As they gear up for the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE), the organization’s president, Tyler Norvell took time out of his busy schedule to tell Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays all about the big event slated for March 10 – 21, 2025, at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.
This year’s event will be the 110th annual Spring Livestock Show, and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Norvell said, “It has gotten bigger, maybe not in the number of animals that show up, they have held steady over the last couple of years, but where we have gotten bigger is the Skill-a-thon, where any kid can come and take a test for free and compete for over $15,000 worth of scholarships.”
The Ag Mechanics Contest exploded from 50 entries in 2020 to 350 entries this year. “We don’t want financial resources to be a reason a kid doesn’t come and be a part of this event,” Norvell insisted. “There is something for everybody, no matter what your situation is. I think we have accomplished that now, but we are going to look for more ways to give more opportunities.”
With all of the exciting things going on at OYE, the bittersweet undertone is the fact that 2025 will be its last year in the original Jim Norick Arena and its 60th year in “The Big House.”
Norvell recalled stories told of how the Exchange Building at the Stockyards burned to the ground the same year that the Jim Norick Arena was built, as if it was meant to be.
“It is going to be sad to see it torn down,” Norvell admitted. “I’m the youngest of the generation that remembers the NFR being here in Oklahoma City. Nobody remembers that. Nobody remembers that Reba McEntire was discovered in that arena, singing the National Anthem. There is so much history.”
Adding to that sentiment, he told of the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial that President Bill Clinton attended that was held in the Jim Norick Arena.
“We can’t help but be excited for the new arena, the OG&E arena as it will be called,” Norvell added. “It is state of the art. There is less seating – it will hold about 4,500 – 5,000 people – but that is plenty big for what we want to do, and that is to pack the house. I like that there will be a nice restaurant and bar area where you can watch the show from. From anywhere on the concourse, you can watch the event that is going on.”
He mentioned alleys and tunnels under the facility to move animals through with less interruption to the show. A Promenade will connect the stalling areas to the new arena and will provide plenty of indoor space for trade show vendors. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026. In the meantime, animals will have to be walked around the construction zone where it is being built which may present some challenges for next year’s event.
“There may be challenges next year, but hey, I’m super excited about the future,” Norvell said.
Hays and Norvell talked more about the uniqueness of the show, the enormous effort it takes to make it happen each year, the need for more large animal veterinarians, and more. Click the listen bar at the top of the page to hear the complete conversation.
Norvell concluded with an invitation to anyone in the public to attend the Grand Drive at the end of the week. On Thursday, March 20, Scholarship Presentations will begin at 5 pm, followed by the Grand Drive at 6 p.m. The show order will be market barrows, market goats, lambs, and market steers.
“We are so proud of the fact that you never pay to park here, and never pay to get in the gate,” Norvell stated. “The only reason you are going to pay any money to us, if you come, is if you want a corndog or something to drink. We will always strive to be free and accessible.”
Norvell emphasized that OYE will be the last big event held in the Jim Norick Arena before its demolition, and encouraged anyone who wants to gain one more big memory in “The Big House” to attend the Grand Drive on Thursday, or to place a bid on an exhibitor at the Sale of Champions on Friday, March 21, at 4 p.m.
Visit okyouthexpo.com for more information.
