FFA stars recognized during recent Kansas convention
The 97th Kansas FFA Convention featured many awards and recognized future stars in agriculture during the annual event May 28 to 30, on the campus of Kansas State University.
Kansas FFA state officers elected
The 2025-26 Kansas FFA state officer team was announced and installed at the final session of the 97th Kansas FFA Convention, May 28 to 30, on the Kansas State University campus.
The team includes: President Lilly Hulse, from the Minneapolis FFA Chapter;
vice president Dustin Denton, from the Valley Heights FFA Chapter; secretary Marisa Wasinger, from the Hays FFA Chapter; treasurer Maggie Chandler, from the Neodesha FFA Chapter; reporter Bricen Benyshek, from the Concordia FFA Chapter; and sentinel Ally Rietcheck, from the Pike Eudora FFA Chapter
The officers’ year of service will include chapter visits, hosting various FFA workshops, attending contests and helping plan next year’s Kansas FFA State Convention.
Recognition
Valley Heights FFA member Dustin Denton was recognized as the State Star Farmer, one of the association’s top honors.
Each year, the Kansas FFA Association recognizes three FFA members who have the top Supervised Agricultural Experience programs with the Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Ag Placement awards. The Star competitions are sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Kansas, United Bank and Trust and Kansas Farm Bureau.
Denton’s SAE is in Beef Entrepreneurship and Beef Placement. Through his entrepreneurship SAE, Denton has built a profitable and continually expanding cattle operation, now managing a herd of 32 mature cows. His responsibilities and sources of income have diversified as his business has grown. In his placement SAE, Denton works at Springhill Herefords, where he has gained valuable experience in daily cattle operations and developed skills in machinery operation. His next steps include attaining a doctor of veterinary medicine degree to practice on large animals in rural Kansas, while also continuing to grow his personal cowherd.
Denton is the son of John and Angela Denton. His FFA chapter advisor is Carrie Husband. Other finalists include: Northcentral District, Josie Kueser, Ellsworth FFA; Southcentral District, Jase Beltz, Canton-Galva FFA; and Southeast District, Maggie Chandler, Neodesha FFA.
State STAR in Ag Placement
Neodesha FFA member Tucker Leck was recognized as the State Star in Ag Placement
Leck’s SAE is in agriculture placement at Leck Family Enterprises. His role supports a diverse operation focused on producing high-quality show pigs, French Bulldogs and farm-fresh eggs. The swine herd includes 20 sows with an emphasis on crossbred and purebred genetics, while the French Bulldog program consists of 16 females and two males. Leck also helps manage a 39-hen egg facility, focusing on nutrition and biosecurity. With more than2,500 hours invested since his freshman year, he has gained hands-on experience in swine production, neonatal care, breeding and feed management.
Other finalists include: East-central District, Mason Mitzner, Prairie View FFA; Northcentral District, Landon Albrecht, Southeast of Saline FFA; Northeast District, Madeline Bontrager, Holton FFA, Northwest District, Adleigh Ziegler, Hoxie FFA; Southcentral District, Jackson McCurry, Andale FFA; and Southwest District, Grady Gleason, Garden City FFA.
State Star in Agribusiness
Lyndon FFA member Ethan Kneisler was recognized as the State Star in Agribusiness.
Kneisler has two SAE projects: Jimmy’s Custom Wrapping and Kneisler Cattle Service. He launched Jimmy’s Custom Wrapping in 2021 after purchasing a Vermeer bale wrapper, offering baleage services to local producers. His second business, Kneisler Cattle Service, began in 2020 and includes clipping, fitting and artificial insemination services for cattle producers. Both businesses have grown steadily with the support and guidance of his parents.
Other finalists include: Northcentral District, McKenzie Baker, Washington County FFA; Northeast District, Noah Bartel, Holton FFA, Northwest District, Clay Guttery, Osborne FFA; and Southcentral District, Emilee Remmers, Centre FFA.
Honorary FFA recipients
Three individuals were honored for their support of the Kansas FFA with their Honorary FFA Degree.
Kasie Bogart is the advisor for the Arkansas City FFA Chapter and currently serves as the 2024–2025 president of the Kansas Association of Agricultural Educators. She is a Kansas native and former FFA member from the Arkansas City FFA Chapter.
Mike Smith currently serves as the chair of the Kansas FFA foundation board. He is the founder and chairman of Ag 1 Source, a sponsor of the Employability Skills Leadership Development Event. Smith was named the Kansas FFA Star Farmer in 1972.
Beth Stuewe currently serves as the director of online student success and advising at Kansas State University Online. A former FFA member from the Girard FFA Chapter, Stuewe has been a dedicated volunteer at the Kansas FFA State Convention since 2009, most notably serving as the director of registration for the past 13 years.
Broeckelman receives VIP award
Robert Broeckelman, Wichita, received the VIP Citation Award for his exceptional service to Kansas FFA.
Broeckelman has been a lifelong advocate and supporter of Kansas FFA, beginning as a member of the Oakley FFA Chapter. He served as Kansas FFA State vice president in 1966–1967 and later helped launch the first Washington Leadership Conference in 1970–1971. After graduating from K-State, he taught agriculture in Norton, Kansas, for five years, then returned to Manhattan to serve as state executive secretary for Kansas FFA for another five years.
Following his time with FFA, Broeckelman spent 33 years with Farm Credit before retiring. His dedication has left a lasting legacy in the Kansas FFA community, and the organization was honored to recognize his exceptional service and lifelong commitment to FFA through the VIP Citation this year.
FFA VIP Citation Awards are bestowed upon individuals who have dedicated many years of service to FFA and agricultural education, supporting the leadership and experiences provided by FFA.
