Page 6 • Country Acres | Saturday, April 2, 2022
Daughters’ achievements highlight of
Lindgren’s FFA career
Staples-Motley FFA members and their parents attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Pictured are Molly Lindgren, American FFA Degree recipient (from left); Jennifer Strickland; Staples-Motley FFA Advisor Kerry Lindgren; Katie Benson, Minnesota State FFA President, Minnesota’s National Officer Candidate and American FFA Degree recipient; Dominic Nistler, American FFA Degree recipient; Steve Benson; Mikayla Sauber, American FFA Degree recipient; Scout Strickland, Staples-Motley FFA President; and Julie Benson. BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
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Molly Lindgren and her father, Kerry Lindgren, attended the National FFA Convention where Molly received the American FFA Degree and Kerry received the Honorary American FFA Degree.
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STAPLES – For decades, Kerry Lindgren has been shaping the minds of young FFA students coming through the Staples Motley program. His work has earned him a spot in the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame for 2022. He joins more than 220 members who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame during the past 17 years. The accolade is awarded by the Minnesota FFA Association, Alumni and Foundation. “Sometimes you wonder if the things you did and the hard work you put in is recognized,” Lindgren said.
Lindgren retired after 36 years of serving as an FFA advisor and agricultural education teacher. He said he didn’t always get to see the outcome of his work but sometimes runs into former students who tell him what they’re up to. In true teacher and parent form, Lindgren said his reward through the years has come through the kids and their successes. He even got to lead his own daughters when they came through his FFA chapter. “When I saw them getting certain things, that was the highlight for me,” he said.
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Tell us about your FFA program and your involvement in it: I’m the president so I run the meetings. As a chapter we do Career Development Events and go to the elementary school and read to the kindergarten students and do an activity with them. We have meetings once a month and do different fundraisers like the corn drive to raise money for Camp Courage.
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His daughter, Megan, who has epilepsy, earned the Minnesota FFA’s highest award, the Minnesota State Degree. His youngest daughter, Molly, earned her state degree and American Degree, was elected region president, competed at the national level in the Agricultural Communications Career Development Event as a ninth-grader and went to nationals for Creed Speaking. Lindgren often worked 60 to 70 hours a week between teaching and FFA leadership responsibilities. As a parent looking back after retirement, he said, he worried that he spent too much time working but realized he was able to spend more time with his daughters as they progressed through
Lindgren page 7
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What new skills have you learned in the last year in FFA? Leadership and communication skills, just getting out of my bubble more. It definitely helped to become president; once I became president, I was forced to do it. Overall, what is the greatest benefit you have received from being involved in FFA? Leadership skills and meeting new people. We go to different things and the CDEs and meet people there from across the region. Each CDE has eight to 10 schools participating so we get to talk to people and meet people from other schools.
What are your plans for the future? I think I plan to go to college; I’ve been thinking about going for agriculture education. I’d like to become an ag teacher and an FFA advisor. I’d also like to run a farm, carrying on the tradition of our family farm. My farm was my grandpa’s and now it’s my dad’s.
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What other hobbies and interests do you have outside of FFA? I’m in 4-H and softball. This is my eighth year in 4-H; I show pigs and sheep at the fair. I’ve been playing softball for four years.
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