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More than 200 young people from around the state participated in the annual American Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Summit, July 24-29.
Participants learned such skills as setting and achieving short- and long-term goals and working in teams. They also learned the value of personal responsibility, respect for their peers and many other positive attributes.
This was a great opportunity for these kids to grow and learn new skills that will help them later in life. We are proud to invest in the future of Oklahoma through these young people
Leadership Summit is divided into two sessions. All Oklahoma students entering grades 7-9 are eligible to attend the AFR Teen Leadership Summit. AFR Senior Leadership Summit is offered to students entering grades 10-12. The summit was held at Big Cedars Camp near Wanette, Okla.
We are excited to continue the tradition of the AFR Leadership Summit and to be more accessible to students throughout the state.
Part of the recent tradition at Leadership Summit was the annual service project. Students teamed up with Stamp Out Starvation, a Cherokee, Okla.-based humanitarian food-aid organization with a mission to significantly reduce the number of hungry children in the U.S. and to feed starving children throughout the world.
Attendees prepared and packaged fortified rice-soy protein meal packages for hungry children. Teen Session attendees packaged over 38,000 meals during their service project and Senior Session packaged more than 70,000 meals in under two hours. Between the two sessions, Summit attendees packaged more than 108,000 meals for children in Oklahoma, the United States and the world.
The packaged meals consist of long-grain rice, crushed soy, blended dehydrated vegetables and vitamin and mineral powder, and contains all nine essential amino acids. Each bag has a shelf life of at least three years and, when boiled, can feed six children. The average package of food from the Leadership Summit project will be eaten in less than three months.
AFR provides Oklahoma youth many opportunities to develop into the leaders of tomorrow. Leadership Summit is just one of several exciting AFR Youth Program traditions. The organization also hosts a poster contest, an agricultural achievement contest, fall speech contests, statewide scholarships, livestock handling and skills contests, livestock judging and grading competitions and many other leadership opportunities.
American Farmers & Ranchers announced its 2016-2017 Youth Advisory Council at the organization’s annual Senior Leadership Summit Reception July 29. The reception was held at the conclusion of the annual AFR Leadership Summit.
The Council consists of high school juniors and seniors representing AFR youth from across the state. Members of the 2016-2017 Council are: Emilie James, Altus; Justin Dewbre, Dibble; Lane Brown, Guthrie; Hayes Maher, Mooreland; and Brooklan Light, Garber.
Council members participate in agriculture-based service projects throughout the year and assist in planning many AFR Youth Program activities. They also facilitate AFR events and act as mentors for younger Oklahoma youth.
AFR is proud to invest in the future of Oklahoma through these young people. Our leadership summit and the AFR Youth Advisory Council demonstrate that investment across Oklahoma.
The selection process includes a written application, an interview conducted by a panel of AFR members and leadership professionals and a speech given in front of the candidates’ peers. In addition to interview and application scores, a vote is cast by students attending Summit, allowing all attendees to be involved in the selection process.
AFR Leadership Summit develops leadership skills in junior high and high school youth that will prepare them for future educational and professional experiences. Attendees learn such skills as setting and achieving short- and long-term goals and working in teams. They also learn the value of personal responsibility, respect for their peers and many other positive attributes.
The AFR Leadership Summit is an excellent way for the youth of Oklahoma to learn skills that will benefit them in their futures.
AFR provides Oklahoma youth many opportunities to develop into the leaders of tomorrow. Leadership Summit is just one of several exciting AFR Youth Program traditions. The organization also hosts a poster contest, an agricultural achievement contest, fall speech contests, statewide scholarships, livestock handling and skills contests, livestock judging and grading competitions and many other leadership opportunities.