Just ahead of Monday’s Oklahoma Youth Expo Legislative & Celebrity Showmanship Contest, Senator Chuck Hall shared his appreciation for the impact the event has on young people across the state. Talking with Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays, he reflected on his time attending the show over the years, Hall said, “ I love this event… to be able to connect with those young men and women that have livestock and projects.” He emphasized the pride and dedication shown by 4-H and FFA students participating in the expo.
Hall highlighted the life lessons learned through livestock projects, especially the importance of accountability. He noted, “What I like most about this is the personal responsibility that is taught to these young people at a very early age.” He added that caring for animals requires daily commitment, saying, “they are not going to get fed unless they get up and take care of it.” For Hall, those lessons—and the pride on exhibitors’ faces—are what make the event so meaningful.
Turning to legislative priorities, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said education remains at the top of the list. He stressed, “it is not acceptable to be 49th or 50th in anything,” pointing to the need for improvements in reading and math performance, as well as stronger support for teachers. He also identified rising costs in healthcare as a major concern, explaining that Medicaid expenses are increasing and putting pressure on the state budget, alongside what he called a growing mental health crisis.
Shifting to agricultural and environmental concerns, the Senator discussed the pressing need for water infrastructure improvements. Citing a $2.3 billion immediate need reported by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Hall detailed how federal ARPA funds are being utilized to address these gaps.
Furthermore, Hall expressed a strong commitment to eradicating the red cedar, an invasive species that poses a fire hazard and depletes water resources. “From the fires that we had last year, I have farmers and ranchers calling me and telling me that for the first time… they’re starting to see water in the creeks again,” Hall shared, illustrating the positive impact of cedar removal. “It’s better for public safety, it’s better for fire hazard, and it’s better for our water.”
Despite recent tax cuts, including a reduction in the state portion of the grocery tax, Hall reported that Oklahoma continues to see economic growth and increased revenue. However, he noted that the state has also made significant investments, such as the $250 million for a new veterinary hospital at Oklahoma State University. “We’ve got to bring our veterinarians back home. They need to be trained here in Oklahoma and they need to stay here in Oklahoma,” Hall emphasized.
Finally, Senator Hall underscored the importance of Oklahoma’s constitutionally mandated balanced budget, comparing it to a family managing its finances at the kitchen table.
“It forces us to do what many Oklahomans do, and that’s sit down at the kitchen table and have a balanced checkbook. We cannot be spending more than we take in.”
Explore more about the 2026 Oklahoma Youth Expo by clicking here for the show’s website. The complete updated calendar can be seen here.
