Ag in the Classroom’s new DVD – “Action Agriculture Across Oklahoma” is being premiered this Friday morning at Fairview Elementary in Moore. The DVD is aligned to the Priority Academic Student Skills for grades kindergarten through 5th and it highlights 12 of Oklahoma’s top agricultural commodities.

This is an exercise video that emphasizes song and dance along with agriculture. It is fun and rigorous too!

We plan to be there for Rise and Shine at 8:30, but the actual debut will be closer to 9:15. The South Moore Pom Squad and maybe some football players are going to help us with the release. We are planning a great time of celebration and much-needed exercise along with agriculture information.

AITC says the video is for those days when outside recess is impossible and the students need to move, when the school is looking for a rise-and-shine event, or when the teachers think the kids just need to release some endorphins this video will fit the bill.

Ag in the Classroom has a fantastic training opportunity coming up on July 31st.

If you know Pre-K through 8th grade teachers this is a great chance to connect them with Ag in the Classroom. We would love to teach them how to integrate agriculture in their classrooms.

“Back at the Ranch with Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom” is a statewide conference that will take place July 31, from 9am to 3pm, at the Moore Norman Technology Center, South Penn Campus.

Encourage teachers you know who might be interested to check out this website for more information and free registration!

The annual summer 4-H and FFA Commercial Cattle Grading Contest will be held next Tuesday, June 30, at the Tulsa Stockyards. Registration begins at 12:30 and the grading school begins at 1:00 p.m. The contest will begin at 1:45 p.m.

Students can contact there local 4-H Extension Office or FFA Chapter for more information.

Contest Sponsors: Tulsa State Fair, Tulsa Stockyards,
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, and Victory Cattle Company.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma based American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR), general farm organization and insurance company, announced today the 2009 State AFR Scholarship recipients. AFR presented twenty-five $1,000 awards to active participants of the organization’s youth program. In addition to AFR involvement, winners were selected based on academic achievement and leadership activities.

“Our scholarships are simply another way we support the leaders of tomorrow,” said Terry Detrick, AFR President and CEO. “The premiums paid to Oklahoma based American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company enables the organization to have an active role in developing Oklahoma’s youth through scholarships and other agricultural events like speech contests, livestock judging and leadership summits. We are happy to invest Oklahoma insurance premium dollars in Oklahoma youth rather than see those funds sent to an out-of-state corporate headquarters never to be seen again.”

“Being able to award these scholarships is the most rewarding part of my job. Educational costs continue to rise, but we at AFR believe a college education is critical to the quality of life. Scholarship funds are essential in helping students turn their dreams into reality,” added Shelly Bilderback, AFR Director of Education. “These kids are the best of the best and we’re happy to be involved with developing their future.”

The 2009 AFR State Scholarship recipients are:
Cheyenne Allen, Newcastle, Okla.
Jarred Campbell, Haworth, Okla.
Heath Burchfield, Fairview, Okla.
Tara Burchfield, Fairview, Okla.
Andrea Chapman, Buffalo, Okla.
McKenzie Clifton, Kingfisher, Okla.
Stephen Eller, Haskell, Okla.
Elizabeth Golliver, Agra, Okla.
Nikki Holt, Kingfisher, Okla.
Karli Hostetler, Billings, Okla.
Shelby Latta, Gage, Okla.
Colin Lowe, Chickasha, Okla.
Blake Matlock, Tecumseh, Okla.
Levon Nichols, Ringwood, Okla.
Cody Ott, Fairview, Okla.
Kelby Rounsaville, Tecumseh, Okla.
Carly Schnaithman, Garber, Okla.
Travis Schnaithman, Garber, Okla.
Brent Smith, Haworth, Okla.
Justin Strate, Garber, Okla.
Lindsey Thomas, Cache, Okla.
Ashley Willis, Kingfisher, Okla.
Brandon Womack, Madill, Okla.
Brian Womack, Madill, Okla.
Brent Womack, Madill, Okla.

