The Wisconsin FFA Foundation has awarded $23,920 in supervised agricultural experience grants to 29 Wisconsin FFA members who belong to 18 FFA chapters statewide.

The 2018-19 Wisconsin FFA Foundation SAE grants were awarded in six categories: aquaculture, dairy, grain production, livestock, organic agriculture and startup. Candidates were chosen based on the level and scope of their SAE, as well as their age, financial need and future plans for their projects.

The SAE program allows students to apply concepts learned in the classroom to gain real-world knowledge and work experience. It is one of the three components of the state’s ag education model; the other two components are FFA membership and classroom education.

“Our SAE grant sponsors invest directly in the hands-on learning of our agricultural education students, and truly make students’ SAE projects possible,” says John Hromyak, Wisconsin FFA Foundation executive director. “We are especially grateful for this support for our individual members, and excited to see the outcomes of their projects and hard work in the coming months.”

The 2018-19 Wisconsin FFA Foundation SAE grant recipients and sponsors include the following:

Noah Hughes of the New Richmond FFA received an aquaculture grant sponsored by the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association.

Dairy grants are sponsored by the Dairy Business Association, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Foremost Farms USA, Nasco, Saputo Cheese USA and We Energies. Dairy grants were awarded to: Whitney Clason, Albany FFA; Rachel Pankratz and Jonathan Linzmeier, Auburndale FFA; Kristi Cleven, Brookwood FFA; Welsey and Randy Winch, Fennimore FFA; Jarrett Foster, Montello FFA; Hunter Holewinski, Landon Holewinski and Elena Jarvey, Pulaski FFA; Kaitlyn Lietzke, Stevens Point FFA; and Anna and Zach Olson, Southern Door FFA.

In its second year, the grain production grant is sponsored by the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association. Two grants were awarded to Ethan Hamann and Owen Jones, both of the Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA.

The livestock grants continue to be sponsored by the Andis Foundation and Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association. Six livestock grants were awarded: Alexandra Nowak, Denmark FFA; Brent King, Ellsworth FFA; Trevor Messmer and Emily Strauss, Lake Mills FFA; LilyAnn Tomashek, Pulaski FFA; and Kylee Sebranek, River Valley FFA.

The organic agriculture grants are again sponsored by Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative Inc. and Viroqua Food Co-op. Jessica Bahr, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA, received the only grant in this category.

Startup grants are provided by the Andis Foundation, BlueScope Buildings and Sartori Co. Six grants were awarded: Cassidy Dahlke, Bay Port FFA; Reed Peter, Brillion FFA; Anna Seifert, Plymouth FFA; Macy Williams, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA; Austin Frese, Thorp FFA; and Mariah Thill, Turtle Lake FFA.

Source: Wisconsin FFA Foundation