Two Lomega students attended the 2025 American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Youth Leadership Summit July 26 – August 2. The annual retreat develops leadership skills in junior high and high school students that will prepare them for future educational and professional experiences.
More than 300 students from across Oklahoma participated in one of two AFR Leadership Summit sessions—Teen Summit and Senior Summit. Hadley Ott and Sadie Wright attended the 2025 Senior Leadership Summit.
The theme for this year’s AFR Leadership Summit was “Brick by Brick: Build Boldy.” Summit attendees participated in development activities that will benefit them now and in the future. Students learned life skills, such as setting and achieving short- and long-term goals and working in teams. They also learned the value of personal responsibility, respect for their peers and many other positive attributes.
“The AFR Leadership Summit is a great way for the youth of Oklahoma to learn skills that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “We are proud to invest in the future of Oklahoma through our state’s agricultural youth. This is just one way of demonstrating that investment in communities across our state.”
In addition to this year's leadership development activities, Summit attendees also engaged in a camp-wide service project. For the Teen Summit, students assembled over 100 sensory kits for elementary students across Oklahoma, while Senior campers packaged more than 10,000 meals to support families in need.
The AFR Youth Leadership Summit is just one of many AFR Youth Program traditions. The organization also hosts an agriculture achievement contest, statewide scholarships, speech contests, livestock judging and grading competitions, and many other development opportunities. For more information contact AFR at (405)218-5566 or cara.comstock@afrmic.co m.