Career Tech Champion Julie Payne

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Image of Julie Payne When Julie Payne decided to join FFA years ago as a Grandfield High School junior little did she know the skills she picked up would help her win the 1998 Miss Oklahoma title and place in the top 10 in the 1998 Miss America competition.

Payne said her experiences with FFA gave her the opportunity to hone her debating and public speaking skills - skills which have proved useful competing in beauty pageant competitions.

"I had never done any kind of public speaking before FFA," she said.

Payne gave her first public speech when she was a junior in high school. "I was extremely nervous for that first speech," she said. "But after a while I became comfortable with getting up in front of the judges and speaking. And that's a lot like the Miss America and Miss Oklahoma interview process."

Payne is now an accomplished public speaker who regularly addresses comprehensive school students across the state about the importance of goal setting and the problems associated with drugs and alcohol.

During those speeches, Payne talks about the many activities - including FFA - she was involved with in high school. However Payne said she gained a lot more than public speaking skills from her FFA involvement.

She also learned writing skills, by serving as chapter reporter for the FFA newsletter, and gained leadership skills from attending several state and national conventions.

"I gained so much by going to different workshops," she said. "I was motivated to be the best in whatever area I pursued."

FFA also helped Payne establish new friendships and to travel to meetings across the state. When she came to Stillwater, to go to school, she already felt at home.

Payne obtained a bachelor's degree in math from Oklahoma State University and, after her reign as Miss Oklahoma is over, will continue on a master's degree in math education at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Lee Wilcox, Payne's FFA advisor in high school, was a large reason why she joined the career and technology student organization.

Wilcox came out to the Payne family home to convince her parents of the benefits of being in the organization.

At first her parents were a little skeptical about Julie joining FFA, because they knew that she was not interested in showing livestock. However Wilcox convinced them FFA had changed a great deal from when Julie's father Lewis Payne, a farmer and former FFA member, was in school.

"FFA has changed so much since we were in high school. We really weren't aware of the public speaking opportunities," said Bryna Payne, Julie's mother. Bryna Payne said she would recommend FFA to other parents with high school age children.

"Its a wonderful program," she said. "It gave her (Julie) an opportunity to go all over the state and speak. Almost everywhere she goes, as Miss Oklahoma, she runs into someone she has met through FFA.

posted 1/4/2001
Story by: Manny Otiko,
Communications and Marketing
E-mail: motik@okcareertech.org

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	When Julie Payne decided to join FFA years ago as a Grandfield High School junior little did she know the skills she picked up would help her win the 1998 Miss Oklahoma title and place in the top 10 in the 1998 Miss America competition. Payne said her experiences with FFA gave her the opportunity to hone her debating and public speaking skills - skills which have proved useful competing in beauty pageant competitions. "I had never done any kind of public speaking before FFA," she said. Payne gave her first public speech when she was a junior in high school. "I was extremely nervous for that first speech," she said. "But after a while I became comfortable with getting up in front of the judges and speaking. And that's a lot like the Miss America and Miss Oklahoma interview process." Payne is now an accomplished public speaker who regularly addresses comprehensive school students across the state about the importance of goal setting and the problems associated with drugs and alcohol. During those speeches, Payne talks about the many activities - including FFA - she was involved with in high school. However Payne said she gained a lot more than public speaking skills from her FFA involvement. She also learned writing skills, by serving as chapter reporter for the FFA newsletter, and gained leadership skills from attending several state and national conventions. "I gained so much by going to different workshops," she said. "I was motivated to be the best in whatever area I pursued." FFA also helped Payne establish new friendships and to travel to meetings across the state. When she came to Stillwater, to go to school, she already felt at home. Payne obtained a bachelor's degree in math from Oklahoma State University and, after her reign as Miss Oklahoma is over, will continue on a master's degree in math education at the University of Central Oklahoma. Lee Wilcox, Payne's FFA advisor in high school, was a large reason why she joined the career and technology student organization. Wilcox came out to the Payne family home to convince her parents of the benefits of being in the organization. At first her parents were a little skeptical about Julie joining FFA, because they knew that she was not interested in showing livestock. However Wilcox convinced them FFA had changed a great deal from when Julie's father Lewis Payne, a farmer and former FFA member, was in school. "FFA has changed so much since we were in high school. We really weren't aware of the public speaking opportunities," said Bryna Payne, Julie's mother. Bryna Payne said she would recommend FFA to other parents with high school age children. "Its a wonderful program," she said. "It gave her (Julie) an opportunity to go all over the state and speak. Almost everywhere she goes, as Miss Oklahoma, she runs into someone she has met through FFA.
	posted 1/4/2001	Story by: Manny Otiko, Communications and Marketing E-mail: motik@okcareertech.org