MINNEAPOLIS — FFA members began the second day of the Minnesota FFA Convention with contests, workshops and sessions at the University of Minnesota (UMN). Nearly 4,000 members competed in Career Development Events (CDEs) and attended leadership workshops on the UMN-St. Paul campus. Following the CDEs and workshops, members gathered at the 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis for the annual award ceremony.
Session Speakers
To open the second general session, FFA members received greetings from Dr. Frances Homans, University of Minnesota. She shared the importance of agricultural education and its upcoming developments at the university.
Session attendees were also welcomed by Minnesota Pork Ambassador Leyton Becker and Sarah Dornink, Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council.
“We are here, at this convention and in these blue jackets, to do great things, and we will do great things,” said Keegan Zimmermann, FFA state vice president. “These moments are where it happens. The moments we choose to live in, to truly be present in.”
Zimmermann, a Red Rock Central FFA member, delivered his retiring address titled, “Where it Happens.”
Amir Ahmed, senior vice president of sales for DISH Network, shared remarks about his admiration of the National FFA Organization and Minnesota FFA Association. During his visit to convention, he announced a donation of 30 FFA jackets intended for Minnesota FFA members.
At the fourth general session, Laura Church, state secretary, delivered her retiring address.
“Each day may not be good, but there is good in each day. We can be the reason someone else sees that good, too,” said Church, a Randolph FFA member.
During the 2019 Annual Awards Program, Minnesota FFA Foundation Chair Natasha Mortenson offered words of encouragement and advice to the FFA members.
“These people who give you gifts, they are your tribe. That tribe of people want you to be successful. They realize that you are the future leaders. We hope your experiences in FFA will allow you to grow as a leader and that the gift you’ve been given will be used wisely,” Mortenson said.
Jordan Stowe, National FFA southern region vice president, provided remarks as part of her year-long journey serving the National FFA Organization.
“There are people who believe in us, and we have the ability to believe in others,” Stowe said.
The Minnesota FFA Proficiency Awards, highlighting students’ Supervised Agricultural Experiences, were announced during the second general session.
Proficiency Award Area | Top Individuals | Chapter | Sponsor |
Agricultural Communications | Cassidy Hoffman | Sleepy Eye | The Farmer |
Agricultural Education | Carolyn Pavlish | Mahnomen | The Jim Ertl Fund |
Agricultural Mechanics Fabrication and Design | Emily Stemper | Foley | John Deere Company |
Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship | Brennan Kluender | United South Central | Charles and Barb Melberg |
Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Placement | Brittany Schultz | Atwater Cosmos Grove City | MN SD Equipment Dealers Association |
Agricultural Processing | Madison Heide | Detroit Lakes | CHS Foundation |
Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship | Beth Hanson | Medford | Minnesota FFA Foundation |
Agricultural Sales Placement | Meghan Beckendorf | Renville County West | McDonald’s Twin Cities Co-op |
Agricultural Services | Tyson Meidl | Springfield | Rosen’s Diversified |
Agriscience Research- Animal Systems | Ben Clark | Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg | Hormel Foods |
Agriscience Research- Integrated Systems | Daniel Williamson | Atwater Cosmos Grove City | Minnesota Grain and Feed Association |
Agriscience Research Plant Systems | Lauren Krieger | Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg | MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council |
Beef Production Entrepreneurship | Camren Saxton | Fairmont | Greg, Karen and Nick Gosen |
Beef Production Placement | Dylan Lunning | Leroy Ostrander | Minnesota FFA Foundation |
Dairy Production Entrepreneurship | Jenna Caughey | Brainerd | MInnesota Select Sires Co-op |
Dairy Production Placement | Rebeckah Schroeder | Caledonia | Midwest Dairy Association |
Diversified Agricultural Production | Tyler Jax | Southland | Minnesota Crop Improvement Association |
Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship | Carson Kahler | Martin County West | CF Industries |
Diversified Crop Production Placement | Trent Stevermer | United South Central | Land O’Lakes |
Diversified Horticulture | Alija Ros | Tracy | Compeer Financial Services |
Diversified Livestock Production | Adrienne Lipinski | Eden Valley Watkins | Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation |
Environmental Science & Natural Resources Management | Ellie Lindow | Lake City | Great River Energy |
Equine Science Entrepreneurship | Kyerra Carter | Hancock | Zinpro Corporation |
Equine Science Placement | Jonni Biren | Russel Tyler Ruthton | Central Farm Service |
Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production | Brayden Schultz | United South Central | Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council |
