Procedure, sponsored by Kevin and Nancy Dahlman: Team – Litchfield.
- Creed Speaking, sponsored by Paul Hansen family: Individual – Alivia Fruechte, Pipestone.
- Prepared Public Speaking, sponsored by Robin E. and Lori Ann Kinney: Individual – Miriana Eiden, Buffalo.
Chapter Awards earned
Chapters were recognized in two areas. The winners were:
- Land of Service: Agriculture and Food Sciences Academy.
- Ag Literacy Challenge, sponsored by Minnesota Ag in the Classroom Foundation: Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted.
Agriscience Fair awards presented
The top three projects from the Agriscience Fair in the area of Power, Structural and Technical Systems, and Environmental Service and Natural Resource Systems were recognized. These projects may wrestle with comparisons of energy outputs from alternative fuel sources or might study the effects of cropping practices on wildlife.
Power, Structural and Technical Division Two, which recognize pairs of researchers in grades seven and eight, included:
- First place, Aliyah Lingbeek and Bailey Ohren, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg.
Division Three winners, recognizing individual researchers in grades nine or 10, were:
- First place, Mason Schlueter, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
- Second place, Abe Lund, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
- Third place, Eric Weisser, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
Division Five winners, recognizing individual researchers in grades 11 or 12, were:
- First place, Tristan Kabanuk, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
- Second place, Reid Ellis-Cramer, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
- Third place, Weston Kwapick, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
Division Six winners, recognizing pairs of researchers in grades 11 or 12, were:
- First place, Masyn Olson and Noah Johnson, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg
Environmental Service and Natural Resource Systems winners in Division One, recognizing individual researchers in grade seven and eight, included:
- First place, Clover Jarvis-Deese, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
Division Four winners, recognizing pairs of researchers in grade seven and eight, were:
- First place, Emma Mueller and Kate Mueller, Rockford Middle.
Division Three winners, recognizing individual researchers in grades nine or 10, were:
- First place, Cristian Diaz, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
Division Four winners, recognizing pairs of researchers in grade nine and 10, were:
- First place, Kaylee Cueli and Alana Forliti, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
- Second place, Hunter Engelke and Carson Sawatzky, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg.
Division Five winners, recognizing individual researchers in grades 11 or 12, were:
- First place, David Anderson, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
Division Six winners, recognizing pairs of researchers in grades 11 or 12, were:
- First place, Damani Stewart and Simeon Rinne, Academy for Sciences and Agriculture.
The Minnesota FFA Convention is offered in partnership by the Minnesota FFA Association, the Minnesota FFA Foundation, and the Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters. Throughout the convention, content is available on the Minnesota FFA website, the Minnesota FFA YouTube Channel, on the organization’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages and on the convention app which will be live just before the convention begins. Find the link on the Minnesota FFA website.
— Minnesota FFA Association