Ag Champions

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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.
Tecumseh 4-H Club member Taylor Marrs was given the Pottawatomie County 4-H Senior Hall of Fame Award during the 4-H Awards Banquet, held at the North Rock Creek High School Cafeteria on Oct. 23. He is shown with his mother, Sara McGaha, left, and his grandmother, Barbara McGaha. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan

Tecumseh 4-H Club member Taylor Marrs was given the Pottawatomie County 4-H Senior Hall of Fame Award during the 4-H Awards Banquet, held at the North Rock Creek High School Cafeteria on Oct. 23. He is shown with his mother, Sara McGaha, left, and his grandmother, Barbara McGaha. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan

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4-H Outstanding Senior Award And Hall Of Fame Award Go To Taylor Marrs

Natasha Dunagan
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
There were many 4-H Club members “Surfing the Waves of Success” at the Pottawatomie County 4-H Awards Banquet on Oct. 23 at the North Rock Creek High School Cafeteria.
Several McLoud FFA students (and a little brother) were ready to help customers at their first plant sale, Oct. 19-20, since their new climate-controlled greenhouse was built. They offered mums in several colors at the sale, as well as tulip bulbs from a business in Harrah. Horticulture students have also grown wax begonias, succulents, coleus, potato vine, wandering jews, Swedish Ivy and potato vines, which will be offered at their sale in April. (See longer cutline below.)

Several McLoud FFA students (and a little brother) were ready to help customers at their first plant sale, Oct. 19-20, since their new climate-controlled greenhouse was built. They offered mums in several colors at the sale, as well as tulip bulbs from a business in Harrah. Horticulture students have also grown wax begonias, succulents, coleus, potato vine, wandering jews, Swedish Ivy and potato vines, which will be offered at their sale in April. (See longer cutline below.)

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McLoud FFA Holds First Plant Sale In New Greenhouse

Natasha Dunagan
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
A little over a year after the McLoud Board of Education approved plans for a new high school greenhouse on July 11, 2022, using ESSER III funds, the McLoud FFA chapter held its first plant sale in it, Oct. 19 and 20.
Shawnee High School FFA students, along with their teachers and Superintendent Dr. Aaron Espolt, receive a check in August for $10,000 from Oklahoma AgCredit to go toward the FFA program. Photo provided.

Shawnee High School FFA students, along with their teachers and Superintendent Dr. Aaron Espolt, receive a check in August for $10,000 from Oklahoma AgCredit to go toward the FFA program. Photo provided.

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Shawnee FFA Has High Hopes, Despite Loss Of Barn To April Tornado

Natasha Dunagan
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Like many buildings on the campus, the agriculture barn and greenhouse at Shawnee High School was a total loss after the tornado of April 19 came through.
Bethel FFA Junior Vice President and junior Corban Winsett shoots in the sporting clays competition during the First Annual Bethel FFA Shooting Sports Invitational, held at the Shawnee Twin Lakes Trap Club on Sept. 22. Six schools participated in the Bethel 4-H & FFA Booster Club fund-raiser. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan

Bethel FFA Junior Vice President and junior Corban Winsett shoots in the sporting clays competition during the First Annual Bethel FFA Shooting Sports Invitational, held at the Shawnee Twin Lakes Trap Club on Sept. 22. Six schools participated in the Bethel 4-H & FFA Booster Club fund-raiser. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan

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Bethel Hosts First Annual Shooting Sports Invitational

Natasha Dunagan
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Bethel FFA has had a shooting sports team for about eight years. But, as of Friday, Sept. 22, they now have their own event: the Bethel FFA Shooting Sports Invitational.
Bethel FFA students Lilly Ingmire, Quinn Carpenter, Bailey Murray and Rianne Tinsley complete their relay race at the Farmhand Olympics by stacking hay bales on Sept. 6. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan

Bethel FFA students Lilly Ingmire, Quinn Carpenter, Bailey Murray and Rianne Tinsley complete their relay race at the Farmhand Olympics by stacking hay bales on Sept. 6. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan

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Dance Added To Farmhand Olympics In 14th Year

Natasha Dunagan
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Since 2009, the Farmhand Olympics have been a way for agriculture students across Pottawatomie County to have fun together in friendly competition before showing their livestock or exhibits at the Pott. Co. Free Fair. This year, on Sept. 6, the Junior Fair Board members decided to add a dance.