Ag Champions

Bethel freshman Corley Steward pauses for a photo during a trap shooting competition. Steward recently received the ATA Rookie of the Year award. Photo provided.

Bethel freshman Corley Steward pauses for a photo during a trap shooting competition. Steward recently received the ATA Rookie of the Year award. Photo provided.

Bethel Freshman Named 2023 National ATA Rookie Of The Year

Natasha Dunagan
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Corley Steward, a freshman at Bethel High School, took aim at a goal and hit her mark in January.The first time she shot a gun was in Sept. 2022 at age 13, and only 16 months later, she was named the 2023 National Amateur Trapshooting Assoc. (ATA) Rookie of the Year.

4-H Excused Absences Signed By Governor

News Staff
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Stitt on Tuesday signed House Bill 1006 into law, which will grant 4-H students an excused school absence when participating in an approved activity.The bill’s author, Rep.
Sawyer Speers, a freshman in Tecumseh at the time, accepts a $900 check for sixth place from Pott. Co. Cattlemen’s Association President Bob Freeman in the 2022 Beef Quiz Bowl. Speers used his winnings to buy a Commercial bred heifer and will show the calf at the Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show, March 6. File photo.

Sawyer Speers, a freshman in Tecumseh at the time, accepts a $900 check for sixth place from Pott. Co. Cattlemen’s Association President Bob Freeman in the 2022 Beef Quiz Bowl. Speers used his winnings to buy a Commercial bred heifer and will show the calf at the Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show, March 6. File photo.

Tecumseh Ag Student Ready To Show Calf Purchased With Quiz Bowl Winnings At PCJLS

Natasha Dunagan
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Two years ago, Tecumseh sophomore Sawyer Speers was one of 26 Pottawatomie County high school students to participate in the First Annual Cattlemen’s Association Beef Quiz Bowl.He placed sixth and received $900. With that money, he bought a Commercial bred heifer.
Tecumseh 4-H members Jessi Peacock and Adalyn Seaton and North Rock Creek FFA member Gus Goodson serve Delinda Curtis rolls and butter during the 34th Annual Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show Pig Roast and Trophy Auction in 2023. File photo

Tecumseh 4-H members Jessi Peacock and Adalyn Seaton and North Rock Creek FFA member Gus Goodson serve Delinda Curtis rolls and butter during the 34th Annual Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show Pig Roast and Trophy Auction in 2023. File photo

35th Annual PCJLS Pig Roast & Trophy Auction Set for Feb. 5

Natasha Dunagan
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
The 35th Annual Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show Pig Roast and Trophy Auction is 11 days away. This agricultural tradition will return to Fire-Lake Arena on Feb. 5 at 6:30 pm. “We feed approximately 500 - 550 people each year,” said PCJLS organizer Suzanne Gilbert via email.
Bethel 4-H Vice President Ember Luna, 10, stands at a Shawnee Mall kiosk where she and her mother, Danielle Luna, took donations for her 1,000-Pound Challenge. They collected money and pet food donations to go towards the Shawnee Animal Shelter’s December Giveaway, benefitting the pets of those in need. Photo provided.

Bethel 4-H Vice President Ember Luna, 10, stands at a Shawnee Mall kiosk where she and her mother, Danielle Luna, took donations for her 1,000-Pound Challenge. They collected money and pet food donations to go towards the Shawnee Animal Shelter’s December Giveaway, benefitting the pets of those in need. Photo provided.

Bethel 4-H VP Collects 1,175 Pounds of Pet Food, Honored at Shawnee Council Meeting

Natasha Dunagan
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
The seed of an idea was planted when Ember Luna, 10, and her mom, Danielle Luna, volunteered during the Thanksgiving Giveaway at the Shawnee Animal Shelter.
Cooper Kline, North Rock Creek, competed in the Senior Extemporareous category at the American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) State Speech Contest held in Stillwater, Dec. 2, and he placed first. Photo provided

Cooper Kline, North Rock Creek, competed in the Senior Extemporareous category at the American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) State Speech Contest held in Stillwater, Dec. 2, and he placed first. Photo provided

NRC and Tecumseh Students Excel at State Speech Contest

News Staff
Thursday, December 28, 2023
STILLWATER— Cooper Kline, North Rock Creek, placed first in his respective category at the American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) State Speech Contest held in Stillwater on Dec. 2. He competed in the Senior Extemporaneous category. Also, two Tecumseh students placed in their respective categories.
This year's recipients of the Gordon Richards, Sr. Achievement Award sponsored by the Clinic Pharmacy are seated from left to right, Berklee Gossen, North Rock Creek, Morley Griffith, Dale, Maci Flowers, Tecumseh and Madison Bickel, McLoud. Standing left to right are, Jamie Barrick, of The Clinic Pharmacy, Eva Web, Shawnee, Colton Ingersoll, Bethel, Kurstin Kuhlman, Asher, Tyler Denney, Macomb and Gordon Richards, Jr., who helps sponsor the award. File photo.

This year's recipients of the Gordon Richards, Sr. Achievement Award sponsored by the Clinic Pharmacy are seated from left to right, Berklee Gossen, North Rock Creek, Morley Griffith, Dale, Maci Flowers, Tecumseh and Madison Bickel, McLoud. Standing left to right are, Jamie Barrick, of The Clinic Pharmacy, Eva Web, Shawnee, Colton Ingersoll, Bethel, Kurstin Kuhlman, Asher, Tyler Denney, Macomb and Gordon Richards, Jr., who helps sponsor the award. File photo.

FFA Degrees And Gordon Richards Award Recipients Abound

News Staff
Thursday, December 28, 2023
As reported in Jan. 2023, in a remarkable achievement 17 high school graduates from Pottawatomie County successfully fulfilled the rigorous requirements to attain the esteemed American FFA Degree. These accomplishments, which were awarded in Oct.
Tecumseh FFA Receives National 3-Star Chapter Award

Tecumseh FFA Receives National 3-Star Chapter Award

Tecumseh FFA Receives National 3-Star Chapter Award

Natasha Dunagan
Thursday, November 30, 2023
One of the best FFA chapters in the country is right here in our backyard. During the 96th Future Farmers of America National Convention last month, the Tecumseh High School FFA Chapter was designated as a National 3-Star Chapter.
Paisley Sturgill of Bethel poses with one of her seven goats in her 2020-21 senior pictures. Sturgill’s SAE was in goat production in high school. Now a senior at OSU, she recently received her American FFA Degree. Photo provided.

Paisley Sturgill of Bethel poses with one of her seven goats in her 2020-21 senior pictures. Sturgill’s SAE was in goat production in high school. Now a senior at OSU, she recently received her American FFA Degree. Photo provided.

Third Generation Bethel FFA Graduate Receives American FFA Degree

Natasha Dunagan
Thursday, November 30, 2023
This year, Paisley Sturgill of Bethel is the sole recipient of the American FFA Degree from Pottawatomie County. The American FFA Degree is the “highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization,” according to the Future Farmers of America website, www.ffa.org.