sen, Ashl nd Dominic Malientner, M athew son, Olivia mbr ink,
The Foley FFA Chapter members are Elizabeth Lorenz (front, from left), Raylynn McColley, Gabby Orton, Abbey Jurek, Cylie Marshik, Grace Gadacz, Ben Lewandowski, Braelynn Kuperus and Chase Dahler; (second row, from left) Alli Lewandowski, Grace Loehrer, Shelby Knosalla, Tyler Knosalla, Emmit Olson, Makayla Benc, Kaylie Kuschel and Ethan Hinkemeyer; (third row, from left) Jacob Schafer, Luke Sobania, Jesse Bursch, Skylar Morris, Kendra Dietz, Delayna Rife, Addison Dahler, Kaiya Gotvald, Josi Pozorski and Steven Brambrink; (fourth row, from left) Mason Arnold, Alex Wirtzfeld, Nolan Hackett, Jada Hansen, Ashley Postle, Kaylee Dahler, Aleaya Kipka, Alaina Moulzolf, Payten Alderink, Ava Dahler, Lydia Hunt and Dominic Malikowski; (fifth row, from left) Paige Fussy, Makayla Reishus, Noah Lentner, Mathew Bonzelet, Steven Heirigs, Leo Gadacz, Hunter Peterson, Colton Olson, Olivia Rauschendorfer and Chloe Wirtzfeld; (back, from left) Jared Brambrink, Branson Beauchamp, Wyatt Montag and CJ Kramer.
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THREE NONAGRICULTURAL STUDENTS JOIN DAIRY TEAM
BY EMILY BRETH| STAFF WRITER
Many people think FFA is all about agriculture and that if they do not have a background within agriculture, FFA is not for them.
Kronenberg said that knowing other students within FFA and on the team helped her to not be nervous about joining.
and is hoping to attain her Minnesota State FFA Degree her senior year.
However, Madalyn Kronenberg, Natalie Rittman and Rachel Hilton proved that wrong. They, along with Addison Nellis, competed at regional competition in a Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management contest as members of the Sauk Rapids-Rice FFA Chapter. There, the four qualified to compete at the Minnesota State FFA Convention, which takes place April 23-25 in St. Paul.
“I’ve always been interested in agriculture and joining FFA,” Kronenberg said. “At the first meeting Addison came up to me and told me I should join the dairy team. I knew I would find something I liked within FFA.”
The girls practice for at least two hours every week and do a lot of studying outside of practice and on their own.
“Everyone should try (FFA) because it’s different for every person,” Nellis said. “It depends on what you sign up for. If you’re not interested in the animal or crop side, you can try the floriculture CDE (career development event). FFA is not the same for every person. Everyone has a different experience.”
Hilton said. … “If they gave it a chance, they would see it’s not what they think it is. FFA is what you make of it. If you want to make it a bad experience, it will be and (that’s) true the other way around.”
This is Rittman’s, Hilton’s and Kronenberg’s first year in FFA, and they plan on sticking with it.
Nellis is the only one of the girls who had experience within the agricultural community, prior to joining Heidi Anderson’s agricultural classes at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School.
“My grandparents own a farm,” Nellis said. “My whole family told me to ‘go for it, you’re so involved here’ and when I saw I could do something with cows besides work, I was excited. I haven’t minded (being the only farm member) on the team. At first, I was skeptical, but they have all been really amazing.”
However, the girls not only get together to practice their dairy evaluation skills. They also like to do a lot of team bonding and find fun in everything — even the early morning bus ride to attend the regional contest.
Joining FFA helped these girls develop their knowledge and interest in agriculture.
“I want a job in agriculture and FFA made me want to go for it,” Kronenberg said. “I took a lot of Anderson’s classes and joining them made me want to push for it more.”
After deepening their knowledge and understanding of agriculture and FFA, the girls encourage others to give FFA a try.
“I feel like everyone gives FFA such a bad rep,”
The SRR team is living proof that FFA can be for everyone. Even if students do not have an interest in agriculture, there are also leadership development events that will be beneficial to building life skills.
“People think it’s all about one thing … They don’t realize you can actually go out and do stuff,” Kronenberg said. “Give it a try, because it’s really fun when you get into it and get to know the people in it.”
Not having a strong agricultural background did not deter any of these girls to join FFA.
After being in FFA, these girls have learned that FFA is not what they thought it was. There is a lot more to it than cows and corn.
“Addison took me to the first practice, and I got dialed in with FFA and the dairy competition,” Rittman said. “Then I knew Rachel was interested, so I told her she should join too.”
“I thought it was mostly farmers, but when you get in it and see all the other opportunities, you see the ways it’s not just about farming,” Nellis said.
Nellis is in her second year of FFA serving as chapter sentinel
Little Falls FFA Chapter
The Little Falls FFA Chapter members are Emily Westermann (front, from left), Alicia Holtz and Haley Fitzpatrick; (second row, from left) Megan Fellbaum, Maddie Holtz, Chance Anez, Briel Selinski and Emma Butterfass; (third row, from left) Everett Rudolph, Oliver Wiherski, Joseph Hanfler, Brooklyn Holtz and Taelyn Stavish; (back, from left) advisers Brent Arndt and Kim Czech. Not pictured are adviser Matt Petrowitz and members Antonio Becker, Abigail Jo Caron, Paige Fellbaum, Kjersti Halvorson, Brent Hanfler, Marshal Kathrein, Savanna Sanoski, Abbie Scepurek, Violet Swisher, Marjory Zapzalka and Marshall Zapzalka.
