Ag Champions

Tecumseh FFA Receives National 3-Star Chapter Award

Tecumseh FFA Receives National 3-Star Chapter Award

Tecumseh FFA Receives National 3-Star Chapter Award

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

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

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

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.)

McLoud FFA Holds First Plant Sale In New Greenhouse

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.

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.