The Wisconsin FFA Foundation has awarded $26,780 in Supervised Agricultural Experience grants to a total of 48 Wisconsin FFA members. These awardees hail from 26 FFA chapters around the state.

The 2017-18 Wisconsin FFA Foundation SAE grants were awarded in five categories: dairy, grain production, livestock, organic agriculture and startup. Successful candidates were chosen based on the level and scope of their SAE in accordance with their age, future goals and plans for the program, as well as financial need.

Through the SAE program, students apply concepts learned in the classroom to real-world challenges and work experiences. It is one of the three components of the agricultural education model in Wisconsin, which also includes FFA and classroom learning.   

Hands-on learning
“The SAE program provides ​students the valuable hands-on learning which rounds out their classroom instruction and FFA experience,” says John Hromyak, Wisconsin FFA Foundation executive director. “This critical component of agricultural education wouldn’t be possible without our partners and benefactors from across the state. We are grateful to have their support and join them in congratulating our grant recipients.”

The 2017-18 Wisconsin FFA Foundation SAE Grant sponsors and recipients are as follows:                                                           

Dairy SAE grants were sponsored by Andis Foundation, Dairy Business Association, Edge, Foremost Farms USA, Saputo Cheese USA, We Energies and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

• $1,000 recipients: Whitney Clason, Albany FFA; Kristi Cleven, Brookwood FFA; Heather Kuhnau, Sauk Prairie FFA; Zach Olson, Southern Door FFA; Devin White, Clinton FFA; and Ella Woodworth, Shullsburg FFA

• $750 recipients: Jared Abraham, Plymouth FFA; Cheyenne Burgess, Shullsburg FFA; Zachary DuCharme, Clinton FFA; and Landon Holewinski, Pulaski FFA

• $420 recipients: Brynn and Kenzie Emery, Palmyra-Eagle FFA; Emily Pankratz, Auburndale FFA; and Randy Winch, Fennimore FFA Chapter

The new Grain Production SAE grant is sponsored by the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association.

• $1,200 recipient: Seth Cupery, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA

Livestock SAE grants were sponsored by Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association and Andis Foundation.

• $900 recipient: Brian Alwin, Clinton FFA

• $450 recipients: Dallas Bazewicz, Cumberland FFA; Kyle Haldiman, Monroe FFA; Maddy Huschitt and Colton Klemm, Black Hawk FFA; Maiya Koberle, Oregon FFA; Makenna Koopmans, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA; Allison Lund, Cambridge FFA; Cody Miller, Lake Geneva Badger FFA; Ian and Colton Pank, Whitehall FFA; Ahslee Piskow, Granton FFA; Clayton Rankin, Clinton FFA; Abbigail Schwark, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA; and Payton Van Schyndle, Cuba City FFA.

The Organic Agriculture SAE grant was sponsored by Organic Valley/Cropp Cooperative Inc. and Viroqua Food Co-op.

• $500 recipient: Jessica Bahr, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA

Startup SAE grants were provided by BlueScope Buildings, Sartori Co. and ST Paper LLC.

• $500 recipients: Cecilia Cervantes, Oregon FFA; Jaden Gardner, Granton FFA; Brandon Jakobi, Granton FFA; and Kaelyn Sumner, Pulaski FFA

• $400 recipients: Brooke and Annemarie Aue, Auburndale FFA; Jennifer Burno, Clinton FFA; Madyson Chitko, Pulaski FFA; Vaida Goplin, Whitehall FFA; Micah Hanson, Wisconsin Heights FFA; Haden Hartwig, Cambridge FFA; Seth Helminiak, Auburndale FFA; Hailey Hendrickson, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA; Rheanne Kurszewski, Rosholt FFA; Samuel Linzmeier, Tomah FFA; Brock Roy, Dodgeland FFA; and Michelle Stangler, Watertown FFA

Source: Wisconsin FFA Foundation