The students attending the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis next month aren't the only ones getting all the attention on stage. The organization is bestowing its Honorary American FFA Degree on nearly 200 teachers, supporters and alumni during one of the convention sessions.
A small group of those recipients are from Wisconsin this year, including Wisconsin FFA Executive Director Cheryl Zimmerman and her late-husband, Mark Zimmerman, of Spencer, along with former high school and technical college educator Mike Sabel from Auburndale.
Cheryl Zimmerman taught agriculture at Waupaca and Stratford High Schools prior to leading the Wisconsin FFA Center, which she has done since 1993. Mark served as the ag instructor at Spencer High School for 33 years before he passed away in June of this year.
Sabel began his career teaching agriculture at Mayville and Auburndale High Schools. He then taught farm courses at Mid-State Technical College for 31 years, spending his days in the classroom with younger students, while holding night classes for active farm producers throughout central Wisconsin.
The Honorary FFA Degree is the highest honor which the FFA can bestow on a non-member. Recipients are nominated by local chapters or by state and national FFA staff.
The recipients are presented with plaques to thank them for their dedication to youth leadership development.
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