Agricultural News
Dale Dewitt Wins OYE Legislative Showmanship as Oklahoma Lawmakers Learn From 4-H and FFA Exhibitors How It's Done
Thu, 15 Mar 2012 05:35:53 CDT
A large group of Oklahoma lawmakers and other state officials were inside the show ring in the Super Barn at State Fair Park on Wednesday evening- meeting some of their younger constituents. The 2012 OYE Legislative Show matched lawmakers with young people from their districts that have either a lamb, hog or calf at this year's statewide junior livestock show. The 4-H and FFA members turned into teachers for a few moments- introducing the lawmakers to their animals and giving them instruction how to show that animal to the judge with success. Then, the fun began. With sheep and cattle, the animals are on a halter and are held- but because you drive the hogs around the show ring- that's where the most action was.
Each lawmaker got some exercise, a tutoral about showmanship as well as a lesson on the importance of the education these show projects provide to these young people. There were winners announced in each of the venues, with the overall showmanship winner being Dale Dewitt of Braman. Dewitt is the Majority Floor Leader in this current session of the State Legislature.
Lawmakers also got a bonus education on the importance of this training- as they heard a strong endorsement of growing up on a farm, raising livestock for the show ring, and being involved in first 4-H and then later FFA from the current Miss Oklahoma, Betty Thompson. Thompson told the lawmakers that all of her accomplishments this last year- being named Miss Oklahoma last summer and then being named First Runnerup in the Miss America competition in January- was a direct result of all that she learned down on the farm with her animals- and in the public speaking and other activities associated with 4-H and FFA. This was a repeat performance by Thompson- OYE officials were so impressed with her comments to the "This One's for the Girls" event on Tuesday that they asked her to come back and provide that same message to an audience of lawmakers and other officials. You can check out our story from Thompson's Tuesday appearance at the OYE by clicking here.
The "play by play" announcer for the evening was State Representative Don Armes from southwest Oklahoma. We talked with Armes about the concept of the event- as well as some of the priorities he has for the second half of this year's legislative session- you can hear our visit by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...