Youth News
Introducing Aubrey Layton of the Vinita FFA Chapter, Your 2019 Northeast Area Star in Ag Production
Mon, 22 Apr 2019 12:01:44 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 spotlight the five area stars in Ag Production for 2019. One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories, will be named the State Star Award Winner next week during the Oklahoma State FFA Convention coming up April 30 - May 1, 2019 in Oklahoma City.
This week, our coverage of the 2019 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Aubrey Layton of the Vinita FFA Chapter, your 2019 Northeast Area Star in Ag Production. Aubrey is recognized for her show pigs which she has worked with since about 10 years of age.
"My brother got two cross-bred guilts for his birthday and then it has grown from there. I kind of took it over and started showing them," she said.
Alongside her father they started raising pigs and currently have about 10 sows. They've had a few cross-breds in the herd, a few hamps, but mostly durocs and yorks.
"The durocs are my favorite so I tend to stick with those, and my sister likes yorks so we raise those as well," Aubrey said.
Her ag teacher keeps her pretty busy says Layton so she has definitely gained time management skills while learning to take care of her pigs. When it comes time to sell she hass made trips to reserve producers' slots in local sales or neighboring states but now she has found a new, maybe better, way to market.
"We've actually started doing online sales through showpig.com and platforms like that," she said. "That helps us market our pigs on a national level."
Layton's talents don't end with showing livestock or judging, she is also speaking in the Agribusiness category.
"Public speaking is my favorite thing. I also do AgCommunications," she added. "I have an Agriscience Fair project for the first time this year which deals with RoundUp-We stay pretty busy at Vinita."
Vinita's FFA Chapter also has a catering team where they will prepare and serve all of the food for events.
"Normally what we do is some sort of meat and potatoes and vegetable and salad," she explained. "Everything that we serve is usually things that we've grown in our garden or some of our students that raise livestock have produced the meat."
Aubrey told us she believes FFA has helped her grow as both a speaker and a leader. When she graduates her plan is college, and she's considering a major in journalism or strategic communication so that she can work in public relations.
You can hear her entire conversation with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN BAR below.
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