Latest news with #FutureFarmersofAmerica
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Claremore Class of 2025 graduates at drizzling commencement ceremony
Claremore High School awarded diplomas to the 331 members of its Class of 2025 Sunday at Lantow Field. Intermittent showers and a gloomy forecast prompted the district to move graduation a few hours ahead of its initially planned start time. Families and graduates alike huddled under umbrellas and ponchos as they packed into the football stadium. Rain continued to fall as the seniors framed the football field in red and white and watched their classmates' faces flicker one by one up on the Jumbotron. Each senior had recorded a "Senior Shout-Out" video to thank their friends, family, teachers and others who had helped them make it to graduation. After everyone had taken their seats, Principal Brooke Lee thanked the crowd for its patience with the weather. "I know everyone just got wet rear ends as they sat down, but it was just really important to me to keep this outside for you seniors so that as many of your family members could be here to celebrate this moment with you," Lee said. "I've heard in some cultures, rain on a wedding day is good luck. So maybe on graduation day, it's good luck as well." Lee said among the Class of 2025 are four valedictorians, 22 salutatorians, 33 Oklahoma Academic Scholars, one Academic All-State winner and one National Merit Finalist. The class earned a collective $2.8 million in scholarships, she said. Claremore's senior class helped propel the school to high honors this year in several sports and extracurricular activities. Lee said Claremore's girls track and field, boys golf, jazz band, academic bowl and Future Farmers of America agricultural communications teams had all won state championships. It took Lee more than five minutes to list all the groups that had achieved on the state or national level this year. "I'd say this group of seniors knows a thing or two about succeeding, and they've got the accomplishments to prove it," Lee said. Each of the four valedictorians gave a speech. Caroline Lee, who will study management information systems at the University of Oklahoma this fall, quoted "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" to remind her classmates to appreciate life because it moves so fast. Allison Wiseman, headed to Milwaukee School of Engineering to study biomedical engineering, advised people cannot control all their circumstances but can always control their perspective. The other two valedictorians, Kizer Ballard and Campbell Crum, will each pursue a political science degree. Ballard said many people had shaped her life, but especially her late grandfather and former Claremore Superintendent Keith Ballard. She said her grandfather dedicated his life to education and taught her to appreciate its value. "There will be smaller gatherings of classmates at reunions, weddings and other celebrations, but right now, this is the last time we will all be together," Ballard said. "Let's rejoice in what we have left and know that I am proud of each person here, and my grandpa would be, too." Crum thanked his parents, who both work at Claremore elementary schools, for orienting him toward education. Between jokes about the rainy weather and Claremore's attendance rates, Crum said he hoped the school would one day restore the block schedule it will replace next year with a seven-period day. This prompted his classmates to clap and cheer. Crum told the rest of his graduating class that though they're starting a new chapter, it's OK to look back once in a while because it's human nature. He referenced his favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, and how Vonnegut loved Lot's wife for looking back on Sodom. "I found there will always be good in the past if you look for it, and please do look for it because sometimes becoming a pillar of salt will remind you of your beginnings," Crum said. "... Love everyone because no matter what, they're human. Vonnegut once said, 'We're all here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it even is.'" Italya Lona, Claremore's senior class president, gave the last speech and received her diploma first. Lona thanked her family, friends, teachers, coaches and Jesus, and said she loved them more than Starbucks during finals week. Lona said her classmates should be proud of themselves for surviving high school and use that accomplishment to push them through future challenges. She counted the class down into a chant of, "We did it." "Class of 2025, here's to the memories we made, the obstacles we overcame, and the people who helped us along the way," Lona said. "I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. Now, let's go walk this stage and get out of here like we've been dreaming of since freshman year."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Traffic advisory issued ahead of country music concert in Merced County
The Merced County Sheriff's Office has issued a traffic advisory for the area surrounding Castle Airport ahead of the Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2025 show expected to draw about 20,000 people to Castle Airport on May 15. Authorities said extremely heavy traffic is expected in the area and advise motorists to avoid both eastbound and westbound Sante Fe Avenue between Atwater and Merced between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday. The Merced County Sheriff's Office said the drop off location for those attending the show is at 3009 Stratofortress Drive. Vehicles entering via North Buhach Road are to continue straight in the right lane toward the grounds and then right onto Stratofortress Drive to the drop off point. Motorists entering via Spaceport Entry are to inform traffic staff that they are dropping off and then proceed to Stratofortress Drive to the drop off location. Motorists picking up someone after the concert can use the far right lane of Santa Fe Drive at Franklin Road only after 9 p.m., authorities said. Motorists taking this route should inform law enforcement they are there to pick up someone. From there, motorists will travel to the two miles to Spaceport Entry and then proceed to Stratofortress Drive. The sheriff's office said traffic will then make a left onto Airlift Drive and follow the outbound traffic. Authorities said additional road closure information can be found at the perimetermap website. Bryan, an American Idol judge and five-time Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year, is scheduled to headline his 16th farm tour at Castle Airport in Atwater before heading to The Ponds at Harland Ranch in Clovis on May 16 and Sillect Farms in Shafter on May 17. The tour features artists Tyler Hubbard, Rhett Atkins, DJ Rock and Dallas Davidson. Chayce Beckham will be featured as one of the acts on tour on May 15 and 16. Parking opens at 2 p.m. and doors open at 5 p.m. prior to the 6 p.m. show time, according to the singer's website. Merced County District 3 Supervisor Daron McDaniel said Bryan's production team has collaborated with local schools including the Future Farmers of America, employing students to work in parking and food services during the event. McDaniel said the event will have a positive impact on the local economy and that event organizers encourage tailgating. Bryan's production team will even be making a donation back to the schools. 'That really helps our community,' said McDaniel. 'They're going to buy beverages, they're going to buy food, snacks and stuff for tailgate. You got 20,000 people out in the parking lot going to have fun before they go into the concert that's going to be very beneficial to the community.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Not your typical classroom: Students further careers at 100th FAA Convention
