News: Clark County - FFA American Farmers Degrees (1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Heeg, Drinsinger, Orzechowski, Schreiber, Sischo, Seebandt, Olson, Vornholt, Steiner, Linde, Slipek, Schmitt Kurasz, Grottke

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (10 November 1983)

Four young area farmers will receive Friday the highest degree presented by the National Future Farmers of America Organization,

American Farmer Degrees will be awarded to Jeff Heeg, Marshfield; Dale Drinsinger, Granton; Edward Orzechowski, Thorp; and DaWayne Schreiber, Abbotsford, during a special ceremony at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.

Several other FFA chapters and members from area school also will be recognized during the 56th annual convention which began today and concludes Saturday. Approximately 23,000 FFA members were expected to attend.

The American Farmer Degree is presented to approximately one member in 600 out of the organization's total membership of 468,953. American Farmers represent vocational; agriculture students with the most outstanding and established Supervised Occupational Experience Programs in the nation. The award recognizes members who have demonstrated exceptional agricultural and leadership achievements.

To qualify the the American Farmer Degree, FFA members must have advanced through a system of degrees unique to the FFA organization. FFA members begin as Greenhands and after one year of membership may be advanced by the local chapter to the degree of Chapter Farmer. The third degree , State Farmer, is presented by the State FFA Association to no more than 3 percent of the State's FFA membership.

Only Students who've earned the State Farmer Degree are eligible for the American Farmer Degree.

Drinsinger, 20, is the 18th Granton FFA member to get the national honor. A 1981 graduate, he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Drinsinger, Granton.

Unlike the other three area winners, dairying is not in Drinsinger's career plans. He now works as a butcher for Spaete's Locker in Granton and has experience as an on-the-farm butcher and meat cutter. He intends to be an "all-around" butcher and sausage maker.

Drinsinger, who received the State Farmer Degree in 1981, also operates a small hobby farm.

Orzechowski, 21, is a 1980 Thorp High School graduate. His parents are John and Cecilia Orzechowski.

A 1980 State Farm Degree recipient, he works with his father on a dairy Farm northeast of Thorp. The farm includes 40 milking cows and 15 heifers. Orzechowski hopes to continue in dairy farming and achieve production of 18,000 pounds of milk per cow with 700 pounds butterfat.

Schreiber, 21, also farms with his parents, Clarence and Marcella Schreiber, on their farm northeast of Abbotsford. He is a 1980 graduate of Abbotsford High School and received the State Farmer Degree in 1980.

Schreiber said he enjoys most aspects of farming, but likes working with cows most of all. His farm responsibilities include doing artificial breeding as well as working at planting, harvesting and farm Machinery repair.

He said he eventually hopes to own his own farm.

The FFA advisers of the American Farmer Degree recipients are Mark Vornholt, Marshfield; Francis Steiner, Granton; Bruce Linde, Thorp; and John Slipek, Abbotsford.

Among the other honors to be given at the convention will be national chapter awards. The winners will include the Granton and Spencer FFA chapters. They both have been selected as bronze emblems chapters in the national chapter award program.

Chapters earn the awards for superior performance in 11 program areas; supervised occupational experience; cooperation; community service; leadership; earnings; savings and investments; conduct of meetings; scholarships; recreation; public relations; state and national activities; and alumni relations.

The Spencer FFA Chapter also will be honored as a bronze emblem chapter in the FFA's building Our American Communities Program. The BOAC program involves FFA chapters, community organizations and private citizens in projects to enhance social and economic development of communities across the nation. FFA members provide the stimulus in conducting activities to make their communities a better place in which to live and work.

The Spencer FFA adviser is Donna Olson.

An agricultural mechanic team from the Neillsville FFA chapter will compete in National competition. Team members are Ken Schmitt, Craig Kurasz and David Grottke.

Teams compete at the chapter, district, state and sometimes regional levels to reach national competition. The FFA offer national contests in 11 different areas.

Neillsville FFA advisers are Terry Sischo and Herman Seebandt.

(Edited to reflect Clark County)