Four outstanding FFA members were honored as Minnesota FFA Stars during the virtual state FFA convention May 21.

The awards honor students who have developed outstanding agricultural skills through their supervised agricultural experience (SAE) and earned their FFA State Degree. The awards include Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness, Star in Production Placement and Star in Agriscience.

Honored as the 2020 Minnesota FFA Stars were:

Star in Production Placement

Rebeckah Schroeder, Caledonia FFA, was named Minnesota FFA Star in Production Placement.

Schroeder began working on the family’s dairy farm when she was 12 years old. Today, her family manages a 550-cow herd and farms 1,600 acres.

Schroeder is responsible for managing the parlor, milking cows, feeding calves and assisting with field work. Since graduating in 2018, she has been working full-time on the farm with a goal to one day own and operate the business.

STAR IN PRODUCTION PLACEMENT: Rebeckah Schroeder, Caledonia FFA, was named the 2020 Minnesota FFA Star in Production Placement.

Through FFA, Schroeder participated in the dairy evaluation and milk quality teams and the Farm Bureau Discussion Meet. She also represented Minnesota at the National FFA Convention last year as one of the finalists in the Dairy Production Proficiency Placement. 

“Being the parlor manager requires me to analyze paperwork in addition to my physical jobs on the farm,” Schroeder says. “I personally love working the overtime hours because farming never seems to feel like work to me.”

She is the daughter of Daniel and Sheila Schroeder of Caledonia. Her FFA chapter is led by agricultural teachers and advisors Richard Larson, Brad Harguth and Connor McCormick.

Three other finalists vied for the top Star Production Placement award: Cody Gifford of Russell-Tyler-Ruthton FFA; Ben Olander of Staples Motley FFA; and Bailey Reimer of Southwest Metro FFA.

Star Farmer

Katie Fitzgerald, Triton FFA, was named Minnesota FFA Star Farmer.

Fitzgerald has raised and managed a 13-head herd of registered Angus and Shorthorn cattle as her FFA SAE. Fitzgerald has made breeding choices based on phenotypic and genotypic traits, while growing the herd from its start of three head four years ago.

Through FFA and Goodhue County 4-H, Fitzgerald has shown her animals at county, state and national exhibitions. She began a mentorship program for youth to learn more about the beef project and is active in the state and national Angus and Shorthorn Associations. Her responsibilities on the family farm include daily feeding, bedding and cleaning chores, along with halter training and monitoring cattle health. 

STAR FARMER: Katie Fitzgerald, Triton FFA, was named the 2020 Minnesota FFA Star Farmer.

“Being given the opportunity to exhibit cattle has provided me with a wide variety of learning experiences and broadened my horizons,” Fitzgerald says. “I was fortunate to be a recipient of an Angus heifer through the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program.”

In addition to her SAE, Fitzgerald has served as Triton FFA co-president and vice president, and she has participated in Livestock Evaluation Career Development Events.

Fitzgerald plans to attend South Dakota State University to study animal science and agricultural business, aiming toward a career as a ruminant livestock feed nutritionist.

She is the daughter of David and Ann Fitzgerald of West Concord. Her FFA chapter is led by agricultural teachers and advisors Robert Ickler and Mitchell Dinse.

Three other finalists vied for the Star Farmer distinction: Owen Aakre of Hawley FFA; Alaina Chute of Aitkin FFA; and William Pell of Jackson County Central FFA.

Star in Agribusiness

Emily Matejka, Martin County West FFA, was named Minnesota FFA Star in Agribusiness.

Matejka’s SAE is linked to her employment as a sales associate at Moore and ACE Hardware in Trimont. In that role, she assists customers, answers product questions, completes special orders and provides store maintenance such as inventory, cleaning and stocking shelves. She also raises pumpkins on the home farm and sells them to the hardware store.

STAR IN AGRIBUSINESS: Emily Matejka, Martin County West FFA, was named the 2020 Minnesota FFA Star in Agribusiness.

“This job was my first and I am so proud that I have been able to work there,” Matejka says. “My knowledge of the hardware business has grown tremendously, and I have also gained extensive knowledge on the products and how to properly use them in everyday life.”

In addition to her SAE work, Matejka has served as the Martin County West FFA Chapter president, secretary and historian. She was the 2019 Region 6 vice president and competed in Crops and Small Animal FFA Career Development Events.

Matejka plans to attend South Dakota State University to study agricultural education, communications and leadership, with a supporting major or minor in animal science. Her career goals include continuing to be an agricultural advocate.

She is the daughter of Roger and Rita Matejka of Sherburn. Her FFA chapter is led by agricultural teacher and advisor Stephanie Wohlhuter and advisors Jessica and Jeremy Daberkow.

Three other finalists vied for the Star Agri Business distinction: James Minten of Perham FFA; Colby Gunderson of Deer River FFA; and Valerie Messner of Hancock FFA. 

Star in Agriscience

Darrin Williamson, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City FFA, was named Minnesota FFA Star in Agriscience.

Williamson related many of the components in his SAE to his agriscience fair projects. The variety of projects demonstrates Williamson’s discovery inclination.

A project in mid-2015 sparked Williamson’s power, structural and technical systems SAE.

“I wondered why all of the wind turbines have three blades,” he says.

In this inaugural project, Williamson created a pop bottle car, testing different blades. His second project involved his family’s farm dog. As primary caretaker, Williamson built a doghouse in 2016.

STAR IN AGRISCIENCE: Darrin Williamson, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City FFA, was named the 2020 Minnesota FFA Star in Agriscience.

“I built sample walls and tested four insulations for their R-value,” Williamson says. “I recorded the temperature as the wall heated up and cooled down. This allowed me to determine which insulation would be best.”

The doghouse project influenced insulation in other animal facilities with which he has worked. Williamson’s projects have also placed well at the state and national levels in the Minnesota FFA and National FFA agriscience fairs, earning him Top 10 at both levels.

In addition to his SAE work, Williamson has served as a chapter and region officer, and he has participated in the Ag Sales and Floriculture Career Development Events. Williamson has also been a member of the State FFA Choir and National FFA Choir.

He is the son of Donnel and Christa Williamson of Spicer. His FFA chapter is led by agricultural teacher and advisor Madeline Schultz.

Two other finalists vied for the Star Agriscience distinction: Keelie Makin of Fertile Beltrami FFA and Jaiden Sundeen of Rockford FFA.

The Minnesota FFA Foundation’s sponsor for the State Star recognition program is Compeer Financial Services.

The convention was a month later than normal due to COVID-19, and events were shown in real time on social media and the internet.

Source: Minnesota FFA, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all of its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.