Laker Nation News

The Lake Land College Agriculture division hosted the Virtual 50th Annual Student Recognition Ceremony in April to recognize several students with awards and honors.

“A milestone like 50 certainly brings a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for our history and tradition of excellence,” Division Chair Agriculture/Agriculture Instructor Ryan Orrick said. “I am appreciative of all the past faculty members and students who have helped craft the Lake Land Agriculture Division into what it is today, and I would like to thank all of our current staff and Agriculture students for representing this great tradition.”

Orrick as well as several agriculture students offered congratulations and gratitude to agriculture students who were involved in campus activities, military service and who earned state and national awards.

For the 2020-21 school year, 23 agriculture students have held or currently hold FFA section office. Sixty students achieved state FFA degrees and 12 students achieved state proficiency.

Two students were national proficiency winners: Makenna Green, Arthur, in grain production and Tara Hummel, Cabery, in small animal production.

Three students were also state star winners including Green as Illinois State Star Farmer, Hummel as Illinois Star Placement and Tanner Mickey, Taylorville, as 2020 Illinois State Star Farmer.

Ten students achieved the American FFA Degree, one of highest honors student can achieve in an FFA career.

The Agriculture Division High GPA awards went to Christine Hoene, Sigel, for Horticulture; Jared Phillips, Lebanon, for John Deere Tech; Cole Dial, Louisville, for John Deere Tech; Drew Guebert, Moweaqua, for Agriculture Business; Nicholas Knowles, Marshall, for Agriculture Power; Katelynn Gingerich, Sullivan, for Agriculture Production and Green for Agriculture Transfer.

The Agriculture Division Outstanding Student awards went to Alexandra Johnston, Kansas, for Horticulture; Dial for John Deere Tech; Mallory Burgener, Shelbyville, for Agriculture Business; Sejin Ko Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, for Agriculture Power; Alex Probst, Wheeler, for Agriculture Production and Emmalyn Walk, Neoga, for Agriculture Transfer.

The 2020-2021 Lake Land College Agriculture Division Overall Outstanding Student award was presented to Hannah Tappendorf, Altamont.

The Agriculture Division Honored Alumnus award was presented to Shaun Casteel, a 1999 graduate of the Lake Land College Agriculture Transfer program. Casteel went on to earn a doctorate in soil science and is now employed at Purdue University as the extension’s Soy Bean and Small Grain Specialist.

The 2021 John Deere Tech graduates are Patrick Bell, Brocton; Wyatt Brownlee, Gibson City; Mark Corrigan, Pontiac; Cole Dial, Louisville; Eli Ennis, Charleston; Andrew Hagen, Aviston; Steven Holder, Raymond; Austin Huffman, Roachdale, IN; Clint Krug, Wingate, IN; Austin Laffoon, Wingate, IN; Zachary Lott, Jerseyville; Ian Lowry, Sadorus; Brady Moore, Hoopston; Jared Phillips, Lebanon; Max Pickel, Roachdale, IN; Skylar Rhoads, Mattoon; Ethan Stultz, Darlington, IN; Kaden Swanberg, Pontiac and Shane Young, Waynetown, IN.

The 2021 Horticulture graduates include Faith Camfield, Decatur; Dalton Denton, Saint Elmo, Mackinzie Fouty, Casey; Christine Hoene, Sigel; Alexandra Johnston, Kansas and Maxwell Neal, Williamsville.

The 2021 Agriculture Business graduates are Brooklyn Baugher, Shelbyville; Mallory Burgener, Moweaqua; Mason Campbell, Windsor; Bailey Cox, Charleston; Erin Forlines, Drew Guebert, Moweaqua; Assumption; Madeleine Hanson, Danforth; Dalton Lawless, Piper City; Chaney Niehart, Pana; Dawson Phillips, Newton; Trenton Pinnell, Kansas; Austin Sloan, Shelbyville; Jeffery Stoldt, Shumway and Faith Williams, Bingham.

The 2021 Agriculture Power Technology graduates include Nicholas Knowles, Marshall; Sejin Ko Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea and Marcus Neal, Jerseyville.

The 2021 Agriculture Production & Management graduates are Rhett Banman, Charleston; Layla Bennett, Linden, IN; Tucker Cripe, Shelbyville; Katelynn Gingerich, Sullivan, Jacob Lauffenburger, El Paso; Alex Probst, Wheeler; Nicholas Tarr, Newton and Garrett Tippit, Findlay.

The 2021 Agriculture Transfer graduates include Elizabeth Applegate, Casey; Beau Bennett, Windsor; Riley Bridgman, Neoga; Nathaniel Brookshire-Thompson, Woodland, CA; Nolan Burdett, Charleston; Brady Chaves, Effingham; Zachary Cline, Allenton, MI; Jessi Dust, Charleston; Alexis Elder, Sullivan; Makenna Green, Arthur; Ashtin Guyer, Flat Rock; Jarrett Hardiek, Teutopolis; Aaron Harrell, Charleston; Meliah Hennings, Lakewood; Macey Heselton, Herrick; Tara Hummel, Cabery; Cody Knodle, Fillmore; Hailey Lucht, Milford; Chayse Martin, Paris; Jacob Mayes, Greenup; Julianna Meier, Saunemin, IL; Emma Metzger, Charleston; Nicholas Mitchell, Kansas; Cassie Peters, Crescent City; Kaylee Phillips, Effingham; Daniel Reedy, Lovington; Dane Robertson, Monrovia, IN; Jaycie Schertz, El Paso; Sawyer Schlipf, El Paso; Katherine Smith, Marion; Hannah Tappendorf, Altamont; Royce Thompson, Herrick; Montana Tonn, Edgewood; Brianna Ulmer, Greenville; Dalaney Vickrey, Warren, IN; Jessica Voyles, Sullivan; Emmalyn Walk, Neoga and Travis Wilke, Olney.

To learn more about the Lake Land College Agriculture Division, visit lakelandcollege.edu/guided-pathways and explore the Agriculture area.