Area FFAers earn state recognitions
Area FFA members were informed on awards they will be receiving for work in the past year at the Wisconsin FFA State Convention. The Convention was originally scheduled to be held from June 15-18 in Madison, but the in-person event has been indefinitely postponed. An online experience recognizing the FFA member’s work is expected to be held sometime later in June.
From the Loyal FFA, five members are expected to receive awards. Brianna Hederer will receive the State FFA Degree, which is the highest degree an FFA member can receive at the state level. Hederer earned the degree through her numerous activities in the Loyal FFA, including multiple Supervised Agriculture Experiences (SAE) in raising and training horses, and raising and selling baby doll sheep.
Tanna Luchterhand and Jenna Waldhart of the Loyal FFA will be recipients of awards in their agriculture proficiencies. Luchterhand will receive a gold rating on her Dairy Entrepreneurship Proficiency, where she worked with her own herd of dairy cattle to improve their genetics. Waldhart will receive a silver rating on her Nursery Operations proficiency, which she earned through managing the Loyal school greenhouse, as well as growing and marketing her own plants.
In addition, Waldhart was also accepted into the State FFA Choir and Nick Wilke was accepted into the State FFA Band. To be accepted into the FFA Band or Choir, the members were required to send in an extensive application, as well as recordings of themselves playing or singing.
From the Granton FFA, Rhiannon Reimer, Brandon Jakobi, Hannah Walter and Kayla Johnson were selected as state finalists for their work in their Supervised Agricultural Experience projects. They are among the top five finalists in the state in their work and will receive final word on their placings after the State FFA Convention Online Experience.
Reimer is a finalist in Diversified Crop Production and for the Star in Agribusiness award. She completed an SAE project in growing organic fruits and vegetables to sell to local Farmers Markets and was manager for the Granton School Orchard for the past two years.
Jakobi is a finalist in Agricultural Services Entrepreneurship. For his project, Jakobi operated his own business, Brandon Jakobi’s Round Baling, where he provided custom baling services for farmers in the Granton area.
Walter is a finalist in Diversified Livestock Production. She completed her project on her family’s farm, caring for their cows and swine, and started her own operation of raising beef market steers.
Johnson is a finalist in Small Animal Production and Care. For her SAE project, Johnson provided a pet sitting service for families in the Granton area and held a position at the Clark County Humane Society in caring for the animals.
For the Greenwood FFA, eight members will be receiving awards at the State FFA Convention. Korinna Johnson was named the Section 7 winner for placing gold in her Equine Science Placement Proficiency. Johnson received the award through her work with horses, administering medication, maintaining animal environments and facilities, and developing and implementing horse training strategies.
Rheya LaMont was accepted into the State FFA band and Destiny Durrstein was accepted into the State FFA Choir. LaMont will participate in the band by playing clarinet and Durrstein will perform in the choir as a soprano.
Five Greenwood FFA members received a silver rating for their proficiency awards, which will be awarded at the State FFA Convention. Holly Davidson received hers in Dairy Production Placement; Amanda Durrstein earned hers in Equine Science Placement; Andrew Morrow will receive his in Beef Production Entrepreneurship; Mesa Rasmussen will take a silver in Equine Science Placement; and Austin Ruff will receive a silver rating in Dairy Production Placement.
