The Heart and Soul

For nearly 20 years, there has been one constant at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. One man, who’s work begins far ahead of the first trailer’s arrival, before the first bag of shavings is opened and certainly before the first banner is handed out.

His day begins well before the coffee is brewed and the sun even thinks of peaking above the horizon, and his day isn’t over until after the sun has set. Yet, every day, the gates are unlocked, the rings are set, and the lights are on, all thanks to Gary Robinson.

“Gary makes it all happen,” OYE Director of Special Events, Melissa Eisenhauer said. “From the first truckload of dirt that goes in, to every panel put up and every wire tightened, Gary does it all.

“If it isn’t done and done right, we don’t have a show,” she said.

For 16 years, Gary and Melissa have worked together at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. “The first time I met Gary, I knew I would love him,” Melissa said. “Gary came up to me day one of my first OYE as staff and said, ‘Whatever you need and whatever you need done, just let me know.’”

Always with a smirk on his face and a witty retort such as, “Handy as a pocket on a shirt,” or, “Hurry every chance you get,” Gary is there every step of the way.

Throughout all 10 days of the world’s largest junior livestock show you’ll find Gary, scooting around on his golf cart, outfitted with every tool for any job and a solution for every problem.

“From baling wire, zip ties, a chain or two, or pliers, because you never know what you might need, Gary has it all in his trusty cart” Melissa said.

Gary is more than just handy, he’s familiar with the ins and outs of bringing a show the size of OYE to life.

“He’s overseen tie-outs, traffic control, ring building, run away animals, you name it, it’s probably happened,” she added. “So the next time you see Gary whizzing down barn row, step out of the way, because he’s on a mission to make life better at OYE.”

Each year, Gary works hand in hand with the students of the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Encounter. OALE assists OYE with show logistics, including moving trailers and livestock in, setting up panels and showrings and assisting Gary where needed. In 2010, OALE member, Rayne Austin, joined Gary during OYE.

“Gary and I hit it off right away and developed a relationship throughout the next 10 days that will last a lifetime,” Rayne said. “I still try to make it to a day of OYE just to spend it with Gary in his famous golf cart.”

Riding around with Gary opens your eyes to how pivotal Gary is to the operation, he said.

“Until you have been behind the scenes in a livestock show the size of OYE, you really have no idea what all that entails,” he added. “If there is an issue, or one of the superintendents needs something, their first call is to Gary.”

Helping coordinate a show of OYE’s size and ensuring it runs smoothly for 10 days is no easy task — even for someone with an extensive background in livestock.

“He has given countless hours to OYE throughout the years, and it sure was not for the money,” Rayne said. “It was for his love of livestock and the families that dedicate their time to raising and showing livestock.”

To Rayne and others, Gary’s impact and lessons taught will not be things soon forgotten. He teaches and shows everyone, from volunteer to exhibitor, to put the needs of others before your own and the importance of family.

“I’ve always felt like we are all a family here at the Youth Expo,” Melissa said. “Gary and his wife Judy, are a big part of our family.” Like Gary, Judy Robinson always goes the extra mile.

“To me, Gary and Judy are the mom and dad of OYE,” Melissa said. “He takes care of the logistics and Judy is the super show mom who makes sure everyone is fed and who is always there to run an errand when nobody else can get away.”

The OYE family isn’t the Robinson’s only family. Together, Gary and Judy have three children, Shane, Reid and Beth along with six grandchildren, Parker, Ella, Walker, Eusie, Madilyn and Saylor.

“All of their grandchildren just light up when they see Granddad and MeMa,” said their youngest child, Beth Norvell. “It means the world to our kids, and to me, to have grandparents support them in all of their endeavors. As for the grandkids involved in showing livestock, I love that my parents are there watching them do something my brothers and I grew up doing.”

For 10 days each spring exhibitors and their families travel to Oklahoma City to exhibit their livestock and hopefully see all their hard work pay off. The sense of family is felt throughout State Fair Park, a feeling that’s just as real as the smell of shavings or the hum of countless blowers. Many families have multiple exhibitors, and some families have multiple generations of OYE showmen. Gary’s family is no different. In 2002 Beth joined the team at OYE as an intern and later came on full time as the director of communications.

Then Executive Director of OYE, Justin Whitefield, needed someone who was familiar with the show and willing to do the logistical and corresponding work with the crew at Oklahoma State Fair park to ensure the show’s future success.

Before retiring to spend more time with his grandchildren, Gary spent his entire career as a dedicated ag teacher. It’s understood if you’re an ag teacher in Oklahoma, attending OYE is a part of your job description. Throughout his career, Gary spent many years at OYE with both his students and his family, so he understood the functions, making him an excellent candidate according to Beth.

“I sort of volunteered my Dad,” Beth said. “He had just retired, and I guess I figured he might get bored! Justin contacted him, and the rest is history.”

To this day, OYE continues to be a Robinson family affair. “We spent every spring break for years showing livestock at the State Fairgrounds and still today, we continue making memories, just in different roles,” she added.

If you spend time with any one OYE exhibitor during the show you’ll get to see first hand the hard work and effort put into getting themselves and their livestock show-ready. Like with all extraordinary things, success doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s many early mornings and late nights in the barn. It’s not for everyone, but for a handful, it’s more than a passion — it’s a lifestyle. With that lifestyle comes understanding, particularly of great expectations and how to meet them, from yourself and from others.

Gary holds everyone accountable, always pushing them to be their best. “Dad is a no-nonsense kind of guy, with his own children and everyone else’s too.” Beth said.“He expected a lot from each of us, and for that I am grateful.”

Growing up, he always liked to remind us kids, “You don’t have to, you get to,” Beth said.

“As a kid, I wanted to complain about working at the barn or doing chores around the house and Dad’s staple response was the above mentioned,” she said. “Now that I’m a mother and have lived through a few more life experiences, I remind myself of that statement often and realize how blessed I am to ‘get to’ when there are others who would give anything to ‘get to do’ something I may take for granted.”

Growing up showing livestock at OYE, Beth and her family have seen it grow into what it is today.

“I think what makes OYE so special for my family is that we’ve

been showing here since my oldest brother was nine, he’s now forty-five,” she said. “In all of those years, it has only gotten bigger and better.”

“This show continually makes a positive impact on young people from all over Oklahoma,” she added. “From the multitude of competitions offered now, to the scholarships offered, to the emphasis on the Grand Drive, OYE has truly become ‘the greatest show.’”

The growth of the Oklahoma Youth Expo is thanks in part to the large effort put forth by volunteers like Gary, Melissa said. Without him, it wouldn’t be possible to pull off a show of this magnitude with as many diverse opportunities for Oklahoma 4-H and FFA exhibitors to partake.

“The agriculture and stock show industry is something my parents love with every ounce of their being,” Beth said. “Working at OYE allows them to stay engaged in the livestock show arena while continuing to support the young people involved.”

From raising his own kids through showing livestock, to pushing his students to reach their fullest potential and now watching his grandchildren in the ring, Gary has helped and continues to shape the lives of many.

“I truly believe Gary is one of the most selfless people you will ever meet,” Rayne said. “If there is ever a day Gary decides to hang it up, it will be one of the toughest days for the OYE family.”

Looking ahead to the 2020 Oklahoma Youth Expo, be sure to take note of the setup and organization, you’ll have Gary to thank. “He’s the man behind the scenes you never see, but he’s the heart and soul of the Oklahoma Youth Expo,” Melissa said.