GEDDES, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — For thousands of students, the end of the school week was at the New York State Fairgrounds, learning at the 100 annual Future Farmers of America (FAA) convention. From across the country, students gathered and connected over their shared passion for agriculture. One of the students is 16-year-old Daphne Cronk, who has been raising poultry since she was three years old. 'I am obsessed with them, and I've been collecting poultry. I am hatching geese, I am hatching ducks, I am getting a pond, I have over 30 chickens, so it's something I enjoy doing,' said Cronk. Not your typical classroom: Students further careers at 100th FAA Convention Local priest shares personal connection with Pope Leo XIV Regional Market funding not included in the state budget Seneca Falls man arrested for threatening police and assault See 'Beetlejuice' on Thursday at the Landmark and support the United Way of CNY Her day is unlike most of her classmates'; she wakes up around 5 a.m. and heads to her coop, where the 16-year-old, 'enough feed, enough water, make sure everything is clean because chickens have a tendency to get their feet infected…they're a little touch.' In addition to her coop, Cronk is leading other students in her local FFA chapter while planning her future, which includes teaching and writing. 'I also want to do some journalism, and I will use that to do some agriculture advocacy so I can spread the word about how important agriculture education is and other topics I see in the ag industry,' said Cronk. The topics she wants to cover aren't as soft as her chickens. One is how hard it is for farmers to make a living, stating that 40% of farmers have other jobs. 'If we want to have a sustainable ag system, we need to pay our producers enough to put food on our tables, without producers, we don't eat.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Williamson County agriculture from Gov. Bill Lee's family farm
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Born and raised on his family's farm in Franklin, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has experienced Williamson County's rich agricultural heritage firsthand. 'We are the best state in the country, and part of that is because of what's happening not only in our big cities — but also out here in the country,' explained Lee. Gov. Lee grew up on Triple L Ranch, a cattle farm established by his grandfather more than 60 years ago. From early mornings working cattle, to participating in 4-H expos and Future Farmers of America programs, he said life on the farm as a child taught him the value of hard work — and conservation. 'Farmers know better than anyone that protecting the land is protecting their livelihood,' Lee said. 'Folks do oftentimes think that farmers are the problem, when they actually are those who understand the answers more than anyone.' News 2 On Tour | Explore the communities that shape Middle Tennessee Now, Lee draws on his experiences in rural Tennessee in the governor's office, especially when tackling a topic like growth. 'We lose 10 acres an hour of farmland in this state to development,' Lee said. He said like many areas across the state, Williamson County's winding roads and wide open spaces are attracting residents at record pace — threatening the foundation of Tennessee's economy. 'When I was a little kid here, this was a very different county,' Lee said. 'You've seen what's happened in the past 50 or 60 years, and it's an example of what can and will happen in Tennessee. It's why we have to plan to have economic development and preservation going on at the same time,' he said. Among his efforts to protect land for future generations, he passed the Farmland Preservation Act in April. It puts $25 million towards the Farmland Conservation Fund within the Department of Environment and Conservation, giving farmers an incentive to put their land into a conservation easement so it will not be developed in the future, Lee said. 'These things are not just something that people enjoy, they're absolutely livelihoods for many folks all across the state,' he said. Exploring Williamson County agriculture at Hatcher Family Dairy It's all in the hope that places like Triple L Ranch can carry on that agricultural legacy. Lee said multiple generations of his family live on the property. While it's a place that grounds him on the weekends, it is also where he pictures his future. 'It's a refuge for me, especially in the job that I have now. To come home and spend time at home, where I've lived my whole life, it's a gift,' he said. 'My grandparents lived and died here, my parents both lived and died here, I suspect I'll live and die here.' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov McMaster signs bill to let students participate in ‘work-based learning'
Columbia S.C. (WSPA) – In Columbia, Governor Henry McMaster signed a bill into law that encourages students to take part in work-based law allows students in South Carolina public schools to participate in certain extracurricular activities, such as Future Farmers of America and Four-H programs, forcing school districts to excuse 10 days of missed school. The law references worked-based learning experiences, but was inspired by Future Farmers of America. Ian Headly from the State Department of Education said it's important to pass laws like these, that 'allow for them to expand, even beyond students in agriculture programs, but other relevant, organizations that provide these extremely valuable real-world experiences to our students,' he said. Hundreds of students showed up to support the bill signing. Cameron Williams, the SC State F.F.A. president, said this bill will help students maximize experiences and engage with organizations to prepare them for their lives. 'I think this bill is just going to increase that number, increasing not only the number of people within the F.F.A. and increasing the number that are active, but that are also going and doing these events, going and being active within their chapter.' He added that this opportunity with F.F.A. is what has shaped him, and he can guarantee this law will shape other students, no matter the organization. 'The leadership skills these students learn is just an amazing thing to have happened through college and into life.' Governor McMaster technically signed the bill into law on Monday, and said he was pleased that this bill is going to support the growth of students and South Carolinians. 'South Carolina's the best place in the whole world to live, work and raise a family, right here where you stand,' he said to the students. Williams said he knows of several students who had to miss events because they were not able to get excused absences, which he says held them back. The ten days of excused absences for work-based activities doesn't affect the other days students are allowed to miss if they're sick. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
