The Waubay FFA Chapter recently concluded another successful year of leadership and agricultural excellence, gathering to recognize member achievements and officially seat the officer team for the upcoming school year.
Honoring Excellence: Member Degrees and Awards
The chapter honored several students for their dedication to personal growth and agricultural skill development.
• Greenhand Degree: Rhianna Jorgenson and Mackenzie Zubke
• Chapter FFA Degree: Caley Boik, Callie Weyh, Bailey Utne, and Sage Gaikowski.
• Individual Honors:
o Growth Award: Rhianna Jorgenson
o Leadership Award: Callie Weyh
o Effort Award: Raelee Ellingson
Seniors, Kayce Berger, Callie Weyh, Teegan Gaikowski and Tripp Gaikowski received their FFA Cord for Graduation.
Leading the Way: Officer Transition
Special recognition was given to the outgoing officers for their commitment over the past year: Kayce Berger (President), Caley Boik (VP), Callie Weyh (Student Advisor), Cash Gaikowski (Secretary), Witten Butler (Treasurer), Bailey Utne (Sentinel), Rhianna Jorgenson (Reporter), and Sage Gaikowski (Historian).
In a traditional installation ceremony, the newly elected Officer Team was officially seated:
• President: Caley Boik
• Vice President: Sage Gaikowski
• Student Advisor: Rhianna Jorgenson
• Secretary: Mackenzie Zubke
• Treasurer: Daisy Rumpza
• Sentinel: Bailey Utne
• Reporter: Lindsey Butler
• Historian: Hope Johnson
• Parliamentarian: Raelee Ellingson
Advancing to State: Career Development Events (CDEs)
Following a competitive season, the chapter is proud of all the students who represented Waubay at the 98th South Dakota FFA State Convention in Brookings, April 20 – 22nd.
• Ag Mechanics: Cash Gaikowski, Bo Berger, Witten Butler, and Brady Berger.
• Horse Evaluation: Krew Gaikowski, Teegan Gaikowski, Kayce Berger, and Tripp Gaikowski.
• Agronomy: Aiden Butler and Trace Gaikowski.
• Floriculture: Daisy Rumpza.
• Milk Quality & Products: Dayzon Soldier and Jett Berger.
• Meat Evaluation: Blake Gaikowski.
Wednesday, April 22nd, during the final session of the State Convention, Waubay was officially recognized as a New Chapter! This is an exciting milestone for our program and school community.
A special thank you goes out to our senior members—Kayce Berger, Tripp Gaikowski, Callie Weyh, and Teegan Gaikowski (not pictured). These students played a large role in getting our chapter off the ground through their leadership, dedication, and willingness to step up and try something new. Their efforts have created opportunities that will benefit Waubay students for years to come.
We are so proud of these seniors and grateful for the legacy they are leaving behind!
Reflecting on the year’s success, Advisor Kennedy Hoven shared her pride in this years students' development:
“So proud of this group and everything we’ve built together this year. There’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of laughs, and a lot of memories that don’t always show up in the awards, but they matter just as much. FFA is more than the jackets and the contests—it’s the people.”