The Comanche County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers was honored with the 2018 Oklahoma Farm Bureau YF&R Charles L. Roff Award on Saturday, Nov. 17 during the organization’s annual meeting in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Charles L. Roff Award encourages county YF&R groups to improve their local committees and activity participation while strengthening the Farm Bureau organization.
“We’re just excited to be part of Farm Bureau organization,” said Cody Goodknight, Comanche County YF&R chair. “We love being a part of the group where we get to support what we do every day for living. We challenge other young farmers and ranchers to get involved and be passionate about what you do.”
The county earned the award for its work to share agriculture with its surrounding communities, along with its efforts to provide educational and leadership development opportunities for members.
“Our main goal is always to get younger generations involved, elementary and high school students,” Goodknight said. “(We do that) through the farmhand olympics programs and our Ag in the Classroom programs that we do.”
To help local students experience agriculture firsthand, Comanche County YF&R hosted its annual farmhand olympics. More than 100 area students participated in the event, with competitions ranging from cattle branding, wheelbarrow racing, egg gathering, plant and seed identification and more.
“It’s important to get the younger generation involved because they’re continually getting farther and farther away from the farm,” Goodknight said. “They don’t know where their food comes, where their clothes are made at. We just want to show them the food that’s in the grocery store is actually grown on farms, and if they know that they can take it back home to their parents and family.”
The county committee organized various tours for its members to learn more about the local agricultural industry. Comanche County YF&R members also were active in their area communities by volunteering at local schools, county livestock shows and homeless shelters. Many of the county members also are active in various local and statewide agricultural organizations.
The county received a traveling plaque in recognition for their outstanding committee involvement.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting is the organization’s largest gathering of farmers and ranchers every year. At the event, members vote on grassroots policy, elect leaders and award outstanding individuals. OKFB has a presence in all 77 Oklahoma counties and serves as the voice of agriculture and the rural way of life. To learn more, visit www.okfarmbureau.org.
Download a high-resolution photo of the 2018 OKFB Charles L. Roff award winners.
Suggested caption:
Members of the Comanche County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers committee receive the 2018 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Charles L. Roff Award from OKFB Executive Director Thad Doye (left) and 2018 OKFB YF&R Chairmen Brent and Jennifer Howard (right) during the organization’s awards banquet on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the 2018 OKFB annual meeting in Norman. The Comanche County YF&R received the recognition for their wide array of activities to enhance understanding and awareness of agriculture.
