2021 FFA

Page 2B | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS

Schreiner from front

Although not raised on a farm, the Schreiner sisters have spent an ample amount of time on a beef and crop operation owned by their grandparents, Leon and Jeanne Lahr, near Mayhew Lake.

“I like that there is more freedom,” Abby said of the farm setting.

“I’m not constrained to the city, and I can do what I want. And, it’s the work that I like. It keeps me interested.”

Abby, 15, helps with fieldwork and chores at her grandparents, and Ashlyn, who began working at O&S Dairy two years ago, is responsible for cleaning pens, caring for calves and milking the dairy’s 230 cows.

Ashlyn joined FFA during the 2019-20 school year after being influenced by her twin best friends, Kaety and Kaelin Rainer. She had also taken multiple agricultural classes at SRRHS. “I was interested in joining FFA because I wanted to learn more about animals and agribusiness,” said Ashlyn, the chapter ’s secretary a n d

211 G

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TREET

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Abby (left) and Ashlyn Schreiner are two members of the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School FFA chapter. The Schreiner sisters were not raised on a farm, but they have taken interest in agriculture.

reporter. “I feel like being involved with the chapter has influenced me to consider a career in agriculture.”

After taking a year off from high school to await the recovery of the coronavirus pandemic, Ashlyn plans to attend Ridgewater College in Willmar to become a veterinarian. The decision seems to be a fitting aspiration: Ashlyn not only cares for animals but has taken it upon herself to rescue them as

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well.

In summer 2020, Ashlyn noticed a dead opossum on the side of the road when she was driving. Knowing the animal is a marsupial – a mammal that cares for its developing offspring in a pouch on its body – Ashlyn checked the animal’s pocket and found seven baby opossums.

“I couldn’t just leave them there,” she said. “I took them home, and I had to tube feed them every three hours for two to three months straight.”

Five of the offspring did not make it after being injured in the crash.

Yet, two of the animals are nearly 9 months old and have become companion animals that cannot be released into the wild.

NATIONAL FFA WEEK

“They are not mean,” Ashlyn said. “I got them when they were only 63 grams; they were very tiny.”

Ashlyn’s willingness to care for animals extends beyond small creatures. She has also re-homed and raised a Holstein steer that was born premature.

“I took care of it at my grandparents’ farm,” she said. “He just turned 1 in January. … I would go there every day after work and feed him and bed him.”

Being involved in the National F FA Organization has fostered Ashlyn’s inherit passion for animals and agriculture. She has participated in the small animals career development event, the Partners in Active Learning Support program, tractor day and the annual fall harvest corn drive. However, because of pandemicrelated limitations, she has yet to expand her career development event participation or attend the anticipated events such as the state and national conventions.

Agricultural classes, such as animal science, have also helped foster her ambition.

“That would be one class I recommend everyone take,” Ashlyn said of animal science.

“You learn basics and a little bit more of all these different animals, especially dairy cattle. I like dairy farming, so I was very interested in that unit.”

Ashlyn said with seven of 13 chapter members graduating this spring, she fears the pandemic will affect the chapter’s continuity

Ashlyn Schreiner holds seven baby opossums in summer 2020. She found the animals’ mother on the roadside dead and rescued the litter from the mother’s pouch.

because creating chapter new recruits, like Abby, interest has been difficult to join the group. in a virtual setting.

Schreiner page 5B Luckily, there are

A nearly 9-month-old opossum is now a companion animal after being rescued from its mother’s pouch by senior Ashlyn Schreiner. Ashlyn intends to pursue veterinary science after graduating from Sauk RapidsRice High School.

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NATIONAL FFA WEEK

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 | Page 3B

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Foley FFA chapter officers include president Danyel Brambrink (from left), vice president Dana Struffert, reporter Lexi Olson, secretary Kaylee Jurek, treasurer Micheal Moulzolf, treasurer Krystena Sopkowiak, sentinel Hunter Olson and officer at large Jesse Schefers. Not pictured is adviser Alan Stemper.

