Watonga Cross Country runners brought home gold from the state championship meet. Reese Coleman and Brayden Cowan each won the gold in individual competition, and Graycie Welton took all state honors with a ninth place finish. The Lady Eagles won third place as a team. For more photos, see page A7.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma FFA returned from the 97th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis with eight national champions, one national runner-up, 18 other placements, 21 gold emblem individual awards and a national officer nominating committee member.
Those winners included National Proficiency Award, Agriscience Research Integrated Systems; Addyson Schneberger and National Proficiency Award, Fruit and Nut Production Ryder Klassen, Hydro-Eakly FFA members.
The National FFA Convention celebrates FFA members from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The convention includes individual award and degree recognition, chapter award recognition, official delegate business and national officer elections. “As Oklahoma FFA members return from the 97th National FFA Convention, we are incredibly proud of their dedication and success on the national stage,” said Trevor Lucas, state FFA executive secretary. “Their accomplishments highlight the exceptional teaching and learning happening in agricultural education classrooms across the state, where students are building skills, knowledge and leadership that will benefit their futures and our communities.”
National championship honors went to Coy Davidson, Elgin FFA, Prepared Public Speaking Leadership Development Event; Oakley Gross and Preslee Watley-Kindt, Stillwater FFA, National Agriscience Fair, Division 6: Food Products and Processing System; Trinity Blosch and Aubrie McEndoo, Stillwater FFA, Division 6: Environmental Services and Natural Resources; Titus Montgomery, Red Oak FFA, National Proficiency Award, Agricultural Communications; Trinity Blosch, Stillwater FFA, National Proficiency Award, Agriscience Research -- Goat Production; Ethan Stone, Chandler FFA, , National Proficiency Award, Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship.
A team from Westville FFA -- Emorie Bailey, Boston Butler, Brooklyn Teague and Jake Simmons -- was the national runner-up in the Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event.
Oklahoma also brought home 41 other gold emblem awards: one first place, one second, three third, four fourth, three fifth, three sixth, three eighth, two 10th and 21 gold emblem individual awards.
Clara Duncan, Chickasha FFA, was one of nine members from across the country selected for the national officer nominating committee, which selects the national officer team.
Ten Oklahomans were in the national chorus; four were in the band; seven were part of the national talent; 198 received the American FFA Degree; and 30 Oklahoma chapters were named National Three Star Chapters.
Six Oklahomans, including CareerTech State Director Brent Haken, received the Honorary American FFA Degree. Others were Jim Hutson, and Amanda Hutson, Oklahoma City; Nathan Smith and Tanner Nipper, Stillwater; and Emily Worrell, Altus.
The Oklahoma FFA Association was also recognized as a 100% Membership State and an Increase in Membership State. Oklahoma FFA has 29,682 members, an increase of 470.
FFA is one of seven CareerTech student organizations affiliated with CareerTech programs. It is affiliated with agricultural education. The other six are FCCLA (family and consumer sciences education), DECA (marketing education), SkillsUSA (trade and industrial education), Business Professionals of America (business and information technology education), Technology Student Association (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and HOSA (health careers education).
Oklahoma CareerTech: Education that works for you The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 62 campuses, 395 PK-12 school districts, 16 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology