Oct. 8, 2004
UW-RF Students to Receive Prestigious American FFA Degree
Some 26 University of Wisconsin-River Falls students will walk across a stage
Oct. 30 at the 77th National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky., to receive its
highest degree. About one half of one percent of the total national membership
of the organization attain this high honor.
The American FFA Degree can only be earned by FFA members who have demonstrated
outstanding leadership skills, participated in community service programs, and
have in place a supervised agricultural experience which includes ownership
of or work experience in an agricultural business. They also must have formerly
received their chapter degrees and state degrees.
To Matthew Jahnke, a UW-RF senior and agricultural studies major from Markesan,
Wis., receiving this degree is an honor. He says he has accomplished one of
his goals and has "lived up to others' expectations of what they thought
he could do."
Jeffrey McNeely, a sophomore majoring in dairy science from Brooklyn, Wis.,
credits the degree to his high school FFA advisor, Mike Wagner. "My advisor
kind of pushed me along toward it because he regrets that he did not receive
it," said McNeely.
No matter the source of inspiration, these 26 UW-RF students have worked hard
to earn the degree and have demonstrated their capability of becoming tomorrow's
leaders in the industry of agriculture.
The following UW-RF students from Wisconsin and Minnesota, listed by hometown,
will receive their American FFA Degree certificate and a gold key on Oct. 30.
The recognition is sponsored as a special project of the National FFA Foundation
by Case IH; BASF; Farm Credit System; and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
WISCONSIN:
Barron- Angela Kringle
Brooklyn- Jeffrey McNeely
Cashton- Jay Schreier, Travis Klinkner
Clintonville- Peter Desens, Sarah Kirchner
Coon Valley- Charlotte Muenzenberger
Custer- Sara Medick
Darlington- Jeanna James
Fennimore- Melanie Moon
Fort Atkinson- Peter Idzikowski
Fremont- Eric Lind
Green Bay- Michelle Maccoux
Gresham- Nicole Schmidt
Kewaunee- Lewis Siegmund
Markesan- Matthew Jahnke
Mineral Point- Jordan Anderson
Montello- Melissa Mateske
Oshkosh- Lisa Kossel
Plymouth- Nichole Halle
River Falls- Amanda Huppert
Shawano- Bristol Donahoo
South Wayne- Ashleigh Brummel
Verona- Kory Duerst
Waupaca- Daniel Buchholtz
MINNESOTA:
Hutchinson- Darcy Karstens
Lanesboro- Trisha Bradley
Wells- Ty McClurg, Kathleen Stenzel
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