FFA students take first place in proficiency competitions
Two area FFA students have earned firstplace proficiency awards, making them eligible as potential finalists to compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. in November.
Aubrey Behling
Aubrey Behling of the Edgar FFA is the 2025 winner of the Fruit & Nut Production Proficiency Award, sponsored by Minntex Citrus Inc.
In 2020, Behling and her family embarked on an exciting journey of establishing Cherrybrook Orchard. The orchard was started with the planting of 1,200 apple trees.
Today, it has 2,800 apple trees with further plans for expansion.
Behling’s responsibilities for the orchard include planting seedlings, watering saplings, and removing blossoms off young trees. The foundational care at each stage of the tree is essential for strong growth. In the fall, Behling immerses herself in the harvest, assisting in the picking, bagging and selling of the apples. Behling loves fall as it truly shows the fruits of her family's labor.
Behling’s advisor is Matthew Reinders. Behling will find out this summer if she is selected as one of four national finalists.
The other finalists in Fruit & Nut Production are: Samantha Johnson, Baraboo FFA, in second; Kaydn Marg, Granton FFA, in third; and Loretta Tisch, Pecatoncia FFA in fourth.
Jasmine Weiland
Jasmine Weiland of the Stratford FFAis the 2025 winner of Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication Proficiency Award, sponsored by Case IH.
Weiland’s passion for welding was ignited in 2022, when as a sophomore she enrolled in two metal working classes. From that point on, Weiland has strived to learn everything she could about welding.
This ambition led her to start working as a youth apprentice for JBT Marrel-A&B Process System, where her duties include making welds, polishing, grinding, and acid cleaning. When Weiland first started, she required constant supervision. Today, Weiland’s independence and skills have grown, earning her praise for her quality welds.
In addition to work, Weiland attends camps at Northcentral Technical College to continue to hone her craft. One day, Weiland hopes to make her love for welding into a lifelong career.
Weiland’s advisors are Troy Bargender and Jackie Rosenbush.
Weiland will find out this summer if she is selected as one of four national finalists.
The Wisconsin Association of FFA is a leading student organization due to the efforts of 253 FFA Chapters across the state. With a focus on premier leadership, personal growth and career success, students’ FFA activities complement agricultural classroom instruction by giving them an opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge while gaining realworld experience. These activities are dependent on donor funding through the Wisconsin FFA Foundation.
The FFA is also supported by the Wisconsin FFAAlumni Association. For more information about Wisconsin FFA, the Wisconsin FFA Foundation and the Wisconsin FFA Alumni visit https://wisconsinaged.org.
