Sleepy Eye FFA Named Top Chapter for Service and Ag. Literacy

6State Convention 2025 group — The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter had an amazing 2025 State FFA Convention in the Twin Cities. They were named the Top Chapter in Minnesota for Land of Service, Ag. Literacy Challenge, and Building Communities Model of Innovation! 76 members participated in the convention and numerous members earned awards as well as the chapter. Pictured to l to r, front: Lily Kallevig, Anna Johnson, Clark Lazatin, Breanna Lopez, Camryn Maher, Kaylie Fulmer, Makayla Strong, Mia Davila, Aranza Tovar, Natalie Fulmer, Davin Suess, Nolan Weicherding, Caleb Suess, Noemi Rodriguez, Kayla Hecht, Jose Castorena, Megan Sellner, Jaelynn Schauman. Row 2: Morgan Hoffmann, James Moore, Alannah Urbano, Millie Lax, Ari Hernandez, Hannah Meyer, Chloe Okerman, Paola Gonzalez, Madi Martinez, Kamille Capacia, Carter Lazatin, Ava Sellner, Elsie Trebesch, Alexis Hoffman, Taylor Berkner, Jace Schauman, Eh Paw, Karina Martinez, Catherine Simonsen, Ruby Tauer, Lucia Martinez Paredes, Logan Ludewig, Mateo Hornsby, Mrs. Mary Hoffmann, Ms. Katie Emmett. Back Row: Mr. Ben Seifert, Mr. Paul Hendrickx, Riley Voigt, Kenedi Wersal, Leah Kucera, Ella Arkins, Candy Castorena, Maddy Goldschmidt, Ava Kunkel, Karly Wendinger, Callie Evers, Heath Eckstein, JP Montemayor, Braylon Nelson, Kenley Jensen, Kayden Klein, Ethan Hinderman, Ari Krzmarzick, Carsten Nienhaus, Emerson Johnson, Santi Martinez Paredes, Noah Rossbach, Ethan Schwartz, Eli Christensen, Kyle Nelson, Charlie Hoffmann, Ethan Feucht, Carson Sellner.

5SleepyEye2nd — The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was named Runner Up for the Premier Chapter Award. Pictured is the Sleepy Eye FFA Officer Team and Advisors present at the State FFA Convention. Front: l to r – Mrs. Mary Hoffmann, Carter Lazatin, Anna Johnson, Jace Schauman, Lily Kallevig, Alex Confer, Lucia Martinez Paredes. Back: Mr. Paul Hendrickx, Noah Rossbach, Charlie Hoffmann, Kayden Klein, Logan Ludewig, Taylor Berkner, Jaelynn Schauman, Ms. Katie Emmett.

4Logan Ludewig — Logan Ludewig Logan Ludewig was awarded the State Winner for the Ag. Mechanics Repair & Maintenance Proficiency Award at the State FFA Convention.

2Jasmine Petermann — Jasmine Petermann was awarded the State Winner for the Diversified Ag. Production Placement Proficiency Award on April 30, 2025.

1Alex Confer — Alex Confer was named the 1st Place Award Winner for the Agriscience Fair – Plant Systems Grades 9-12 Individual Division.

7Taylor Berkner — Taylor Berkner was awarded the State Winner for the Vegetable Production Proficiency Award at the State FFA Convention.

3Karina Martinez and Natalie Fulmer — Karina Martinez and Natalie Fulmer received the 1st Place Award Winner for the Agriscience Fair – Plant Systems Grades 7-8 Partner Division.

Seventy-six Sleepy Eye FFA Members traveled to the University of Minnesota Campuses and State Fairgrounds, where they participated in the Annual Minnesota FFA State Convention. More than 5,700 FFA members, advisors and guests from throughout the state gathered for the convention April 29-30, 2025.

The Sleepy Eye FFA members traveled to Convention with Advisors, Mary Hoffmann, Katie Emmett, and Paul Hendrickx, Assistant Advisor Ben Seifert, and Program Assistant Morgan Hoffmann.

Sleepy Eye FFA was named the Land of Service and Ag. Literacy Challenge Top Chapter in the state while at the Convention. Sleepy Eye was also the winner of the Building Communities Model of Innovation Award for their service project of making 2 x 4 Pumpkin Decorations for the nursing homes in town.

