Bio: Raatz, Ella – FFA Caterpillar Award (2022)

Transcriber: Stan:

Surnames: Raatz, Rogowski

Source: Tribune-Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 23 Feb 2022

A $1,000 Caterpillar – Dairy Production SAE grant has been awarded to freshman Colby FFA member and officer Ella Raatz by Caterpillar for her dairy production SAE project.

SAE grants are designed to help FFA members create or expand Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, a requirement that all FFA members must complete.

An SAE requires FFA members to create and operate an agriculture related business, work at an agriculture-related business or conduct an agricultural research experience. Upon completion, FFA members must submit a comprehensive report regarding their career development experience.

This year 32 different sponsors made 39 different types of SAE Grants available. A full list of sponsors can be found on the National FFA Organization website on the SAE Grants webpage.

Raatz’s application was selected from among 1,086 applications nationwide. Raatz also received two $1,000 grants last year for her Dairy SAE project of which she use the money to purchase a registered Holstein heifer. This year she plans to use the money to purchase registered Holstein embryos.

“Ella has worked very hard to get her project to this point, and is excited to have the opportunity to continue expanding to the next level,” Colby FFA advisor Kiersten Rogowski said. “Her passion for her SAE is rare, and special to see in a member her age. The Colby FFA chapter is proud to have such a great member to lead in the community.