Boyceville FFA bestows honors at Awards Night

BOYCEVILLE – The Boyceville Future Farmers of America chapter celebrated the culmination of another successful year this Sunday evening, honoring the achievements and accomplishments of its members at the annual awards program.

The Boyceville chapter recognized many of its membership as well as community members and organizations involved with FFA at its 2018 Awards Night held April 22 in the Boyceville High School commons. 

This year’s featured speaker was Brooke Brantner, State FFA Section 2 vice president. Brantner is a member of the Menomonie FFA Chapter.

One of the most prestigious and meaningful honors bestowed each year is that of Honorary Chapter FFA Degree. The award is given annually to a community member(s) or organization that has provided outstanding service to the Boyceville FFA chapter. This year Tim Jackson of Munson Hybrids was selected as the 2017-18 Honorary Chapter Degree recipient.  

The 80-member chapter recognized Jackson for his dedication, support, and willingness to assist the FFA members. Bryce Larson, chapter president, told audience members that Jackson, a Knapp area resident, has secured a portion of Munson seeds from sales to local buyers and donated it to the Boyceville FFA. Larson presented Jackson with a plaque to commemorate the honor.

In addition, the Boyceville FFA 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 woman – Jensine Boesl. Jensine has an active SAE project that featured showing beef and swine at the fair. She participated in the District Soil Evaluation Contest and sold fruit. Boesl also finished near the top of her Ag Orientation class. 

Another deserving member was honored with this year’s Star Chapter FFA Degree plaque. Jeremy Bauer earned the Star Chapter FFA Degree, given annually to the most active and involved second-year member(s). Bauer has taken advantage of every opportunity to participate in a wide variety of chapter activities, according to President Bryce Larson, who made the presentation. Larson stated that Bauer has an SAE project that involves raising swine. In addition, Jeremy has been a member of the Dunn County Meat Animal Project and has shown animals at the Dunn County Fair, and he 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, Bryce Larson. 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 Larson for his dedication and participation in virtually all of the chapter’s activities, and his superior leadership skills in conducting the chapter’s business. Knutson said that Larson was also the top point earner among this year’s crop of candidates earning him the honor of outstanding senior.

Degree Winners

25 first-year FFA agricultural students earned Greenhand Degrees and bronze pins. They are: Jensine Boesl, Triston Bowell, Dante Butler, Nathaniel Chich, Samuel Chich, Christa Clark, Nathan Corr, Trever DeBell, Jonathon Dinsmore, Brian Fawcett, Kady Grambow, Faith Harnisch, Kaylee Hessler, Trevor Hollister, Skyler Hopkins, Mya Lagerstrom, Connor Larson, Jared Lemon, Chesney Leslie, Nicholas Lotmsky, Brayden Miller, Megan Olson, Taylor Schmid, Dominic Schreiber and Grace Stubbs. 

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 15 second-year members: Morgan Andrews, Jeremy Bauer, Abbie Curvello, Ty Gundlach, Dylan Hakanson, Hannah Johnson, Jaslyn Krueger, Kylie Krueger, Jordan Nelson, Brady Nye, Hunter Nye, Brock Schlough, Eli Swanson, McKenna Weber, and Maggie Wyss.

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

Cooper Boesl 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: Kailynn Bird, Shawna Gove, Kyle Holden, Kevin Kegan, Luke Knudtson, Kylie Krueger, William Link, Trystin O’Connell, Eli Swanson, McKenna Weber, Seth Wruck and Maggie Wyss.

First-time Scholarship Pin recipients included: Jensine Boesl, Cooper Boesl, Satina Chilson, Nathan Corr, Jayson Gonzales, Nicholas Goodell, Faith Harnisch, Kaylee Hessler, Megan Hintzman, Trevor Hollister, Hannah Johnson, Jaslyn Krueger, Mya Lagerstrom, Bryce Larson, Chesney Leslie, Braxton Ludtke, Justin Malean, Megan Olson and Hunter Spenle.

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 Kyle Holden, Brandon Kenefick was second, the brother-sister duo of Cooper and Jensine Boesl finished third and Cody Frederick was fourth.

Retiring Officers

Leadership pins were presented by advisor Glenn Knudtson to all the retiring officers: Bryce Larson, president; Kyle Holden, vice president; Cooper Boesl, secretary; Dusty Wittmer, treasurer; Kenny Clark, sentinel; Cody Frederick, reporter; and Trystin O’Connell, 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: Kenny Clark, Dairy Production Placement Award; Dusty Wittmer, Ag Mechanics Award; Trystin O’Connell, Beef Production Award; Noah Novotney, Community Service Award; Hunter Spenle, Poultry Production Proficiency Award; Satina Chilson, Specialty Animal Production Award; Cooper Boesl, Specialty Crop Production Award.

Ag Contest Awards

Several members competed in contests throughout the year.

Boyceville had 38 students compete in this year’s district soil evaluation held last October in Dunn County. Boyceville placed second overall against nine other schools. The top four local individuals were: Kyle Holden (1st), Nathan Corr (2nd), Bryce Boda (3rd) and Noah Novotney (4th).

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 Satina Chilson, Kyle Holden, Luke Knudtson, Kylie Krueger and McKenna Weber. 

New Officers

The installation of the new officers for the upcoming year concluded the ceremony. The 2018-19 officers are: President-Kenny Clark; Vice President-Dusty Wittmer; Secretary-Maggie Wyss; Treasurer-Jarrett Link; Sentinel-Kevin Kegan; Reporter-Morgan Andrews; and Parliamentarian-Tyler Peterson.