W/P FFA Banquet held

By Alan Carman
The Imperial Republican
    Wauneta/Palisade FFA members hosted their annual banquet with a community appreciation supper on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The chapter hosted 180 members and guests enjoying a pulled pork meal from Pits and Spits and Apron Strings.
    The evening began with opening ceremonies and the celebration of members receiving ribbons, pins and awards throughout the year.
    Junior high members receiving their Discovery Degrees were Kaia Applegarth, Micah Bley, Cacen HIcks, Amya Keenan, Emiliano Marquezhoyos, Amelia Monnahan, Mckinley Stoller and Natalie Walker. Members receiving their Greenhand Degrees were Liam Dinnel, Kamryn Fanning, Wyatt Hilbert, Kameron Jutten, Annaly Ramirez and Cadence Sandoval.
    Members receiving Chapter Degrees were Toria Bley, Kameran McCrumb and Konner McCrumb. The Chapter recognized the top two sellers for the fruit and food sales: 1st, Noah Sandman and 2nd, LiLeigh Littrel.
    Scholarship pins were awarded to Grayden Sutherland, Lilly Dinnel, Jaislynn Hicks and Kamryn Fanning. Leadership pins were awarded to Collin Bley, Maggie DeWester, Addalyn Einspahr and Liam Dinnel.
    Service pins were awarded to Izzy Stehno, Kameran McCrumb, Konner McCrumb, Tori Bley and Kameran Jutten. The Star Discovery Degree recipient was Mckinley Stoller, Star Greenhand degree recipient was Wyatt Hilbert.
    The Star Chapter Degree recipients were Kameran McCrumb and Konner McCrumb. Justin Warembourg received his Nebraska State FFA Degree.
    The Chapter competed in LDE’s (Leadership Development Events) and CDE’s (Career Development Events) throughout the year. LDE#2 Mckinley Stoller placed first (purple) in Ag Literacy Speaking at Districts and earned a silver medal at State. Others competing in Ag LIteracy Speaking were Natalie Walker, placing fourth (purple) ; and Amya Keenan earned a blue ribbon.
    Amelia Monnahan competed in Ag Discovery Speaking earning a blue ribbon. Three members competed in People in Ag poster event at State, each earninga medal. They were Kaia Applegarth (gold), Amya Keenan (gold) and Amelia Monnahan (silver).
    Cadence Sandoval competed in Creed Speaking (purple) placing third at Districts and earning a bronze medal at State. Ag Demo team of Grayden Sutherland, Cheyenne Parrish and Maggie DeWester placed fourth (purple) at Districts.
    CDE#1 consisted of Natural Resources, Agriscience an JH and Senior Livestock Judging. Grayden Sutherland earned a blur ribbon and Lilly Dinnel earned a white ribbon in Natural Resources while Liam Dinnel and Kameran Jutten earned red ribbons in Agriscience. The JH Livestock Judging Team placed second (purple) and Natalie Walker placed second individually earning a purple ribbon, Mckinley Stoller placed fourth earning a purple ribbon, Barrett Frecks earned a blue ribbon, Bennet Wiese a red ribbon and Zya Richardson earned a white ribbon.
    CDE#2 consisted of Vet Science and Nursery and Landscape competitions. The Vet Science team placed fourth earning a red ribbon with Casey Walker and Lilly Dinnel earning blue ribbons, Kalli Hoskovec earned a red ribbon and Izzy Stehno earned a white ribbon.
    Jaislyn Hicksearned a red ribbon in Nursery and Landscape. CDE#3 (welding) earned Harlan Holthus (OA) a blue ribbon, Collin Bley (TIG) and Noah Sandman (MIG) earned red ribbons.
    CDE#4 consisted of Floriculture, Food Science, Ag Sales and Livestock Management. Lilly Dinnel and Addalyn Einspahr earned white ribbons in Floriculture. Ag Sales Team (Collin Bley, Noah nSaqndman, Kreyton Wiese and Justin Warembourg) placed fourth overall, and Noah Sandman earned a white ribbon.
    The Livestock Management Team (Kalli Hoskovec, Toria Bley, Izzy Stehno and Grayden Sutherland) received a red ribbon in equine, and white ribbons in beef and swine.
    Rounding out the evening with election and installation of the 2025-26 FFA Officers, retiring of the seniors Blue Jackets and Labor Auction. The program listed all of the community members that have helped the chapter in any way throughout the year. The new officer team is Noah Sandman (President), Liam Dinnel (Vice President), Addalyn Einspahr (Secretary), Toria Bley (Treasurer), Maggie DeWester (Reporter), Emma Acton (Parliamentarian), Kameron Jutten (Sentinel), Cadence Sandoval (Junior Advisor) and Wyatt Hilbert (Chaplain). The labor auction raised over $9000.
    The chapter leadership team is preparing for COLT (Chapter Officer Leadership Training) May 21-22 in Aurora at the Leadership Center. The chapter is extremely grateful for the communities we serve and are excited to share that summer projects are the FFA Greenhouse, FFA Sweet Corn, Peach Sales, FFA Duck Race and participation at Palisade Pioneer Days and Wauneta Harvest Festival. They look forward to seeing everyone this summer.