Youth News
Meet JaLeigh Oldenburg of the Mulhall-Orlando FFA Chapter, Your 2018 Northwest Area Star Farmer
Thu, 26 Apr 2018 10:35:00 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 Agricultural Production, who will compete for the State Star Farmer Award during the Oklahoma State FFA Convention coming up May 1-2, 2018 in Oklahoma City.
Today, we are featuring the Northwest Area Star Farmer, JaLeigh Oldenburg of the Mulhall-Orlando FFA Chapter. Oldenburg has distinguished herself in the sheep business, developing her flock over time to where it is now - 135 head strong of registered Southdown ewes, plus 10 Southdown rams.
Oldenburg describes how she has followed her father's footsteps raising Southdowns. She says her father, with the help of others, built up his own flock of sheep and since her early years, has helped her do the same.
Throughout each year, Oldenburg and her family travels the purebred circuit to participate in many large national online sales to market her animals. Keeping her business going has taught her a lot about responsibility, the importance of intentional time management and she says it has developed her people skills - which she says is very important when interacting with customers to help them find the right animal to fit their unique operation. In addition to her various responsibilities, Oldenburg has also taken control of the flock's breeding program and makes all decisions regarding genetic selection. She credits her father with teaching her everything she knows and the FFA with giving her the tools to be successful.
"FFA has given me a good ethic to be able to do this mostly by myself," she said, "FFA has really helped me to grow as a person and helped me to learn the value of helping others."
Oldenburg has had a diverse career in FFA, participating in other activities such as public speaking, livestock judging and various Career Development Events (CDEs). This fall, she plans to attend Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa with aspirations of joining the show team there and majoring in agribusiness.
You can hear her 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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