Page 2B | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS
Foley
FFA Chapter
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In alphabetical order, the Foley FFA Chapter includes Alexis Aman, Mason Arnold, Blake Arnold, Kayla Barthel, Joshua Beack, Nevaeh Beach, Jacualynn Beauchamp, Spencer Beauchamp, Jaykob Bechtold, Chloe Bechtold, Logan Beck, Alicia Belanger, Tanner Bemboom, Makayla Benc, Brock Bialke, Travis Boyle, Cortney Brambrink, Danyel Brambrink, Steven Brambrink, Maddison Bruggenthies, Kasandra Bruggenthies, Jesse Bursch, Josie Corrigan, Chase Dahler, Addison Dahler, Lily Dahler, Kendra Dietz, Emma Dietz, Paige Dingmann, Mikayla Dirckx, Emilee Ertl, Hannah Evenson, Grace Gadacz, Ava Gadacz, Allison Graham, Leighton Hackett, Blake Herbst, Ethan Hinkemeyer, Chance Jones, Abbey Jurek, Riley Kipka, Aleaya Kipka, Emily Knechtsberger, Shelby Knosalla, Tyler Knosalla, Elias Kobienia, Madelyn Kremer, Braelyn Kuperus, Evangelia Kuperus, Hunter Kuschel, Kaylie Kuschel, Emma Landwehr, Colten Lentner, Ben Lewandowski, Alli Lewandowski, Abby Lewandowski, Grace Loehrer, Holly Loehrer, Elizabeth Lorenz, Cylie Marshik, Riley Mass, Skylar Morris, Kailyn Neumann, Isabelle Novak, Ethan Olson, Emmit Olson, Tyrone Orton, Gabrielle Orton, Bella Pederson, Bryant Pierce, Katelynn Pollard, Vince Popp, Josi Pozorski, Lucas Randall, Emily Ratka, Lauren Rezac, Delayna Rife, Paige Riggs, Peyton Ruzek, Miranda Sam, Nicole Schaefer, Jacob Schafer, Hank Schefers, Jesse Schefers, Mitchell Schefers, Nevaeh Schmit, Elaina Schneider, Levi Selander, Luke Sobania, Ben Stang, Dana Struffert, Bryce Talberg, Marley Wheeler, Elicia Wolff and Kendyl Young.
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PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Foley FFA Chapter officers are officer at-large Cortney Brambrink (front, from left), historian Josie Corrigan, treasurer Madelyn Kremer, secretary Nicole Schaefer and president Dana Struffert; (back, from left) sentinel Bryce Talberg, reporter Ava Gadacz, assistant treasurer Miranda Sam and vice president Jesse Schefers.
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SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 | Page 3B
Kremer from front Kremer is one of four FHS seniors who will earn their State FFA Degree this year. Following final interviews Feb. 17, Dana Struffert, Jesse Schefers, Ava Gadacz and Kremer will add their names to a select list of FFA members who have achieved greatness on the state level. The four will be recognized this fall at the 95th annual National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. “I’m excited about it,” Kremer said of receiving the State Degree. “When I started FFA, it was one of the things I kind of expected myself to get. I’ve been to nationals twice, and we always stay and watch the awards ceremony. It’s exciting to think that will be me next year.” Kremer is the daughter of Chris and Stacey, and her family owns Backroad Bison, a bison ranch they started in Mount Morris Township, Morrison County, after moving to the area from Reading in summer 2019. Chris began raising bison after college near his hometown, and, today, Backroad Bison raises about 550 bison on 1,500 acres. The animals, dependent on their gender and age, can reach up to 6 feet and 2,000 pounds and run up to 35 mph. Earning a State FFA Degree is a yearslong process. Awardees must be involved in FFA for at least 24 months and complete a Supervised Agricultural Experience, which in addition to classroom in-
struction requires the participant to invest $2,000 or 600 hours of time. Honorees follow a 34-page handbook. They must demonstrate leadership skills, participate in chapter and regional, state or national FFA activities, and complete community service above and beyond their SAE. The opportunity to apply for the State Degree comes only after a Chapter FFA Degree is earned, and it is estimated only 2% of FFA members in the nation reach this level of achievement, according to the Minnesota FFA Association. Kremer used her time working at her family’s bison ranch and Gilman Coop Creamery to complete her SAE. Beginning in 2019, she began documenting her hours worked while assisting with projects such as installing a 6-foot high-tensile hotwire fence on the ranch and learning about fly management and feed and mineral rations. Kremer gained insight as she was exposed to a variety of aspects of her family’s operation. “Because I worked at the creamery, I was able to help my dad find different solutions,” Kremer said. “After we moved up here, we faced different challenges. We had not had the fly problems we do now, and we never had this many animals on pasture. It was a lot adjusting to the animals’ needs. Because I worked there and learned about different products, I
PHOTO BY JAKOB KOUNKEL
Madelyn Kremer stands next to the Backroad Bison ranch sign Feb. 8 in rural Hillman. Kremer is one of four Foley FFA chapter members who will earn their State FFA Degree.
