By David K. Williams
Braving cold morning weather, Menomonie Optimists gathered on January 17 to
honor Brian Styer of Menomonie High School as the January Youth of the Month.
Optimists have been recognizing talented, engaged and involved high school seniors at Dunn County’s four high schools for over 30 years.
Brian Styer is the son of Dave and Karen Styer and has grown up on the family’s dairy farm. Brian carries his agricultural interest into service in Menomonie High
Schools Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, where he currently serves as club president. Through FFA’s Parliamentary Procedure public speaking program, he has competed at the national contest in 2022. His public speaking interest also finds him on the Menomonie Forensics team, where he serves as captain. Brian volunteers for the program, helping other team members with their speeches and preparation. He is a four-year member of the school’s golf team, a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, and a group called Educators Rising because of his interest in going into education. Brian plans to attend UW-Madison for his undergraduate education, majoring in history and the social sciences, would like to complete his master’s degree in education, and become a teacher.
Menomonie Optimists, in addition to honoring the Youth of the Month, also sponsor the Dictionary Project, giving a dictionary to every third-grade student in Dunn County, host the Menomin Meander, a family-oriented bike ride each August, and have been working with the Wisconsin DNR on projects at Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area, including an oak savanna restoration.
