Annual awards banquet recognizes that spark for Mountain Lake Chapter members
The annual Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) FFA Chapter awards banquet recognized achievements of members over the course of the past year was held Monday evening, March 17, 2014, in the school’s elementary gymnasium. The meal was prepared and served by the Hi-Lo Club of Lakefield, Minnesota.
Handling the duties for the event were the Chapter officers – President Josh Fast, First Vice-President Andrew Hempeck, Second Vice-President Anna Engstrom, Third Vice-President Caleb Rempel, Secretary Caitlin Oeltljenbruns, Treasurer Melanie Adrian, Reporter Madelyn Regier, Sentinel Zach Fredericksen, Officer-At-Large Tyler Dick and Advisors Thomas Appel, Lindsey Brown and Stephen Funk.
Recognized with an Honorary Chapter FFA Degree was the Mountain Lake/Odin/Ormsby Sportsman’s Club. Club President Rich Gisch accepted the honor on behalf of its members.
Following are photographs of major award winners from the evening.
FFA FRUIT SALES noted a record number of boxes sold – 1,088. Caitlin Oeltjenbruns was the top individual with $3,378 in sales. The duo or Tara Fast and Michaela Cate netted $3,249, while the brother-sister team of Jacob and Meredith Suess chalked up $1,050. Above, from left, Meredith Suess, Jacob Suess and Michaela Cate. Not pictured are Tara Fast and Caitlin Oeltjenbruns.
PROFICIENCY AND SPEAKING award winners. Front, from left, Rebekah Klassen – Creed Speaking, Caleb Rempel – Swine Production Placement, Melanie Adrian – Sheep Production and Elizabeth Hoffman – Agricultural Sales and Service. Back, from left, Hunter Quiring – Wildlife Management, Josh Fast – Crop Production Placement and Dairy Placement, Andrew Hempeck – Wildlife Management and Ryan McCue – Outdoor Recreation. Not pictured, Jacob Junker – Agricultural Mechanics, Derrick Willaby – Beef Production, Daniel Nelson – Food Processing and Home and Community Development, Caitlin Oeltjenbruns – Sheep Production, Tylor Duerksen – Soil and Water Management and Breanna Lidtke – Turf Grass Management.
CLASS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS. Front, from left, Rebekah Klassen – 9th Grade, Jaden Hoek – 9th Grade, Liana Blomgren – 9th Grade, Carmen Syverson – 10th Grade and Kalley Rempel – 9th Grade. Back, from left, Hamlet Tanyavong – 11th Grade, Caleb Rempel – 11th Grade and Tyler Dick – 12th Grade. Not pictured Jordan Suderman – 9th Grade.
LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS. From left, Sam Xayanourom – 10th Grade, Caleb Rempel – 11th Grade, Madelyn Regier – 11th Grade, Melanie Adrian – 11th Grade, Andrew Hempeck – James P. Crawford Citizenship Award and Alex Dunker – 10th Grade. Not pictured, Bailey Leaman – 10th Grade and Caitlin Oeltjenbruns – 11th Grade.
STEVE PFEIFFER CONSERVATION and Natural Resources Awards went to Hunter Quiring, left and Andrew Hempeck, center. At right, Hunter Dahna was the Trap Shoot Awards first-place winner in the Junior Division. Not pictured are Trap Shoot Awards Senior Division first-place winner Britton Pankratz and second-place recipient Andrew Hirsch, as well as the Junior Division second-place winner Noah Fredericksen.
FFA PRIDE, CHAPTER Crops Show and Star Greenhand Award winners. From left, Anna Engstrom – FFA Pride Award, Jared Willaby – Chapter Crops Show Award and Hunter Dahna and Nathan Regier – Star Greenhands.
MINNESOTA FFA DEGREES, Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment, Star Agricultural Placement and James P. Crawford Citizenship Awards. Tyler Dick, left and Josh Fast, center, each earned Minnesota FFA Degrees. Fast also was presented the Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award and the Star Agricultural Placement Award. At right, Andrew Hempeck, recipient of the James P. Crawford Citizenship Award. Crawford was MLHS ag instructor and FFA Chapter advisor from 1951 to 1981. Jacob Tschetter originated the program in the high school in 1941 and was instructor until 1951. Since 1981, Tom Appel has handled the agricultural instruction duties. This school year he was joined by Lindsey Brown and Stephen Funk.
Below are some backstage “outtakes” from the after-program photo shoot of award winners.
CHAPTER MEMBERS SPORTING the FFA “Blues,” ties – plus some FFA suspender bling. From left, Michaela Cate, Anna Engstrom and Chanah Brandt.
A PROUD PAPA photo op. Steve Dick, left, snaps a shot of his son, Tyler Dick, right, and his friend and fellow Chapter member, Josh Fast, center.
TYLER DICK, LEFT and Caleb Rempel, right, add some swag to their photo stance – while Madelyn Regier, right, adds a touch of style and grace to the photo. In background, Josh Fast passes by, non-plussed by the goings-on.
