Sleepy Eye FFA – Celebrating a Successful Year

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter held the Awards Program on Sunday, May 10th, 2026. It was a great opportunity to honor the members and chapter leaders as well as the major supporters for the chapter throughout the year.

 Successes this year for the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter include: 78 Discovery Degrees (7th & 8th graders), 40 Greenhand Degrees, 47 Chapter Degrees and 17 State Degrees. Many awards were presented to the active members and leaders of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter.

This year our FFA Chapter has continued with our Service Theme and conducted several different programs and activities.  They include the following: Adopt-a-Senior Program – members participated in making cards for 99 Nursing Home and Countryside Living Residents each month. Wee Deliver Program –members participated in writing letters to 71 third grade students (Pen Pals) each month. Service –members helped with the Backpack Supplies project with United Way, the Backpack Food Project with Trinity, making extra-large Valentines cards for residents, putting up lights at the park, packing meals for Food for Kids, painting pumpkins, tying blankets, and much more.

The Sleepy Eye FFA members who participated in at least four of these programs were named 4- 6 Star Members. If members participated in at least 7 of the programs they were named a Star Leader. 17 FFA members were presented with certificates for being a 4-6 Star Member and 33 members were presented with trophies for being a 7-12 Star Leader.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter presented six Diamond Awards to supporters of the Chapter and its members. The Diamond Award went to Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club, Miller Sellner Implement, Schwartz Farms, Cunningham Seed Farms, Central United Cooperative, CoBank.

This year there were three Platinum, TOP LEVEL Sponsors – Bill & Julie Ries, Sleepy Eye Servicemen’s Club, and Mary Ann Christensen.

These businesses and individuals supported FFA members by providing new FFA Jackets, sponsored Chapter and Crop Show Awards, Ag. Program needs, Conventions, Service Projects, and much more.

Each year, top scholar awards are presented to one active FFA member in each grade who has the highest GPA in their respective class. These members received a plaque and a scholarship pin: Anders Coulson and Kaylie Fulmer (freshmen), Makayla Strong (sophomore), Megan Sellner (junior), Jaelynn Schauman (senior).

We also recognized members that participated in CDE’s, Agriscience Fair, and State Proficiencies.

The Honorary Chapter Degree award is presented to an individual who support the Sleepy Eye FFA in exceptional ways throughout the year. This year’s Honorary Chapter Degree was presented to an individual who is a great help to our chapter and school – Idalia Martinez.

There were two supporters who were presented with an Appreciation Award for 2026: Gina Nienhaus and Darfur Sportsman’s Club.

The fruit sale was a successful fundraiser for our FFA Chapter this year.  A great deal of thanks goes to our 4 top sellers who sold over $8000 of products for the fruit sales. The Top Junior High Fruit Seller was Kallin Kuelbs  with over $1000 of products sold. The 2nd Place Junior High Top Seller was Aubree Rathman  with over $900 in sales. Our Top High School Fruit Seller was Alannah Urbano with over $4000 of products sold. The 2nd Place High School Top Seller was Destiney Dittbenner with over $3000 in Sales.

The leadership awards are presented to FFA members from each class who displayed tremendous amounts of leadership skills throughout the year and who participated in numerous FFA events. The freshman winners were Carsten Nienhaus and Arianna Hernandez. Sophomore recipients included: Camryn Maher and Paola Gonzalez. Junior winners were Jacob Fulmer and Robert Romberg. Senior winners included: Carter Lazatin, Kayden Klein and Charlie Hoffmann.

The Phoenix Awards are presented each year for Students who are upcoming leaders. These 4 individuals got involved, got others involved, and showed true enthusiasm for the FFA. This year’s Phoenix Award Winners were Madi Martinez, Breanna Lopez, Kamille Capacia, and Elsie Trebesch.

The Star Greenhand Award goes to the most outstanding Freshmen Greenhand degree participant for the year. This award is presented to a first year high school member who is active in the chapter, and who has demonstrated leadership and scholarship. This year’s Star Greenhand was Karina Martinez.

The Sophomore Achievement Award states, “Overall Success is Achieved through Hard Work and Dedication.” The Sophomore Achievement Award Winner for 2026 was Ava Sellner.

Jace Schauman received the Outstanding Junior Award, called the Blue and Gold Award. This award acknowledges someone for overall achievement in the FFA.

The Star Farmer Award is presented to a member who has an outstanding entrepreneurship SAE program and who is involved in all areas of the chapter’s activities. This year’s winner of the Chapter Star Farmer Award was Taylor Berkner.

The Star in Ag. Placement Award is presented to a member who has an outstanding production placement SAE program and who is involved in all areas of the chapter’s activities. A placement SAE program means that you have a project where you work for someone in agriculture. This year’s winner of the Chapter Star in Ag. Placement Award  was Noah Rossbach.

The Star in AFNR Sciences award is presented to a member who has an outstanding agriscience SAE program and who is involved in all areas of the chapter’s activities. An agriscience SAE program means that you have a project where you conduct hands-on, student-led scientific research or investigation related to agriculture, food, or natural resources. This year’s winner of the Chapter Star in AFNR Sciences Award was Alex Confer.

The Star in Agribusiness is presented to a member who has an outstanding SAE project that is considered a non – production agricultural enterprise and who is involved in all areas of the chapter’s activities. An agribusiness SAE program means that you have developed specialized skills, management expertise, and career-based competencies that are focused on the business side of agriculture. This year’s winner of the Chapter Star in Agribusiness Award was Logan Ludewig.

This year’s recipient of the Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award was Noah Rossbach. This award is presented to the most outstanding senior in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and supervised agricultural experience.

The 2025-26 Retiring FFA Officer Team was recognized for their exceptional efforts in leading the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter for the year. The night ended with the installation with the 2026-27 FFA Officer Team.