Agricultural News
House Speaker Jeff Hickman Cheers Right to Farm and Extols Virtues of FFA at State Convention
Thu, 30 Apr 2015 05:44:16 CDT
He told the audience at the 2015 Oklahoma FFA Legislative/VIP Banquet on Wednesday evening that it had been a long day and that he wanted to get comfortable. With that, Oklahoma House Speaker Jeff Hickman of Fairview took off his suit jacket- and put on his FFA Blue Corduroy jacket that he wore as a member of the Cherokee FFA Chapter in the 1980s. Speaker Hickman joined the thousands of high school students in their FFA jackets that were taking part in the 89th Annual Convention of the Oklahoma FFA Association in downtown Oklahoma City this week.
With that, he spent his time crediting his success in the state legislature and other aspects of life to his time wearing the Blue and Gold jacket. Afterwards, he told Oklahoma Farm Report Farm Director Ron Hays that his leadership skills and speaking abilities were developed during his High School years as a member of what was known then as the Future Farmers of America. While he was in High School, the organization decided to change its name to the National FFA organization, and no longer limit itself by the name Future Farmers. He believed at the time that was a mistake, fearing having just the three letters as the name of the group would result it in not meaning anything.
In front of FFA members of today and his colleagues in the State Legislature, he admitted he was probably wrong then- as the vision of those who believed that the organization needed to stand for more than just production agriculture have been proven correct. Hickman believes that the FFA of today is the premiere leadership development group of today- period.
Hickman also praised the passage of HJR 1012- Right to Farm- earlier in the day- saying that the future of Oklahoma agriculture depends on getting this protection into the state constitution. He pointed to the young men and ladies in the modern Blue and Gold jackets- and told the Banquet audience- that these men and ladies are the future- and their involvement in FFA- quoting the FFA Creed by E.M Tiffany, will result in "better days through better ways." It's because of these young people and others like them, according to Hickman, that Right to Farm is the visionary right thing to do.
After the Banquet- Farm Director Hays talked with Speaker Hickman about the Right to Farm vote and his belief in the FFA. You can hear their conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
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