Connors State College will host a Cattle Grading Competition for FFA and 4-H members on June 9, 2009 at the Warner campus. The contest is open to FFA Chapters across the state and 4-H clubs or counties in Oklahoma. Registration begins at 9:00 am. A cattle grading school will begin at 10:00 am with the contest following. The school will include a sampling of cattle types and grades as well as, an explanation of the grading sheet.

Cattle grading involves the selection and evaluation of cattle based on their age, weight, and expected meat quality. This evaluation affects market prices. There are several career opportunities for students pursuing jobs in this field. Exposure to these types of contests and skill improvement activities opens the door for students and introduces them to career possibilities.

Gary Bledsoe will select the contest animals, place the officials, and conduct the school. Mr. Bledsoe is an expert in this area and is with the Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture. He conducts several contests across the state for Oklahoma youth each year.

Registration is free and can be completed by calling the Connors State College Agriculture Division at (918)463-6265 or by emailing the number of contestants that will be participating to Debby Golden, Agriculture Division at goldend@connorsstate.edu .

Awards will be presented to the top ten 4-H members and top ten FFA members competing. Team awards will be presented to the top three teams in each area.

Sue Kirk, first-grade teacher at the Wayland Bonds Elementary School in the Moore public school system, has been named 2009 National Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.

Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach along with AITC coordinators Jamey Allen and Dana Bessinger presented Kirk with the news during a presentation at her school Friday. At the ceremony, Peach asked the students if they followed sports and received an enthusiastic positive response.

“Think of the NCAA basketball championship,” he told the group. “In the world of teaching Ag in the Classroom, Ms. Kirk is the national champion.”

The AITC program provides core curriculum material that incorporates agricultural information in studies such as math, science, language arts, reading and social studies. Kirk uses agricultural themes in her class as well as the usual core curriculum.

“When the students walk in to the classroom they are greeted by a big, red barn and a rooster puppet that crows to greet them to a new school day,” said Allen. “Sue is dynamic, exciting and one of the most personable teachers in the state and we are really proud to see her efforts recognized nationally.”

Kirk was recognized last year at the State Capitol during the Oklahoma Agriculture Day celebration and receives a $500 honorarium provided by Dosia Jackson in memory of Paul Jackson. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s organization provided airfare for Kirk to attend the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Costa Mesa, CA.
The Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom program is a joint project of the ODAFF, Oklahoma Department of Education, and the Oklahoma State Cooperative Extension Service.

Rochelle King was among honorees at the recent Retired Educators for Agricultural Youth Program awards presentation. You may remember Rochelle from one of last year’s small farm tours hosted by ODAFF. The excellent video and news report by Oklahoma Horizon is still available here on Rochelle and her plasticulture operation near Spencer.

We asked Rita Combs, Executive Director of REYAP to tell us more about Rochelle and why she was among the honorees. Here is her response:

“Rochelle was chosen because she exemplifies REYAP’s program components: leadership, scholarship, citizenship and economic development. Rochelle is a leader in her community by being innovative and practicing conservative techniques on her small acreage. Scholarship and citizenship is demonstrated by teaching younger children about gardening. She teaches children life lessons such as discipline, the importance of planning and developing an operable business, how to interact with the public and how to save their money. Lastly, Rochelle has demonstrated economic development by selling to local grocers and hiring neighbor children.”

We congratulate Rochelle and look forward to working with her in the future.

–Jack Carson

Secretary Peach is on the road this week giving one member of the Attorney Generals’ office an informational tour of agriculture in northwestern Oklahoma.  We’re looking forward to hearing how it went and how the AG’s legal staff liked what they saw.

 

Teaching non-agriculturists about today’s farming and ranching industries is perhaps one of the biggest jobs we pursue and we hope that everyone reading this is doing their part in telling folks about all the good things being done in agriculture.

 

Jack Carson