CHATFIELD — Every Chatfield FFA student who applies for a Jared Hammell Memorial Scholarship can receive funds to support their career aspirations thanks to an annual volleyball tournament.
“This is very much a grassroots program,” said Stacy Fritz, Chatfield FFA adviser. “When we were starting out we were raising about $5,000 after expenses, everyone helped with everything, Over the years the silent auction portion has blossomed into something amazing.”
The 2026 Jared Hammell Memorial Volleyball Tournament was held March 14 at the Chatfield Public Schools gym in Chatfield.
Jared was a member of the local chapter who died in a car accident in 2002. The event has been put on by the Chatfield FFA Chapter for the past 25 years in his memory.
Funds raised during the event go toward scholarships for Chatfield FFA seniors who apply.
“It started with academic scholarships, but we expanded (it) to include trades because it is important to support the kids who are going into those areas, too,” Fritz said. “This way, students can also use the scholarship money to buy tools or equipment that they will need to start college or their career.”
Every student who applies receives a scholarship ranging from $750 to $2,000, depending on their involvement in the tournament and FFA throughout the year, Fritz said.
Jared’s parents, Bernie and June Hammell, and a committee decide how much each student receives for their scholarship.
“When I first got here, Bernie and June were not sure how long the tournament was going to last, but I said, ‘We have a great thing going here, let’s keep it going,’” Fritz said.
Aside from the volleyball tournament entry fees, money is raised through T-shirt sales, concessions and a silent auction. Since 2020, the silent auction has been online through Becker Auction LLC.
Chatfield FFA members, especially upperclassmen, are involved in every aspect of the tournament, including getting donations for the silent auction baskets, selling T-shirts, setting up and cleaning up at the event, and refereeing the volleyball games.
“Each year, (the FFA members) think of creative ways to put their own personal stamp on the tournament,” Fritz said.
Parents of the FFA members also assist with organizing the tournament brackets and concessions. Gina Jaquith, Jared’s cousin, had the idea to start the volleyball tournament in his memory and still leads the silent auction along with current FFA members.
“We have kept it online since the pandemic so people who cannot be there that day can still have a way to participate,” Fritz said.
This year’s silent auction baskets brought in $15,560, breaking the record set in 2023 of just over $12,000. Each year, there are on average 65-75 silent auction baskets.
“We have been steadily increasing the quality and quantity of silent auction baskets, and after the silent auction started taking off that is when we really started getting the attention of teams outside of our own FFA member’s, family and friends,” Fritz said. “It’s been amazing how much support we have had.”
Originally, the volleyball teams were comprised of the Hammell family and friends and current FFA members and their family and friends. Over the years, the tournament has grown in participation in all aspects.
“We are now at the point where we have a competitive bracket and a fun bracket for the volleyball tournament,” Fritz said. “Some of those teams have been with us for 25 years. We also have past students (who) come back and play, and it’s been great to see them again.”
Fritz has been a Chatfield FFA adviser for 21 years, and seeing this event grow has been a reflection of everyone’s hard work.
“We are pretty excited that we can continue to offer great programming each year to benefit our FFA kids,” Fritz said. “It’s been phenomenal.”
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