Connor Mack of the Drummond FFA chapter was announced as the Oklahoma FFA State Star Farmer during the fifth session of the 98th Oklahoma FFA Convention and Expo on May 8 at the BOK Center.
Mack’s supervised agricultural experience focuses on different crops and livestock within his family’s farm.
“I plant several different crops including wheat, canola, milo, corn and soybeans,” Mack said. “I run 50 standard Hereford commercial cows, 15 mini-Herefords, 47 stockers, and 35 dorper sheep.”
Mack said he’s a fifth-generation farmer, and agriculture has been part of his life from the beginning. He said he is most content when he can be in the field or with his cattle.
“The FFA has opened up my horizons allowing me several great opportunities much like this one,” Mack said. “Whether it be Lead 360, Alumni Camp, or COLT Conference, the FFA has given me the leadership skills to go down any path after graduation of high school and college to be successful in any path I choose.”
Mack said upon graduation from high school, he plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in plant and soil sciences and earn a minor in animal science. After college, he plans to go back to the family farm using the knowledge he learned at OSU to continue and grow his operation as efficiently as possible.
The 18 Area Stars each received a plaque and $500 cash award co-sponsored by the Masonic Charity Foundation, McDonald’s of Oklahoma, The Chickasaw Nation, Blue and Gold Sausage Co., Davis Farms, Sirloin Club of Oklahoma, Noble Research Institute, and Oklahoma Farm Bureau.
As a Star Farmer, Mack and the other State Stars over Oklahoma will each receive $30,089 in scholarships or capital grant funds through a $3.2 million gift from the Carl C. Anderson Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation. The late Carl C. Anderson, after whom the State Star awards are now named, was born in Naples, Oklahoma, in 1911. One of 10 children, he dropped out of high school to earn money and support his family. From those modest beginnings, the Anderson Corp. grew across the country as well as in Canada and South America.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 29,670 members and 366 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fifth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.
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