RELEASE DATE CONTACT: Kent Boggs
May 2, 2018 405-743-5498
Oologah FFA Member Earns Home and/or Community Development State Proficiency Award
By Kate Miller, Media Intern
OKLAHOMA CITY – Wyatt Hancock of the Oologah FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Home and/or Community Development Proficiency Award area during the 92nd Oklahoma FFA Convention May 2.
Katelynn Parker of the Adair FFA Chapter and Hunter O’Daniel of the Weatherford FFA Chapter earned second- and third-place honors, respectively.
Hancock said he was interested in volunteering with Tenaciously Teal, an organization supporting cancer fighters, when several close friends and family were diagnosed with cancer. He said he has since organized five events to collect donations and create care packages for patients in Oklahoma.
“I received donations from businesses and community members who helped by sewing bags, donating money and care pack items, and by writing encouraging notes that we included in the care packs,” Hancock said.
Hancock said he has also been contacted to serve as a student consultant to help other student organizations and groups lead service events.
The home and/or community development SAE project typically involves improving and protecting the beauty of an area by using natural vegetation or commercial ornamental plants, and/or modernizing a home for better health and comfort through the installation or improvement of water and sanitary facilities, heating and air conditioning or labor-saving devices. These programs also can include community development activities such as volunteerism, community development and community betterment activities.
The 18-year-old Oologah FFA member is the son of Don and Jayme Hancock. His agricultural education instructors and FFA advisers are Sammy Leonard and Kadie Smith.
The award is sponsored on the state level by AARP Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation and McLain County Farmers Union. This event is sponsored on the national level by Carhartt Inc. The $1,000 state winner scholarship is provided by Chacey Schoeppel.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 27,000 members and 357 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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Wyatt Hancock (second from left) of the Oologah FFA Chapter captured first-place honors in the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Home and/or Community Development State Proficiency Award area. Sean Voskuhl (right) and JoeAnn Vermillion (second from right) of AARP Oklahoma, as well as Jennifer Provence (third from right) of the Cherokee Nation, and Chacey Schoeppel (center), congratulate Hancock as well as Katelynn Parker (left) of the Adair FFA Chapter and Hunter O’Daniel of the Weatherford FFA Chapter, who received second and third place, respectively.