Press Release

Story By Rachel K. Bobbitt, Media Intern Contact: Kent Boggs kbogg@okcareertech.org

Deer Creek-Lamont FFA Member Named State FFA Star Farmer Ruth Bobbitt, a student at Deer Creek-Lamont Schools, was named State FFA Star Farmer during the 77th annual State FFA Convention. Bobbitt won the award based on the skills she learned through her supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program. Through her SAE, Bobbitt, a member of the Deer Creek-Lamont FFA Chapter, farmed more than 160 acres of cropland, rotating wheat and milo along with seven acres of hay. She also raised 37 registered Red Angus cows and bulls and 13 head of sheep. With her profits, she then expanded her SAE program and will use it to pay for college at Oklahoma State University. “With the skills that agriculture education and FFA have given me, I am confident that I can meet the challenges and be successful in the field of agriculture,” Bobbitt said. To recognize her accomplishments, the Oklahoma FFA organization named Bobbitt the 2003 Star Farmer, one of the organization’s highest honors. In the 65-year history of the award, Bobbitt is the second female to win the honor. Ruth Bobbitt (right) of the Deer Creek-Lamont FFA receives the State Star Farmer award from Gov. Brad Henry during the 77th annual State FFA Convention April 30. (Photo by Rachel Bobbitt) The State Star Farmer award is designed to recognize FFA members with outstanding achievement in a production agriculture SAE and active participation in the FFA. Each year, a candidate from each of the five districts is selected to compete for the award. Bobbitt was the Northwest District Star Farmer. The award is sponsored on the state level by Davis Farms of Guthrie, Okla., and Farm Credit of East Central Oklahoma. A portion of the state star’s $1,000 cash award is provided by the USDA Farm Service Agency, the award’s national sponsor. District Star Farmer plaques are sponsored by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Bobbitt was also presented a governor’s trophy by Gov. Brad Henry during the State FFA Convention in Oklahoma City. The 17-year-old Deer Creek-Lamont FFA member is the daughter of Mike and Cindy Bobbitt. Her agricultural education instructor and FFA adviser is Tommy Wilkerson. Boasting more than 22,886 members in 355 Oklahoma chapters, FFA is an integral part of the agricultural education division within the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. FFA’s 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. posted 5/7/2003 Related Link Oklahoma FFA Student Organization

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