We are wrapping up our posts of highlights from the GFW Pioneer Express FFA for now! The two Business Delegates representing GFW are Matthew Burns and Carson Lee. Our delegates are our official voting representation to all business matters that are presented at the State FFA Convention. Each chapter in the state has two delegates that attend special sessions and training.
Congratulations to FFA Students Annie Wersal, Nicole Deuhn, William Bastian, Luke Bastian, and Brad Wersal for their achievements in Dairy Cattle Evaluation! These students evaluated dairy cattle based on physical characteristics for both heifers and cows and worked together as a team on a knowledge test and DHIA herd records test. They are learning specialized skills to help them succeed in the Dairy Industry!
Let’s hear it for Abby Willegal, Eden Messerli, Luxie Jasinski, Maddy Lee, and Matthew Lee for their achievements in Companion Animal Science! In this contest participants work on different skills as it relates to Companion (Pet) Science. They learn lots of different breeds of animals along with veterinarian techniques to help them prepare for a career dealing with animals.
Some GFW Middle School students had a great time earlier this week taking in a St. Paul Saints game as part of a PBIS rewards day. It was a beautiful day for baseball!
William Bastian is a State Star finalist in Production Placement based on his SAE working on his family farm Bastian Dairy. He was named a Regional Star winner and then advanced on to State competition where he has been selected as one of the four finalists from the pool of 8 candidates. Great job William!
Let’s celebrate another FFA achievement! Eden Messerli is up as a State Star Finalist based on her SAE as a Lifeguard at the Gaylord Aquatic Center. She was one of eight regional finalists and now has been selected as a State Star finalist. Congratulations!
Today is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! We are always grateful for our incredible team of drivers and we hope that you'll join us in sharing that gratitude and appreciation today. Thank You Bus Drivers!
Earning a state degree in FFA is a huge achievement! Abby Willegal was named a Regional Star Farmer for her SAE project “Abby’s Rabbitry” where she breeds and raises different breeds of show rabbits. By winning the region level award she advanced to the state level selection of Star Farmer. Congratulations!
Congratulations to FFA Foundation Ambassador Lane Olson! Lane will serve the MN FFA Foundation through the State FFA Convention by meeting with donors and sponsors and promoting MN FFA.
The GFW Pioneer Express FFA has had a great year! We are going to be celebrating some of the achievements of our talented students in the coming weeks.
First up, let’s hear some excitement and encouragement for our students who participated in the Best Informed Greenhand test this year!
Back Row: August Radloff, Isaac Beckendorf, Kofax Rose, Brenden Lee. Ellie Weber. Kaydence Jutz
Front Row: Kjerssa Jasinski, Anika Lee, Kelly Willegal, Grace Bunkers, Mason Olson, Claire Messerli, Sofia Nachreiner
Not Pictured: Joe Beranek
This year GFW High School had seven students enter work into the MHSHS Visual Arts Competition. Every GFW student who participated received a superior ranking in their chosen categories including:
- Juny Mencia-Vega: Superior Rating in Drawing and Painting Category (Submitted two works.)
-Yolanda Villarreal: Superior Rating in Drawing
-Ashley Vos: Superior Rating in Painting
-Edel Chacon Reyes: Superior Rating in Sculpture
-Faith Maiers: Superior Rating in Sculpture. She also received a spotlight award for her project. This means she has the option to go to state!
-Desirae Schmidt: Superior Rating in Computer-Based Artwork
-Addison "Sage" Long: Superior Rating in 2D Mixed Media/Collage
This is a wonderful achievement! Congratulations artists!
GFW Community Bus Update: Because of the holiday and schools and district offices being closed, the bus will not be out in Winthrop this week. We will see you next week at GFW MS/HS in Winthrop.
The TCA Production of Anastasia is holding auditions on Sunday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 6. Get more information and get ready to give your best audition!
Thursday, April 17 will be an early release day and there is no school on Friday, April 18!
GFW NHS students worked at the Sibley County Seniors Expo today serving lunch to seniors. The county organizes presentations of interest and entertainment for senior citizens in the county and students helped serve lunch and clean up afterwards. Way to serve the community!
Join us for another Community Education Trip!
We’re headed to the Ives Auditorium in Bloomington where we’ll begin with an included lunch of creamy chicken breast with roasted red potatoes, glazed carrots, coleslaw, dinner rolls, assorted desserts, coffee or hot tea. (Special dietary meals available by request ahead of time.) Then we’ll head to the theater for Perfect Wedding: A Riotous Comedy and Touching Love Story About The Big Day That Goes Hilariously Wrong! A groom wakes up on the morning of his wedding day with a hangover and a strange woman in his bed. Mix in the bride, her mother, the best man, and a maid that knows too much, and you have a recipe for disaster. Wedding bells or running for the hills? Their big day will be far from a piece of cake!
Bus will pick up in Fairfax at the old Middle School at 8:30 a.m., in Gibbon on the west side of the building at 8:45 a.m. and in Winthrop at the MS/HS bus loop at 9 a.m. Bus will return to Winthrop at approximately 5 p.m., Gibbon at 5:15 p.m. and Fairfax at 5:30 p.m.
Cost is $106
A popular ECFE tradition returns on May 2! Come and enjoy time at Carlson’s Llovable Llamas with us! We will get a tour of the farm, we will play in the pen with the baby llamas, trail walk with your own llama and brush and help feed the llamas. What a fun day!
When: Friday, May 2, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Bus leaves Fairfax @ 9 a.m.
Gibbon @ 9:15 a.m.
Winthrop @ 9:30 a.m.
Cost: $14/child $5/adult
Pack a lunch and we will eat at the farm!
Registration is required by April 24.
We will leave the farm at 12:45 p.m.and be back to Winthrop by 1:30 p.m., Gibbon 1:45 p.m. and Fairfax 2 p.m.
It's almost time to take the ACT! The test will be held on Tuesday, April 22 at GFW from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Students were sent a link to sign-up but if they need it again, they can email Mr. Werner, Ms. Chandler, or Mr. Wasmund. Students need to sign up for the test by Monday, April 14.
Check out the latest updates on the PreK-12 Facility this week! You can catch up on the process on the facility progress page: https://gfwschools.org/o/gfw-schools/page/building-updates
Did the morning commute to GFW High School seem a little different today? It must be the 2025 Tractor Parade!
