Jane Metcalf
Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS
When they rolled up the carpet and more than 46,000 FFA members left the National FFA Convention here, two Wisconsin FFA members carried home the organization’s top awards. Tony Crescio was named the 2009 American Star in Agricultural Placement and Ben Alsum was named the 2009 American Star in Agribusiness. Both are members of the Randolph-Cambria-Friesland FFA Chapter, where Keith Gundlach is their FFA advisor.
The National FFA Convention was held Oct. 21-24.
Alsum, 21, the son of Scott and Lona Alsum, has three areas of expertise – cattle raising, customized baling and produce. His experience with the produce business began when he was in middle school. His family sold sweet corn, vegetables, pumpkins and Indian corn at various stands across central and southeast Wisconsin. In 2005, Alsum purchased two percent of Alsum Sweet Corn, a move made possible through his expanding business, Ben’s Bovine Beauties. This venture, along with a custom baling business, began early in Alsum’s FFA career. They allowed him to increase his ownership of Alsum Sweet Corn to 25 percent, and he hopes to grow his ownership to 40 percent by the end of the year.
Crescio, 21, the son of John and Irma Crescio, works with muck soils at Jack’s Pride Farms Inc. He began his work when he was in middle school, and the more he worked with his family, the more he became fascinated with the crops and equipment needed to help with a successful harvest. Crescio wanted to be able to help with all areas of the farm and develop a solid onion, carrot and mint-oil production business. For the last four years, he has farmed 40 acres of his own peppermint, using the profits to pay for school and buy into the family corporation. Over the years, he’s been able to learn all aspects of the farm. He previously received recognition as a National FFA Agri-Entrepreneur Award winner for starting a small business that created air fresheners and soaps with mint oil. On the farm, Crescio’s responsibilities continue to grow to include tillage, planting, harvesting, weed control and running the still to distill peppermint oil. His career goal is to farm with his father, uncle and grandmother as a partner in the farm. Crescio majored in mechanical drawing at Madison Area Technical College.
A third student from the Randolph-Cambria-Friesland FFA Chapter shared the stage during the Star Awards ceremonies. Alex Zimmerman was one of four national finalists for the American Star Farmer Award, the highest award given to FFA members in production agriculture.
The Star Awards honor students who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through their FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience. Both Crescio and Alsum received a plaque and an award of $4,000. In addition, both have been asked to ride on the RFD-TV/FFA float in the 2010 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day. Wisconsin FFA President BJ Chrisler also has been invited to participate in the parade, and he will walk alongside the float representing the National FFA’s 52 associations. Zimmerman received a plaque and an award of $2,000.
Proficiency Awards
Twenty Wisconsin FFA members went to the National FFA Convention as one of the four finalists for the FFA organization’s 47 National Proficiency Awards, and five members were named national winners.
Tanner Bradley, the son of Norm and Kay Bradley, was named the winner of the National Proficiency Award in Dairy Production – Placement. The Fort Atkinson FFA member began working at Rosy-Lane Holsteins during his eighth-grade year. In 2007, he began working at the Hoard’s Dairyman farm to further his dairy management skills. He is responsible for milking 258 Guernseys in the farm’s new double-10 herringbone parlor. His FFA advisors are Jeff Agnew, Steve Merkel and Shannon Farrell.
Elizabeth Dahlke, the daughter of Paul and Mary Dahlke, earned the National FFA Proficiency Award in Diversified Livestock Production – Placement. Growing up on a family farm with a two-acre pond has afforded Dahlke many opportunities. A member of the Montello FFA Chapter, she raises hybrid bluegills for marketing with her family. The Dahlke family also owns a Hereford beef cattle operation, with approximately 100 beef and dairy steers, and a herd of 27 brood cows. Brian Hendrickson is Dahlke’s FFA advisor.
Keith Bollinger, the son of Allen and Dorothy Bollinger, was the winner of the National FFA Proficiency Award in Environmental Science and Natural Resources. He has learned much about the natural resources management field thanks to his recent experiences with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. The Cochrane-Fountain City FFA member has worked on restoring bluff prairie and growing beetles to control purple loosestrife. Christine Jumbeck and Steve Stoppelmoor are his FFA advisors.
