Several Oklahoma youth recently competed for $9,500 in savings bonds and scholarships during the Tenth 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 youth 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 seven 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:
First, second and third place winners of each category of the Junior Division received $400, $200 and $100 savings bonds, respectively.
Winners in the Agriculture Production category were: First place, Tyler Schnaithman of Garber; second place, Dakota Dear of Bokoshe; and third place, Britney Kimble of Hydro.
Winners in the Agriculture Policy category were: First place, Layne Meriwether of Waynoka; and second place, Katrina Hammonds of Oklahoma City.
Winners in the Environment & Natural Resources category were: First place, Bridget Raish of Yukon; second place, Tyler Price of Laverne; and third place, Aaron Sharp of Stillwater.
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, Cody Nieman of Ralston; second place, Mikah Pendleton of Yukon; and third place, Kela Kelln of Waynoka.
Winners in the Agriculture Policy category were: First place, Colin Lowe of Chickasha; second place, Cassandra Mickelson of Yukon; and third place, Robert Maples of Okemah.
Winners in the Environment & Natural Resources category were:
First place, Deston Shaw of
Talihina; second place, Kayla Lucas of Tuskahoma; and third place, Jessica Parker of Cushing.
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, Kelli Piguet of Vinita; second place, Bethany Turner of Perkins; and third place, Ashley Wilson of Freedom.
Winners in the Agriculture Policy category were: First place, Brianna Jett of Laverne; second place, Austin Akins of Alex; and third place, Hannah Gregory of Tuttle.
Winners in the Environment & Natural Resources category were:
First place, Chelsea Hummel of Alva; second place, Erin Way of Tuttle; and third place, Brendon Lowe of Chickasha.
