RELEASE DATE CONTACT: Kent Boggs
May 2, 2018 405-743-5498
Cashion FFA Member Earns Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management State Proficiency Award
By Haley Ashwood, Media Intern
OKLAHOMA CITY – Riley Estes of the Cashion FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management Proficiency Award area during the 92nd Oklahoma FFA Convention May 2.
Jacob Jones of the Stillwater FFA Chapter and Cade Leonard of the Sequoyah FFA Chapter earned second- and third-place honors, respectively.
For his supervised agricultural experience, Estes spends his summers, weekends and evenings after school working for Foote Farms. Estes said he had hands-on work experience by planting windbreaks, removing invasive trees, contouring tillage and maintaining farm ponds. Estes said his work for Foote Farms has provided him with valuable skills in conservation and natural resource management.
“The hands-on experiences, as well as a working knowledge of how these conservation practices contribute to an environmentally and economically sound management plan are an advantage of pursing a career path in natural resource management,” Estes said.
Estes said he learned proper management of natural resources is vital to the environment and ecosystem.
The environmental science and natural resource management proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience related to receiving practical experience concerned with the principles and practices of managing and/or improving the environment and natural resources.
The 16-year-old Cashion FFA member is the son of Levi Estes and Kortney Stoops. His agricultural education instructor and FFA adviser is Stephanie Payne.
Upon graduation from high school, Estes plans to attend Southwestern University to obtain a degree in Natural Resources and Wildlife Ecology Management. He hopes to secure a job as a game warden for the Oklahoma Wildlife Department.
This award is sponsored on the state level by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association, Cobb-Vantress, and the Oklahoma LP Gas Research, Marketing and Safety Commission. The national sponsor is CHS. The Public Service Company of Oklahoma sponsors a $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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Riley Estes (second from right) of the Cashion FFA Chapter captured first-place honors in the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Environmental Science & Natural Resource Management Proficiency Award area. Tiffini Jackson (right) of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma congratulates Estes and Jacob Jones (second from left) of the Stillwater FFA Chapter and Cade Leonard (left) of the Sequoyah FFA Chapter, who earned second- and third-place honors, respectively.
The state sponsors for this event are the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association, Cobb-Vantress and the Oklahoma LP Gas Research, Marketing and Safety Commission. The national sponsor is CHS. The Public Service Company of Oklahoma sponsors a $1,000 state winner scholarship. The awards were presented during the 92nd Oklahoma FFA Convention in Oklahoma City May 2.