Bringing the blue and gold to Fond du Lac

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Blending Christian education with agricultural education is an endeavor that Winnebago Lutheran Academy is working hard at. The private school is in its fourth year of offering an agriculture curriculum and in its first year of chartering an FFA chapter — the only chapter in the Fond du Lac city school system.

“Families no longer have to choose between Christian education or agriculture — you can have both here,” said FFA advisor Cassandra Luedtke. “I think it’s cool that we are the only FFA chapter in Fond du Lac. This is a great outreach.”

The chapter was started in July 2025 and currently has 12 members, including four officers: president Hope Ibeling, vice president Clara Zastrow, secretary Daniel Ibeling and treasurer Jaiden Pinno.

“Although this year was challenging because we started school with no members and didn’t have officers until the second semester, it’s been a good year so far,” Luedtke said. “We’re looking for more opportunities to get out into the community next year.”

Many of the members have connections to agriculture, even if they do not come from a farm themselves, Luedtke said.

“Quite a few are interested in agriculture outside of the traditional farming background,” she said.

Current agriculture courses offered at Winnebago Lutheran Academy include introduction to agriculture, agribusiness and wildlife and conservation. Andy Pappenfuss is the school’s agriculture instructor.

“To have an FFA chapter, you must have a state-licensed or certified agriculture-endorsed teacher on staff,” Pappenfuss said. “Not every religious school has that, which is one reason why there are not a lot of FFA chapters in religious schools.”

Winnebago Lutheran Academy’s 330 students come from 30 congregations and more than 20 cities within a 50-mile radius. When deciding where to send their children to school, Luedtke said parents have to weigh the pros and cons of continuing with Christian education even though a school may not offer FFA.

“Some families have been involved in FFA for generations, and I think it’s important to continue that,” she said. “It’s neat that now we are able to offer that to them.”

The new FFA chapter continues to gain momentum throughout its inaugural year. Members attended the  national FFA convention as well as fall leadership workshops and two FIRE conferences put on by the state FFA.

Although the chapter is young, it has already experienced victories. Its four officers participated in Leadership Development Events, with two moving on from district to sectionals. They also attended Career Development Events at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where members competed on the veterinary science and milk quality teams at the regional level, and an  agricultural education participant competed at the state level.

“It’s cool to see them get excited about these things,” said Luedtke, who was once vice president of her FFA chapter in Beaver Dam. “It rejuvenates you. You might have a bad day in the classroom and then you’re taking students to an FFA conference, and they’re super excited about what they’ve learned and all the new opportunities they found out about.”

Pappenfuss said some members have shown animals at their county fair in the past and are glad they can do it through FFA now instead of 4-H.

“The membership is students who have gone out of their way, if you will,” Pappenfuss said. “As we increase our ag offerings, we will increase our membership. They will be active in FFA in their classwork experiences, Supervised Agricultural Experiences and off-school events. That’s exciting as we grow.”

Agriculture is alive and well in the classroom as students grow plants, incubate eggs and do other experiments.

“When the eggs hatch, we’re going to set up a kiddie pool for the chicks — no water —but it keeps the chicks in and the kids out,” Pappenfuss said. “We’re going to start taxidermy too.”

Many people made the school’s FFA chapter possible through their support and interest, Pappenfuss said. When starting the agriculture education program four years ago, the school created an agricultural advisory group consisting of area farmers and people working in agriculture.

“They are the ones who suggested an intro to ag business class because there is so much out there besides putting seed in the ground,” Pappenfuss said. “That entity of 10-plus people has been a good focus for us.”

Once the FFA chapter was established, a group known as “FFA Alumni and Supporters” was also formed.

“It’s made up of basically anyone in the community who wants to support the chapter through time, money, talent or otherwise,” Pappenfuss said. “We had 35-40 people come to our first meeting. It knocked our socks off.”

Luedtke said their supporters not only provide ideas, but they also implement them.

“They’re doing the work versus handing it off to us,” she said. “They’re putting it into action.”

Many dairy farmers are involved in this group.

“We have a lot of people who love to support agriculture,” Pappenfuss said. “The Lord has blessed farmers in our area and blessed us to be on that side of the coin.”

The chapter’s initial reach into the community occurred right before Easter when they donated lettuce they had grown to the Fond du Lac food pantry. This summer, the chapter is also planning to help at the Wisconsin State Fair in the Discovery Barn.

“In the works is a big  community event in August with alumni and supporters,” Pappenfuss said. “From there, the year will start to roll. Everybody wants to show their support.”

The FFA chapter is also looking for ways to reach out to the school community. When celebrating FFA week, Luedtke and Pappenfuss held a petting zoo in the agriculture classroom. Students brought in rabbits, chicks, goats and a calf, and over half of the student body stopped by.

“It was a full house,” Pappenfuss said.

Next year, the school is doubling its agricultural education offerings, going from three semesters of classes to six semesters. New courses include plant and animal classes with additional sections of current classes. Luedtke,
who currently teaches biology and anatomy, will be joining Pappenfuss in teaching agriculture courses.

This summer, the school will begin preparing the site of a new campus that will have 40 acres dedicated to its agriculture program. The new property will contain an animal lab, an orchard, food plots and a 5-acre pond.

“The possibilities are endless,” Pappenfuss said. “When you walk off the parking lot, you’ll be walking into an agricultural environment. It’s exciting. I can’t imagine in 10 years what other things will be on the campus than what we currently have planned.”