MADISON, Wis. (June 10, 2024) – Thirteen Honorary State FFA Degrees were awarded at the 95th Wisconsin State FFA Convention in Madison, Wisconsin, June 12, 2024 The Honorary Degree is the highest degree that the Wisconsin Association of FFA can bestow on a non-member. The recipients were presented with plaques during a special program to thank them for their dedication to agriculture education.
This year’s honorees include:
Dale Carlson
Dale Carlson has been an educator for 40 years with 32 of those years at Sevastopol High School where he has transformed the ag curriculum for today’s students. He has hosted section 9 LDE events and celebrates that his chapter won the very first Wisconsin State Scrapbook Competition. In high school he was an FFA member of the River Falls Chapter and was a six-year member of the State FFA choir.
Jake Cramer
Jake Cramer is the 2023-24 Wisconsin FFA Center Board Chair. For 15 years he has been an agriculture instructor, teaching at Beaver Dam, Janesville and currently at Mayville. In 2015 he was named the Wisconsin and the National Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Young Teacher. In 2004-05 he served as the Wisconsin FFA State Sentinel from the Johnson Creek FFA Chapter.
Ashley Hagenow
Ashley Hagenow served Wisconsin as the 76th Alice in Dairyland where she facilitated a deeper understanding of the state’s agricultural industries. She was the Wisconsin FFA State Reporter in 2018-19 from the Rio FFA Chapter. Some of Ashley’s most rewarding moments have come from sharing the story of agriculture and how our food is produced from farms to our family tables.
Jan Hildebrandt
Jan Hildebrandt is a retired agricultural education teacher following 31 years of service to Eau Claire FFA members. In addition to her classroom service, Jan dedicated countless hours as a National FFA Proficiency judge, state FFA officer interviewer, state FFA proficiency judge, co-chair of state career and development event committee, 30-year volunteer of the Northwest Foundation golf outing, and section 2 WAVAI Vice President, to name a few. She reminds students today to find courage to go beyond your comfort zone.
Emma Huber
Emma Huber currently teaches agriculture in Portage and has also taught at Tomah and Lodi. In 2013-14 she served as the Wisconsin FFA State Secretary. In 2020 Emma was selected as a National FFA Teacher Ambassador and is now a National FFA Teacher Ambassador Mentor. This program equips teachers with tools they need to be successful in not only developing future leaders but also in telling their stories.
Deb Ihm
Deb Ihm is a 5-year member of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation Board where she serves as President. She is currently a Business and Ag Banking Officer with Community First Bank and has previously been the Director of Agriculture at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and an agricultural educator at Shullsburg High School. In 1996-97 she served as the Wisconsin FFA State Treasurer from the Colby FFA.
Aaron Kilsdonk
Aaron Kilsdonk is the 2023-24 President of the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE). For 24 years he has been an agriculture instructor, teaching at Marion, De Pere and currently in Seymour. His passion for agriculture education is ignited when watching students grow throughout their FFA career. So, he encourages all to go out and explore!
Tom Knox
Tom Knox was an agricultural educator for almost 41 years, 20 of these at Glenwood City High School. During his tenure he believed students learned better when they worked with their hands which led to the tractor painting and maple syrup projects that engaged not only students but the community. He also organized a student exchange program with a school in Wales, Great Britain. He encourages today’s students to wear the FFA jacket proudly as did the many good people that have gone before you.
Dr. Alex Lendved
Dr. Alex Lendved serves as Dean at the Mid-State Technical College Marshfield Campus. In 2019 she stepped forward and offered to host regional FFA CDE Contests at the Marshfield Campus and has continued each year since. Dr. Lendved credits her FFA Advisor at Grafton, Mrs. Steinbach, for the leader she is today.
Adam & Therese Schrieber
Adam and Therese Schriber are parents of the 2023-24 Wisconsin FFA President Mary Schrieber. Through their daughter’s FFA activities and passion for agriculture, they have supported leadership efforts and witnessed first-hand the benefits FFA offers to all students. Mr. and Mrs. Schrieber, for your support of Wisconsin FFA and the state FFA officers.
Grant Staszak
Grant Staszak is the President of the Wisconsin FFA Alumni Association. He was the Wisconsin FFA State Treasurer in 1995-96 of which established the Wisconsin FFA Hall of Fame and inducted the initial members consisting of Arnold Cordes, Floyed Doering and Dr. Virgil Martinson. Grant has served as a state and national contest judge, state FFA officer interviewer and convention workshop presenter.
Dr. Muthu Venkateshwaran
Dr. Muthu Venkateshwaran is an associate professor and program coordinator of soil and crop science at UW-Platteville. For 10 years he has organized and coordinated the FFA Agronomy Career Development Events at UW-Platteville and for 6 years he has organized and conducted the World Forage Management Cup Contest at World Dairy Expo. His efforts have provided FFA members opportunities to expand their knowledge and grow their leadership skills. Accepting the award on behalf of Dr. Venkateshwaran is Dr. Mark Zidon.
Aaron Zimmerman
Aaron Zimmerman currently teaches at Edgerton High School and serves as FFA Advisor. In 2012-13 he served as a Wisconsin FFA State Vice President. For the past 7 years he has served as the State FFA Convention Show Production Manager producing all visual graphics and videos used within the sessions, as well as designing the printed promotional materials related to the convention. His production talent has provided Wisconsin FFA members with high quality conventions. For three years he served as a member of the National FFA Convention Graphics Production Crew.
About Wisconsin Association of FFA:
The Wisconsin Association of FFA is a leading student organization due to the ef orts of 253 FFA Chapters across the state. With a focus on premier leadership, personal growth and career success, students’ FFA activities complement agricultural classroom instruction by giving them an opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge while gaining real-world experience. These activities are dependent on donor funding through the Wisconsin FFA Foundation. The FFA is also supported by the Wisconsin FFA Alumni Association throughout Wisconsin. For more information about Wisconsin FFA, the Wisconsin FFA Foundation and the Wisconsin FFA Alumni visit https://wisconsinaged.org.
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