Agricultural News
Gatlin Squires Among 16 American Star Finalists at 2015 National FFA Convention
Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:23:48 CDT
This past year in the fall of 2014- Gatlin Squires was busy serving as the State Secretary of the Oklahoma FFA as well as prepping for the National Public Extemporaneous Speech Contest. Here in 2015, he is getting ready for a single interview on Wednesday at next week's 88th National Convention of the FFA. .
He is among 16 students that have been named finalists for the 2015 top achievement awards. The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. Recognized are FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs; earned an American FFA Degree, the highest level of achievement the organization bestows upon a member; and met agricultural education, leadership and scholarship requirements.
Squires, of Kingfisher, hopes to hear his name called as the American Star in Agriscience. He combined his passion for agriculture and science in developing skin cleansing products for swine and an electrolyte solution that improves stamina, endurance and prolonged muscle contractions in swine. The product ultimately allowed pigs to be able to exercise for longer periods of time. In being an athlete, he began to think about ways to help pigs with muscle cramps.
"I figured, why don't we treat our animals like athletes, because they're exercising just as much if not more than I am most of the time and basically applied that same idea or theory," Squires said.
A panel of judges will interview finalists and select one winner for each award at the 88th National FFA Convention & Expo, October 28 -31, 2015, in Louisville, Kentucky. The four winners will receive an additional $2,000 and be announced at the convention and expo's third general session, as part of the Stars Over America Pageant on Thursday, October 29.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays sat down with Gatlin Squires to talk about his FFA experience. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to the full interview.
As the son and grandson of agricultural education teachers, Squires has a deep appreciation for the FFA organization. Before joining the organization in the 8th grade, he thought he knew what FFA had to offer. In hindsight, he said he really didn't have any idea the opportunities and experiences he would be given through the organization.
"It's been basically the most impactful, beneficial organization that has taught me more than anything else I've ever been involved with," Squires said.
Hays will be joined by Squires on the "In the Field" segment Saturday morning at 6:40 on KWTV News9 in Oklahoma City.
Our exclusive coverage of the 2015 National FFA Convention in Louisville is a service of ITC, Your Energy Superhighway. Learn more about ITC Great Plains, LLC by clicking here. We also appreciate the support of the Oklahoma FFA Association and the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association. Click here for more information about one of the top states in the US in the FFA- the Oklahoma FFA Association. Oklahoma FFA impacts the lives of 27,154 members in 359 chapters across the state.
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