Forage Production | Lisa Kolseth | Thief River Falls | DuPont Pioneer |
Fruit Production | Ekaterina Ivanov | Fertile Beltrami | MinnTex |
Goat Production | Payton Guenther | Chatfield | Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation |
Grain Production Entrepreneurship | Carson Kahler | Martin County West | Minnesota Corn Growers Association |
Grain Production Placement | Marc Collins | Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg | DuPont Pioneer |
Home and/or Community Development | Justin Nord | Norman County West | AgriBank |
Landscape Management | Tara Schultz | Grand Rapids | Wells Fargo |
Nursery Operations | Talitha Horkey | Westbrook Walnut Grove | Ziegler Cat |
Outdoor Recreation | Paige Stuber | AFSA | Johnson Outdoors |
Poultry Production | Kaitlyn Lorang | Cedar Mountain | Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council |
Sheep Production | Wyatt Jensen | Edgerton | James & Nancy Youngs |
Small Animal Production and Care | Amanda Kelling | Pine Island | Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation |
Specialty Animal Production | Ashley Teubert | Glencoe Silver Lake | Ralco |
Swine Production Entrepreneurship | Creighton Sauer | Lewiston Altura | Christensen Farms |
Swine Production Placement | Jacob Stevermer | United South Central | Christensen Farms |
Turf Grass Management | Adam Stenzel | United South Central | Northland Ford Dealers |
Vegetable Production | Jennifer Wear | Sibley East | AgCountry Farm Credit Services |
Veterinary Science | Auna Koenigs | Southland | Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation |
Wildlife Management | Conner Lemmon | Milaca | George & Mary Peichel |
Stars Over Minnesota
The Star Farmer award and Stars in Production Placement, Agribusiness and Agriscience indicate students’ commitment to their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) throughout the course of previous years. These projects, in conjunction with agriculture education courses, help increase student knowledge of agriculture. The Stars over Minnesota awards are sponsored by Compeer Financial Services.
Star in Production Placement | Emma Friauth, Hutchinson FFA |
Star in Agribusiness | Morgan Olson, Sebeka FFA |
Star in Agriscience | Daniel Williamson, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City FFA |
Star Farmer | Katherine Moller, Princeton FFA |
Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame
The Minnesota FFA Alumni Association recognized nine inductees to the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame. They join more than 180 members named to the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame in the past 15 years. The FFA Hall of Fame is a collaborative effort between the Minnesota FFA Association, Alumni and Foundation.
The 2019 Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame inductees include: Judy Barka (Watkins), Nancy Dahlman (Cokato), Ken Hammer (Frazee), Doug Hoseck (Hector), Roy Johnson (Elk River), Gary Olson (Moorhead), Neil Pearson (Grove City), Fred Troendle (St. Charles), and Jeff Voss (Jackson).
Honorary State FFA Degree
Twenty-one outstanding teachers and business professionals received Honorary State FFA Degrees from the Minnesota FFA Association. They demonstrate success and support of FFA and agricultural education. Each year, the Minnesota FFA Association recognizes the contributions of those who have made a significant impact towards the success of the membership and the organization. Many of these individuals have served in numerous leadership roles through Career Development Events, the State Officer team, the FFA Foundation or Alumni events.
The 2019 recipients of the Honorary State FFA Degree are: Rick Banes (St. Paul), Jen Boersma (Lake Benton), Dean Broadhead (Minneapolis), Jenna Cardinal (Mahnomen), Stacy Fritz (Chatfield), Dr. Connie Gores (Marshall), Wendy Haavisto (St. Paul), Amber Hanson Glaeser (Eagan), Dan Hoffman (Austin), Tiffany Hulinsky (Staples), Dr. Frances Homans (St. Paul), Doris Mold (St. Paul), Marge Larsen (New Prague), Sara Nagel Newberg (St. Paul), Jeff Nelson (New Ulm), Tracy Nelson (Cokato), Dave Peper (Alexandria), Clint Smith (Rockford), Ken Theissen (St. Cloud), Juleah Tolosky (Roseville), and Mike Wybierala (St. Paul).
The parents of the 2018-2019 Minnesota FFA State Officers also received Honorary Minnesota FFA Degrees, including: Dean and Sara Taylor (Randolph), Roger and Kerri Zimmermann (Lamberton), Russell and Ann Church (Hastings), Duane and Linda Kroll (Pierz), Michael and Kristen Eaton (Pine Island), and Bruce and Wendy Mathiowetz (Belle Plaine).
State FFA Degree
Three hundred and sixty-eight Minnesota FFA members received the State FFA Degree at the 90th Minnesota FFA Awards Ceremony. To be eligible for the State FFA Degree, members must earn and invest at least $2,000 into their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Candidates must complete a minimum of two years of classroom instruction in an agricultural, food and natural resources education program. The list of recipients by region and chapter can be viewed at mnffa.org.
— Minnesota FFA
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