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Hundreds of FFA students compete
News
April 17, 2025
Hundreds of FFA students compete
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER

Hundreds of FFA students recently competed at Checotah. On Monday, April 7, FFA Zach Ilbery along with the OSU Ext. office had their hands full with two huge events hosted by Checotah FFA.

First was the Land Judging competition that brought in 119 students to the Checotah Sports Complex. Chris Hobbs with Natural Resource Conservation Service helped with the competition.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that assists farmers and landowners with conserving land and natural resources.

While land judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. It enables each student to learn how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship.

Students look at a variety of factors: soil texture, the depth of soil, the slope of the ground, erosion factors, permeability of the subsoil, and surface runoff.

The conservation of many soil resources may one day depend upon the expertise of this next generation of farmers and there are many job opportunities within this field.

Later that afternoon Ilbery hosted another FFA event at the Checotah High School were a roomful of community judges had the privilege of judging 458 FFA students in different competitive speech subjects.

The four different speaking competitions in FFA are creed speaking, prepared speaking, extemporaneous speaking and employment skills.

Then there are more areas inside of those:

• Creed – 9th grade only

• Prepared

• Animal Science

• Ag Science

• Plant Science

• 4 Natural Resources • 8-10th Grade • 8&9th Grade General • 7 Ag Policy

• Extemporaneous

• Employment Skills Interview One judge Jason McPeak stated why he always helps with the competition each year.

“As a past National speech winner in Conservation of Natural Resources, I want to help our students achieve at the highest level. Although I was a scholarship baseball player all four years of college, I was also able to win over $3,000 in addition scholarships through public speaking. Those experiences and lessons allowed me to speak confidently to large groups of people and being good at public speaking will literally serve you every day of your life. So I enjoy mentoring the next generation.”

This competition was one of the largest speech competitions in the state and literally takes a community to accomplish it each year.

OSU Ext. extended a special thanks to the City Of Checotah for preparing the field sites and for Chris Hobbs with Natural Resource Conservation Service for coming out to help with all these entries.

Ilbery extended his gratitude for everyone who showed up to judge the speech competition which went for several hours.

Treasurer honored at retirement party
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Treasurer honored at retirement party
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Retiring McIntosh County Treasurer Betty Whisenhunt received high praise from the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd at Whisenhunt’s retirement party Friday. “She could give courses acros...
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A newly adopted ordinance, passed June 9 by the City Council, increases rates for all users, including those living outside city limits. This new ordinance officially raises monthly water rates for re...
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Lightning strike kills Eufaula woman in cemetery
A: Main, News...
Lightning strike kills Eufaula woman in cemetery
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 3, 2025
A 57-year-old Eufaula woman was killed by lightning during a routine stroll through a cemetery Friday evening. Joy Ann Rogers was walking through Greenwood cemetery shortly before 7 p.m. when a thunde...
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Family, friends and fans bid farewell to Blues legend
A: Main, News...
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Her casket rested below center stage at the Checotah Performing Arts Center, open for friends, fans, and family to view her precious body before her life’s celebration began. No one lingered long. Tha...
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Classmates reunite after years apart during Checotah Alumni weekend
A: Main, News...
Classmates reunite after years apart during Checotah Alumni weekend
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
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Killing them with kindness
commentary
Killing them with kindness
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What a month it’s been for me personally and in our close-knit communities. Trying to cope with the loss of loved ones has been extremely difficult and downright demanding. Yet having to come to terms...
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For the Children ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ overhauled in Senate, would cause even more government borrowing
commentary
For the Children ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ overhauled in Senate, would cause even more government borrowing
By JOE DORMAN, OICA CEO 
July 3, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the past month, I have highlighted portions of the federal “Big Beautiful Bill” as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, the bill is under consideration by the U...
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Another busy week in the district
commentary
Another busy week in the district
By REP. TIM TURNER 
July 3, 2025
I started last Saturday June 21, bright and early at Stigler Reunion Days. I kicked things off at the Haskell County GOP Tent, answering questions and catching up with friends and supporters. Then I h...
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Hays Supports MOHA Executive Order
commentary
Hays Supports MOHA Executive Order
July 3, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Neil Hays, R-Muskogee, today expressed strong support for Gov. Kevin Stitt’s new “Make Oklahoma Healthy Again” (MOHA) executive order, which targets artificial food additives and ...
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News
Woman captured following foot chase
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A 39-year-old Eufaula woman who had an outstanding warrant on an arson charge was arrested Wednesday, June 25, following a foot chase in a wooded area around south 7th Street in Eufaula. Tamara Dean K...
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Katy Depot Meet and Greet
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Katy Depot Meet and Greet
July 3, 2025
Mike Key talked to his Class of 1975 and other alumni about their Significant Alumni Jim Caro at the Katy Depot Meet & Greet on Saturday.
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