Merrill High School FFA celebrates National FFA Week, Feb. 21-28

The Merrill High School (MHS) Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter is celebrating National FFA Week this week, Feb. 21-28, 2026, with a full slate of activities to engage members and the community:
• All Week: The chapter is hosting a Cutest Pet Contest.
• Tuesday: Monthly FFA meeting with a cheese tasting activity.
• Thursday: FFA trivia and blind karaoke.
• Friday: Members wear their official FFA shirts.

While many people think FFA is just for farm kids, FFA is about more than just learning how to run a farm. FFA is committed to developing premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education and activities.

Developing leaders
MHS FFA Advisor and Agriculture Teacher Holly Hartwig said the Merrill FFA Chapter provides opportunities for students interested in a variety of fields, fostering skills that extend far beyond traditional farming.
“FFA is more than just an extracurricular activity — it is a leadership development organization that helps students grow into confident, capable young adults,” Hartwig said. “FFA pushes students outside of their comfort zones and challenges them to explore new interests, develop practical skills, and discover their potential.”
Through the organization, students develop a wide range of skills they can carry into any career path. “Through leadership opportunities, career development events, supervised agricultural experiences, and community service, students learn how to communicate effectively, run productive meetings, manage projects, and work as part of a team,” Hartwig said. “They gain hands-on experience in areas such as animal science, plant science, mechanics, agribusiness, and more, while also building responsibility, professionalism, and a strong work ethic.”

Hartwig also emphasized FFA’s role in connecting students to the broader importance of agriculture. “FFA empowers students to become advocates for agriculture,” she said. “Members learn the importance of agriculture in their communities and develop the confidence to share that message with others. Whether a student plans to pursue a career in agriculture or another field, the skills gained in FFA prepare them for success far beyond high school.”

Impact and memories
Current members echoed Hartwig’s sentiments, sharing how FFA has shaped their high school experience.
Sophomore Cadence Seliger said she joined “because I wanted to build leadership skills and to give back to the community.” Senior and FFA President Kaylynn Allen, who was “raised on a farm,” said she joined to “gain more agricultural knowledge and give back to the community.” Sophomore and FFA Sentinel Bryanna Doerr said FFA “is a very good leadership club, and I get the opportunity to do the things I like and the ability to learn more.”
Junior and FFA Student Advisor Hailey Cole said FFA has “pushed me out of my comfort zone to try new things and allow me to meet new people” — something Hartwig said is central to the organization’s mission. “FFA truly grows future leaders by encouraging students to try something new, step forward, and lead,” Hartwig said.

The friendships built through FFA stand out as a highlight for many members. Senior Morgan Sturzenegger said her favorite part is “the friendships I’ve gained,” and Junior and FFA Treasurer Jake Shimel said his favorite part is “all the events that I get to participate in and the friendships I gained.”
Other members are drawn in by specific opportunities. Sophomore Tavin Heidemann said he enjoys “the opportunity to go on all of the fun trips and participate in events,” and Senior Jase Steinagel said he joined “for the opportunity to go to the World Dairy Expo.”
Favorite memories from the year include going to the Midwest Horse Fair and competing in the state CDE, according to Senior Gracie Vanvuren. Junior Allison Bussan said her standout memory was “helping weigh in tractors at the tractor pulls and hearing the stories that were being told.”

Year in review
The Merrill FFA Chapter has been active throughout the year, with members participating in the FFA State Livestock Qualifying Team, the FFA Floriculture Contest, and the Fall Mission/Impact Leadership Conference and Halftime Leadership Conference. Outside of formal competitions and events, members also took part in community and social events, including creating and entering a Homecoming float in the parade, visiting a haunted corn maze at Grace and Sophie’s Pumpkin Patch, ringing bells, helping with O’Tannenbaum, celebrating Culver’s birthday, sledding, and attending the World Dairy Expo in Madison. They also conducted wreath sales and fruit sales as fundraisers. Upcoming events will include FFA Volleyball; helping greet and serve attendees at a Swiderski Open House; Sectional Leadership Development Events and Career Development Events at MidState Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College with teams competing in Ag Tech & Mechanical Systems, Dairy, Floriculture, Horse, Livestock, Meats, Vet Science, and Wildlife, leading on to State Competition if they do well; the Midwest Horse Fair; the annual banquet; their Thank a Farmer event delivering 100 goodie bags to local farmers; Drive Your Tractor to School Day; the June Dairy Breakfast; the State Convention in Madison; and showing animals at the Lincoln County and Marathon County Fairs.

Getting involved
The Merrill chapter currently has 83 members: Kaylynn Allen, Dylan Anderson, Madisyn Anderson, Jaylyn Barnett, Bryce Bloch, Alana Brendemuehl, Karmen Brietzke, Allison Bussan, Brooklyn Clabots, Hailey Cole, Bethany Crockford, Isabel Deeren, Austin Depies, Bryanna Doerr, Chloe Faber, Jaedyn Goetsch, Miah Graap, Mason Grawey, Jana Gronholm, Lillee Haltinger, Tavin Heidemann, Elizabeth Herdt, Orion Hill, Anna Hintz, Mykenzie Hinz, Kylee Hoffman, Christopher Holz, Madyln Hunter, Waylon Jankowsky, Evelyn Johnson, Tristian Johnson, Katelyn Klimek, Kayla Klimek, Trenton Klimek, Madilyn Klump, Aiden Koebe, Sophie Koehler, Allie Kohnhorst, Bella Kottke, Alexis Kropp, Mylie Kufahl, Avery Lassa, Danica Lipke, Kinsey Literski, Levi Literski, Eli Lofink, Alexis Lonsdorf, Dezariah McDaniel, Irelyn Mulrooney, Miranda Osness, Alex Petrowski, Connor Rajeck, Hannah Rell, Kamryn Rindfleisch, Calvyn Rodgers, Daven Saeger, Issac Schmidt, Brianna Schmirler, Avaylnn Schult, Deylah Schulz, Hannah Sczgelski, Cadence Seliger, Jacob Shimel, Madi Skic, Brandon Skomars, Colton Smith, Bailee Sommer, Jase Steinagel, Ava Steinke, Trentyn Strand, Morgan Sturzenegger, Corbin Thomaschefsky, Caylinn Vandernest, Charlotte Vandernest, Jadon Vandernest, Gracie Vanvuren, Alexander Wegner, Jenna Weiss, Emily Winter, Matthew Woller, Natalia Woller, Merin Yates, and Shelby Yates.
For anyone considering joining, current members offer straightforward advice. Senior and FFA Reporter Alexis Kropp said new members should “get involved and go to any event you can,” and Sophomore and FFA Secretary Mylie Kufahl said, “Even if you don’t want to, always try new things.”
To learn more about joining FFA at MHS, contact Hartwig at school or by email at holly.hartwig@mapsedu.org.