RELEASE DATE CONTACT: Kent Boggs
May 2, 2018 405-743-5498
Oologah FFA Member Earns Diversified Livestock Production State Proficiency Award
By Haley Ashwood, Media Intern
OKLAHOMA CITY – Jesse Rader of the Oologah FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Diversified Livestock Production Proficiency Award area during the 92nd Oklahoma FFA Convention May 2.
Chisholm Kliewer of the Thomas-Fay-Custer FFA Chapter and Cooper Sneary of the Alva FFA Chapter earned second- and third-place honors, respectively.
Rader’s diversified livestock production supervised agricultural experience includes owning and operating his own beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry and honey bee operations. Rader said each facet of his livestock production project has grown throughout the years and continues to grow.
“I acquired my first beef cow at 8 years old as payment from my grandpa for always being at the chute ready to work cattle,” Rader said. “After I received that first cow, I have continually increased herd numbers and greatly diversified.”
The diversified livestock production proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience involving the production and marketing of two or more livestock-related proficiencies, which include beef, dairy, swine, sheep, equine, specialty animals, small animal production and poultry.
The 18-year-old Oologah FFA member is the son of Chris and Lisa Rader. His agricultural education instructors and FFA advisers are Sammy Leonard and Kadie Smith.
Rader will pursue his bachelor’s degree in animal science with a pre-veterinary option. While attending college, Rader will continue his beef and diary cattle, bee aviary, pecan production and forage production.
This award is sponsored on the state level by Oklahoma City West Livestock Market Inc., Brent and Jennifer Kisling, Lost Princess Cattle Co./Palace Drug and Randy Wedel. The national sponsors are Tractor Supply Co. and Wahl Clipper Corp. Atwoods Ranch and Home sponsors the $1,000 state winner scholarship.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With nearly 27,000 members and 360 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fourth-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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Jesse Rader (center) of the Oolagah FFA Chapter captured first-place honors in the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Diversified Livestock Production State Proficiency Award area. Jennifer Kisling (second from right) and Brent Kisling (right) congratulate Rader as well as Chisholm Kliewer (left) of the Thomas-Fay-Custer FFA Chapter and Cooper Sneary of the Alva FFA Chapter, who received second and third, respectively.
This award is sponsored on the state level by Oklahoma City West Livestock Market Inc., Brent and Jennifer Kisling, Lost Princess Cattle Co./Palace Drug, and Randy Wedel. The national sponsors are Tractor Supply Co. and Wahl Clipper Corp. Atwoods Ranch and Home sponsors a $1,000 state winner scholarship. The awards were presented during the 92nd Oklahoma FFA Convention in Oklahoma City May 2.