Randy and Bridget Bader attended the Wisconsin FFA Alumni Convention, representing the Luck FFA Alumni. Randy is also the Section 1 Alumni representative.
Three hundred Wisconsin FFA Alumni members helped complete the puzzle at the group’s state convention February 10-12, 2012, at the Holiday Inn Express in Janesville, Wisconsin. With the theme, “Don’t Be the Missing Piece,” Sections 4 & 5 hosted FFA alumni affiliates from across the state to celebrate accomplishments, raise money to support youth programs and set business for the upcoming year. The convention began Friday evening with a dinner at Johnson Tractor in Janesville.
A special appearance by the University of Wisconsin Marching Band kicked off the evening’s bidding at a live auction. The annual meeting was held on Saturday, February 11, and was followed by a luncheon with guest speaker Jerry Apps, a Wisconsin author, storyteller and historian. Agriculture instructors attending the convention toured two local agribusinesses – Kerry Ingredients & Flavours in Beloit and MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. in Janesville. Educational workshops with a focus on assisting the activities of local affiliates were held that afternoon. The day concluded with an evening awards banquet followed by a basket auction. More than $19,000 was raised to support the Wisconsin FFA Alumni and Wisconsin FFA through live, silent and basket auctions. Eleven painted mailboxes, supplied by the Wisconsin State FFA Officer team, were sold to benefit the Wisconsin FFA Foundation. The Brodhead FFA Alumni Chapter was honored as the state's Top Outstanding Affiliate for its support of local FFA programs and agriculture education. Affliates also receiving gold ratings and being forward onto national competition are Denmark FFA Alumni, Stoughton FFA Alumni, Fort Atkinson FFA Alumni, Lena FFA Alumni and Marshfield FFA Alumni. Three alumni members were awarded for their outstanding achievement. They were Jim and Mary Furseth of the Stoughton FFA Alumni and Dennis Pennings of the Denmark FFA Alumni. Agriculture instructors recognized for their hard work and dedication to the alumni, the community and students included Troy Talford of Sauk Prairie, Darrell Hines of Mauston, Mark Strohschein of Green Bay East, Jerry Wendt of Stoughton, Dan Ziegler of New Glarus, Nicole Reese of Milton and Lisa Jagielo of Glenwood City. With a 100 percent growth in membership Thorp FFA Alumni 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 Thorp. Receiving the Ann Martinson Memorial Award was Denmark for achieving the greatest annual increase in life membership in the state. Sauk Prairie FFA Alumni won the newsletter contest and the scrapbook contest winner was Milton FFA Alumni. Winning the website design contest was Waterford FFA Alumni. James Check from Milton was elected state FFA Alumni president, Ricky Kreif from Kewaskum is the president-elect and Kathy Breunig from Prairie du Sac was elected as the state FFA Alumni vice president.
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