FFA Banquet

On April 21st, the Fillmore Central FFA Chapter held their annual FFA Awards Banquet. Numerous members, parents, and guests attended to receive awards, degrees, scholarships, and certificates. Circle 5 Cattle Company provided the steaks for the meal while the chapter and FFA families provided the rest of the meal.

Seventeen members were recognized for their SAE programs and received proficiency awards. Blake Nun was recognized for Turfgrass Management and received a gold at districts and a bronze at the state level. Dom Harding applied in Ag Mechanics Repair and Maintenance and received gold at districts and a bronze rating at state. Brecken Hoban applied in Diversified Ag Production and received gold at districts and a bronze rating at state. Cole Nedrow applied in Grain Production Placement and received gold at districts and a bronze rating at state. Lilly Srajhans applied in Health and Human Services, she received gold at districts and a bronze rating at state. Treygan Srajhans applied in Diversified Livestock Production and received a gold at districts. Bailey Hafer applied in Fiber and Oil Crop Production and received a gold at districts. Wyatt Rayburn applied in Grain Production and received a gold at districts. Carson Asche applied in Home and Occupational Safety and received silver at districts. Makin Girmus applied  in Diversified Ag Production and received silver at districts. Kaili Head applied in Home and Occupational Safety and received a silver at districts. Brenner McCann-Coen applied in Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management and received a silver at districts. Cooper Schelkopf applied in Small Animal Production and Care, he received a silver at districts. Carlos Andujo applied in Residential Construction Technology and received a bronze at districts. Dylan Gewecke applied in Ag Mechanics Repair and Maintenance and received a bronze at districts. Addison Wolf applied in Health and Human Services and received a bronze at districts. Peyton
Komenda applied in Vegetable Production and received a bronze at districts.

The Top Fruit Sales Awards went to the member who sold the most fruit, meat, cheese, and seasonings for the chapter fruit sales. Receiving this award this year was Reyna Hafer.

Members from each grade level received the Chapter Scholar Award for
holding the highest grade in their Ag class. These members included Faith Engle,
Jorden Engle, Mason Simacek– Senior Class, Luke Kimbrough, Dylan Gewecke,
Brecken Hoban – Junior Class, Bailey Hafer, Makin Girmus, – Sophomore Class,
Alexis Saatmann, Ella Cook– Freshmen Class.

The Top Activity points Award was given to each member who held the most
activity points in their grade level. These members included Jorden Engle – Senior
Class, Blake Nun – Junior Class, Bailey Hafer – Sophomore Class, Ellie Janing
Freshmen Class, and Caleb Nun – Eighth Grade Class. Blake Nun held the highest
overall points for the chapter. 

Twenty members received their Greenhand Degree. The Greenhand Degree goes
to 1st year members who have plans for their SAE and show understanding of the
FFA organization. These members included Aaden Adams, Ella Cook, Mackenzie
Gillenwater, Kagen Girmus, Jaci Howell, Ellie Janing, Zach Korbelik, Cooper Lefever, Chase Myers, Austyn Nun, Jaret Potthoff, Waylon Rayburn, Haley Reinsch, Alexis Saatmann, Ariana Smart, Landyn Stephenson, Jayden Stofer, Addison Treinen, and Mckenzie VanDeWalle.

Twelve members received their Chapter Degree. This degree goes to 2 nd and
3 rd year members. The members who received their Chapter Degree included Carlos
Andujo, Makin Girmus, Bailey Hafer, Dominic Harding, Markey Hinrichs, Brecken
Hoban, Peyton Komenda, Treygan Kramer, Brenner McCann-Coen, Waylon Rayburn,
and Cooper Schelkopf.

The Star Greenhand Award went to an outstanding 1 st year member who has
been successful and active in FFA and gone out of their way to assist our chapter.
Receiving this award was Zach Korbelik.

The Outstanding Service Award went to an individual who has supported and
assisted our FFA Chapter. The recipient who received this award was Steve Yates
for unloading the pallets of fruit for our fundraiser every year and supporting our
welding program with affordable supplies and equipment.

The Honorary Chapter Degree went to one recipient who has helped our chapter significantly and is a huge supporter. The recipient who received this award was Charles Chapman. Charles has been an FFA Booster Club officer for several years.

The FFA Booster Club gave out scholarships to four graduating seniors this
year. The Fillmore Central FFA Booster Club is an amazing organization that assists
our Chapter in so many ways. We are lucky to have these upstanding people who
work hard to keep our chapter strong. The seniors who received scholarships were
Jorden Engle, Faith Engle, Mason Simacek, and Reyna Hafer.

The FFA Banquet and Awards Ceremony was a huge success. It came to an end as the seniors retired their FFA jackets and the new 2023- 2024 FFA Officers were announced. The new officers are President –Lilly Srajhans, Vice-President -Blake Nun, Secretary – Bailey Hafer, Treasurer – Carson Asche, Reporter – Peyton Komenda, Sentinel – Cooper Schelkopf, Parliamentarian – Bryson Hafer, and Historian – Austyn Nun. A big thank you goes to our advisor, Kurt VanDeWalle, for all his hard work. Thank you to the 2022-23 seniors for all the work you have done for FFA; you will be greatly missed.

Peyton Komenda
23-24 FFA Reporter