During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report are spotlighting the 17 Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA, who are among the highest achievers in the organization.
The stars come from the four areas in four categories – Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness, and Star in Agricultural Production.
This week, we spotlight the three area stars in Agricultural Placement in 2026.
One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories will be named the State Star Award Winner during the 100th Oklahoma State FFA Convention, which will take place on May 5th and 6th in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
We continue our coverage of the 2026 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists today with Brylee Prichard of the Elk City FFA representing the Southwest area.
FFA students across Oklahoma are building real-world skills through hands-on projects, and for some, those experiences are rooted right at home on the family farm.
Generations of agricultural tradition, a passion for gardening and an eye for innovation have helped one western Oklahoma FFA member turn a lifelong interest into a thriving agribusiness project.
Building a Business from Plasticulture
Brylee Prichard of the Elk City FFA Chapter is one of the area stars in agribusiness, recognized for her supervised agricultural experience project, Pritchard Plastic Culture.
Prichard described plasticulture as a gardening system built around raised beds, drip irrigation and plastic mulch designed to make gardening easier and more productive.
“It eliminates 100% of weed competition within the row, eliminates 50% or more of your water usage, and it also keeps water in the ground for up to two weeks longer than it would without it,” Prichard said. “So it just makes it a little bit easier, saves you money, and it’s just overall more relaxing.”
Her business installs and manages these garden systems while also producing crops of her own. She grows tomatoes, peppers, okra, corn, cucumbers, squash, watermelons, cantaloupe and, in some years, pumpkins and gourds. “I turned what I loved into a business,” she said. “Now I love doing this business.”
Lessons Learned in Western Oklahoma Weather
Prichard said years of working in western Oklahoma conditions taught her how important setup and management can be. “One of the biggest lessons I have learned is where I place my gardens,” she said. “I place them facing north and south so the wind can’t get under and rip it up.”
She also said plasticulture can be especially valuable during dry years because irrigation can be carefully controlled. “With the drip irrigation, you can control the water completely,” Prichard said. “It makes it easier to control your environment for your plants.”
To combat pests and wildlife, she has adapted with fencing, noise makers and other deterrents, while silver plastic mulch helps reduce insect pressure.
FFA Opened New Doors
Prichard said FFA has given her confidence, leadership opportunities and experiences she may not have found otherwise. “First and foremost, the biggest thing, it has made me more confident in myself,” she said. “I’m now a co-host on a talk show at my local radio station, and without FFA, I wouldn’t be able to do that.”
She credited her parents, teachers and mentors for pushing her to succeed and helping her stay focused. After graduation, Prichard plans to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University and pursue a career as a NICU nurse.
This year’s 17 Area Stars will each be recognized on stage in the fifth general session of the 100th Oklahoma FFA Convention May 6th in Tulsa and each will receive a plaque and $500 cash award co-sponsored by the Blue and Gold Sausage Co., Sirloin Club of Oklahoma, Masonic Charity Foundation, McDonald’s of Oklahoma, Davis Farms, The Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Noble Research Institute.
The Star in each category will each receive $29,484 in scholarships or capital grant funds through a $3.2 million gift from the Carl C. Anderson Trust. The late Carl C. Anderson, after whom the State Star awards are now named, was born in Naples, Oklahoma, in 1911. One of 10 children, he dropped out of high school to earn money and support his family. From those modest beginnings, the Anderson Corp. grew across the country as well as in Canada and South America.
Our coverage of the 2026 Oklahoma FFA Association State Convention is sponsored by Oklahoma Farm Bureau, proud to support the young men and ladies of the Oklahoma FFA as they strive for excellence in all they do. Oklahoma Farm Bureau- We Are Rural Oklahoma.
Learn more about the 100th Annual Convention of the Oklahoma FFA by clicking here for the convention highlights.