Andy Fuecht, the son of Norbert and Louise Fuecht and a member of the Mayville FFA Chapter, was the National FFA Proficiency Award winner in Forage Production. Fuecht started out small, helping his dad with chores on the family’s dairy farm. He has since taken over management and control of the forage operation on the farm, where he works with his father and older brother. He handles all tillage, planting and harvesting for the alfalfa crop, and he closely monitors protein, moisture and other factor to ensure his family’s dairy cows consume the highest quality hay. In addition, Fuecht operates a custom baling service, which he offers to other producers in the area. His FFA advisor is Cal Geiger.
Tanner Strunz is a Brodhead FFA member who, in 2006, combined two of his passions – his love of the outdoors and for mowing lawns – to start his own business, Strunz Lawn Care. He currently mows 14 lawns in the Brodhead area and, in winter, does snow removal from 13 driveways. He offers tree removal services, and has an exclusive contract for lawn care at an area business, Brodhead Chevrolet. His parents are Thomas Strunz and Jean Day, and his FFA advisor is Jillian Beaty.
Wisconsin FFA members who were one of the four finalists for National FFA Proficiency Awards are CJ Jensen, Waupaca FFA, ag mechanics design and fabrication; Mark Wathke, Fall Creek FFA, ag mechanics repair and maintenance – entrepreneurship; Joseph Cash, Orfordville-Parkview FFA, ag mechanics repair and maintenance – placement; Jayne Dalton, Pardeeville FFA, beef production – entrepreneurship; Jacob Greshik, Cochrane-Fountain City FFA, beef production – placement; Curtis Horsens, Gillett FFA, diversified agricultural production; Dustin Doherty, Randolph-Cambria-Friesland FFA, diversified crop production – placement; Ryan Zimmerman, Randolph-Cambria-Friesland FFA, diversified horticulture; Bailey Quam, Lodi FFA, diversified livestock – entrepreneurship; Nathan Buss, Randolph-Cambria-Friesland FFA, nursery operations; Andrya Whitten, Edgerton FFA, outdoor recreation; Kyle Schla, Independence FFA, poultry production; Jeffry Huber, Adams-Friendship FFA, sheep production; Samantha Voss, Waupaca FFA, small animal production and care; and Dusty Stichman, Waupaca FFA, wildlife production and management.
Agriscience Fair
Four other Wisconsin FFA members were national winners, topping their divisions in the National Agriscience Fair. Aaron Zimmerman and Kyle Herman, both of the Spencer FFA Chapter, topped the environmental science division for grades 7 through 9. Derek Nelson and Justin Scheel, both of the Cochrane-Fountain City FFA, won the engineering division for grades 10 through 12.
Other Agriscience Fair participants were Alicia Hodnik, Big Foot FFA, and Marley Worm and Casey Resler, both of Pulaski FFA, all in the biochemistry, microbiology and food science division; Grandon Scheil, Barron FFA, and Kyle Tollefson, Cochrane-Fountain City FFA, both in the environmental science division; Blake Klessig, Brillion FFA, Adrianna Vanderstappen, Big Foot FFA, Hunter North and Erica Francis, both of New Auburn, and Marc Richmond and Kyle Kelsey, both of Pulaski, all of whom exhibited in the zoology division; Stacey Springob, Spencer FFA, Zachary Markhardt, Black River Falls FFA, and Jamie Pfaff and Valerie Ponterio, Melrose-Mindoro FFA, all of whom participated in the botany division; and David Domine, Cochrane-Fountain City FFA, and Brett Baker and Cody Baldry, both of New Auburn FFA, who all participated in the engineering division.
Career Development Events
Wisconsin was well represented in the wealth of Career Development Events that take place during the National FFA Convention. In dairy cattle evaluation, the Fort Atkinson FFA team made up of Jacob Agnew, Tanner Bradley, Seth Elsner and Nolan Wilharm placed seventh nationally and earned a gold emblem award. Individually, Bradley, Elsner and Wilharm received gold emblems and Agnew earned a silver emblem.
Awards in the Career Development Events went to Bloomer FFA, ag communications, silver emblem award; Colby FFA, ag issues forum, silver; Hillsboro FFA, ag mechanics, gold emblem award; Watertown FFA, agricultural sales, bronze; Hillsboro FFA, dairy foods, silver; Mt. Horeb, environmental and natural resources, silver; Reedsville FFA, farm business management, silver; Green Bay East FFA, floriculture, bronze; Oconto Falls FFA, food science and technology, silver; Cornell FFA, forestry, bronze; Winneconne FFA, horse evaluation, silver; Iowa-Grant FFA, livestock evaluation, bronze; Brillion FFA, marketing plan, bronze; Dodgeland FFA, meats evaluation and technology, silver; nursery and landscape, Oconto Falls FFA, silver; parliamentary procedure, Amery FFA, silver; and Oconomowoc, poultry, silver.
