Four SE FFA members win state awards

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- Four members of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter recently won State Proficiency Awards and will compete for the national awards.

Tracy Baumgardt won swine production, Joe Schieffert (grain), Brandon Hinderman (poultry) and Justin Remus (fruit, vegetables).

Other Sleepy Eye members placing high in state competition were Jon Seifert, third in dairy, and Marty Hoffmann was fourth in sheep production.

Baumgardt has been raising swine since she was a small girl and is a three-time state winner. She won previous titles in sheep and diversified livestock.

Her project grew when she joined FFA. She now finishes 1,000 head at a time. Her goal is to make the National Final Four and place high in Louisville, Ky.

A freshman at St. Thomas University, she has a State Farmer Degree and has worked swine from 40 pounds to market on her family farm.

Schieffert works on a farm with his dad and uncle and has been keeping records on corn, soybeans, and Del Monte Corp. since 1997. He is also involved in everything from seed selection to delivery of grain to local elevators.

He will compete for the State Star Farmer award, has already won regional and state grain proficiency awards and hopes to place high in the nationals.

He plans to study farm operations and management at Ridgewater Technical College, then return home and work on the family farm.

"I'd like to thank my dad for teaching me all aspects of farming and teaching me young that you have to work for what you get," Schieffert said.

Hinderman has raised broiler chickens for the past eight years. He began with 400 head and now has 2,500 chickens.

After eight weeks of growth, they are butchered, vacuum packed, and frozen at the Hector Meat Market. They weigh 4.5-5 pounds and are sold to local customers.

Hinderman plans to study Agri-Business at Ridgewater Technical College, then return home and raise broilers on a larger scale.

Remus grows peas and sweet corn for Del Monte of Sleepy Eye. He has kept records on both for four years. He plans to play football at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. His major is undecided.

"I'd like to thank my grandfather for getting me started and helping me throughout the years with records and raising crops," Remus said.