Fifty-seven Oklahoma youth recently competed for $8,200 in savings bonds and scholarships during the 16th Annual Young Farmers and Ranchers Speech Contest, sponsored by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The contest was held March 14 at the OSU-OKC campus in Oklahoma City.
The YF&R Speech Contest was broken up into three age divisions: Junior, nine-12 years old; Intermediate, 13-15 years old; and Senior, 16-18 years old. The Junior Division presented speeches on the topic, “I Believe in Oklahoma Ag.” The Intermediate and Senior divisions gave speeches in three division categories, including Agricultural Production, Agriculture Policy and Environment & Natural Resources. Speeches for the Junior Division were three to five minutes in length; five to eight minutes for the Intermediate and Senior divisions.
Participants of both contests were judged on speech presentation, content, response to questions and general poise and appearance.Farm Bureau presented plaques to the winners of each category in each age group.
Junior Division:
The first, second and third place winners in the Junior Division received $400, $200 and $100 savings bonds, respectively.
Winners in the “I Believe in Oklahoma Ag” category were: First place, Colton Budy of Alva; second place, Madelyn Gerken of Kingfisher; and third place, Bayli Hyde of Burlington.
Intermediate Division:
First, second and third place winners of the Intermediate Division received $500, $200 and $100 savings bonds, respectively.
Winners in the Agriculture Production category were: First place, Lydia Blaine of Amber; second place, Nicole Ashton of Lawton; and third place, Maegan Yost of Kingfisher.
Winners in the Agriculture Policy category were: First place, Seth Paxton of Tuttle; second place, Kyler Belinson of Fletcher; and third place, Zoe Cummins of Elgin.
Winners in the Environment & Natural Resources category were: First place, Tyler Scnaithman of Garber; second place, Denton Lowe of Amber; and third place, Cale John of Cyril.
Senior Division:
First, second and third place winners of the Senior Division received $1,000, $500 and $200 scholarships, respectively.
Winners in the Agriculture Production category were: First place, Charlotte Towler of Meeker; second place, Annie Jo Gilbert of Tecumseh; and third place, Cade Broadbent of Cashion.
Winners in the Agriculture Policy category were: First place, Amber Allen of Byron; second place, Katie Lippoldt of Kingfisher; and third place, Maddi Shires of Calera.
Winners in the Environment & Natural Resources category were: First place, Gabe Cranford; second place, Jessie Heidlage of Claremore; and third place, Paul Brown of Waurika.
