Noble County’s Mason Bolay was recognized with Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award Nov. 6 at the 68th annual convention in Oklahoma City.
The award recognizes successful young people 35 or younger who are involved in farming but whose primary occupations are not farming or owning an agricultural business. The award is based on their involvement in agriculture and participation in Oklahoma Farm Bureau and other community organizations.
Bolay received a four-wheeler ATV courtesy of Farm Credit plus a trip to the AFBF convention in Seattle, Wash., to represent Oklahoma in the January national contest.
Bolay, who is single, resides in Perry. He plans to marry fiancée Elise Muscaro Jan. 2.
After completing bachelor degree requirements at Oklahoma State University, he accepted a position with the Thomas Public Schools to teach agricultural education. He works on the family farming operation on weekends, and also is pursuing his masters degree at OSU.
“Teaching agricultural education to a variety of students allowed me to positively impact both traditional and non-traditional agricultural education students,” Bolay said. “This works gives me the opportunity to share with others that a career in agriculture can be profitable, and there are many options available other than the traditional scope of farming.”
While he’s employed full time as a teacher, he maintains a small cattle herd along with owning 80 acres and renting another 250.
“No matter the amount of obstacles that are put in front of American agriculture we will find a way to continue and persevere through better farming practices, new marketing strategies, improved economics and adaptation.”
Bolay has been a member of the state YF&R Committee since 2008 and was the winner of the state Discussion Meeting in 2007. He has been a member of the Noble County Farm Bureau and YF&R Committee for a number of years.
