Fall 2011 - Oklahoma FFA Association

President
Courtney Maye
Secretary
Brandon Baumgarten
Reporter
Kaleigh Lynch
Northeast District
Vice President
Hannah Nemecek
Northwest District
Vice President
Joshua Conaway
Central District
Vice President
Andrew Aldridge
Southeast District
Vice President
Kristal Williams
Southwest District
Vice President
Justin Turner
Oklahoma Outlook
The Official Publication of the Oklahoma FFA Association
Fall 2011
Your Oklahoma State Officers 2011 - 2012
In this issue:
State Officer photographs by Amy Harper
Alumni Leadership Camp
State Officer Profiles: Kristal Williams and Justin Turner
Our National FFA Star Candidates

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Oklahoma Outlook Outlook
Fall 2011
Fall 2011 2011 Alumni
“I loved the small group
sessions.”
Lane Moffatt, Sulphur
“It was like a family.”
Bailey Weaver, Pryor
Don’t miss out! Plan now to attend next year’s camp.

Leadership Camp
“There’s nothing else
like it.”
Marcus Wallace, Tuttle
More pictures at www.okffa.org
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Oklahoma Outlook Outlook
Fall 2011
Fall 2011 Meet Your
Justin Turner
SW District Vice President
As a young child, I remember constantly
coming up with crazy schemes.
I spent each day dreaming up the latest
and greatest idea.
One day, I decided I was going to run
away to California to become the next
catcher for the L. A. Dodgers. There were
only two small problems with my future
career in the majors. First, I was only
5 years old. Second, I was walking east
instead of west towards California. How
would I ever make it to L. A. if I didn’t
know where I was going?
Needless to say, that dream didn’t work
out as planned.
Even as I grew older, I never lost my imagination or desire
to dream. As I approached my senior year, I remember
thinking of all the things I wanted to accomplish in the
coming year. In order to get to where I wanted to be, I
decided to write down my goals on a Post-It note and place
it on the dash of my truck. This way, I would constantly be
reminded of what I wanted to accomplish.
Thankfully, I was able to accomplish the goals I had written
down.
Although it may sound silly, the difference between those
examples and their end result comes down to a simple concept.
You have to know where you’re going in order to get
there. If you are going in the wrong direction, you’ll never
reach your desired destination.
FFA members, I encourage you to dream with the imagination
of a small child! You’re never to old to let out your
creative side. I also encourage you to write your goals in a
place you can see them. It will serve as a constant reminder
of where you want to be.
If you know where you’re going, you’ll eventually reach
your desired destination!
After college, Justin hopes to begin his career as a marketing specialist for a large corporation. Long-
D term, he intends to create his own Marketing Consultation business.

State Officers
In life, we don’t remember days; we remember moments.
Sometimes those moments are small—like getting your
training wheels taken off or just watching TV with your
family. But even those can be huge. Others are on a larger
scale such as winning a speech contest or livestock show, or
getting your driver’s license.
All of these can be defining moments. We all have them
in our lives. We call them our “aha” moments—moments
when we realize who we are, what we want to do, or just feel
right being where we are. These moments are unlike any
other. You see, these moments shape us into who we are or
who we become.
Some of my “aha” moments include getting a baby sister,
watching my big sister graduate high school, accepting
Christ as my Lord and Savior, singing with a fellow FFA
member in the Ag truck at 1 a.m., having a reserve breed
champion at the Oklahoma Youth Expo, and winning grand
champion with my ewe at the Oklahoma State Fair.
But my biggest “aha” moment happened on a school bus on
the way home from a basketball game when I was a freshman
in high school.
Some of Kristal’s favorite things are:
showing sheep, the OKC Thunder,
Spiderman, and fried chicken.
Coming from the small school of Latta , I was involved in
basically every activity—FFA, basketball, NHS, FCA, DECA,
and Student Council. However, I knew the time was coming
when I would have to choose between FFA and basketball.
I began praying about this decision every night and every
Kristal Williams
SE District Vice President
day. Finally, one night when I was traveling
home on the school bus with the rest of
my basketball team, God spoke to me. It
was my biggest “aha” moment! From that
night on, my goal was to serve as a state
FFA officer.
When these moments come along, don’t
take them for granted. Sometimes they
might be hard moments, requiring you
to sacrifice something you love for something
you love more. I encourage you to be
strong and keep pressing forward. Take
these moments and cherish them. Wherever
they take you, go. And go with all of
your heart!
Kristal is a student at Oklahoma State University, majoring in Agriculture Business with a pre-law
option.
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Oklahoma Outlook Outlook
Fall 2011
Fall 2011 American
Corey Crick
Crescent Chapter
Candidate for American Star
in Agribusiness
Corey was Chapter President in
2009. He received his State FFA
Degree in 2010.
Rachele Kay Blakley
Oologah Chapter
Candidate for American Star
Farmer
Rachele is a National Proficiency
winner in Diversified Livestock
and Nursery Operations.
Seth Darrell Hankey
Burlington Chapter
Candidate for American Star
in Agricultural Placement
Seth is an FFA Gold Medalist in
Diversified Ag Proficiency and
Diversified Crop Proficiency.
The American Star Awards represent the best of the best
among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients.

Star Awards
Corey’s interest in landscaping began at the age of 11
when he started mowing a neighbor’s yard to earn some
spending money. He soon became known all over town
as “the little kid with the push mower.” Today he has 65
loyal customers and offers specialty services including
edging and licensed herbicide application.
Corey’s educational goals include completing an Associate’s
Degree this year. He will then transfer to OSU and obtain
a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness, after which he plans
to expand his business, Courage Environmental, into a
statewide landscaping service.
Rachele’s SAE consists of a registered Shorthorn and
Maine-Anjou herd that produces show calves, seedstock,
and packaged meat for the commercial meat market. She
is also involved with swine, sheep and goat production.
In addition to all that, she operates a large greenhouse for
growing herbs, heirloom tomatoes and a wide variety of
old fashioned vines and fl owers that she sells at farmers
markets.
Upon her graduation from OSU, Rachele plans to continue
marketing her products and educating the general public
about where their food comes from and how it is produced.
There was never a question about what Seth wanted to
be when he grew up: A farmer! Being in FFA has helped
to make his dream come true. FFA and Agricultural
Education have served as his compass - always guiding
him to the path of success.
As a student at OSU Institute of Technology and an intern
with John Deere, Seth’s feet are fi rmly planted on that
path today. His goal is to become an active partner in his
family’s farming operation and to continue a tradition of
excellence in the wheat, corn, and grain industries.
Good Luck to our Oklahoma Candidates!
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