WARNER— American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Cooperative hosted more 270 Oklahoma students last week as they learn to be effective leaders in their homes, schools and communities. Held at the Connors State College in Warner, the 2024 AFR Leadership Summit was divided into three sessions: Junior Session for students entering grades 7-8, Teen Session for students entering grades 9-10 and Senior Session for students entering grades 11-12.
The theme for this year’s AFR Leadership Summit was “Forging Frontiers: Leading the Way.” Summit attendees participated in development activities that will benefit them now and in the future. Students learned life skills, such as setting and achieving short- and long-term goals and working in teams. They also learned the value of personal responsibility, respect for their peers and many other positive attributes.
“The AFR Leadership Summit is a great way for the youth of Oklahoma to learn skills that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “We are proud to invest in the future of Oklahoma through our state’s agricultural youth. This is just one way of demonstrating that investment in communities across our state.”
In addition to this year's leadership development activities, Summit attendees also engaged in a camp-wide service project. For the Junior Summit, students crafted over 15 tie blankets for a local children's hospital, while the Teen and Senior Summit participants prepared more than 30,000 meals for families in need.
The AFR Youth Leadership Summit is just one of many AFR Youth Program traditions. The organization also hosts an agriculture achievement contest, statewide scholarships, speech contests, livestock judging and grading competitions, and many other development opportunities. For more information on this contest or other AFR Youth Program projects, contact AFR Youth Development Coordinator Michelle Noggle at (405)218-5566 or [email protected].
AFR Cooperative is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industry and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voice in support of AFR principles.
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