Youth News
Senator Mike Schulz Wins Legislative Showmanship Contest- Speaker Jeff Hickman Calls It an Honor for Lawmakers to Interact with Students
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 06:16:30 CDT
One of the highlights of the Oklahoma Youth Expo in recent years is the Legislative/Celebrity Showmanship Contest- and the 2016 edition of the friendly competition lived up to expectations. Over eighty lawmakers showed up to try their hand at showing one of the four species that are a part of the Oklahoma Youth Expo- and when the dust had settled, Oklahoma State Senator Mike Schulz of Altus was declared the overall winner of the evening. Schulz won the swine showmanship, then competed against the other species winners, showing a steer in the finals, and was declared the overall champion.
Serving as Emcee for the evening was Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker, Jeff Hickman. Hickman worked his way around the floor of the Fairgrounds arena, recognizing each lawmaker and guest who participated in the Contest, offering bits of encouragement and advice throughout the evening.
After the contest, Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays talked with Hickman about the importance of getting the lawmakers and their young constituents together for the evening. The Speaker told Hays "a lot of times the kids and parents will say it's a honor to get to participate- that's not true at all. The truth is that it's a honor for our lawmakers to get to spend some time with these young people and see the hard work they are doing and the lessons they are learning and that benefits us back at the Capitol for them to have that experience and those conversations and interactions in the middle of the legislative session."
Hickman went on to relate his background as a member of the Cherokee FFA Chapter and the importance of that experience in helping prepare him to serve as Speaker of the House.
Hays and Hickman also talked about the budget challenges of 2016 for the State Legislature. Hickman says we will find answers to finalizing a state budget and promised that Education would remain a top priority of his as the plan comes together.
You can hear their full conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
Already posted are more than 1100 photos from the 2016 OYE, including lots from the Legislative evening- you can check them out on our FLICKR page that is located here. Exhibitors and their families are welcome to download their favorite pictures from our 2016 OYE Flickr Album.
Our Coverage of the 2016 Oklahoma Youth Expo is a service of ITC Great Plains, Your Energy Superhighway- learn more about this high voltage, transmission only utility and their committment to the communities they serve which is the cornerstone of their business- click here for their website. We also salute the title sponsor of the 2016 OYE, McDonalds- click here to learn more about how McDonalds is a leader in sustainability.
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