Hartington-Newcastle FFA elects new officers, says good-bye to old friends

HARTINGTON - The annual Hartington Newcastle FFA banquet was a shimmer of blue and gold on May 2nd, 2025. Families and members attended to celebrate the chapter's achievements, success, our sponsors, and the retirement of our senior members. The evening started with a pulled pork meal and many delicious salads and desserts. Finishing up the meal we viewed a slide show of the chapter's activities throughout the year and a showing of the retiring seniors.

All FFA members were recognized for their successes and accomplishments of their involvement throughout the year. Individual students were selected and recognized for specific involvement in the chapter. The leadership award is given to members who show outstanding development and use of leadership, Kyptin Collier, Gus Lammers, Adeline Pinkelman, Kaley Lammers, McKenzie Bruning and Matthew Loecker. The scholarship award is based on strong scholastic achievement; award winners were Kendra Schmit, Gabriel Reyes, Graham Potts, and Maddie Steffen. The Dekalb award is awarded to a senior who excelled in all areas of the ag program, Cole Heimes. The most active awards are given out to the top individuals that participated within the FFA sector of Agriculture Education. Ava Noecker took the senior class, junior class was Ava Stewart, Jason Heimes was sophomore class, and Calley Stewart took the top from the freshmen class. The last specific awards are given out for members who excel in supervised agricultural experiences by getting chapter star production and placement awards. Cole Heimes, Ava Stewart, and Ava Noecker were the top three by competing at the district and state competitions. Senior parents are given a huge thank you for the support and patience they put in for helping the members grow to the best of their abilities. Cole Heimes gave his retiring address as the chapter president, his remarks were about the chapter accomplishments and the many memories that were made within his 4 years of service. The new 2025-2026 officer team was announced, and the retiring chapter officers went out to find them. Historian went to Karissa Bruning, Parliamentarian Gabe Reyes, Sentinel Jason Heimes, Reporter Kora Kneifl, Treasurer Quinn Hochstein, Secretary Breah Steffen, Vice President Ava Stewart, and President Graham Potts Saying goodbye to seniors is never easy, this year we had nineteen Cedar Catholic and Hartington Newcastle seniors. McKenzie Bruning, Carmen Buschkamp, Nicholas Coleman, Aaralynn Collier, Cole Heimes, Carsen Heithold, Ben Kleinschmit, Olivia Kleinschmit, Matthew Loecker, Ava Noecker, Ryan Pick, Castin Pinkelman, Claire Rolfes, Ayden Rosener, Cole Rosener, Joey Steffen, Maddie Steffen, Brett Stevens, and Ryan Wiedenfled were the seniors who hung up their blue corduroy jackets for the last time.