Boyceville FFA bestows honors at annual Awards Night
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BOYCEVILLE – The Boyceville Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter celebrated the culmination of another successful year on Sunday evening, honoring the achievements and accomplishments of its members at the annual awards program.
The Boyceville chapter recognized many of its membership involved with FFA at its 2019 Awards Night held April 14 in the Boyceville High School commons.
This year’s featured speaker was Paige Nelson, State FFA Section 2 officer. Nelson is a member of the Ellsworth FFA Chapter.
Boyceville’s 60-member FFA chapter recognized a trio of its own members with the chapter’s three highest awards.
The Star Greenhand, which honors the most active first-year member in all phases of chapter activities, was presented to a deserving young man – John Klefstad. John has an active SAE project that featured raising swine breeding stock and showing feeder pigs at the fair. He participated in the District Soil Evaluation Contest – placing fifth – and sold fruit. Klefstad also finished near the top of his Ag Orientation class.
Another deserving member was honored with this year’s Star Chapter FFA Degree plaque. Christa Clark earned the Star Chapter FFA Degree, given annually to the most active and involved second-year member(s). Clark has taken advantage of every opportunity to participate in a wide variety of chapter activities, according to Sentinel Kevin Kegan, who made the presentation. Kegan stated that Clark has an SAE project that involves working on the family farm. In addition, Christa has participated in the sectional leadership workshop, represented Boyceville at the National FFA Convention, and has sold fruit to support chapter activities.
Advisor Glenn Knudtson presented the Outstanding Senior Award to a deserving young man and this past year’s chapter president, Kenny Clark. The award, which is sponsored by DeKalb, is given annually to a fourth-year member who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship and leadership with significant dedication and achievement to agricultural programs. Knudtson said that it was a difficult choice with several deserving members in this year’s senior class but cited Clark’s dedication to and participation in virtually all of the chapter’s activities, and his superior leadership skills in conducting the chapter’s business.
Degree Winners
17 first-year FFA agricultural students earned Greenhand Degrees and bronze pins. They are: Isaac Bartz, Ryan Bauer, Blaine Chrysler, Preston Coombs, Mike Crapser, Anna Dicks, Gus Downey, Dec Downey, Charity Gundlach, Nick Hillman, John Klefstad, Josh Marzofka, Dawson McRoberts, Collin Miller, Damien Peterson, Trent Peterson and Ashton Riek.
To qualify for the Greenhand Award, members must be enrolled in an agricultural class, have a SAE program, know the history of the FFA and its creed, know the duties and responsibilities of a FFA member, and pass a written test. The bronze pins presented to each successful candidate bears the FFA emblem and represents hardness and endurance, qualities it is hoped will carry each member far in the FFA organization.
Chapter FFA Degrees were conferred upon 20 second-year members: Austin Benson, Jensine Boesl, Triston Bowell, Dante Butler, Nathaniel Chich, Samuel Chich, Christa Clark, Jonathon Dinsmore, Tiana Dryden, Shawna Gove, Faith Harnisch, Austin Hatfield, Naomi Hillman, Megan Hintzman, Trevor Hollister, Skyler Hopkins, Connor Larson, Nicholas Litomsky, Brayden Miller and Taylor Schmid.
Recipients of the Chapter FFA Degree are required to have an active SAE project, have been a FFA member for two years, led a group discussion, and have participated in FFA activities. Chapter FFA Degree winners each received a silver pin and certificate.
Academic Distinction
Dusty Wittmer, chapter vice president, presented Chapter Scholarship Pins to those members who have maintained a grade point average of a “B” or better and have made the honor roll for two terms during the year. A number of members were recognized for having been previous recipients of a chapter Scholarship Pin as well as the current academic year. Those so honored were: Jensine Boesl, Nicholas Goodell, Shawna Gove, Trevor Hollister, Megan Hintzman, Kevin Kegan, William Link, Braxton Ludtke, Seth Wruck and Maggie Wyss.
First-time Scholarship Pin recipients included: Isaac Bartz, John Klefstad, Nathaniel Chich, Samuel Chich, Bailey Danovsky, Faith Harnisch, Jarrett Link, Justin Lombardo, Jordan Nelson, Tyler Peterson and Dusty Wittmer.
Top Salespeople
Each year the local chapter has fundraising activities. This year the fundraiser was the chapter’s annual fruit sale. Proceeds from the fruit sales are used in a variety of ways including the purchase of awards for the program. The top salesperson award went to Tyler Peterson, Austin Benson was second, Jordan Nelson finished third and William Link was fourth.
Retiring Officers
Leadership pins were presented by advisor Glenn Knudtson to all the retiring officers: Kenny Clark, president; Dusty Wittmer, vice president; Maggie Wyss, secretary; Jarrett Link, treasurer; Kevin Kegan, sentinel; Morgan Andrews, reporter; and Tyler Peterson, parliamentarian.
Proficiency Awards
There are several areas in which members may compete in the development of specialized skills in agriculture. These proficiency awards recognize individual members for their projects in the different areas.
Proficiency award winners in the various areas are: Dusty Wittmer, Ag Mechanics Award; Ashton Riek, Beef Production Award; John Klefstad, Swine Production Award; Kenny Clark, Diversified Crop Production Award; Jeremy Bauer, Specialty Animal Production Award; Ryan Bauer, Forest Management and Production Award; and Christa Clark, Dairy Production Placement Award.
Ag Contest Awards
Several members competed in contests throughout the year.
Boyceville had 48 students compete in this year’s district soil evaluation held last October in Chippewa County. Boyceville placed second overall against nine other schools. The top four local individuals were: Kenny Clark (1st), Austin Hatfield (2nd), Josh Marzofka (3rd) and Dawson McRoberts (4th).
The Ag Techniques Contest at UW-River Falls drew several local participants (overall individual rating). Livestock Evaluation – John Klefstad, Austin Hatfield and Dawson McRoberts (excellent).
Alumni Scholarships Awarded
The Boyceville FFA Alumni awarded five seniors with $250 scholarships, the proceeds of which were raised through the annual consignment auction. Advisor Glenn Knudtson announced that the scholarship recipients were Hunter Belch, Brady Nye, Tiana Dryden, William Link and Tyler Peterson.
New Officers
The installation of the new officers for the upcoming year concluded the ceremony. The 2019-20 officers are: President-Maggie Wyss; Vice President-Morgan Andrews; Secretary-Christa Clark; Treasurer-Austin Hatfield; Sentinel-John Klefstad; Reporter-Trent Peterson and Parliamentarian-Dawson McRoberts.