Ag Mechanics has always been a big deal in the world of Ag Education with a lot of students enjoying welding and building projects- large and small. Now in Oklahoma- there is a creative outlet for both 4-H and FFA members with this passion at the World’s Largest Livestock Show- the OYE Ag Mechanics Contest.
Click on the listen bar below to hear about the 2024 Ag Mechanics Contest as Ron Hays talks with Jerry Renshaw.
Started five years ago in 2020, Superintendent Jerry Renshaw had attended similar well established contests in San Antonio and Houston(click here for our coverage on the Road to Rural Prosperity Podcast in 2020 that featured Jerry Renshaw and a couple of those who competed in that first contest.)
Renshaw says that the first contest had 63 exhibits and that each year- the numbers and quality of the projects has gone straight up.
The 2024 contest has 235 exhibits in the Pavilion on the OKC Fairgrounds- up 35 exhibits from 2023 with over a 1000 FFA and 4-H members either individually or on teams being a part of making those projects a reality. The growth has also been seen in support from the business community in sponsoring the awards- over $30,000 in scholarships, cash and prizes will be handed out to the winners on Saturday afternoom.
Renshaw tells Hays that around 70% of those that are a part of building these projects do not have a livestock project so are brand new to the world of the Oklahoma Youth Expo.
Renshaw sees steady growth in the years to come- with more space as early as next year for this Ag Mechanics contest. For 2024- the 70,000 square foot Pavilion building is at 80% capacity with this year’s exhibits.
Click here for the results once available for the 2024 Ag Mechanics Contest.
Click here for the full schedule for the 2024 OYE. The Oklahoma Farm Report team will be snapping pictures from start to finish- and you can see them as we add them to our Flickr album for 2024- available here. If you want to look back to the 2023 OYE- click here for our pictures from last year’s event.
Our coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma Youth Expo is sponsored by Hilliary Communications. More than 60 years ago, the Hilliary Family acquired a small telephone company in rural southwest Oklahoma. Now in its third generation, the company has grown from a single exchange with just 100 access lines covering 22 square miles to now serving more than 19,000 customers in 22 counties throughout Oklahoma & Texas. The company also offers IP television service and internet speeds up to 1 Gig. Click here to learn more about Hilliary Communications.
