Six students from three Blaine County families took all the marbles at the 2024 4-H/FFA Junior Wheat Show. Emery Fisher, daughter of Clayton and Tara Fisher, won first place overall and the 4-H championship with Doublestop CL Plus variety. She placed first in production and milling (for which she received a plaque), 11th in the bake contest earning her first place and 4-H champion overall. Fisher also placed 15th overall, 16th in milling and production and tenth in baking with her Green Hammer variety.
According to Cheryl DeVuyst, Department Head of Agricultural Economics at OSU; “Participating students learn what it takes to produce milling quality wheat.” She also stated that “The purpose of this program is to promote the production of quality wheat and teach 4-H and FFA youth about wheat production, marketing, and management.”
Emery is a member of the Okeene 4-H club and received $3000 in scholarship money for her accomplishments with her Doublestop CL Plus variety. She also won a $500 premium from Oklahoma Genetics, Inc., $250 scholarship from Westbred , $100 premium from Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation along with a $52.50 premium for production, milling, and bake contest.
In all, $16,000 in scholarship money was given away at the banquet. Scholarships are funded by Check-off dollars and awarded to the top five 4-H and top five FFA entries. The contest is sponsored by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation, Oklahoma Genetics Incorporated, Westbred , Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Department of Career Technology and Education. At the same competition, Taylor Robison, daughter of Garen and Alicia Robison, placed third overall in the 4-H division while showing her Butler’s Gold variety. She placed eighth in the production and milling contest and second in the bake contest (for which she received a plaque), and third overall.
A member of the Okeene 4-H club, Taylor received $1,000 in scholarship money for her accomplishments with her Butler’s Gold variety, an additional $50 premium from Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation, a $300 premium from Oklahoma Genetics Inc. and a $30 premium for milling and baking Raylee Fisher, daughter of Clayton and Tara Fisher mirrored her sister’s accomplishments by placing fourth overall in the 4-H division while showing her Baker’s Ann variety. Raylee placed second in the production and milling contest (for which she received a plaque,) and 17th in the bake contest and fourth overall. She also placed eighth overall, fourth in milling and production and 16th in baking with her Doublestop CL Plus variety.
As a member of the Okeene 4-H Club, Raylee received $1,000 in scholarship money for her accomplishments with her Baker’s Ann variety, a $200 premium from Oklahoma Genetics Inc. and a $47.50 premium for milling and baking.
Baylea Robison, also a daughter of Garen and Alicia Robison, placed fifth overall in the 4-H division while showing her Butler’s Gold variety. She placed ninth in the production and milling contest, fourth in the bake contest and fifth place overall.
Competing as a member of the Okeene 4-H club, Baylea received $1,000 in scholarship money for her accomplishments with her Butlers Gold variety, a $100 premium from Oklahoma Genetics Inc. and a $25 premium for her milling and bake scores.
A third Fisher, Avery also a daughter of Clayton and Tara Fisher, placed third overall in the FFA division while showing her Baker’s Ann variety. She placed 3third in the production and milling contest (for which she received a plaque), and sixth in the bake contest and third overall. Fisher also placed ninth overall, second in milling and production (for which she received another plaque), and 19th in baking with her Doublestop CL Plus variety.
Avery, a member of the Okeene FFA chapter, received $1,000 in scholarship money for her accomplishments $300 from Oklahoma Genetics Inc. and $50 from Oklahoma Research Foundation. Fisher also received $60 in premiums for her mill and bake scores.
Meade Brickman, son of Brock and Londa Brickman, recently placed fourth overall in the FFA division while showing his Doublestop CL Plus variety. Meade placed first in production and milling (for which he receives a plaque), and 14th in baking and fourth overall in the FFA competition.
He is a member of the Okeene FFA chapter and received $1,000 in scholarship money for his accomplishments with his Doublestop CL Plus variety, $200 from Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. and a $32.50 premium for his mill and bake scores.
The Oklahoma Wheat Commission works to promote greater utilization of wheat in both domestic and international markets through research, market development, and public education.
Five wheat producers representing designated districts across the state serve as the Oklahoma Wheat Commission’s board of directors. Current officers are Don Schieber, Chairman, Ponca City; RJ Parrish, Vice-Chairman, Hunter; Jerry Wiebe, Secretary/ Treasurer, Hooker; Michael Peters, District 3 board member, Okarche and David Gammill, District 4 board member, Chattanooga.
Students from Blaine County, and Okeene in particular, are perpetual powerhouses in the Junior Wheat Show and this year was no exception.
Other student winners in the competition include Logan Chance of Okeene 4-H in sixth place; Brayson Roberts of Okeene 4-H in seventh place; Autumn Schultz of Okeene 4-H in 12th place and 14th place; Alex Laubach of Okeene 4-H in 17th place; and Bryson Sawyer of Okeene 4-H in 19th place.
In the FFA division, other winners were Jayce Schultz of Okeene FFA chapter in sixth place; Grant Robison of Okeene FFA chapter in seventh place; Preston Boeckman of Okeene FFA chapter in eighth place; Destry Swaim of Okeene FFA chapter in 14th; Bryer Roberts of Okeene FFA chapter in 15th place; Grant Robison of Okeene FFA chapter in 18th place; and Tyler Sawyer of Okeene FFA chapter in 23rd place.
Editor Connie Burcham contributed to this article.