MINNEAPOLIS – (April 12, 2024) Four Minnesota youth who have reached excellence in their FFA projects will be named Stars in four categories April 22 in Minneapolis during the Minnesota FFA Convention.
The Stars are chosen from regional winners who will be honored during the Third General Session of the convention taking place at 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus.
Each Region FFA Star is one of 395 students who are receiving the Minnesota FFA Degree at the convention. Degree recipients have been engaged in a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) in which they have met a set of standards that reflect on a business, job, research or service. Their leadership within FFA, school and community are also evaluated.
The seven finalists for Star Farmer are:
- Region I – Matthew Danielson, Rothsay FFA;
- Region II – Alicia Holtz, Little Falls FFA;
- Region III – Rylee Bundermann, Alexandria FFA;
- Region V – Owen Schauer, Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA;
- Region VI – Isaac Lendt, Sleepy Eye FFA;
- Region VII – Nina Mathiowetz, South West Metro; and
- Region VIII – John Moenning, Triton FFA.
Eight students were selected to vie for Star in Agribusiness. They are:
- Region I – Ethan Olson, Rothsay FFA;
- Region II – Tiffany Siltala, Sebeka FFA;
- Region III – Jaime Johnson, West Central Area FFA;
- Region IV – Andrew Wandersee, Rockford FFA;
- Region V – Matthew Lingbeek, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg FFA;
- Region VI – Shelby Korman, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton FFA;
- Region VII – Lainey Brandt, Sibley East; and
- Region VIII – Cadence Kilmer, Cannon Falls FFA.
Those who are finalists for Star in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources include:
- Region II – Samuel Connelly, Grand Rapids FFA;
- Region III – Brooklyn Walden, Fergus Falls FFA;
- Region IV – Grace Grant, Stillwater FFA;
- Region V – Olivia Noble, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg FFA; and
- Region VIII – Cadence Spearman, Triton FFA.
Eight students are finalists for Star in Production Placement, including:
- Region I – Thomas Johansen, Hawley FFA
- Region II – Levi Tolrud, Grand Rapids FFA
- Region III – Ely Rinkenberger, Hancock FFA
- Region IV – Wyatt Glessing, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA
- Region V – Porter Kuechle, Eden Valley-Watkins FFA
- Region VI – Emma Fischer, Sleepy Eye FFA
- Region VII – Rachael Dose, Sibley East FFA
- Region VIII – Andrew Timm, Southland FFA
Compeer Financial Services awards each Region Star $100, and awards State Stars with an additional $300.
Roughly 4,000 FFA members will attend the convention April 21-23.
New in 2024, all convention attendees including adults will be required to be registered and display a button to access the convention Monday and Tuesday, April 22-23. Those who are not pre-registered through their school must present themselves at the convention registration desk. A $10 fee will be charged for each general session.
The Minnesota FFA Convention is offered in partnership by the Minnesota FFA Association, the Minnesota FFA Foundation and the Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters. Throughout the convention, content is available on the Minnesota FFA website, the Minnesota FFA YouTube Channel, on the organization’s Facebook, X and Instagram pages and on the convention app, which will be live just before the convention begins. Find the link on the Minnesota FFA website.
