Casey Denk, of Mondovi FFA, was elected to serve as the state FFA president for 2022-23 at the conclusion of the 93rd Wisconsin FFA Convention. Denk was a vice president on the 2021-22 state officer team.

The 21-year-old graduated from Mondovi High School in 2020 and will be a junior this fall at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she is majoring in ag business with a minor in animal science. Her parents are Mark and Tammy Denk.

The Wisconsin FFA Convention was held June 13-16 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. The theme of the convention was “The Time Is Now.”

Throughout Denk’s FFA career, she has developed placement projects in both beef production and sheep production, while also showing at the Buffalo County Fair and helping other exhibitors to shear sheep and learn about showmanship.

“Throughout my time in FFA, I learned to be comfortable and confident and not to fear new situations,” Denk says.

She looks forward to spending her year giving members opportunities to grow in similar ways, so she can “serve as a leader and role model for young members” the way others did for her.

Denk succeeds Ben Styer of Menomonie FFA.

New state FFA officers were elected from each of the state’s 10 sections. Following are the newly elected officers for 2022-23 and information about each of them:

Section 1. Isaac Hopke, 18, secretary, is a member of the Spooner FFA chapter. Hopke graduated in June from Spooner High School. After a gap year, he will attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in fall 2023, majoring in aerospace engineering. He is the son of Pete and Danette Hopke.

Section 2. Heidi Strey, 20, vice president, is a member of the Osseo Fairchild FFA chapter. Strey graduated from Osseo Fairchild High School in 2020 and will be a junior this fall at UW-River Falls, where she is studying ag marketing communications. Her parents are Steve and Leslie Strey.

Section 3. Kendra Goplin, 19, reporter, is a member of the Whitehall FFA chapter. She graduated from Whitehall High School in 2021. She will be a sophomore at South Dakota State University, where she is majoring in ag education and minoring in digital and social media. She is the daughter of Shane and Melinda Goplin.

Section 4. Jeremiah Ihm, 20, vice president, is a member of the Lancaster FFA chapter. He graduated from Lancaster High School in 2020 and will be a junior at UW-River Falls, studying ag education. He is the son of John and Deb Ihm.

Section 5. Rhylie Gough, 17, vice president, is a member of the Albany FFA chapter. She is a June graduate of Albany High School and will be a freshman at UW-River Falls, where she plans to major in ag education or elementary education. Gough is the daughter of Matthew Gough and Deanne Walmer-Gough.

Section 6. Cole Hicken, 19, treasurer, is a member of the Waupun FFA chapter. He graduated from Waupun High School in 2021 and will be a sophomore this fall at UW-Madison, where he is majoring in ag education and life sciences communications. He is the son of Sheri Hicken and the late Jeff Hicken.

Section 7. Devani Hinkelmann, 18, vice president, is a member of the Loyal FFA chapter. She graduated from Loyal High School in June and will be a freshman this fall at UW-River Falls, where she plans to study ag marketing communications. Her parents are Harlan and Melissa Hinkelmann.

Section 8. Brooke Casey, 17, vice president, is a member of the New London FFA chapter. She graduated from New London High School in June and will be a freshman at UW-River Falls this fall in preveterinary medicine. She plans to major in animal science, graduate and then attend UW-Madison Vet School. She is the daughter of Bette O’Brien and Glenn Casey.

Section 9. Evan Mennen, 20, parliamentarian, is a member of the Bay Port FFA chapter. He graduated from Bay Port High School in 2020 and will be a junior this fall at UW-River Falls, studying ag education. He is the son of Pete and Angie Mennen.

Section 10. Mary Schrieber, 18, sentinel, is a member of the East Troy FFA chapter. She graduated in June from East Troy High School and will be a freshman this fall at UW-Madison, where she plans to major in political science and life science communications. She is the daughter of Adam and Therese Schrieber.

Each state officer will meet thousands of FFA members and will travel more than 10,000 miles during the next year. They will attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Oct. 26-29 and will meet leaders in government, education, business and agriculture.