Sue Sitter/PCT Members of the Rugby High School FFA chapter pose with special guest speaker Stetson Urlacher, FFA Advisors Kristi Tonnessen and Kasey Okke onstage in the Rugby High School’s Tillman Hovland Auditorium after their banquet and awards ceremony, March 24.

Members of the Rugby High School FFA and supporters from the Rugby community gathered in the commons area of Rugby High for a banquet and awards ceremony on March 24.

FFA Advisor Kasey Okke said the banquet was an annual tradition, broken only one year by the 2020 COVID pandemic. Okke estimated the Rugby High School FFA had hosted the annual awards banquet for 88 years.

“I believe 1933-34 was the first school year for the FFA chapter at Rugby High,” he said.

Okke has been an advisor at Rugby High for eight years. He said the 2021-22 school year at Rugby High would be his last as he moves on to other pursuits.

At the awards ceremony, students and parents thanked Okke for his contributions, which included coaching an advanced agriculture mechanics team to a first-place award at the National FFA Convention in 2021. The Rugby High chapter gave Okke an honorary Rugby High School FFA degree and an honorary membership in the Rugby FFA.

With a voice tinged with emotion, Okke thanked the students and parents for the award.

Both Okke and Co-Advisor Kristi Tonnessen took turns at the lectern in front of a stage accented with gold and blue streamers representing the FFA colors. Each gave the Rugby High chapter members recognition for their multiple achievements.

Describing the chapter, Tonnessen said, “We have a senior class that has five of the coveted Baby Bison Awards. Some chapters don’t even see one in a four-year career, so for us to have five in one class is absolutely incredible, and perhaps there will be more to come this spring.”

The Baby Bison awards go to students scoring at the top in career development events at state competitions.

Winning high individual awards for career development events, or CDEs were: Ryleigh Keating, agronomy; Ryan Slaubaugh, agricultural sales; Rylah Hager, livestock; Mika Guty, horse evaluation; Carter Teigen, Green Hand Quiz; Amy Volk, Advanced Quiz; Katelyn Duchscher, employment skills; Amber Selensky, extemporaneous public speaking; Haley Mayer, prepared public speaking, creed speaking; and Jackson Brossart, demonstration.

High scorers in the 2021 state convention were: Dalton Vietz-Reile, environmental natural resources; Jaclyn Duchscher, dairy cattle evaluation; Taylor Pritschet; Haylee Jundt, crop science and technology; Amy Volk, meats evaluation; Carson Mattern, advanced agricultural mechanics; Kristian Fritz, intermediate agricultural mechanics; Jenner Johnson, basic agricultural mechanics; Amber Selensky, small animal care; Katelyn Duchscher, agricultural communications; Katelyn Duchscher, floriculture; and Amy Volk, land judging.

Chapter members also received degree awards for years of membership and work in FFA. Students are eligible to join FFA as eighth graders. The FFA recognizes students who achieve degrees as members with pins and certificates. Degrees range from Discovery for new members to Chapter FFA Degrees for members with many years in the club. Members can also receive degrees at the state and national levels.

Earning Discovery degrees were Bryant Bohl, Caleb Schaan, Alex Kraft, Paisley Wangler, Alli Blessum, Sara Schmaltz, Ryan Schmaltz, Alyssa Peterson, Jozie Tofte, Mya Barker, Tambrey Brossart, Tailyr Bush, Katelyn Mattern, and Teigen.

Receiving the Green Hand degree for members at the intermediate level were Cole Anderson, Adison Dosch, Arianna Gayle-Powell, Jenner Johnson, Wyatt Oppen, Brady Filler, Mya McNeff, Walker Suchor, Katherine Arnold, Jaclyn, Hager, Christine Mahle, Allison Selensky, Bryce Jacobs, and Amelia Shepard.

Chapter FFA degrees went to Jackson Brossart, Rylie Geisler, Sophie Oppen, Derek Jacobs, Rylee Geiszler, Grace Mahle, Brooklyn Bartsch, Andrew Duchscher, Tyler Oppen, Haley Mayer, Taylor Pritschet, Slaubaugh, Kristian Fritz, Haylee Jundt, Tressa Arnston, and Monica Yoder.

Tonnessen said the chapter FFA degree “is the highest award a chapter can bestow on a member.”

Amber Feickert and Joshua Stutrud of the Rugby FFA Alumni presented scholarships to FFA members in their senior year of high school and former Rugby FFA members attending college.

FFA Alumni scholarships for $1,000 went to college students Katherine Filler and Lauren Voeller.

Other college students receiving the scholarships were Holly Vetsch, $750; Megan Harmel, $500; Callie Oppen, $500; and Jadyn Barclay, $250.

High school seniors receiving FFA Alumni scholarships were Amber Selensky, $1,000; Katelyn Duchscher, $750; Amy Volk, $750; Rylie Suchor, $750; Thatcher Volk, $750; Dalton Vietz-Reile, $500; Cole Vietz-Reile, $500; and Kordell Kraft, $500.

Kraft, Jaeger, Thatcher Volk and Carson Mattern received special recognition as members of the 2021 National Champion FFA Advanced Agricultural Mechanics team. Okke recognized Mattern, a freshman at North Dakota State College of Science for his fifth-place gold award at the national level, and Kraft for his sixth-place national gold award. Thatcher Volk received a 12th place national gold award, while Jaeger received recognition for winning 18th place nationally.

Receiving Outstanding FFA Member Awards were Keating and Rylie Suchor.

Amy Volk received the 2022 FFA Achievement Award.

Tonnessen and Okke also gave out Star awards for student achievements.

The Star award for the Discovery degree went to Teigen. Hager received the Star Green Hand award, while Thatcher Volk received the Chapter Star in Ag Placement award. Cole and Dalton Vietz-Reile were co-winners of the Star in Agri-Business award, while Jaeger received the Chapter Star Farmer award.

Chapter officers also gave thanks and recognition to their parents, who met the students onstage for hugs, balloons, and flowers. Officers recognized for their service during the 2021-22 school year were Amber Selensky, president; Katelyn Duchscher, vice president; Thatcher Volk, secretary; Amy Volk, treasurer; Slaubaugh, parliamentarian; Keating, sentinel; and Rylie Suchor, reporter.

Tonnesen told the parents, “In October, our chapter was awarded the distinguished National Three Star Chapter Award at the National FFA Convention. This is the highest award recognition for a chapter. That recognition is a direct result and reflection of your children’s leadership.

“As an advisor, I thank you for letting me share in their leadership journey,” Tonnessen added. “I’ve grown to appreciate each of their unique contributions to our chapter.”