Wisconsin FFA Foundation Awards $28,950 in SAE Grants

37 FFA members receive gifts from generous sponsors this holiday season.

 A total of 37 Wisconsin FFA members from 27 different chapters have been awarded $28,950 in Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) grants from the Wisconsin FFA Foundation. The Wisconsin FFA Foundation awarded the 2016-17 SAE grants in five categories: aquaculture, dairy, livestock, organic agriculture and start-up. 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 are able to create their own business or build career skills through an existing operation. They apply concepts learned in the classroom to real-world challenges and work experiences, learning valuable lessons from the outcomes. The program is one component of the agricultural education opportunities available to students throughout Wisconsin.

To apply for a Wisconsin FFA Foundation SAE grant, students must complete a five-page application explaining their SAE program, how much funding they are in need of, the expected use of those funds, and future goals with their SAE as well as FFA and other school activities. Their FFA advisor also must submit a statement about their involvement in the organization and the student’s vision with their SAE.

“It’s always an added joy to announce Wisconsin FFA Foundation Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) grant winners at this holiday time of year,” says Jen Bradley, interim Executive Director of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation. “We are so proud of the work Wisconsin FFA members are accomplishing and the innovative ideas they present to us for their SAE projects. Our generous donors make this all possible and for them, we are continually thankful.”

Program sponsors and grant recipients are as follows:

Aquaculture SAE grants were sponsored by the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association. Two $300 grants were awarded to: John Birr of Oconto Falls FFA and Alexander William Orr of Waupaca.

Dairy SAE grants were sponsored by the Dairy Business Association, Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative, Foremost Farms USA, Nasco, Saputo Cheese USA Inc., We Energies, and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Grants in the amount of $1,000 were awarded to: Nicole Broege, Janesville Craig FFA; Jared Baudhuin, Southern Door; Garett Borth, Ellsworth; Abby Frisk, New Lisbon; Hailey Hendrickson, Randolph Cambria-Friesland; Emily Pankratz, Auburndale; Anne Runde, Janesville Craig; Marcus Schroepfer, Antigo; Morgan Seitz, Seymour; Devon Weiland, Colby; and Randy Winch from the Fennimore FFA. Brynn Emery and Kenzie Emery, both from the Palmyra-Eagle FFA were awarded $675 grants while Allison Jo Bragger of Independence FFA and Noah Ley Heine of Jefferson FFA both received a $500 Dairy SAE grant.

In the new category, $700 Livestock SAE grants were awarded to: Sarah Snortheim of Auburndale FFA; Lindsey Augustine, Ellsworth; Adam Zee, Marshfield; Kittrick Singerhouse, Menomonie; and Cassie Lawrence of the Shell Lake FFA. A $500 Livestock grant was awarded to: Winston Petkoff of the Clinton FFA. Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association is the sponsor of the Livestock SAE grants.

Organic Agriculture SAE grants were sponsored by Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, Inc. and Viroqua Food Co-op. Two $1,000 grants were awarded to: Jacob Schreiber of the Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA and Zach Sirianni of Whitehall FFA.

Start-up grants were provided by BlueScope Buildings, Sartori Company and ST Paper LLC. Start-up grants in the amount of $1,000 were awarded to: Kendra Goplin of Whitehall FFA; Denise Olson, Cambridge; Cameron Pokorny, Waupun; Rhiannon Reimer, Granton; and Sarah Zuelke, Stratford FFA.

A $900 start-up grant was awarded to: Jamie Chulafich of Fennimore FFA, an $800 grant to: Raye Schmalstig of Ellsworth FFA, a $700 grant to: Connor Cook of Glenwood City and two $500 grants to: Madelyn Rankin of Clinton and Michael Schmitt of the Thorp FFA. Finally, a $400 start-up grant was awarded to: Christopher Moskal of Clayton FFA and a $200 grant to: Tristan Wirkus of Stratford.

The Wisconsin FFA Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, unites individuals, organizations and companies who share a common interest in the advancement of agriculture and community leadership through FFA. You can support today’s FFA members by supporting the programs that have been core tenets of the FFA: proficiency awards, career development events, state FFA degrees, sectional leadership workshops, scholarships, chapter awards, agri-science fair, state FFA convention and state officer support. Learn more about the Wisconsin FFA Foundation and sponsorship opportunities by visiting www.wisconsinffafoundation.org.