could at least give my dad information.” In spring 2020, Kremer’s responsibilities grew alongside that of her 13-year-old brother, CJ’s. A cow delivered twins, a rare occasion for bison. As is common in this scenario, the mother rejected one of the calves. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Kremer children were distance learning, and so they were tasked with caring for the calf. “We took him out of the herd and brought him up to the house,” Kremer said. “We named him Bruce and bottle-fed him. He lived in our garage with our dogs for most of the spring.” Kremer said the baby bison followed the family members around the ranch as he grew. His shelters changed – from the garage, to the barn and to the donkey pasture – before eventually Bruce’s size was too large, and he was re-introduced to the herd.
“If we wanted to take him as a bottle calf, we had to do all the work for it,” said Kremer, of Bruce who initially had to be fed every 4-6 hours. “Bruce is now almost 2. He’s around 600 pounds and definitely the tamest buffalo (bison) we have. He still comes to his name if we drive out there.” Although Kremer’s experiences on her ranch and working in a retail store where agricultural producers and professionals frequent have broadened her horizons so too has simply being involved in Foley’s FFA chapter. She said the chapter has taught her about leadership, polished her public speaking skills and required her to branch out socially. Kremer keeps busy in the role of the chapter’s co-treasurer and participates in additional committees throughout the year. She also competes on the livestock and meats evaluation teams. She has qualified to compete in
livestock evaluation at the Minnesota State FFA Convention April 24-26 in Minneapolis. “FFA has a lot of opportunities,” said Kremer, who is also a class officer;
member of student council, Minnesota Honor Society and the clay target team; as well as the girls basketball team manager. “As a chapter, we’re always trying to find community service projects or ways to be involved in the community. … This year we did the angel tree at the nursing home and purchased gifts for residents at the home who used to be involved in agriculture.” Kremer plans to attend Bethel University in St. Paul, and although she will pursue a degree in psychology, she remains interested in animal nutrition and plans to keep her family’s bison legacy alive. “I think I’ll have my own in the future, even just a smaller herd,” Kremer said. “I definitely plan on coming back in the summers and stuff to help my parents with things.”
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Page 6B | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS
Pierz
FFA Chapter
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PHOTO SUBMITTED
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The Pierz FFA chapter officers include sentinal Andrew Morris (front, from left) and treasurer Edward Westmoreland; (back, from left) secretary Kaylee Pulak, vice president Elissa Pawlu, president Ethan Hayes and reporter Ty Hayes.
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SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 | Page 7B
Royalton FFA Chapter
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
(Above) In alphabetical order, the Royalton FFA Chapter includes Joseph Achen, Andrew Aleshire, Aaron Betker, Ashley Betker, Damien Bishop, Trinity Blommer, Elijah Borjas, Alisa Boser, Hailey Boser, Breeanna Brown, Cole Crenna, Isaac Czech, Evan Dyre, Jacie Grace, Bailee Gronau, Aubrey Grotte, Landon Hackett, Madison Hackett, Clara Hagen, Landon Halvinka, Simon Harren, Emma Holden, Brianna Lenz, Marizza Lenz, Jamos McNinch, Trevor Meehl, David Meemken, Allie Meyer, Alex Mrosla, Keaton Nelson, Ava Nemeth, Tess Nemeth, Owen Paulson, Carson Popp, Alivia Pyka, Rex Revior, Piper Richter, Faith Rudh, Kaylee Rudolph, Zackary Rudolph, Preston Sauer, Maria Solland, Marisa Solland, Callie Vannurden, Ethan Vannurden, Kayden Vannurden, Mason Vannurden, Peyton Wagner, Macy Wentland and Brady Yourczek.
(Right) The Royalton FFA officers include president Kaylee Rudolph (from left), secretary/reporter Callie Vannurden, vice president Joseph Achen, treasurer Aaron Betker, junior adviser Alivia Pyka and sentinel Ashley Betker.
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