Sleepy Eye FFA was named the 2nd Place Premier Chapter in the State of Minnesota for the National Chapter Award while at the Convention. The entire officer team and advisors got to go on stage for this huge honor. This award is based on three categories: Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture. This will advance Sleepy Eye to Nationals.

Over 400 agriculture, food and natural resources education students from across the state were awarded with Minnesota State FFA Degrees. The degree is given to the top members of a state FFA Association, and only two percent of Minnesota FFA members earn the distinction. It demonstrates the student has put an exceptional amount of time into their FFA experience, and has gone above and beyond in their local chapter and community.

The Sleepy Eye FFA members receiving their State FFA Degrees at Convention included: Lucia Martinez Paredes, Rachel Portner, Lily Kallevig, Nora Coulson, Anna Johnson, Noemi Rodriguez, Kayla Hecht, Noah Christensen, Caleb Suess, Nolan Weicherding, Izzy Kunkel, Jose Castorena, and James Moore.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Career Development Event (CDE) teams and Leadership Development Event (LDE) participants brought home plaques and success stories after competing at the state level. Eight Sleepy Eye FFA CDE’s and LDE’s placed in the Top Ten for their competitions.

TOP TEN Results:

BEST INFORMED GREENHAND – 2^nd Place

Ava Sellner (9^th Place Ind.), Kenley Jensen, Camryn Maher, Paola Gonzalez, Madi Martinez

MILK QUALITY & PRODUCTS – 2^nd Place

Megan Sellner (3^rd Place Ind.), Carter Lazatin (7^th Place Ind.), Callie Evers, Jaelynn Schauman

MARKET PLAN – 3^rd Place

Taylor Berkner, Hannah Meyer, Eh Y Paw

POULTRY – 4^th Place

Mateo Hornsby (5^th Place Ind.), Kayden Klein (10^th Place Ind.), Carsten Nienhaus, Ava Sellner

SOILS – 6^th Place

Oliver Trebesch (6^th Place Ind.), Wyatt Feucht, Ethan Feucht, Carson Sellner

MEATS – 8^th Place

Emerson Johnson, Makayla Strong, Alex Confer, Ari Krzmarzick

FISH & WILDLIFE – 9^th Place Individual

Noah Christensen

In the proficiency category, the following individuals placed in the Top Three in the state:

Logan Ludewig – State Winner, Ag. Mechanics Repair & Maintenance

Jasmine Petermann – State Winner, Diversified Ag. Production Placement

Taylor Berkner – State Winner, Vegetable Production

Davin Suess – 3^rd Place, Diversified Ag. Production Placement

We had several junior and senior high students participate in the State Agriscience Fair this year. These are the students who placed in the Top 3 –

Agriscience Fair Winners – Alex Confer (Plant Systems Grades 10-12), Karina Martinez & Natalie Fulmer (Plant Systems Grades 7-8): Advance to Nationals
Agriscience Fair 3^rd Place – Kaylynn Como, Mia Walter, Kaylie Fulmer, Cassie Meuhlbauer, Alannah Urbano, Anders Coulson, Jaxon Saenz

Other individuals participating in the State FFA Convention Activities:

State FFA Ambassadors:

Lucia Martinez Paredes & Charlie Hoffmann

State FFA Nominating Committee:

Alex Confer

State FFA Band & Choir Participants:

Anna Johnson, Eli Christensen, Santi Martinez Paredes, Ethan Schwartz

Our chapter also conducted a Service Project Workshop at the Convention. The service projects members from across the state participated in were making cards and posters for nursing home residents. Over 50 members also participated in a service project on Sunday of Convention by setting up contest and career expo sites.

The Sleepy Eye FFA has a lot to be proud of in 2025. The members worked very hard this year to qualify for and excel at their state competitions! Advisor Mary Hoffmann states, “I am so proud of our members! Being named the Runner Up for Top Chapter in Minnesota is a high honor for the Sleepy Eye FFA. I am truly impressed with all of the hard work that the Sleepy Eye FFA members show on a daily basis! Winning the award for Land of Service is probably the most rewarding for our chapter as our members do so much for the Sleepy Eye and surrounding communities and make the world a better place!”