In some of the Career Development Events, participants are scored individually, and two Wisconsin FFA members placed high in the national spotlight. Storm Dorrough, Bloomer FFA, placed sixth nationally in ag communications and Cassie Wymer, Brodhead FFA, placed second and earned an individual gold emblem in the dairy cattle handlers activity.
Other individual career development awards given in creed speaking, Bethany Dado, Amery FFA, silver; extemporaneous public speaking, Lauren Stemper, Random Lakes FFA, bronze; floriculture, Olivia Williams, silver; Maggie Hanson, Ann Marie Prue and Melissa Resch, bronze, all of Green Bay East FFA; food science and technology, Tylynn Ludwig, gold; Isabel Cupino and Kim Tappa, both silver; Chelsey Tingley, bronze, all of Oconto Falls FFA; forestry, Andrew Baldeschwiler, Eric Gunderlach and Lee Swanson, all of Cornell FFA, bronze; horse evaluation, Josh LaMarche and Ally McDonald, both silver, and Christian Krueger and Sumer Opinker, both bronze, all of Winneconne FFA; job interview, Lauren Holterman, Watertown FFA, silver; livestock evaluation, Taylor Fritsch and Haley Zimmerman, both silver, and Joshua Hess and Sarah Mueller, both bronze, all of Iowa-Grant FFA; meats evaluation and technology, Kelly Vierck, gold, and Alexus Butler, Lisa Grulke and Christopher Vierck, silver, all of Dodgeland FFA; nursery and landscape, Kaitlyn Borisch and Ryan Spaude, both gold, and Deanna Cahoon-Draus and Kayla Staffel, both bronze, all of Oconto Falls FFA; prepared public speaking, Anna Peissig, Colby FFA, bronze; and poultry, Amanda Schwartz and Becky Sielaff, both silver, and Carly Siewart and Brooke Williams, both bronze, all of Oconomowoc FFA.
Chapter Awards
A total of 132 Wisconsin FFA members were honored with an American FFA Degree. In the National Chapter competition, the following chapters were named Three-Star Chapters: Amery FFA, Big Foot, Bloomer, Black Hawk, Cashton, Cochrane-Fountain City, Freedom, Holmen, Kiel, Lodi, Manawa, Oconto Falls, Prairie Farm, Randolph-Cambria-Friesland, Sauk Prairie, Shullsburg, Spencer, Stevens Point, Stratford, Thorp, Tomah, Waupaca, Weyauwega-Fremont and Wisconsin Heights FFA. Plymouth FFA was named a Two-Star Chapter, and Black Hawk FFA was a finalist in the National Model of Innovation in the student development area.
Marie Mahaney of Brodhead was a National FFA officer candidate, and Kori Trescher, Cashton FFA, Paige Emmrich, Omro FFA, Hannah Eucker, Elkhorn FFA, and Sabrina Leahy, Stevens Point FFA, were National FFA delegates.
Eight Wisconsin FFA members were selected for the National FFA Band. They were Grant Nass, Hustisford FFA; Emily Nelsen, Barron FFA; Aimee Overton and Stacey Kunde, both of Winneconne FFA, Kenneth Lemens, Kewaunee FFA; Lindsay Horst Hartford FFA; Samantha Loehr, Campbellsport FFA, and Tiffany Kohlmann, Valders FFA.
Seven state FFA members participated in the National FFA Chorus: Connor Mattison, Blair-Taylor FFA; Clara Byom, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau FFA; Kathy Rieth, Oconto Falls FFA; Luke Reynolds, Fennimore FFA; Samuel Tauchen, Bonduel FFA; Kala Koellen, Lake Mills FFA; and Eleanor Nesimoglu, Monroe FFA.
Three FFA members from Wisconsin had the opportunity to perform on stage through the National FFA Talent program. They were Savanna Hall, Osceola FFA; Shawna Harmsen, Waupun FFA; and Amber Reynolds, Fennimore FFA.
KelliAnn Blazek of Bangor FFA served on the National FFA Convention newsroom crew.
