Decorah FFA Rings in the Year with Awards, Scholarships, and Leadership Honors

The fire, the vote, the triumph — when it happens, Decorah News shows up. Support us being there. DECORAH — The 89th annual Decorah FFA Awards Program was held Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the Decorah High School Auditorium. About 250 guests attended, including parents, family members, community sponsors, business leaders, and members. The Conduct of Meetings Team — President Kylie Zoulek, Vice President Brody Darling, Secretary Brock Anfinson, Treasurer Nathan Forde, Reporter Blake Mettille, Sentinel Dane Askelson, and Advisor Madilyn Benda — officially opened the program. Chapter President Gabe Monroe welcomed attendees. The 2025-2026 officer team presented Greenhand FFA Degrees to 14 recipients: Dane Askelson, Madilyn Benda, Wyatt Birdsell, Haylee Dahl, Brody Darling, Adalyn Farley, Nathan Forde, Aydi Guevara, Blake Mettille, Oskar Simon, Dalton Thompson, Hayden Wenthold, Grayson Wrightsman, and Kylie Zoulek. Sixteen Chapter FFA Degrees were awarded to Brock Anfinson, Allison Bigler, Dylan Brincks, Brooks Courtney, Brooks Dodd, Colton Elsbernd, Ethan Hill, Natalie Holthaus, Izabella Kos, Zander McConnell, Brandi Nehls, Landyn Quandahl, Jordyn Roberg, Violet Schmelzer, Taylor Sloan-Dahl, and Bentley Smith. Eden Scheidel and Taylor Sloan-Dahl presented leadership awards to members completing their first year of leadership service, including Michael Clement, Aiden Helgerson, Natalie Holthaus, Jordyn Roberg, Isabella Schnitzler, Peyton Schultz, and Taylor Sloan-Dahl. Members recognized for more than two years of leadership included Hadley Alexander, Rylee Averhoff, Karlee Bullerman, Andrew Carolan, Brinlee Courtney, Madelynn Dahl, Jerikah Dodd, Karlie Einck, Lauren Holthaus, Lyla Lovstuen, Mara Lovstuen, Gabe Monroe, Eden Scheidel, Annika Schmelzer, and Thea Zidlicky. Karlie Einck and Mara Lovstuen introduced members with perfect meeting attendance: Dane Askelson, Rylee Averhoff, Wyatt Birdsell, Dylan Brincks, Brooks Dodd, Jerikah Dodd, Karlie Einck, Colton Elsbernd, Lauren Holthaus, Lyla Lovstuen, Gabe Monroe, Eden Scheidel, Annika Schmelzer, Taylor Sloan-Dahl, and Bentley Smith. Scholarship pins and certificates were awarded to members on the honor roll, including Dane Askelson, Wyatt Birdsell, Michael Clement, Haylee Dahl, Brody Darling, Karlie Einck, Adalyn Farley, Blake Mettille, Hayden Wenthold, and Kylie Zoulek. Members with multiple years of honor roll recognition received certificates: Hadley Alexander, Rylee Averhoff, Allison Bigler, Ryan Bigler, Dylan Brincks, Henry Brynsaas, Andrew Carolan, Brinlee Courtney, Madelynn Dahl, Brooks Dodd, Jerikah Dodd, Colton Elsbernd, Aiden Helgerson, Lauren Holthaus, Natalie Holthaus, Tristan Hunter, Izabella Kos, Lyla Lovstuen, Gabe Monroe, Jordyn Roberg, Eden Scheidel, Annika Schmelzer, Isabella Schnitzler, Peyton Schultz, Taylor Sloan-Dahl, and Bentley Smith. Academic Achievement Awards were presented to seniors with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, active FFA membership for three years, and an active SAE project. Recipients included Ryan Bigler, Henry Brynsaas, Jerikah Dodd, Lyla Lovstuen, Eden Scheidel, and Annika Schmelzer. The chapter announced total fruit sales of $55,846, with the top 10 fruit sales awards presented: 1st – Taylor Sloan-Dahl; 2nd – Karlie Einck; 3rd – Karlee Bullerman; 4th – Rylee Averhoff; 5th – Brinlee Courtney; 6th – Zander McConnell; 7th – Dane Askelson; 8th – Natalie Holthaus; 9th – Gabe Monroe; 10th – Peyton Schultz. Seventeen members earned FFA letters, with four members earning double letters: Brinlee Courtney, Jerikah Dodd, Gabe Monroe, and Annika Schmelzer. Top record book winners included senior Eden Scheidel, junior Hadley Alexander, sophomore Bentley Smith, and freshman Nathan Forde. The FFA Star Awards were presented: Star Greenhand – Nathan Forde; Star Chapter Agribusiness – Eden Scheidel; Star Chapter Farmer – Rylee Averhoff; Star Chapter Placement – Jerikah Dodd. Chapter proficiency award winners included Hadley Alexander (Ag Sales), Gabe Monroe (Ag Services), Thea Zidlicky (Beef Production Placement), Brinlee Courtney (Dairy Production Entrepreneurship), Mara Lovstuen (Dairy Production Placement), Noah Heiselman (Diversified Ag Production), Eden Scheidel (Diversified Livestock Production), Rylee Averhoff (Goat Production), Karlie Einck (Sheep Production), and Jerikah Dodd (Swine Production Placement). Senior recognition included Rylee Averhoff, Ryan Bigler, Henry Brynsaas, Karlee Bullerman, Jerikah Dodd, Karlie Einck, Lauren Holthaus, Lyla Lovstuen, Eden Scheidel, Annika Schmelzer, and Thea Zidlicky. Amy Rediske received the Star FFA Alumni and Supporters award. The 2026 Friends of Agriculture award recipients included Brittany Todd, Mill Street Mocha, and Tim Hayes. Brad Johansen received the Honorary FFA Degree. Chapter Advisor Joni Bruvold thanked volunteers and supporters. Following a year-in-review video, the 2026-27 officers were installed: President – Gabe Monroe, Vice President – Bentley Smith, Secretary – Mara Lovstuen, Treasurer – Brinlee Courtney, Reporter – Hadley Alexander, Sentinel – Tristan Hunter, Assistant Officer – Taylor Sloan-Dahl. The program concluded with closing ceremonies and the Pledge of Allegiance. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.