Wisconsin FFA Alumni Don’t Hesitate, Just Participate in 2008

By Karen Lee, Managing Editor
Thursday, February 14, 2008 1:17 PM CST

Outstanding Achievement Winners

Over 300 Wisconsin FFA Alumni members didn’t hesitate to participate in the group’s state convention Feb. 8-10 at the Holiday Inn Express in Janesville. Hosted by Sections 4 and 5, this year’s convention theme was “Don’t Hesitate, Just Participate in 2008”.

Attendees enjoyed evening entertainment and live, silent and basket auctions that raised $22,000. The first of 500 Super 99 Oliver toy tractors sold for $750, along with a matching donation of $500, to kick off the Matthew D. Anderson Memorial Fund. Anderson was the 2006-07 state FFA president that was killed in a farm accident last August. In total, 270 tractors were sold throughout the weekend and the FFA Foundation is selling remaining tractors for $75 a piece while supplies last.

The Wisconsin FFA Alumni celebrated its statewide canned food drive announcing over 149,000 items of food had been collected through the “Can Hunger n Million Can Challenge”. Wisconsin was one of 10 states chosen to join the National FFA Alumni challenge sponsored by Toyota. Student chapters and Alumni affiliates have been collecting food through the winter and donating it to local food banks. At the convention, Seneca Foods of Janesville joined the campaign by donating approximately 2,300 cases of non-perishable food items, which were accepted by the Second Harvest Food Bank. The state “Can Hunger” campaign will continue through the end of February to include National FFA Week, Feb. 17-23.

The Brodhead FFA Alumni Chapter was honored as the state's Top Outstanding Affiliate for their support of local FFA programs and agriculture education. The Mauston FFA Alumni was named runner-up for the award. Lena, Denmark and Stoughton received silver ratings, while Sun Prairie and Verona earned bronze ratings.

Two alumni members were awarded for their outstanding achievement. They were Darlene Arneson of Stoughton and Joe Loritz of Denmark.

Darlene Arneson is a whirlwind when it comes to the FFA Alumni, FFA, the agriculture industry, and the Sons of Norway, among many other activities.

She is recognized for the service and leadership she has provided over a long period of involvement with FFA and FFA Alumni. She was active in working with the FFA Alumni affiliates at the two schools she taught at and today serves as secretary for the Stoughton affiliate - the job description, in addition to secretary duties includes teacher assistant, historian, newsletter editor, public relations manager and more. She participates in school board meetings and works with school administrators on behalf of FFA and the FFA Alumni.

This state and national life member has served on the Wisconsin FFA Alumni council as a sectional rep, on the executive committee culminating with being president. She has also served on the Wisconsin FFA Foundation Board. Arneson was responsible for updating the FFA Alumni Manual twice and served on the Team Ag Ed committee. At the national level she has served as a delegate to the national convention, has been awarded the Legion of Merit several times, and has attended the national State Leaders Conference.

Joe Loritz of the Denmark affiliate is a state and national FFA life member. He has served his affiliate as a director and as president and vice president. Loritz has assisted the Denmark FFA and FFA Alumni by providing transportation for students to various FFA competitions and community activities. He has been instrumental in the management and operation of the very successful Denmark FFA food booth at the Brown County Fair and in the purchase of a trailer in which to store and move the alumni equipment used for many FFA and community events.

Loritz has participated in three state alumni conventions and worked on the organizing committee for the Manitowoc convention hosted by Sections 8 and 9. He was a member of the state raffle committee that raised over $50,000 for the state FFA Alumni. He volunteered his business as the collection station for the state FFA shoe drive to benefit the children of Iraq.

At the national level, Loritz has served as a state delegate at two national FFA Alumni conventions. He has assisted the Denmark FFA chapter’s interstate exchange program by organizing tours for visiting FFA exchange members and worked on gathering donations to help rebuild the ag ed department of a sister chapter in Mississippi and to support the Seeds of Hope program for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Two agriculture instructors were named “Outstanding Ag Instructor” award winners. Both Diane Fischl, Denmark, and Jerry Wendt, Stoughton, have been teaching at their respective schools for 16 years.

Diane Fischl, agriculture education instructor in the Denmark schools, has been a member of the state FFA Alumni for 31 years.

