After 35 years of dedication to students in FFA, Kerry Lindgren of Staples will shine in the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame. He is one of eight inductees this year.
Lindgren served as the Staples-Motley FFA adviser for 32 years before his retirement. He has been an FFA adviser for 36 years total, starting with his career at Foley High School.
He went on to complete a fellowship at the University of Minnesota to help create an urban agriculture high school, and after completing his groundwork and development of the Academy for Sciences and Agriculture in Vadnais Heights, he began teaching at Staples-Motley. The FFA chapter and members have achieved numerous awards and accomplishments. The chapter completes an annual program of activities that focuses on growing leaders, strengthening agriculture and building communities.
Lindgren also had several leadership roles in the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators and has received the Outstanding Agricultural Educator Award, Agri-science Teacher Award and has served as the Region 2 FFA advisor. He was named FFA Advisor of the Year in 2019 and has also received an honorary American FFA Degree.
“I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life, and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task,” the last paragraph of the FFA Creed reads.
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Lindgren carries on the community torch with projects like delivering Central Minnesota Barn Quilts and as a member of the Lions Club and Minnesota Deer Hunters Association.
Other 2022 Hall of Fame inductees include Pat Dingels of Redwood Falls; Charles Krause of Buffalo; Becky Meyer of Vadnais Heights; Ronald Sommers of Northfield; Dave Swanson of Hawley; Erman Ueland of Fertile; and Stan Vander Kooi of Buffalo.
A selection committee consisting of FFA members, alumni, agricultural educators and foundation representatives selected the final inductees.
“We were looking for individuals who have been influential and supportive of Minnesota FFA and who have demonstrated a high level of service and longstanding commitment to agriculture, agribusiness, and/or education in agriculture,” said Steve Olson, co-chair of the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Committee.
Inductees were introduced at the 2022 Minnesota FFA Alumni and Supporters Annual Meeting on March 5. The inductees will also be recognized at the Minnesota FFA State Convention during the opening general session on Sunday, April 24.
The Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame has included 222 members since 2004. The Hall of Fame is a collaborative effort between the Minnesota FFA Association, Alumni and Foundation.
The Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame selection criteria is based on:
- Contributions and service the candidate has provided to agriculture/agribusiness, to education in agriculture and FFA. Consideration should be given to longevity.
- Leadership to the candidate’s profession, to agriculture, to education and to the FFA;
- Career accomplishments, honors and recognition;
- FFA leadership at the local, state, and national level;
- Leadership and support to other agriculturally related organizations and/or agencies;
- Responsibilities, leadership and/or services to non-agricultural groups and organizations;
- Participation and support of philanthropic endeavors;
- Service to and participation in activities which promote agriculture, citizenship, education and the FFA.
