FFA Alumni Holds Its Annual Banquet

The Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI)
January 31, 2007
Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon
 

The 28th Annual FFA Alumni Banquet was held on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at the Thorp Legion hall. The evening was filled with events and laughter. The evening started with a dinner of chicken, ham, mashed potatoes with gravy and all the extras. Cake for dessert and of course milk was also served.

After we ate all the delicious food we headed upstairs for a very informative presentation from Nick Schneider the Crops and Soils Agent for the Clark County UW Extension office. Mr. Schneider discussed many interesting points on current farm topics and Clark County specific information. He was an interesting and informative speaker with lots of details about farming in Clark County.

Mr. Schneider felt that the community farms succeed in this area because they are so diverse. A multitude of crops are grown in this area as well as Horticulture and farmers market produce. He went on to state that 56 percent of the county’s economy is from farming. When exploring this further you find that 39 percent of all jobs are related to agriculture such as veterinary, field workers, dairy jobs, construction and implements.

There are four cows to every person in this state. When you consider that a single cow can generate around $2,000.00 worth of revenue, it is a costly investment with great reward if the circumstances are right. Farming however, can be risky business and there are no guarantees. Certain variables are always a consideration. Weather and fuel costs are just a few obstacles. Despite the risks, considering the rewards, it is a very good time to be involved in Agriculture. Mr. Schneider stated that there is a lot to be done, but he believes in the future of farming.

Two awards were presented at this year’s banquet. The Senior Farmer award went to Ron and Alice Ciolkosz. Ron likes to ice fish and hunt when he is not tending to his beef cattle. When Alice is not busy managing Goldstar Sportswear, she and Ron like to ride their four wheelers. They enjoy the land and Ron has made some trails with the bulldozer. They have a daughter, Cindy; and two sons, Randy and Bobbie; a daughter-in-law, Kristie; and two grandchildren, Dylan and Katie.
 

Senior Farmer Award


Thorp FFA Alumni Banquet was held Saturday, January 27, at the Thorp Legion Hall. Connie Gulcynski presented Ron and Alice Ciolkosz with the Senior Farmer Award.


The second award of the evening went to Doug and Cheryl Niemuth and was presented by Ginny Frinack. The couple owns and operates Thorp’s SuperValu and was recognized for all they give to the community and for being great friends to the FFA.
 
Friend of the Alumni Award

Doug and Cheryl Niemuth are the recipients of the Friend of the Alumni Award. They own the Thorp SuperValu Foods and were recognized for their contributions to the community and the FFA. The award was presented by Ginny Frinack.

The next event was the election of the 2007 officers for the FFA Alumni. Four officers were nominated and voted in. The elected parties then chose what office they would like to hold. The new officer’s are: Mike Lewien, President; Katie Zacharyus, Vice-President; Connie Gulcynski, Treasurer; and Jan Micke, Secretary. Connie is coming back as an officer, but will be holding the office of Treasurer instead of FFA Alumni President.

The officers who will not be returning are Charles Przybylski, Vice-President; Sherrie Zacharias, Secretary; and Ginny Frinack, Treasurer.

2007 Newly Elected FFA Officers

Members voted for the 2007 Officers for the FFA Alumni on January 27, at the FFA Banquet. (L-R) Mike Lewien will become the Alumni president and Katie Zacharias will be taking the vice-president position. Connie Gulcynski will be returning as an officer of the Alumni, but will hold the treasurer office. The new secretary for the FFA Alumni will be Jan Micke. Congratulations to all of you!

As the elections wrapped up the auction began. There was much fun and laughter as people tried to out bid each other. Many lovely baskets full of goodies donated by Thorp SuperValu wee auctioned off, as were jams, seed corn and milk replacer, just to name a few.

The evening festivities wrapped up with the awarding of the door prizes. The FFA students lined up with the prizes and presented each one to the winner. Sometimes that meant just turning around and handing the prize to the person behind them.

The FFA Chapter Officers this year are: Andrea Ederer, President; Lindsay Bill, Tyler Lewien, and Mike Benzschawel, Vice-Presidents; Cassie Ring, Secretary; Holly Schmitt, Treasurer; Matt Lewan, Parliamentarian; Adam Benzschawel, Sentinel; Jennifer Micke, Historian; and Ashley Kodl, Reporter.
 

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