As the Oklahoma Youth Expo comes to a close, one of the most meaningful traditions is recognizing individuals who have made a lasting impact on the event through years of dedication and service. The Show Honoree distinction, presented by the Sirloin Club, celebrates those whose behind-the-scenes efforts have helped shape OYE into one of the nation’s premier youth livestock shows, honoring a legacy of commitment to Oklahoma agriculture and its next generation.
Melissa Eisenhauer Reflects on Being Named OYE Show Honoree:
One of the honorees, Melissa Eisenhauer, reflected on more than two decades with the Oklahoma Youth Expo while talking to senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays, emphasizing both her gratitude and the people who helped build the event along the way. “This is my 21st show, and I’m just so absolutely humbled and honored” she said, adding that being included among past recipients makes the recognition even more meaningful: “I think about the people that have come before me and all the people that haven’t won it and are so deserving.”
Looking back to the early days, she described just how small the operation once was and how much faith it took to stay the course. “There were three of us and I thought at first, wow—what have I done? But I’m so glad I did… we really are a family.” That sense of family, she said, has never changed. “It was a family then, and it’s a family now.”
She credited much of the show’s success to the volunteers who have supported it from the beginning. “We have been always only as strong as our volunteers, that’s where we were able to shine,” she said. “I’m just so thankful for all of those people and what they do for us.”
As the show has grown, Eisenhauer said the quality of both livestock and exhibitors has reached an impressive level. “If you would have told us… what it would turn into now… the quality of stock and young people is just amazing,” she said, pointing to the continued strength of 4-H and FFA programs. “We’re 77 counties strong; that commitment is the glue that holds the communities together.”
She also took time to highlight the people she works alongside today, emphasizing how strong the current team is despite its size. “Our staff is second to none. I could not be more blessed to be a part of the staff that we have,” she said. “Not only do I call them colleagues, but I also call them my friends and really our family.”
Now in a role focused more on branding and merchandise, she says she’s enjoying a different side of the event. “I’ve just got the coolest job I just get to deal with all the fun things,” she said. But at its core, she says the mission hasn’t changed. “This event is what those young people are working for all year, those projects are growing young people and developing tools and talents that are going to stay with them for the rest of their life.”
Steve Thompson Reflects on Being Named OYE Show Honoree:
longtime volunteer and honoree Steve Thompson reflected on more than a decade of involvement in the swine barn, calling it “more than a dozen years” of service that has become deeply meaningful. He explained that it takes time to truly understand the scale of the operation, noting, “it probably takes you at least half a dozen years to really kind of feel like you’ve mastered the flow of traffic,” given “how many kids and animals we run through the swine barn.” Now, he says, “we have a really good routine and really good team, and it’s just a pleasure to be part of.”
Thompson said his involvement began almost by chance, recalling, “my old buddy Roy Lee Lindsey, needed some help, and my boss at the time (Terry Detrick of Oklahoma Farmers Union) said, ‘you should go out there and help him.’” What kept Steve coming back, though, was the people and the purpose. “It’s just such a great atmosphere, you love working with the kids,” he said, adding that the experience offers a sharp contrast to his work in public policy. “We deal with so many negative issues and sometimes you don’t feel like you make a difference. Well, being out here it really recharges your battery.” He also praised the team around him, saying those on the swine committee are “just some of the best on Earth.”
The scale and impact of the show continue to stand out to Thompson, especially in the hog barn. “They call this the world’s largest Junior Livestock Show, and we feel very proud that we have a much bigger set of numbers than anybody else,” he said. “The pure volume of animals is truly like nothing else.” Beyond the barn, Thompson has spent his career advocating for agriculture through roles at the state capitol and with ag organizations, emphasizing, “agriculture and ag policy have always been my career.” He also highlighted efforts to support the show financially, noting, “the state of Oklahoma has pitched in… and has been kind of a backbone for us when it’s needed.”
Reflecting on the expo’s growth and significance, Thompson pointed to the new OG&E Coliseum as a symbol of progress, saying, “It’s just truly astounding to see what we’re about to embark upon.” He described the event as “not like anything else, a special melting pot” that brings together all 77 counties and both rural and urban communities. Named a show honoree, Thompson called the recognition “very humbling,” adding, “I look around that list, and I don’t feel like I’m worthy, but I’m just really proud to be associated with that group,” and especially honored to share it with “my friend Melissa Eisenhauer… she’s a special person.”
