Luke Gallagher of the Altus FFA chapter was announced Oklahoma FFA State Star Farmer during the fifth session of the 97th Oklahoma FFA Convention and Expo on May 3 at the BOK Center.
Gallagher’s supervised agricultural experience focuses on beef cattle.
“My project is a stocker steer operation,” Gallagher said. “I run stocker steers on wheat pasture, and I have a small cow/calf herd that I run typically just on grass pasture. I run about 400 head of wheat pasture calves right now.”
Gallagher said his grandfather and dad have always run steers on wheat in the winter and on grass pasture in the summertime while he was growing up.
“That is how I grew up — taking care of cattle, feeding cattle, gathering cattle,” Gallagher said. “Doing all those things growing up and helping my dad and grandpa, I just knew that is where I belonged, and that was my place.”
Gallagher said he is grateful for the help from his agricultural education teachers and his family during his project. He added that he plans to attend Oklahoma State University to study animal science or agribusiness.
The 20 Area Stars each received a plaque and $500 cash award co-sponsored by Masonic Charity Foundation, McDonald’s, The Chickasaw Nation, Blue and Gold Sausage Co., Davis Farms, Sirloin Club of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Farm Bureau.
As Star Farmer, Gallagher and the other State Stars over Oklahoma will each receive $31,855 in scholarships or capital grant funds through a $3.2 million gift from the Carl C. Anderson Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation. 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.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 29,000 members and 366 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fifth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.
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