District Administrators Corner

by Loren Glasbrenner,  River Valley School District Administrator  As students walk in our doors this week, and start a journey, we are highlighting the journey of one of our recent graduates.  It is so important to have a vision, and this River Valley student set her sights on a mountain she hoped to climb. Mia Hillebrand of the River Valley FFA Chapter was elected to a year of service as a State FFA Officer during the Wisconsin FFA Convention.  Shari Graffunder is her FFA advisor.  Jonathan and Kari Hillebrand are her parents.  This is an honor for our school community, our local FFA chapter, and an honor for her and her family.  The years of support and hard work to make it to this elite status of service is incredible. As well as serving, Mia is a student at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College pursuing an associate degree in Agriculture Business & Technology with an emphasis in animal science. After graduation, she will pursue a degree in Agricultural Education at UW-Platteville.  Her career goal is to become an agriculture educator.  As an officer, student, and agriculturalist, Mia’s experience is with Swine Production, Food Service, and Agriculture Education.  You may recognize her from her time working at Prem Meats and Catering. Mia Hillebrand has served as the River Valley FFA reporter, secretary, and vice president.  She created an “Agriculture in the Classroom” program involving district’s second and third grade classes where she is a teacher’s agriculture mentor and brings agriculture activities to the students.  She has competed in fairs, attended numerous leadership conferences (including Washington Leadership Conference) and participated in many local service projects.  Mia was named 2021 State Winner of the Wisconsin State FFA Discussion Meet.  Not only does Mia know her content, she can speak and persuade with the best of them.  She is an ideal candidate to teach children about the importance of agriculture in today’s world. “It is my goal,” says Hillebrand, “with great drive and passion to inspire my peers, who are the future of agriculture, to become involved in the great opportunities that Wisconsin FFA has to offer.”  What is also an incredible asset to the River Valley School District is the connections and opportunities she is developing for our future students.  This work is about creating a vision and this opportunity will help Mia as she strengthens her leadership skills and helps her home district.   Clearly, we are proud of Mia, but we are also proud of how River Valley remains a leader in work outside of brick and mortar.  The educators continue, through all difficult circumstances, to seek out ways to involve our students in inspiring rigorous and relevant experiences.  As the saying from Andy Rooney states, ““Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” We look forward to continuing the journey for our River Valley students as we return for the 2021-22 school year