WILBURTON— Fifteen Silo students placed in their respective categories at the American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Southeast District Speech Contest held in Wilburton, Nov. 13.
Two students placed in the Senior Agriscience category – Denver McBride, second, and Kyleigh Eppler, fourth; Three students placed in the Junior AFR/OFU category – Isabel Atkins, third, Tinley Maxwell, fourth, and Spencer Lewis, fifth; Two students placed in the Junior Agriscience category – Molly Murphy, first, and Keely Owens, fourth; Teresa Aguinaga placed fifth in the Senior Natural Resources category; Shaylee Davis placed first in the Senior AFR/OFU category; Keleigh Caldwell placed first Senior Agribusiness category; Melissa Ansiel placed fifth in the Senior Animal Science category; Audrey Clemmer placed second in the Senior Ag Policy category; Bella Lester placed first in the Intermediate Agriscience category; and Anna Mauck placed second in the Intermediate Natural Resources category.
This marks the 80th year of the statewide contest. The event has gone through many changes over the years but has always maintained its central agricultural theme. Varying by grade level, this year’s speech categories are AFR/OFU, Agricultural Policy, Agribusiness, Natural Resources, Agri-Science, Animal Science and Extemporaneous. All students, grades four through 12, are eligible to compete.
Nearly 500 students will compete in AFR district speech contests this season, resulting in more than 160 finalists advancing to the state contest held Dec. 6 at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater.
“Public speaking is one of the most valuable skills young people can gain for their future careers,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “We are honored to host the 80th Annual AFR Speech Contest, which has a longstanding tradition of fostering professionalism and confidence in Oklahoma’s youth.”
The AFR Annual Speech Contest is just one of many AFR Youth Program traditions. The organization also hosts a youth leadership summit, statewide scholarships, livestock judging and grading competitions, and many other development opportunities. For more information on this contest or other AFR Youth Program projects, contact AFR Youth Development Coordinator Cara Comstock at (405)2185566 or cara.comstock@afrmic. com.
AFR Cooperative is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industry and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voice in support of AFR principles.
