ND FFA Foundation

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1982-1983 State Officer Team


Back Row: Left to Right -- Jim Hennessy (NW Region Vice President from Berthold), Mike Tokach (SW Region Vice President from Mandan), Johns Carlson (President from Wyndmere), Jack Keller (NE Region Vice President from Bisbee)

Front Row: RaeDeen Heupel (Secretary from Bowman), Joel Janke (State Advisor), Joan Braaten (SE Region Vice President from Kindred), Lynelle Jordheim (Sweetheart from Kindred)

JOHN CARLSON: 
Farms and ranches near McLeod , ND .  John has worked for Bobcat as a welder for 18 years.  His fondest memories include going to banquets and getting to meet the members.  John also stays busy as a 4-H leader, is president of the 4-H Council, and is chairman of the local township board.
MIKE TOKACH:  

I have been married for 19 years to Lisa (Thomas) Tokach, who I met at NDSU. We have three children, Sage (11), Rogan (9), and Fiona (7). We live in Abilene Kansas where Lisa is a partner in a veterinary clinic. I am a professor in Animal Science at Kansas State University . I am a swine nutritionist and the state extension leader for Animal Science.

I have two "fondest" memories of FFA, one  as a state officer and one as a beginning Greenhand. My Greenhand memory was walking into the sea of Blue at the national convention (held at that time in Kansas City ) and being amazed at the enormity and energy in the organization and my strong desire to be back in that setting as a competitor in national contests and as a state delegate. My favorite memory as a state officer was the camaraderie between officers at Greenhand Camp and during retirement speeches at the state convention.

It is hard to believe that it has been 25 years since I was on the state FFA officer team. Besides family, I credit my experiences in North Dakota 4-H and FFA for any successes that I have had in my life. It was an excellent experience. Three of the five people on my current "team" (swine nutritionists that work closely together) were state FFA officers at one time. The other two were in Kansas and South Dakota . We also had a  former national officer as a graduate student and a load of state officers from various locals as undergraduates. As you would expect, they are outstanding students. It is a small world, especially with all the FFA connections. 

JACK KELLER:

Married to former state officer from Ohio , Lynn Hamilton and has two daughters; ages 10 and 13.  He is living in Howell , Michigan (which is about 35 miles from Lansing ).  Jack sells advertising for Progressive Farmer Magazine and got to attend the 2007 National Convention recently to cheer on his wife as she received her Honorary American Degree.

Fondest memory of FFA….huh?  That’s a bit like asking a kid which piece of Halloween candy he/she liked best.  Certainly, being married to a past state FFA officer from Ohio would have to be on the list of great things about FFA.

My fondest memory as a member would have been being selected to participate in the Work Experience Abroad (WEA) program to Japan .  I traveled there in the fall of ’83 and the trip started a life long interest in worldly travel. I still stay in touch with my host family. I studied Japanese for two years while I was at NDSU and after returning from my initial WEA experience, I subsequently traveled to Italy and Kenya on similar programs.  Hard to believe that a small town kid from Bisbee , North Dakota would be able to meet people and make friends all over the world.

My fondest memory as a state officer was probably the state FFA Convention in June of 1983.  It completed a very wonderful year and it really solidified in my mind that one of the great things that FFA does is to help young men and women understand that they’re part of  something much larger than their own chapter.  I served as state officer my senior year in high school and it was just an outstanding experience.

Darwin Baerwald was my FFA Advisor and was an extremely positive influence in my life.  My parents were also very influential in their support of my FFA involvement.

RAEDEEN HUEPEL:

I don't have any earth-shattering news or discoveries.  You have caught me in the middle of re-locating!  I left Thursday for my parents' home in Sturgis (they relocated from Bowman in 1989).  My dad sold most of his horses as he has lymphoma.  We pray that this blood cancer goes back into remission.

 However, I am trying to settle down and am currently dating a gentleman that attended the same high school.  I don't have any children and have never married.

The plans are gelling for me to move back to Bowman.  I moved to Richey, MT in January 2005 to teach agricultural education and then bought a home here in August 2005.  My most recent work has been substitute teaching and other part time work. 

