2025-2026 officer team, front row: Jr. Advisor, Rylee Robson; Treasurer, Nora Langgaard; Secretary, Stella Largent; Vice President, Lilah Heinz; and President, Lucy Knutter. Back row, Advisor, Skie Shull; Sentinel, Irelyn Wirt; Reporter, Gracie Hodges; and Reporter, Ava Sneller.
By Ava Sneller | ACGC FFA Reporter
On May 4 at 5:30 p.m., a total of 271 FFA members, parents, alumni and community supporters gathered at the Event Center at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds to celebrate the many accomplishments of the chapter members from the 2024 year. The evening commenced with a meal provided by Cafe on the Hill and opening ceremonies prepared by the 2024 Chapter Officer Team. The chapter then handed out a total of 67 community member appreciation certificates to begin the awards portion of the evening. Degree pins and certificates were among the first of member awards handed out where 11 eighth-graders received the Discovery Degree, 17 first-year members received their Greenhand Degree, and 19 members received their Chapter Degree.
Recognition continued throughout the evening with various Career and Leadership Development Events and contests recognized, which included the recent successes of the state level contests held mid-April. Members who served the chapter in various capacities throughout the year were recognized for their service by receiving the Outstanding Service Award, which is voted on by the members of the chapter. These members often work behind the scenes and do not always get recognition for their efforts. They are: Shay Lemke, Will Kading, Gavin Sloss, Blaise Tallman, Xander Harwood, Chase Slaybaugh, Caydence Boals, Camdyn Richter, Carter Richter, Garrett Lemke, Rylee Robson, Nora Langgaard, Mallory Schreck, Calleigh Wolfe, Stella Largent, Miranda Gruber, Blake Ganzer and Imersyn Wirt.
Scholarship Awards and Leadership Awards were also given out at this year’s banquet. The scholarship pin is given to those members who have the highest cumulative GPA for their grade level, celebrating the academic excellence of students. This year, senior member Emmarae Ellis, junior Caydence Boals, sophomores Nora Langgaard and Stella Largent, and freshman Stetson Ellis were recognized for this award. The Leadership Award is voted on by the members of the chapter, and the advisor and is given to one member from each class who has shown outstanding leadership and commitment to the chapter throughout the year. This year senior member Belle Fagan, junior Lucy Knutter, sophomore Lilah Heinz, and freshmen Stetson Ellis received this award.
Star Chapter Awards are also given to members at the banquet who fill out the application and have shown that they go above and beyond with their SAE projects. This year, the Star Greenhand recipient was Stetson Ellis. Star Entrepreneurship for his Beef Production – Cow/Calf Operation was senior member Gavin Sloss. The Star Placement award was given to two individuals for their work; the first was senior member Blaise Tallman and the second was junior member Xander Harwood for their outstanding SAE projects. The final Star Award that was handed out for the evening was the Star Farmer Award. This award was given to two senior members who both have cow/calf operations of their own and have shown the chapter support in every aspect of classroom learning, SAE and FFA activities. These two members were Will Kading and Belle Fagan.
Other awards given at the banquet included the Blue and Gold award, which is given to those who go above and beyond to help maintain the program, helping whenever they can to ensure a functioning program continues to thrive. This year’s recipients were Kelsey Dinkla and Stacy and Christina Harwood. The second award that is given to a community member that goes above and beyond to support the chapter is the Honorary Chapter Degree. This award is given to farmers, school superintendents, principals, members of board of education, chapter advisors, teachers, staff members in agricultural education, business people and others who are helping to advance agriculture education and the FFA and who have rendered outstanding service. They may be elected to honorary membership by a majority vote of the members present at any regular meeting or convention. This year’s recipient was Mr. Brian Sauser, the high school principal at ACGC Schools.
The last of the awards that were presented at the banquet were the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, given to Belle Fagan, and three scholarships. The first scholarship was $250 from 4Seasons Fundraising, given to a member who has shown to be a tremendous help during the annual fundraiser. This year’s recipient was senior member Belle Fagan. The second scholarship was in memory of Alan Elgin. This is a $500 scholarship that was awarded in his memory to Will Kading and Gavin Sloss.
The ACGC FFA chapter continues to be proud of its members and their accomplishments throughout the year and could not do it without the support and help of the parents, businesses, school administrators and others who help make events run smoothly and efficiently.
2025 seniors: Bryce Betts, Blaise Tallman, Shay Lemke, Belle Fagan, William Kading, Ty Thomas, Gavin Sloss and Weston Hambleton. Not pictured: Emmarae Ellis, Hali Klingenberg, Hunter Mohr and Jon Martinez.