Youth News
Introducing Your 2018 Southeast Star in Agribusiness, Toby Bowles of the Colbert FFA Chapter
Mon, 16 Apr 2018 11:57:09 CDT
During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report is spotlighting the twenty Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA that are among the highest achievers in the organization. The stars come from the five areas in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Production Agriculture. This week, we are spotlighting the five area stars in Ag Placement, who will compete for the State Star Award in Ag Placement during the Oklahoma State FFA Convention coming up May 1-2, 2018 in Oklahoma City.
We begin this week's coverage of the 2018 Area Stars in Agribusiness with Toby Bowles of the Colbert FFA Chapter. Toby's agribusiness project consists of a two-pronged operation where he manages a business overseeing sheep production and a full-service gas and tire station servicing local farmers and ranchers. He described his general responsibilities that he attends to daily in order to keep the business running.
"Mainly, I'm responsible for keeping the sheep healthy and feeding," he said. "That's the main thing. Making sure they're always in good condition. Once they are about 70 to 90 lbs. or about five to six months old after they're weaned, we haul them to Texas to be sold."
Typically, Toby markets his flock early to mid-fall. Each year, he says roughly 750 ewes and lambs are ran across his operation with 350 breeding ewes always on-site. Year-round, though, he works at his service station fixing and replacing tires on local farmers' tractors, semis, trucks and cars - keeping them all maintained so, as Toby says, "Everybody is (kept) up and running because down time for our customers is lost money for them and us also."
Toby says FFA has contributed significantly to the success of his business giving him the tools that as a manager, he needs to keep the business in black ink. Specifically, he says FFA has taught him how to maintain complete and accurate records to help him track expenses and profits. Throughout his high school career, Toby has also been involved in livestock evaluation, skeet shooting and has served on his chapter officer team. Upon graduation Toby plans to attend Connor State College and later Oklahoma State University to pursue a degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Wildlife Management.
You can hear his entire conversation with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN BAR below.
Our salute of the 2018 Area Stars of the Oklahoma FFA is brought to you by American Farmers & Ranchers and AFR Insurance, proud to support Oklahoma's youth. Visit the AFR website by clicking or tapping here to learn more on how AFR supports the young people of Oklahoma, and how AFR can provide you with quality insurance for your home, auto, farm, and life.
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