By the Numbers- and the Word DOMINATION- Oklahoma Does Great at 2012 National FFA Convention

If you count from one to five and add in the word "Domination"- you can learn a lot about the success Oklahoma FFA is bringing home from the 2012 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis

Click here to read our full list of one through five- here in the email we want to share the explanation of the word Domination.  You could make a good case of finding a picture of the Kingfisher FFA Livestock Judging team in the dictionary for the word Domination.

It's amazing what Kingfisher FFA achieved in the 2012 Livestock Evaluation Contest- the team bested the second place team from California by 76 points- that's insane- and they accomplished that by all four team members finishing in the top ten individual rankings- Katie Lippold was 4th, Matthew Walta was 5th, Gatlin Squires was 6th and Kaitlin Pritchett was 8th. Their coach, Ag teacher Ryan Burns, is obviously proud of them- as he reports that they were the high team in Reasons, Swine, Beef and the Written Test. If anything, this Kingfisher team was even better than the 2010 team that beat second place Oregon by 69 points and placed two of their team members in the top ten individuals.  

Our thanks to the Oklahoma FFA Association and the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association for their sponsorship of our coverage over this past week of the 2012 National Convention- it's always a lot of fun watching some of the finest youth in the state compete so well at the national level- and this year was no exception.

We do invite you to go and check our many pictures that were posted on FLICKR from Indy this past week- click here to check them out.  AND- if you care to see the full list of stories posted this past week from the convention- click here for the section of the Blue Green Gazette that is dedicated to the 2012 National FFA Convention.

Taylor Runyan of Atoka is 2012 American Star in Agriscience at National FFA Convention 

For the first time ever, the Oklahoma FFA has a winner in the most recent of the "Star" categories at the National level- the American Star in Agriscience. On Saturday morning at the Lucas Oil Football Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Taylor Runyan of Atoka was named the American Star in Agriscience by the National FFA organization. 

Runyan says growing up on a ranch in southern Oklahoma spurred her interest in agriculture. Feeding animals, maintaining the grounds and keeping good records instilled valuable work ethics, she said. Now, thanks to her research in understanding the benefits of lycopene, Runyan is this year's winner of the National FFA Organization's American Star in Agriscience award.

"This is really the icing on the cake from all the years of hard work and dedication that we put in. Not only that I've put in, but my ag teachers, my parents, and the doctors that I worked with to help me get here."

The American Star in Agriscience is one of the four awards that represent the highest honor FFA can bestow upon its members. 

Encouraged by her mother - a middle school science teacher - Runyan started competing in science fairs in seventh and eighth grade. A fortuitous meeting with Dr. Penny Perkins, a researcher with the USDA at the Wes Watkins Research Center, led to Runyan's interest in a four-year research project on lycopene. Her research proved that lycopene, which is found in tomatoes, has the capability to block ultraviolet rays better than SPF-50 sunscreens now on the market.

Click here to read more about Runyan, her award, and her plans for the future.

Oklahoma FFA Members Claim Second Most National Proficiency Awards of Any State at Convention in Indianapolis 

Oklahoma FFA National Proficiency Finalists dominated their competitors at the FFA Organization National Convention in Indianapolis last week. Out of 20 Oklahoma finalists, 8 brought home National Proficiency titles. That's the same number of titles claimed for the Sooner state two years ago at the national convention. Only Georgia took home more awards this year, with ten, but they also sent 27 FFA members to the competition.

Placement Proficiency Awards are given to those members whose Supervised Agricultural Experiences are related to employment, apprenticeships, or internships at an agribusiness or agriculture-related organization. Entrepreneurship proficiency awards are given to those whose SAEs are related to ownership of an agribusiness or agriculture-related organization. Proficiency awards are given out at the local, state and national levels.

Oklahoma's winners are listed below. Click on the award winner's name to read more and to hear an interview I did with each following the award presentation.

William Maltbie, Burlington, Diversified Horticulture. Maltbie is a three-time National Proficiency Award winner and hopes to one day use his landscape and turf management expertise as a golf course superintendent.

Garrett Yerigan, Pryor, Agricultural Communications. Yerigan has built a business as an announcer at rodeos and agricultural events.  He hopes fans will one day hear him at such venues as the National Finals Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede.

Trenton Grimes, Pond Creek-Hunter, Environmental Science and Natural Resources.  Grimes works with his father to construct and rebuild terraces, waterways and reservoirs in the hopes of reducing topsoil loss and controlling runoff water.

