FFA Ends Year at Banquet

April 18, 2012

Friday evening, April 13, was a night of surprises, well-earned awards, and tears as the Pierce High FFA celebrated its year in the annual banquet and awards ceremony. FFA officers conducted the meeting for the members, parents, alumni, and guests including those who had bought workers for a day on the annual auction March 16.

After all the awards had been presented, FFA sponsor Mrs. Jodi Borchers announced that although she has loved her students and her position as FFA sponsor for 11 years, she is resigning her position at Pierce High School to be able to spend more time with her family. Her announcement brought tears to FFA members and a standing ovation from the audience in honor of her achievements as sponsor.

FFA president Haley Oestreich served as toastmistress for the ceremony. She extended a welcome, and her father, Brian Oestreich, gave the response on behalf of the community. The rest of the program began with a plea from secretary Lexy Nuesch on behalf of the Nebraska Farm Bureau to contact the legislature in opposition to laws that would limit farm work by young people under age 18.

Michael Fleer said the invocation, and then the assembly enjoyed the roast beef dinner catered by Dee’s Delights and the dessert made by Tracy Carlson.

Guest speaker McKehna Thiem is a student at Doane College, recently the State FFA vice president. She spoke about all the benefits and education gained by members of FFA. Then the chapter presented honorary chapter FFA degrees to parents of the senior members: Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Asmus, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Fleer, Mr. and Mrs. Brad Freeman, Alvin and Teresa Polt, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Krueger, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Oestreich, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Stonacek, Mr. Lonnie Synovec, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Dan Thayer, and Mr. and Mrs. Byron Wragge. They were honored for their support of their children and of FFA.

Dr. Shane Pedersen of the Willow Creek Veterinary Service presented a donation from Pfizer Animal Health Products to Pierce’s FFA Chapter. Pfizer has a program that provides veterinarians and animal health suppliers an opportunity to support FFA based on purchases of Pfizer Animal Health products.

The FFA community service award went to Mrs. Anne Muhs for proof-reading chapter applications, taking pictures at FFA events, and submitting articles about FFA events to the news media.

Mr. Steve Wagner was present to present the DeKalb Achievement Award to Shane Thayer for his outstanding helpfulness and achievements in academics and FFA. Among his many accomplishments were serving as chairperson and officer, being Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion at the Pierce County Fair for his construction projects, filling out numerous proficiency applications and earning silver medals, and receiving his State FFA Degree as well as a Star Award this past year.

Clayton Lienemann received the FFA Service Award, given to the member who has devoted much of his time to helping the Pierce FFA Chapter succeed.

Mr. Steve Prince recognized the FFA members who had helped set up and clean up at the Pierce County Fair this past summer. Then Mr. Gaylen Nuesch and Mr. Adam Venteicher presented scholarships to seniors on behalf of the FFA Alumni Organization. The scholarships went to Haley Oestreich, Shane Thayer, and Colby Krueger. The FFA scholarship went to Amy Fleer. The FFA Alumni also presented a plaque to Mr. Ron Woslager to honor his work with the organization, especially with setting up a silent auction fundraiser.

Debra Wray from the Nebraska FFA Foundation was present to give Pierce’s FFA a check to match funds raised at the local level. The funds were donated by Shelly Barnes, the FFA Alumni, Mark and Lois Fleer, Delwin Herbolsheimer, Walter and Arlene Fleer, Dave and Lavonne Fleer, Curtis and Jodi Borchers, and the Pierce Old Time Thresher’s Bee Association, Central Valley Ag, Channel, DeKalb/Asgrow, and Farm Bureau and matched by Central Valley Ag, Land O’Lakes, and Monsanto.

FFA members were honored for their membership; then Amy Fleer, Colby Krueger, Haley Oestreich, and Shane Thayer received recognition for having achieved their State FFA Degrees at the state convention. Shane Thayer was honored for being selected as a District 4 Star in Agricultural Placement award.

Eleven Pierce members served on the courtesy corps at the state FFA convention. Recognition went to Michael Fleer, Brandon Gerdes, Tyler Tinker, Morgan Siedschlag, Dalton Polt, Clayton Lienemann, Raymond Fleer, Tyler Carlson, Shane Thayer, Kristen Albrecht, and Brandon Freeman. Then the top academic student among FFA members from each class were honored: freshman KimberLee Carlson, sophomore Charles Krueger, junior Lexy Nuesch, and senior Payton Wragge.

For the FFA Week Junker Vehicle contest, Clayton Lienemann got the first place trophy, and Dalton Polt got second place. Kristen Albrecht received the award for outstanding committee chairperson of the year, and Shane Thayer received the golden apple as outstanding fundraiser for the year.

Students who had earned ribbons in their Leadership Skills Events and Career Development events received recognition. These SAE stars were featured in the February 23 issue of the Leader. Payton Wragge, district runner up in senior public speaking, Bailey Tinker, district runner up in junior public speaking, and Haley Oestreich, district champion in job interview, received special recognition. At state, Oestreich and Tinker earned bronze medals and Wragge earned a silver. Lexy Nuesch, was on the Food Science team that competed at state, where she earned a purple ribbon and twelfth place in the state. That team, the ag science team, and the welding team all participated at state and did well.

FFA members who tested their agricultural skills in proficiency award applications received awards. They were Tyler Carlson in turf management and Morgan Siedschlag in vegetable production, bronze; Kristen Albrecht in small animal production, Dalton Polt in diversified agricultural production, Ray Fleer in beef production, and Tyler Tinker in goat production, silver. Those earning gold medals were Michael Fleer in equine science, Lexy Nuesch, second place gold in equine science placement; and Brandon Freeman, district champion in beef production placement. Haley Oestreich was district champion in agricultural education and second place gold in poultry production. Shane Thayer earned gold in diversified livestock and silver in agricultural mechanics and diversified  agricultural production. Colby Krueger earned silver in outdoor recreation and bronze in diversified livestock. And Amy Fleer was district champion in agricultural communications and third place gold in equine science.

Four members’ proficiency applications were in the top three at districts and advanced to state, where Amy Fleer earned a silver in agricultural communications, Oestreich took third in poultry production, Freeman took third in beef placement, and Nuesch took second in equine placement.

FFA members earn points for each job done, meeting attended, and office or honor. Bailey Tinker was the top freshman with 306 points; Ray Fleer was the top sophomore with 434 points, Shane Thayer was the top senior with 580 points, and Lexy Nuesch was the top junior and top overall with 616 points.

Amy Fleer had created a slide show of FFA activities throughout the year, and she showed it to the assembly. Then newly elected officers found out what office they had won and went through an induction ceremony, followed by the retiring of jackets by senior members. Newly elected junior officers are Raymond Fleer, president; Kim Carlson, secretary; Heath Lienemann, treasurer; Bailey Tinker, reporter; and Noah Krueger, sentinel. Newly elected senior officers are Lexy Nuesch, president; Michael Fleer, vice president; Kristen Albrecht, secretary; Morgan Siedschlag treasurer; Tyler Tinker, reporter; Clayton Lienemann, sentinel; and Dalton Polt, parliamentarian.