Ag Champions

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.

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

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

Bethel Hosts First Annual Shooting Sports Invitational

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

Dance Added To Farmhand Olympics In 14th Year

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.
Jadi Davis of Tecumseh, left, tells Grady Whittington of South Rock Creek, “I’m winning,” during the Pee Wee Showmanship division of the T-Town Showdown on Aug. 26. Judge Colton Blehm later arranged it where they both won a cash prize. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan

Jadi Davis of Tecumseh, left, tells Grady Whittington of South Rock Creek, “I’m winning,” during the Pee Wee Showmanship division of the T-Town Showdown on Aug. 26. Judge Colton Blehm later arranged it where they both won a cash prize. Countywide & Sun/Natasha Dunagan

Pee Wee Showmanship Steals The Show At 2nd Annual T-Town Showdown

The Second Annual T-Town Showdown was delayed for the heat, pushed back from 6:45 to 7:45 pm, but it turned out to be a nice night for a swine show. T-Town Showdown is presented by the Tecumseh 4-H & FFA Club and was held on Aug. 26 at the Tecumseh Roundup Club Arena.
After qualifying at the regional and area levels, Tecumseh students Addison Taron, Chloe Kelsey and Maci Flowers competed in the Oklahoma State FFA Speech Contest in Stillwater on April 28. Taron performed the FFA Creed; Flowers spoke in the Plant Science Division; and Kelsey won second place for her speech on Ag Policy, according to the Tecumseh FFA Facebook page. Photo provided.

After qualifying at the regional and area levels, Tecumseh students Addison Taron, Chloe Kelsey and Maci Flowers competed in the Oklahoma State FFA Speech Contest in Stillwater on April 28. Taron performed the FFA Creed; Flowers spoke in the Plant Science Division; and Kelsey won second place for her speech on Ag Policy, according to the Tecumseh FFA Facebook page. Photo provided.

Tecumseh Graduate Wins Second in State FFA Speech

After qualifying at the regional and area levels, Tecumseh students Addison Taron, Chloe Kelsey and Maci Flowers competed in the Oklahoma State FFA Speech Contest in Stillwater on April 28.
Dale grad Morley Griffith, fourth from left, won the Senior Division of the Oklahoma Cattle Women’s Beef Advocate Contest on April 14 for the second year. Contestants are judged on staged media and peer interviews in which they must demonstrate their knowledge of the cattle industry and beef nutrition. From left, are Tammi Didlot with the Oklahoma Cattle Women’s Association (OCWA); Maysen Garrett, third place; Bridger Arrington, second place; Griffith, first place; & DeeDee Haynes, of OCWA. Photo provided

Dale grad Morley Griffith, fourth from left, won the Senior Division of the Oklahoma Cattle Women’s Beef Advocate Contest on April 14 for the second year. Contestants are judged on staged media and peer interviews in which they must demonstrate their knowledge of the cattle industry and beef nutrition. From left, are Tammi Didlot with the Oklahoma Cattle Women’s Association (OCWA); Maysen Garrett, third place; Bridger Arrington, second place; Griffith, first place; & DeeDee Haynes, of OCWA. Photo provided

Dale Graduate Wins Beef Advocacy Award

Dale graduate Morley Griffith, fourth from left, won the Senior Division of the Oklahoma Cattle Women’s Beef Advocate Contest on April 14 for the second year.
Incoming Bethel Freshman Wins State AIM Shoot

Incoming Bethel Freshman Wins State AIM Shoot

Incoming Bethel Freshman Wins at State AIM Shoot

In the last eight months, Corley Steward of Bethel turned 14 and started shooting in trap competitions for both AIM and the junior high FFA Shooting Team. And, earlier this month, Steward won first in the AIM State Shoot Handicap Sub-Junior Division with a 97.
On May 2-3, 24 Tecumseh FFA members attended the Oklahoma State FFA Convention in Tulsa, and five received their State FFA Degrees, according to the Tecumseh FFA Facebook page. Posing with their fellow members and Advisors Mara Carman, far left, and Dodge Nichols, far right, they are Jocelyn Phelps, Marli Williams, Chloe Kelsey, Piper Goodson and Katelyn Fleming. Photo provided.

On May 2-3, 24 Tecumseh FFA members attended the Oklahoma State FFA Convention in Tulsa, and five received their State FFA Degrees, according to the Tecumseh FFA Facebook page. Posing with their fellow members and Advisors Mara Carman, far left, and Dodge Nichols, far right, they are Jocelyn Phelps, Marli Williams, Chloe Kelsey, Piper Goodson and Katelyn Fleming. Photo provided.

Eleven Pottawatomie County Students Earn State FFA Degrees

The Oklahoma State FFA Convention was held in Tulsa earlier this month, and several chapters in Pottawatomie County had members receiving their State FFA Degrees. This is the second-highest degree in FFA, only below the American FFA Degree.
Tecumseh Graduate Is Twice National Champion On College Shooting Team - Shown here with ACUI trophy

Tecumseh Graduate Is Twice National Champion On College Shooting Team - Shown here with ACUI trophy

Tecumseh Graduate Is Twice National Champion On College Shooting Team

Two years ago, Dawson Arnett was the first Tecumseh High School senior to sign a letter of intent for the shooting sports. Fast forward to last month, and he was competing with the Connors State College (CSC) Shooting Sports Team at two national meets.