Alva Review-Courier -

It has been a busy couple of months for Cherokee FFA members. Our members have been very active in competing and participating in various activities. On Jan. 25, Colby Carter, Blaine Heller, Anthony Clark and Riley Jenkins traveled to NOC for a Dairy Foods Competition. On Feb. 1, several of freshmen and eighth-grade members competed at the District Livestock Judging Contest. The Junior Judging Team consists of Jade Jantzen, Drake Williams, Callista Studer, and Kacie Eshlemen; the team placed second overall team at the district contest. Kacie Eshleman also received an award for sixth place High Individual.

On Feb. 9, the officer team traveled to Enid for a radio interview with Allen Clepper on 103.1 KOFM. Two members – Ralyn Waugh and Blake Fails – competed at the National Western Livestock Show in Denver, Colorado. On Feb. 6, Cherokee FFA took on a student teacher from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The Cherokee FFA Local Show was Feb. 19, where 34 members exhibited horses, cattle, sheep, goats and swine. The Alfalfa County Fair started Monday, Feb. 20, and ended Wednesday, Feb. 22. Congratulations to all the Cherokee FFA exhibitors at the Alfalfa County Fair.

National FFA Week was Feb. 21–24. The officer team and FFA members had different events and activities throughout the week. Teachers could participate in agri-casual week by donating $10 to the OK FFA Hunger Challenge and wear casual clothes all week. Students and teachers could participate in Wear a Hat Wednesday by paying $1 to wear a hat the whole day. Throughout the week students raised money to see the teacher with the most money kiss a pig; money donations were taken in the office with teachers' names placed on corresponding jars. The winner of the Kiss a Pig Contest was Coach Gunter! FFA also did a coloring contest with the elementary students. All the money raised during National FFA Week went to the Oklahoma FFA Hunger Challenge, which is a backpack program for kids across the state. The Cherokee FFA Chapter is proud to have raised $500 for the program.

NWDJLS

March 1–5, FFA members took part in the Northwest District Jr. Livestock Show in Enid. On Wednesday, March 1, was a cattle show; showmen included Ruston James (second-place AOB Heifer), Drake Williams (fourth-place Shorthorn Steer) and Haven Davis (Division 2 Champion Cross Steer, Reserve Division Cross Steer and Reserve Grand Champion Steer).

Cherokee FFA Show Team - Back row, from left: Jacob Mustard, Nic Green, Anthony Clark, Drake Williams, Ruston James, Jarrett James, Beth Lancaster. Fourth row: Waylon Utterback, Jade Jantzen, Blake Failes, Kade Chance, Jacey Jantzen, Matt Lancaster. Third row: Kael Tucker, Michael Sheppard, Sydney Wyatt, Paden Porter, Ralyn Waugh, Cole Harmon, Tim Mast. Second row: Kaden Harmon, Gavin Guffy, Haven Davis, Kaleb Nevels, Mae Brant Failes, Clayton Roach, Colby Roach. Front row: Mae Nevels, Callista Studer, Kacie Eshleman, Macy Goodwin, Bailey Oister, Lexi Williams, Abby Guffy.

The sheep show was Thursday; showmen were Brant Failes (sixth-place Commercial Ewe), Michael Shepard (third-place Natural Wether and sixth-place Cross Wether), Ralyn Waugh (second-place Natural Wether), Jarrett James (sixth-place Hamp Wether, sixth-place Speckled Wether) and Blake Failes (second-place Shrop Wether and fifth-place Cross Wether).

Cherokee FFA had one goat showman: Matt Lancaster.

At the barrow show Cherokee FFA had 12 showmen; they included Callista Studer, Kacie Eshleman, Jade Jantzen, Paden Porter, Kadean Harmon, Cole Harmon, Mae Nevels, Kaleb Nevels, Haven Davis (fourth-place York), Brant Failes (second-place Duroc), Michael Shepard (third-place Hamp) and Beth Lancaster (sixth-place Cross). Cherokee FFA had seven gilt showmen; they included Waylon Utterback (fifth-place Berk), Jacey Jantzen, Kael Tucker, Jacob Mustard, Tim Mast, Nic Green and Kacie Eshleman (first-place Cross and fifth overall gilt).

OYE

The Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) is "The World's Largest Jr. Livestock Show." Cherokee FFA had a total of 17 exhibitors. They spent over eight days at OYE in four different barns at the fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.

The spring show season has come to an end; all these young people spent numerous hours working with, caringfor and feeding their show projects.

Now that spring is in full swing members will be participating in numerous CDEs and speech contests. Cherokee FFA is also preparing for the State FFA Convention and the annual banquet.