Fischl supports the Denmark FFA Alumni by regular attendance at their board of directors meeting and hosting one meeting per year. She was the force behind the alumni drive to get milk dispensing machines at both the middle and high school. She initiated the Denmark Alumni-funded large animal project grant program for FFA members, and assists with planning for the annual banquet by developing the program brochures, arranging for FFA members to attend and report on FFA activities during the year. She regularly assists and participates in the many alumni fund raising activities throughout the year.

Fischl’s activity extends beyond the local affiliate. She has served as a delegate to the state and national FFA Alumni conventions, has served on planning committees for state conventions hosted by sections 8 and 9. She has recruited FFA Alumni members to help with the very successful AgVentures program at the Wisconsin State Fair, she is a Merit Award winner for member recruitment, she organizes, coordinates and involves the alumni in Denmark’s FFA member interstate exchange program.

Jerry Wendt of Stoughton has a total of 25 years in the profession. Wendt committed to FFA Alumni early in his career and is a life member of state and national FFA alumni. He participates in all local alumni officer, affiliate, and sectional meetings and actively promotes attendance by other members. He pitches in to assist with and lead all fundraisers. Wendt actively promotes FFA Alumni with membership to high school staff, administration and school board members.

As Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE) board member and president, Wendt promoted the benefits of FFA alumni to local FFA chapters and encouraged his teaching colleagues without them to form affiliates. He has participated in most of the state and national Alumni conventions since he has began teaching and has served as a state delegate at national conventions. He has earned numerous Legion of Merit awards for member recruitment. Wendt has personally supported FFA Alumni fundraising programs and encouraged the Stoughton affiliate to become actively involved in various state and national fundraising projects.

The Distinguished Contributor award went Dr. Jim Heier of Denmark's chapter and Jerry Movrich of Stoughton's chapter for their dedication and support of ag education and alumni activities.

The Oconto Falls affiliate was awarded a local program grant for curriculum, equipment, FFA supplies or other chapter needs.

Southern Door received the Eagle Award for the greatest annual percentage increase in total membership. The Dr. V.O. Martinson Award for greatest annual increase in membership was awarded to Big Foot. Receiving the Ann Martinson Memorial Award was Denmark for achieving the greatest annual increase in life membership in the state.

Silver membership awards for an increase of 15-24 members were presented to Big Foot, Columbus, Kiel, Markesan, Marshall, Mayville, Shullsburg and Southern Door. Receiving bronze membership awards for an increase of 7-14 members were Bonduel, Cashton, Chilton, Darlington, Edgerton, Evansville, Monroe, Stanley-Boyd, Stoughton, Stratford, Tomah, Watertown, Waunakee and Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

Stoughton FFA Alumni won the newsletter contest with runner-up awarded to Denmark. Brodhead received a silver rating and bronze went to Verona.

Winning the scrapbook contest was Denmark. Blackhawk and Stoughton took runner-up each receiving a gold rating. Silver was awarded to Evansville, Milton, Ripon, Sauk Prairie, Tigerton, Verona and Waterford. Johnson Creek and Kiel received a bronze rating.

Ken Seering from Denmark was elected state FFA Alumni president, Ken Harter from Oconto Falls is the president-elect and Herman Seebandt from Neillsville was elected as the state FFA Alumni vice president. Serving with them on the State FFA Alumni Council for 2008 are Section 1- Brian Hoffelt, Section 2- Kristy Mayer and Bonnie Walters, Section 3- Brent Bailey and Dan Filla, Section 4- Bob Keough and Pat Harker, Section 5- Dan Monson and James Check, Section 6- Kevin Larsen and Don Larsen, Section 7- Lance Syring and Kellen Kulas, Section 8- Ray and Lucy Dusel, Section 9- Janice Lefeber and Paul Hazaert, Section 10- Jordan Strike and Joe Nelson, and Executive Director n Jayme Buttke.

FFA Alumni members are already looking forward to next year’s convention, Feb. 13-15, 2009, at Ho-Chunk Casino in Baraboo.

The Wisconsin FFA Alumni is the nation's largest state affiliate, with over 8,000 members listed on the group's charter.

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