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The Foley FFA chapter includes Alexis Aman, Blake Arnold, Jayden Baker, Kayla Barthel, Joshua Beack, Spencer Beauchamp, Jaykob Bechtold, Landon Beehler, Tanner Bemboom, Brock Bialke, Megan Blank, Travis Boyle, Courtney Brambrink, Danyel Brambrink, Tyler Brambrink, Kasandra Bruggenthies, Jesse Bursch, Lailah Corrigan, Lilly Dahler, Emma Dietz, Paige Dingmann, Mikayla Dirckx, Emilee Ertl, Haley Evenson, Ava Gadacz, Grace Gadacz, Joey Gadacz, Luke Gadacz, Michael Gadacz, Spencer Garcia, Allison Graham, Leighton Hackett, Lillian Jackson, Chance Jones, Kaylee Jurek, Riley Kipka, Emily Knechtsberger, Shelby Knosalla, Tyler Knosalla, Cale Kornovich, Madelyn Kremer, Braelyn Kuperus, Evangelia Kuperus, Hunter Kuschel, Seth Lebakken, Alli Lewandowski, Ben Lewandowski, Grace Loehrer, Holly Loehrer, Elizabeth Lorenz , Riley Mass, Morgan Matvick, Skylar Morris, Michael Moulzolf, Kailyn Neumann, Davin Novak, Thomas Novak, Ethan Olson, Hunter Olson, Lexi Olson, Emmit Olson, Tyrone Orton, Gabrielle Orton, Colten Peterson, Bryant Pierce, Katelynn Pollard, Gina Popp, Lainey Priglmeier , Lucas Randall, Lauren Rezac, Miranda Sam, Nicole Schaefer, Michael Schaefer, Jesse Schefers, Ryan Schefers, Hunter Schrader, Levi Selander, Krystena Sopkowiak, Dana Struffert, Riley Swanson, Alexa Szafranski, Bryce Talberg, Marley Wheeler, Elicia Wolff, Kendyl Young and Rayann Young.

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Page 4B | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS

NATIONAL FFA WEEK

LITTLE FALLS

FFA CHAPTER

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Little Falls FFA chapter includes secretary Lauren Wiherski (front, from left), historian Abby Borash, treasurer Jaycee Hegg, president Gracie Schultz, reporter Alicia Holtz, sentinel Madison Westerman, vice president Katie Schultz and officer at large Shelby Pint; (second row, from left) Madlyn Pint, Oliver Wiherski, junior officer Brent Hanfler, junior officer Tyler Westerman, junior officer Jenna Hegg, Aden Larson and Antonio Becker; (third row, from left) Josh Berendt, Christopher Statema, Kaja Blechinger, Devyn Bollig, Cullen Moe and Hank LeClair; (back row, from left) adviser Kim Czech, Deryk Harakel, Lucas Barton, Trevor Jelinski, Zach LeBlanc, Nicholas Popp and adviser Beth Berlin. Not pictured are Justin Hegg, Matthew Smude, Ashton Schwinn and Mylee Mrozek.

FFA MISSION

FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

To accomplish its mission, FFA:

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• Develops competent and assertive agricultural leadership.

• Increases awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being.

• Strengthens the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their work.

• Promotes the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career.

• Encourages achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs.

• Encourages wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community.

• Develops interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction.

• Builds character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism.

• Promotes cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people.

• Promotes healthy lifestyles.

• Encourages excellence in scholarship.

Page 6B | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS

NATIONAL FFA WEEK

PIERZ

FFA CHAPTER

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Pierz FFA chapter includes members Erica Rudolph (front, from left), Nick Woitalla, McKenzie William, CDE coordinator Macy Hoffman, Brock Smude, reporter Liz Kelash and historian Marybeth Tautges; (back row) Kaylee Woitalla, sentinel Kaylee Pulak, Eddy Westmoreland, secretary Elissa Pawlu, president JT Pawlu, treasurer Ethan Hayes, Andrew Morris and Troy Gross. Not pictured are vice president Valerie Gall and adviser Pat Tax.

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The Pierz FFA chapter includes members Kyle Gadacz (front, from left), Emilee Smude, Tori Wagner, Josi Smude, and Jazmin Virnig; (back, from front) Marissa Hayes, Bryce Kowalzek and Jodi Nelson.

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NATIONAL FFA WEEK

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD & BENTON COUNTY NEWS | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 | Page 7B

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FFA CHAPTER

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Royalton FFA chapter officers include treasurer Kaylee Rudolph (from left), president Aaron Betker, vice president Levi Crenna, secretary-reporter Alivia Pyka and sentinel Callie Vannurden. Not pictured are advisers Jennifer Betker and Michele Rudolph.

The Royalton FFA chapter includes Joseph Achen, Aaron Betker, Ashley Betker, Damien Bishop, Alisa Boser, Brian Boser, Breanna Brown, Levi Crenna, Jenna Dalton, Braydon Gibbs, Madison Hackett, Marizza Lenz, Mickaila Lenz, David Meemken, Abigail Nelson, Tess Nemeth, Janae Nichols, Alivia Pyka, Kaylee Rudolph, Zackary Rudolph, Preston Sauer, Maria Solland, Marissa Solland, Melanie Solland, Isaiah Solarz, Callie Vannurden, Kayden Vannurden, Nathan Wagner and Carrie Zabinski.

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