Spreading cheer, goodwill for nearly a decade

AUBURNDALE, Wis. — For nearly a decade, members of the Auburndale FFA Chapter have taken it upon themselves to conclude their celebration of National FFA Week by showing their appreciation for the farmers who reside within their school district.

“It started with the idea of goodwill and supporting our dairy farmers at the time,” said Mark Cournoyer, Auburndale FFA adviser. “It eventually expanded to include all our farmers: grain, beef, chickens. If they are a producer in our district, we hit them up.”

According to Cournoyer, the gift of appreciation has grown in both size and scope since its inception in 2015.

Kaeden Hasenohrl, a 2017 graduate of Auburndale High School, was involved in the project for three years.

“We would usually take a route that we were familiar with the farms or the area,” Hasenohrl said. “That meant most of the farmers knew us or knew our families, and we were able to have a conversation with them. That was my favorite part — being able to connect with them, even for five minutes. Everyone was always grateful, and it seemed like it was a highlight for them in the long winter.”

This year, chapter members visited 120 farms in the Auburndale School District, including 70 dairy farms.

“When we first started, the gift we delivered to the farmers consisted of a pint of milk from Kwik Trip and some homemade doughnuts from the Amish bakery,” Cournoyer said.

This year’s gift bags included a Weber’s Twist, a half-gallon of both chocolate and white milk, donated by Weber’s Farm Store; 2 pounds of cheese from Nasonville Dairy; a box of Kwik Trip doughnuts; a bag of dried cranberries; and a pair of gloves sourced from Illinois Glove Company and emblazoned with the Auburndale FFA logo.

The activity, which takes place on Friday, has become a highlight of the chapter’s National FFA Week activities for students. The Auburndale FFA Chapter consists of over 130 members from grades 6-12.

“This is a great way for our members to engage with our ag community,” said Allis Teska, a senior who serves as the chapter’s president. “Each year, the farmers look forward to what we bring them.”

Senior Sonya Merritt said that the support the community provides their chapter is invaluable.

“The farmers in our community are such great supporters of our activities,” Merritt said. “It’s nice to give back to them. We are able to attend so many events and conferences because the community supports us. We recently were able to go to the state Capitol and meet with staff members and elected officials to learn about things happening in our government that will affect us in the future.”

Students enjoy the memories as much as the farmers appreciate the gifts.

“There are a lot of great memories, visiting the different farms each year,” said junior Raymond Brummond. “Each year, you remember different things from the farms you go to. And, the different farm dogs always make it interesting.”

Steve and Shelly Becker milk 75 cows near Auburndale. Their son, Coleman, is a member of FFA and participates by delivering treats on a different route. The Beckers were finishing up their morning milking when a trio of students pulled into the driveway with treats in hand.

“It’s really nice to be thought of and appreciated,” Steve said. “The dairy industry, or farming in general, isn’t a great place to be lately. Seeing these kids interested and trying to make a difference helps a little.”

Shelly agreed.

“Sometimes, it is the little things that make a big difference,” Shelly said. “A little positivity can go a long way.”

Students, past and present, agreed that the benefits they reap from an event like the farmer appreciation project go both ways and stay with them far beyond the Friday of National FFA Week.

“FFA was a great experience, and the credit goes to Mr. Cournoyer and the community of Auburndale,” said Jenna Knapp, a 2015 graduate and past chapter officer. “Being able to share what we were doing in our chapter — the trips, the conferences, the activities — with the farmers in our community while delivering them milk and doughnuts, and throughout the year, was a highlight of my time in FFA.”