Member FFA Students Attend 2021 Youth Leadership Summit
March 15, 2021
(Oklahoma City,OK) FFA & 4-H students around the state gather and compete at the largest youth event in the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) is held yearly at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds where over 7,000 exhibitors along with educators and families attend the ten-day event. Oklahoma Electric Cooperatives help sponsor the event and attend to support our state's FFA and 4-H students at OYE. During this week, electric cooperatives across the state send two member students to represent their cooperative at the Annual Youth Leadership Summit held during OYE. This year's attendees were Carson Atwood and Colby Erickson.
Carson Atwood represents Eufaula FFA and has been involved with 4-H for 7 years and FFA for 5 years. Atwood competed at OYE for 3 years showing goat. After high school, he plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in Animal Science. His accomplishments in the ring include: 1st place in Muskogee Regional Junior Livestock show, Eufaula Local Livestock Show Grand Champion Breeding Doe, Eufaula Loal Livestock Show Grand Champion Market Wether, 7th overall Market Goat Muskogee Regional Junior Livestock Show and McIntosh County Livestock Show Res. Grand Champion. Atwood is also involved in different types of leadership programs including: Chapter Officer, Workshop Presenter at Depew Rock on Leadership Conference and National Honor Society President.
Colby Erickson represents Haskell FFA and has been involved with 4-H for 8 years and FFA for 5 years. Erickson competed at OYE for 8 years showing cattle. After high school, he plans to attend Connors State University and major in Civil Engineering. His accomplishments in the ring include: reserve open red angus female in Tulsa State Fair 2019, reserve supreme heifer at Muskogee Regional Junior Livestock Show, 3rd best senior showman at 2019 Tulsa State Fair, reserve senior showman in Extreme Showmanship at OK Youth Expo, Champion senior showman at Muskogee County Spring Livestock Show, Reserve bred & owned shorthorn plus female at 2017 Tulsa State Fair, Reserve bred & owned shorthorn plus female at 2019 Tulsa State Fair and Reserve division red angus bull at 2019 Tulsa State Fair. Erickson is also involved in different types of leadership programs including: Leading the "Change for Change" program for the state 4-H, organized a district wide food and school supplies for flood victims, taught eight-week archery training courses for Muskogee and McIntosh County, gathered and assembled clothing bags for Fostering Hope, organized a toy colledtion to donate to the Children's Hospital for Christmas and holding vary officer positions for Haskell FFA.
These remarkable students were chosen by their leadership in the classroom as well as in their communities. Winners get to participate in a morning of leadership activities focused on how to make the most of the service and growth opportunities in front of them today and in the future. Key Speakers this year, Rhett Laubaugh and Kelly Barnes engaged with the students through various activities and lessons to increase their understanding of how leaders create change, overcome obstacles and serve others through their behavior and attitude.
Students also received $500 scholarships. Congratulations to Carson and Colby for being selected to represent ECE members at this year's Youth Leadership Summit!
For more information or to nominate a senior for next year's 2022 Youth Leadership Summit, contact the cooperative at 918-756-0833 and ask to talk to member services.
Shown pictured L-R: MR/PR Manager Katherine Russell, Eufaula FFA student Carson Atwood and Haskell FFA student Colby Erickson.