2025 State SAE Grant Recipients
The Kansas FFA Foundation, in partnership with its generous sponsors, has announced the recipients of the 2025 Kansas FFA State Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) Grants. These grants, each worth $500, will support FFA members as they develop their agriculture-related projects across the state.
The SAE grants are designed to provide financial assistance to students pursuing hands-on agricultural experiences that enhance their leadership, business, and technical skills. Recipients were selected based on the strength of their project proposals.
2025 SAE Grant Recipients and Sponsors by District:
East Central District:
- Pete Neis, Eudora FFA Chapter, sponsored by Kansas Corn
- Dakota Brown, Mission Valley FFA Chapter (Eskridge), sponsored by Kansas Grain Sorghum
- Dylan Funk, Mission Valley FFA Chapter (Eskridge), sponsored by MFA Oil
- Conner Hoelting, Mission Valley FFA Chapter (Eskridge), sponsored by MFA Oil
- Grace Johnston, Mission Valley FFA Chapter (Eskridge), sponsored by MFA Oil
- Lilly Bedtke, Tonganoxie FFA Chapter, sponsored by Kansas Corn
- Veda Alvarez, Tonganoxie FFA Chapter, sponsored by Harris Crop Insurance
North Central District:
- Kayley McGuire, Beloit FFA Chapter, sponsored by Harris Crop Insurance
- Evea Dunstan, Blue Valley FFA Chapter (Randolph), sponsored by Kansas Grain Sorghum
- Isabel Wright, Blue Valley FFA Chapter (Randolph), sponsored by Harris Crop Insurance
- Peighton Harris, Chapman FFA Chapter, sponsored by Pinnacle Bank
- Katie Stoffer, Chapman FFA Chapter, sponsored by Pinnacle Bank
- Mallory Dobrinski, Ellsworth FFA Chapter, sponsored by Harris Crop Insurance
- Liam Voelker, Linn FFA Chapter, sponsored by United Bank and Trust
- Eli Olander, Southeast of Saline FFA Chapter (Gypsum), sponsored by Kansas Soybean
- McKenzie Baker, Washington County FFA Chapter (Washington), sponsored by United Bank and Trust
- Rowley Keesecker, Washington County FFA Chapter (Washington), sponsored by United Bank and Trust
- Witt Keesecker, Washington County FFA Chapter (Washington), sponsored by United Bank and Trust
Northeast District:
- Kale Koch, Frankfort FFA Chapter, sponsored by MKC
- Sadie Wessel, Frankfort FFA Chapter, sponsored by Kansas Soybean
- Carson Edelman, Nemaha Central FFA Chapter (Seneca), sponsored by OMYA
- Derek Wurtz, Nemaha Central FFA Chapter (Seneca), sponsored by Kansas Corn
- Harry Langill, Nemaha Central FFA Chapter (Seneca), sponsored by Kansas Grain Sorghum
- Jace Johnson, Royal Valley FFA Chapter (Hoyt), sponsored by Kansas Corn
South Central District:
- Will Hanen, Buhler FFA Chapter, sponsored by MKC
- Cole Dieball, Little River FFA Chapter, sponsored by MKC
- Ava Bales, Wellington FFA Chapter, sponsored by Harris Crop Insurance
- Autumn RossUnderwood, Winfield FFA Chapter, sponsored by Alan & Deanna Sents
Southeast District:
- Caleb Merrick, Labette County FFA Chapter (Altamont), sponsored by Kansas Corn
- Drew Schibi, Labette County FFA Chapter (Altamont), sponsored by Kansas Soybean
- Haiden Edens-Ranes, Caney FFA Chapter, sponsored by Kansas Soybean
- Wyatt Kepley, Labette County FFA Chapter (Altamont), sponsored by Kansas Soybean
- Shelby Sprague, Marmaton Valley FFA Chapter (Moran), sponsored by Kansas Soybean
“The SAE Grant program is a cornerstone of the Kansas FFA Foundation’s mission to empower young leaders in agriculture,” said Beth Gaines, Executive Director of the Kansas FFA Foundation. “Thanks to the support of our sponsors, these students will have the opportunity to advance their agricultural projects and make meaningful contributions to their communities.”
“Investing in young leaders is investing in the future of agriculture,” said Mike Smith, Chairman of the Kansas FFA Foundation Board of Trustees. “These grants demonstrate the collective commitment of our sponsors and community to fostering growth, innovation, and leadership among Kansas FFA members.”