OEC Awards Local FFA Champions with $500 Scholarships

By Brianna Wall | Editor & Creative Director

OEC awarded two $500 scholarships in January to Oklahoma Youth Expo participants in our seven-county service area: one to Audrey Bradford of Amber-Pocasset FFA and one to Ryen Macy of Harrah FFA.

The two stellar students were selected to attend the 2019 Leadership Summit, a one-day leadership workshop where those in attendance learn team-building and leadership skills. The Summit will take place March 19 in conjunction with the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

Audrey Bradford, a senior at Amber-Pocasset High School and a 2018 OEC Youth Tour winner, participates in speech and FFA while volunteering in her community and with her church. She currently serves as the Amber- Pocasset FFA president, where her trophy case is full of awards for her champion barrows.

"I plan to pursue a career in engineering," she said. "I am confident I can excel in this field and I am now prepared for the challenges in engineering and in life."

Ryen Macy, a senior at Harrah High School, is also a decorated showman, winning multiple awards since 2016 for her Maine-Anjou heifer. She currently serves as the Harrah FFA chapter vice president and is the Cattle Show Team captain.

"Whether my career leads me to a large metro area... or settles me in a small town like my hometown, I plan to be a part of food production," she stated proudly.

Both Bradford and Macy plan to attend Oklahoma State University.

The winners will represent OEC at the Leadership Summit, where they will join peers from across the state who represent our sister co-ops. Rhett Laubach, founder of YourNextSpeaker, LLC and a well-respected, trained youth leadership developer, will conduct the program.