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Little Falls FFA Chapter adviser Brent Arndt (from left), adviser Kim Czech, secretary Haley Fitzpatrick, president Alicia Holtz, vice president Antonio Becker, treasurer Emily Westermann and adviser Matt Petrowitz.
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FFA Chapter Milaca
On Feb. 22, people are invited to celebrate Give FFA Day — a 24-hour fundraising effort that unites the FFA community in support of the next generation of leaders who will change the world.
Last year, alumni, members and friends of FFA donated more than $822,000 on Give FFA Day. This year, the organization aims to go even bigger and raise $1 million, but it needs help. Mark the calendar for Feb. 22 and plan to donate and invite others to help FFA reach this significant milestone. Readmoreat www.ffa.org
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The Milaca FFA Chapter members are Shane Olson (front, from left), Coleton Kiel, Joseph Schmitz, Rolland Steinbrecher, Blake Pietrzak, Sara Miller and Cyan Steinbrecher; (second row, from left) Braden Taylor, Wyatt Maurer, Lucas Pipkin, Brittany Carlson, Claire Chalberg, Ellie Linden and Autumn Olson; (third row, from left) Charles Cooper, Violet Hjort, Hunter Gadacz, Reed Beumer, Mandy Rinkel, Hope Baron and Allie Meyer; (fourth row, from left) Chesney Bell, Kaitlyn Byker, Taylor Christensen, Ellanna Schendel, Ella Sanderson, Reagan Zens and Alayna Hustad; (fifth row, from left) adviser Doug Olson, Kaylee Tupker, Kaden Gadacz, Levi Hustad, Avery Beumer, Neelie Zens and Leann Pietrzak. Not pictured are Mackenzie Gossen, Olivia Hollenkamp, Avery Olson, Ella Pundsack, Hunter Ronko, Sawyer Schendel and Zoey Wallace.
Pierz FFA Chapter
isel, Logan Kur tz, Gabe e Stangl denfrost, Preston K
The Pierz FFA Chapter members are Kaidyn Johnson (front, from left), Cydney Bowerman, Madelyn Kahl and Alisha Karst; (second row, from left) Brady Smude, Alex Sebasky, Adam Hosheisel, Logan Kurtz, Gabe Stangl and Isabelle Dulude; (third row, from left) Jake Virnig, Anna Hoheisel, Ben Leidenfrost, Preston Kapsner, Carter Happke and Katlyn Gotvald; (fourth row, from left) Bryce Boser, Catherine Wehseler, Hailey Gall, Isabelle Smude and Olivia Larson; (back, from left) Kaden Kroll, Dylan Vandenheuvel, Josi Smude, Emilie Smude and Lauren Vandenheuvel.
WEDNESDAY: Ag Teacher Appreciation Day
Share how an ag teacher or adviser has impacted your life by gathering photos from past and present members to create a photo book of memories. Present it to your ag teacher on Wednesday of FFA Week. Post their reaction on social media using #FFAWeek. Readmoreat www.ffa.org
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apsnner, ne Wehseler, ylan
Royalton FFA Chapter
Gronau, Ava Nemeth, Brynn G=ramentz,
Grace Balling, Madison Hackett, Emma Vogel and Kayden Vannurden;
Wentland, Jack Czech, Daniel Daak, Ethan Vannurden, Jordan Hawkins, Jordie Eggerth,
Ms. Liddane, Isaac Czech and Zackary Rudolph; (back, from left) Mr. Goldade, Natasha
Reili
Mason Vannurden, Cole Crenna, Keaton Nelson, Andrew Aleshire, Peyton Wagner, Preston Sauer, Nolan Gerads, Landan Langner, Wyatt Gerads and John Golly.
Farmers & Merchants has been helping people grow for generations. From farm families to businesses, and every individual in between. We continue to focus on what matters most and ensuring that it gets carried on into the future. Because friendly still counts.
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The Royalton High School FFA members are Landon Hackett (front, from left), Owen Paulson, Alex Mrosla, Declan Greer, Dane Morgan, Benjamin Neutz, Tyler Vaneps, Elyssa Poirier, Payton Voge, Mckayla Loscheider, Brianna Popp and Addyson Orthmann; (second row, from left) Ashley Betker, Reed Revior, Ryder Wentland, Marisa Solland, Bailee
The Sauk Rapids-Rice FFA Chapter members are Leah Schelske (front); (second row, from left) Nina Strack, Devin Douvier-Wittowski and Hailey Hurdt; (third row, from left) Lilly Ackerman, Morgan Westerhoff and Haylee Zwick; (fourth row, from left) Luke Scheeler, Addison Nellis and Abigail Kapsner; (back, from left) Noah Barten, Logan Stafki and Kaylynn Pendergast. Not pictured are Halle Counter, Coltin Eich, Kira Hanson, Rachel Hilton, Taylor Johnson, Kendall Kruchten, Austin Molitor, Mark Montag, Kale Neis, Ben Reker, Natalie Rittmann, M adalyn Kronenberg, Andie Roering, Nik Sakry, Andrew Scapanski, Evan Scapanski, Nina Strack, Keigan Swadner and Evan Trompeter.
