During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report are spotlighting the 18 Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA, who are among the highest achievers in the organization.
The stars come from the five areas in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness, and Star in Agricultural Production.
This week, we spotlight the five area stars in Agricultural Placement in 2024.
One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories will be named the State Star Award Winner during the 98th Oklahoma State FFA Convention, which will take place on May 7th and 8th in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This week, our coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists begins with Ag Placement competitor Grace Wright of the Stratford FFA chapter representing the Central Area.
“I started working for a fruit and vegetable stand when I was about 13 years old, and I have worked there for the past five summers,” Wright said. “We do anything from planting and irrigating to picking and selling.”
Wright said she has definitely developed a “green thumb” by learning to care for all of the plants while working with fruits and vegetables. Another great part of the job Wright mentioned was having the chance to taste the fruits of her labor, literally!
Some of the biggest struggles in Wright’s project, she said, were pests and Oklahoma weather. One of the fruits Wright helped grow was peaches, which she said grows extra well in Stratford.
“Peach trees are very sensitive to weather, but we always overcame it,” Wright said.
After graduating from high school, Wright said she plans to attend Oklahoma State University to pursue a degree in agricultural communications so she can continue to advocate for the agricultural industry through her writing, photography, and more.
Your coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Convention is sponsored by Hilliary Communications- who deliver the latest cutting-edge communications services supporting tens of thousands of customers across 22 counties throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa. The company offers internet, voice and HilliaryTV. Hilliary Communications continuously researches the marketplace for innovations and strives to improve underserved areas, offering services that exceed customer expectations. Click here to learn more about Hilliary Communications.
For more information about the 98th Oklahoma State FFA Convention, click here.