A total 52 Mountain Lake FFA Chapter members attended the 85th Minnesota State FFA Convention, held on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, from Sunday, April 27 through Tuesday, April 29.
Chapter Advisors accompanying the high school students from grades 9-12 were Tom Appel, Stephen Funk and Lindsey Brown.
Following are photos of the chapter members achieving success earning awards and recognition at the state conclave:
CAITLYN OELTJENBRUNS (FLUTE), left and Levi Jahnke (trumpet), right, both participated in the Minnesota FFA Band. They played during sessions and also during the annual Minnesota FFA Band and Choir concert, performing before the more than 3,000 Minnesota FFA members attending the convention this year.
MOUNTAIN LAKE FORESTRY Team earned second-place honors out of 42 teams, and all four members placed in the top 10 individually. From left, Caleb Rempel (6th individual), Eric-John Niss DeJesus (8th individual), Hamlet Tanyavong (7th individual) and Daniel Harder (2nd individual).
ALL FOUR MEMBERS of the Nursery and Landscape Team were also gold individuals on their way to a third-place finish out of 36 teams. From left, National FFA Eastern Region Vice-President Wes Davis, Sam Xayanourom (17th individual) and Anna Engstrom (2nd individual). Not pictured are Ryan McCue (21st) and Carly Paulson (27th).
REBEKAH KLASSEN, LEFT, participated in the FFA Creed Contest. She advanced from the preliminary round into the finals, and placed 4th at state. She is pictured with National FFA Eastern Region Vice-President Wes Davis, right.
THE SMALL ANIMALS Team brought home 5th place honors out of 54 teams. The team was made up of, from left, Liana Blomgren (gold individual), Kalley Rempel (silver), Bailey Leaman (gold) and Rebekah Klassen (gold).
THE MOUNTAIN LAKE FFA Chapter also had a pair of teams participate in a couple of new contests at this year’s convention. This was the first year that Mountain Lake participated in the Best Informed Greenhand competition, which is an exam on FFA history, Parliamentary Procedure and basic FFA and agriculture knowledge. There were 41 teams state-wide. The team above, featuring all gold individuals, finished 5th. From left, Karen Soutthivong (5th individual), Jaden Hoek, Brook Sunderman (19th individual), Katherine Hoffman and Kalley Rempel.
THE SECOND TEAM placed 10th and included, from left, Meredith Suess (10th individual, silver), Kenna Gardiner (gold), Nathan Regier (gold), Kassandra Tellez (gold) and Chandra Pfeiffer (silver).
AUSTIN SUDERMAN, THIRD from left, lead the way for Mountain Lake in the Crops contest by placing 12th individually. The team placed 6th out of 37 teams with Jared Suderman, left and Jordan Suderman, right, as gold individuals and Nathan Regier, second from left, earning a bronze.
FARM MANAGEMENT PLACED 8th out of 33 teams in the State FFA contest. Tyler Dick, left and Josh Fast, right, placed 13th and 19th respectively. Andrew Fast, second from right and Sam Grev, second from left, comprised the rest of the team. In addition, Tyler Dick and Josh Fast earned State FFA Degree – the highest honor that can be earned by an active FFA member on the state level. The pair were recognized for achieving this milestone in their FFA career on stage during the Monday night awards ceremony, receiving the gold charm of the prestigious Minnesota FFA Degree.
IN THE MEATS Evaluation contest, the Mountain Lake team brought home 12th place honors out of 38 teams. Ashley Watkins, second from left, placed 18th individually which made her a gold individual. Akin Tema-Lopez, left, Chanah Brandt, second from right and Caitlin Brandt, right, all earned silver.
Additional team/individual placement
* Agricultural Mechanics – 20th of 39 teams. Derek Harder was gold individual, placing 22nd individually. Jacob Junker was silver, while Hayden Fast and Logan Johnson were bronze.
*Fish and Wildlife Management – 24th of 56 teams. Andrew Hempeck and Tylor Duerksen were both gold emblem individuals, while Carter Kirk and Hunter Quiring earned bronze.
* General Livestock – 37th of 58 teams. Melanie Adrian was gold individual, Danae Friesen was a silver emblem individual and Caitlin Oeltjenbruns and Olivia Hopwood were both bronze.
* Floriculture – 37th of 46 teams. Lydia Hildebrandt was gold emblem individiual, with Carmen Syverson, Signey Stoesz and Alexa Heffele, bronze.
Chapter receives membership award, Hamilton in Hall of Fame
ROD HAMILTON
Also during the convention, the Mountain Lake FFA was recognized as a recipient of the Century Award for programs that have over 100 members in their FFA Chapter.
Another highlight of the convention was when Rod Hamilton of Mountain Lake was inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame.