Carson Vinyard, Altus, Emerging Agriculture Technology.  Vinyard says water conservation in Southwest Oklahoma is vital, so he helped install drip irrigation on 3,100 of cotton farmed by his family.

Reighly Lou Blakely, Oolagah, Nursery Operations.  Blakely purchased a greenhouse from her parents a few years ago and now offers 15 varieties of tomato plants, five varieties of basil, and12 different aloes and succulents to clients in the Tulsa area. 

Bryce Bulling, Mulhall-Orlando, Forage Production.  Bulling works with his grandfather in a forage production enterprise comprising 2,800 acres of Bermuda grass and wheat, mastering safe equipment operation, soil sampling, hay conditioning and identifying pests.  

Talon Alexander, Madill, Landscape Management.  Alexander owns and manages a landscaping business in Madill.  He says creating flower beds, raised beds and water gardens not only beautify his community, but enhance his bottom line as well.

Allison Slagell, Weatherford, Vegetable Production.  Slagell said her family likes to think outside the box and took advantage of ample irrigation opportunities to establish a thriving, diversified specialty vegetable operation in the middle of cattle and wheat country.

Lowell Catlett Calls Current FFA Members a Part of the Untethered Generation and Very Capable of Feeding the World

When it comes to crystal balls, Dr. Lowell Catlett has one of the best when it comes to peering into the future of agriculture. He described that future to a full Bankers Life Fieldhouse last Thursday evening at the Third Convention Session of the National FFA in Indianapolis.

Before he took the stage, we spent some time listening to some of his latest visions for where agriculture is going- and he believes the benefits for society are going to be enormous and the payoff to agriculture will be substantial. He sees the current generation of young people that make up the FFA organization today as one that is untethered- and can take full advantage of harnessing some of the innovations now coming down the road. 

He said today's FFA members belong to the untethered generation because of the digital devices they carry with them.  The apps coming available will put enormous power at their fingertips.  He cited a just-released app that instantly examines a drop of milk and gives a somatic cell count.  He says apps which will test blood instantly are on the way.  He says instantaneous DNA testing is almost here as well.

"It took us 13 years to get the first human genome done, thousands of people, 3 billion dollars.  Now we can do it for $1,000 in two hours."

Click here for more of my very enlightening conversation with Dr. Catlett.

Stabenow Praises Cantor's Committment to Lame Duck Farm Bill Vote

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, issued the statement below following reports that House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) committed to holding a vote on the 2012 Farm Bill following the Nov. 6 general election. Cantor's remarks came during a campaign stop in Boise, Idaho where Cantor was helping Rep. Paul Labrador (R-Idaho) raise money. 

"I'm very pleased to hear that Majority Leader Cantor is now committed to bring the Farm Bill to the floor immediately after the election. America's farmers, ranchers, small businesses and 16 million Americans employed in agriculture desperately need the certainty and disaster relief the Farm Bill provides.

"We passed a bipartisan Farm Bill that reforms farm programs and cuts $23 in spending. I hope our colleagues in the House of Representatives will follow that lead with a bipartisan approach to this legislation. It is critical that we are able to finalize the Farm Bill before the beginning of next year when farm programs begin to expire, which would impact milk and food prices for families."

You can read more by clicking here.

 

State Lawmakers Hold Conference on Directing Unserved Food to Oklahoma's Hungry

A table holding 400-pound mountain of bread and pastry leftovers from a couple of Oklahoma City businesses underscored a conference on hunger at the state capitol.   

Joey Abbo, founder of the NEEDS Foundation, brought the demonstration food mountain and spoke to his idea for ending hunger by way of redirecting unserved food. Abbo and a crew of volunteers have established connections to area restaurants including Panera Bread and the Deep Fork Group. Daily, they pick up and deliver to churches and shelters and hope to expand upon their model of dealing strictly in perishable items for direct delivery. 

"Collecting and redistributing perishable food in a manner that offers both the donor and the recipient the highest degree of protection from liability is the goal. We want to establish uniform public policy that will encourage all food related entities in the state to feel comfortable in joining efforts to donate unserved food to end hunger in Oklahoma," Rep. Richard Morrissette said.

There's more of this story on our website. Click here to go there.

Final Week of School Land Lease Auctions Happening This Week

Two auction locations will bring to a close the 2012 School Land Lease Auctions for the fall this week. 

The first of those is in Stillwater- starting at 10 AM today- click here for more details.

And the ninth and final Lease Auction for this year will be held tomorrow- October 30- in Shawnee. Click here for more details about the leases available in that area from the School Land Commission.