The Bethel and Tecumseh FFA Chapters both received their Three-Star State Superior Chapter Awards during the Oklahoma FFA Central Area Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conference in September.
Dale FFA also earned their Three-Star State Superior Chapter Award, but was unavailable for comment by the newspaper deadline.
This is the highest state award a chapter can receive. The chapter must meet 12 requirements in student development, chapter development and community development and have the application to the State FFA office by June 1 to be eligible.
Bethel FFA
Bethel agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor Brett Scott said he started teaching at Bethel High School in 2020, and they have received the award both years since then.
Last year, Bethel shop students welded a Christmas Ornament Display Tree for the Alumni Silent Auction at the State FFA Convention. Also at the State FFA Convention, FFA members were in the Courtesy Corps Selection, and Kayden McCleary received the State FFA Degree.
Out of 88 members, they had 36 members attend the State FFA Convention.
At the National FFA Convention, Codi Stapp and Connor Franetovich received their American FFA Degrees.
In one competitive Leadership Development Event (LDE), the freshman Opening/ Closing Ceremonies Team placed fourth at the Regional Contest. The team was made up of Matthew Sharp, Payton Seiger, Kole Childers, Corbin Winsett, Kylie Nunneley, Presley McClintock and Sydney Murray.
Six members attended the COLT Conference. Chapter members also attended the Advanced Leadership Development Conference, Alumni Camp, National FFA Convention and State FFA Convention.
Members also competed in the Oklahoma State Fair, Tulsa State Fair, FFA shooting sports contests, State FFA Creed Contests and livestock jackpots.
All members are part of the Agriculture Experience Tracking (AET) Program, which keeps track of their awards and degrees.
During the summer, they were involved in the Chapter Planning Retreat, Chapter Welcome Back Picnic and Game Night, OSU Big Three Field Days, and summer livestock shows, such as the Beefmaster National Cattle Show.
For National FFA Week, the Bethel FFA Chapter held a community pancake breakfast, and they had a middle school recruitment program. They participated in the Veterans Day School Assembly, and for community service projects, they held food and toy drives during Thanksgiving and Christmas. They also held a clothing and coat drive.
“We have a great group of students and parents that are very supportive of the FFA program,” said Scott. “Bethel FFA has a very involved history with FFA.”
“Additionally, we discovered this year that Bethel Public School was one the first five schools in Oklahoma to form a Future Farmers of Oklahoma chapter in Oklahoma. These groups were in existence prior to the formation of the National FFA.”
Tecumseh FFA
Tecumseh’s FFA Chapter has 285 members and is led by three agriculture teachers and FFA advisors: Dodge Nichols, Corey Pell and Mara Carman.
Nichols said they have received the Three-Star State Award every year in the 10 years he has been teaching there, and probably longer.
Last year, Kylee Akehurst, Caleb Blair, Emily Loman and Jacob Nunley received their American FFA Degrees.
On Sept. 1, the chapter hosted the Tecumseh FFA Greenhand Day Leadership Conference for 15 to 20 schools in the region, said Nichols.
For community service, they have held canned food drives, picked up trash, held Christmas parties for children, and built and maintained flower beds at the Krouch STEAM Center and Tecumseh Middle School. The chapter has also held an Eighth-Grade Recruitment Day and organized a coloring contest for Tecumseh elementary students.
They participate in speech contests, livestock shows, conventions, shooting sports, livestock judging, horticulture judging and quiz bowls every year.
Nichols credits the community and everyone involved with the chapter for its success.
“That’s what makes our chapter so successful is ... the parents, the community, the kids, and having a great administration, you know, at our school, and so, they’re really the backbone of that,” he said.
