GC FFA honors members at annual awards banquet
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GLENWOOD CITY – The Glenwood City Future Farmers of America (FFA) held its 79th annual chapter awards banquet in the high school commons on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.
FFA members, parents, and guests enjoyed a meal but the highlight of the evening was the many awards given to Glenwood City FFA members, alumni, and community members at the annual banquet.
Degree Awards
14 first-year FFA agricultural students earned Greenhand Degrees and the corresponding bronze pins for the 2018-19 year.
This year’s Greenhand recipients are Ally Fouks, Nick Hill, Ella Knops, Julia Wittmer, Camden Schultz, Alexis Swanepoel, Nolan Stodola, Cordell Schultz, Gabby Moede, William Eggert, Hallie Cook, Logan Hoitomt, Calli Benson and Joshua Kuehl.
To receive the Greenhand Degree, members must have met the following qualifications: 1. Must be enrolled in an Agriculture Education class; 2. Must be familiar with the purpose of FFA; and 3. Demonstrate knowledge of the Creed of the FFA, code of ehtics, motto, salute emblem, official dress and important dates; 4. Have satisfactory plans for a Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAEP). 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 also conferred upon four members who have been active in the Glenwood City chapter for up to three years. Receiving the award were Kaitlin Lee, Rodney Cassellius, Tucker Lagerstrom and Mae Buttles.
The Chapter Degree is the highest award a local FFA chapter can bestow upon its members. Recipient requirements are: 1. Must have received the Greenhand Degree; 2. Completed at least two trimesters of Agriculture Education; 3. Must have an occupation experience program; 4. Earned $150.00 by their own efforts in the supervised agricultural experience program; 5. Have participated in at least three local FFA activities; and 6. Have a satisfactory scholastic record. Chapter FFA Degree winners each received silver pins and certificates.
For the second straight year, current chapter president and senior, Ashlee Peterson, was presented with the Outstanding FFA member award by advisor Sean Vanderwaal, who pointed out her daily presence in the ag room, a willingness to speak her mind, participation in this year’s speaking contest, the organizer of the PALS program and a greenhouse caretaker as factors in receiving the award.
MS Members Recognized
Discovery Degrees were awarded to four eighth-grade students. They are Whittnie Wittmer, Alexandra Peterson, Eliza Voeltz and Natasha Lagerstrom.
To receive the Discovery Degree an FFA member must: 1. Be enrolled in an agricultural class for at least a portion of the school year while in grades seven and eight; 2. Have become a dues-paying member of FFA at local, state and national levels; 3. Participate in a least one local chapter activity outside of scheduled class time; 4. Have knowledge of agriculturally related career, ownership and entrepreneurial opportunities; and 5. Be familiar with the local FFA chpater’s activities.
Sales Awards
This year’s sales award recipients helped the FFA gross $13,000 from its annual fruit sale alone which helped members attend many leadership activities throughout the year. Members also worked at the football concessions stand. Certificates for the highest fruit sales this year went to Ashlee Peterson, Jacob Obermueller and Natasha Lagerstrom.
Special Honors/ Recognition
Chapter advisor Sean Vanderwaal and officers recognized and honored several members for their achievements this past year.
Members Ashlee Peterson and Mae Buttles once again competed in the FFA speaking competitions. Buttles took part in the district and sectional contests in the Prepared Speech division. Peterson competed at the district contest in Ellsworth.
The chapter also had the honor and privilege of providing area veterans with breakfast prior to the school’s annual Veterans’ Day ceremony in November.
Kaitlin Lee and Mae Buttles represented the Glenwood City FFA as members of the State FFA Band at the 2018 State FFA Convention and the Wisconsin State Fair. Mae Buttles will once again be a part of the State FFA Band at June’s state convention.
The sapping team of Aiden Voeltz, Cordell Schultz, Tucker Lagerstrom, Dylan Maes and Camden Schultz was recognized with special thanks to Eric Klatt for his assistance. The chapter produced nearly 50 gallons of syrup the past season.
Alumni Scholarships
Glenwood City FFA Alumni member Kaylin Saeth announced the recipients of this year’s alumni scholarships. Ashlee Peterson and Jake Obermueller were each awarded $1,500.
PALS Team Recognition
The Glenwood City FFA has been promoting agricultural literacy the past few years at the elementary school level through the Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS) Program.
The PALS program led by Ashlee Peterson met monthly with fourth graders and mentored young students about the sciences and business of agriculure.
Peterson also organized and coordinated a Barnyard day that featured animals for elementary students to see and pet.
Retiring Officers
The 2018-19 retiring FFA officers were also recognized. Outgoing officers were: Ashlee Peterson, president; Morgan Lee, vice president; Mae Buttles, secretary; Aiden Voeltz, treasurer; Alexys Curvello, reporter; Jake Obermueller, sentinel; and Kaitlin Lee, middle school student advisor. Mr. VanderWaal made the presentations.
New Officers
The installation of the new officers for the upcoming year was one of the last items of business at the annual banquet. The 2019-20 officers are: Mae Buttles, president; Aiden Voeltz, vice president; Kaitlin Lee, secretary; Lexi Wannemacher, reporter; Myah Eliason, treasurer; Will Eggert, parliamentarian; Gabby Moede, sentinel; and Ally Fouks, middle school student advisor.