 I serve as executive director for Miss Montana 's Outstanding Teen Scholarship Program.  Currently six other ladies serve on this board and it is a wonderful experience working with them and the talented teens from across Montana .  This responsibility also has me serving as Vice President of the Miss Montana board of directors.

 FFA helped me grow by providing many opportunities that I became involved in.  My senior year, 1982, there was a certain amount of excitement for me as our Bowman FFA Chapter received the 1st place quiz team, 1st place farm management team, and then I was nominated as the state secretary.

 During my year as secretary I enjoyed conducting FFA visits.  Perhaps the most humbling visit of all was when I had a flat tire on my way to a banquet and had to return to NDSU to borrow a classmates car so I could be present at the banquet. 

 Our leadership camp in the southeastern corner of the state was quite memorable.  We worked with excellent FFA members there as well as the Greenhand Camp held in Bismarck .  The Greenhand Camp had not been held in quite a few years and we had wonderful attendance.

 I served with fellow leaders that I continue to admire today and I appreciate the guidance that Mr. Straquadine and Mr. Janke provided.   Very instrumental in my whole FFA career was my local chapter advisor, Dale Carpentier.

 It was disappointing to never receive the American FFA Degree but I trod onward and participated in the international program known as Work Experience Abroad (WEA) in 1985.   I received a USIA grant to Austria and met two wonderful families that I continue to maintain contact with.  This experience even allowed me an opportunity to learn the German language.

 May the advisors across the state know the impact your work has upon young people.  Stay positive and may you have a great serving spirit in your community and the state of North Dakota .

 Lovingly I Serve,

RaeDeen Heupel
82-83 ND FFA Secretary

JOAN BRAATEN-GRABANSKI

Family : Married to Raymond for 20 years.  Two children, Shelby, 10, and Bryce, 4.

Living: Kindred, ND

Profession: Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics, self employed

Fondest memory of FFA:  There are many fond memories during the FFA but probably the most important attributes I acquired during the FFA were leadership and public speaking.  I think back and realize I use those two qualities extensively in my Mary Kay business.  FFA was the foundation and the springboard for developing those skills.  The sales skills also were born and groomed during the FFA years and I love today the art of communicating with people and finding their need and filling it.  Thanks to the FFA for introducing those skills and fine tuning them in a very supportive and positive environment.  My job in Mary Kay today is to empower other women to be the best they can be with the talents God gave them and to help women feel good about themselves.  I also teach them how to become financially independent, sell the product, and to grow personally.  Isn't it interesting that I was taught all these things during the FFA years?  FFA is the foundation for life skills.  Thank you FFA!
LYNELLE JORDHEIM BACHMEIER
JIM HENNESSY:  

First of all it's hard to believe it's been 25 years! Well here goes: My wife Lori and I have 5 children and live in Stanley, ND.  Our children are Casey 14, Colby 12, Bobbi 11, Calli 5, and Caiti 3.  I am presently working for NDSU Extension Service as a county agent.  My life is very involved with kids of my own and through the 4-H and FFA kids in Mountrail County and North Dakota.  I see John at the jr. livestock shows across teh state and enjoy his friendship and old memories.  

My fondest memory of FFA was probably being able to compete at the National Livestock Showmanship Contest and attending the National FFA Conventions.  (I even attend as a chaperone for the Stanley FFA).  As for being a state FFA officer, the fondest memory was the many, many chapter banquets I attended - even the one I was late for!  I got picked up for speeding!  $80 and nondeductible or able to expense out.  I looked at our state officer photo the other day and it scared me to think how long ago that was and how soon my own will be that age.

Rae Deen Huepel (raedeenh@yahoo.com)

Mike Tokach (mtokach@ksu.edu)

Jack Keller (jack.keller@progressivefarmer.com)

Jim Hennessey (james.hennessy@ndsu.edu)

Lynelle Jordheim Bachmeier (blbachmeier@daktel.com)

Joan Braaten-Grabanski (joangrabanski@surfmk.com)

 

Ths page is sponsored by the ND Grain Growers Association
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Last modified: April 22, 2008