Eight young men and women are this year’s recipients of the Gordon Richards, Sr. Achievement Award sponsored by Tim and Jamie Barrick and Gordon Richards, Jr.
This is the 80th year for the award that was originated in 1946 by the late Gordon Richards, Sr., and the late Otto Krause.
This year, only for the third time, the awards were handed out on Friday evening of the Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show.
The eight were also honored before the several hundred persons who gathered for the presentation of theLivestockShowawards and the Premium Auction.
This year’s honorees from this area include: Dale
Parker Barnard is a Junior at Dale High School. He is the son of the late Clyde Barnard and Jessica Spain. He is a devoted Dale FFA member and serves as the Chapter Reporter. He joinedFFAin9thgrade.His interest in the ag mechanics program has driven him to compete in the Oklahoma Youth ExpoAg Mechanics Contest this year.
He also has competed in numerous livestock judging competitions and opening ceremonies contests. His team won the junior FFA livestock judging contest at the Country Fair his freshman year. His favorite achievement was building a 6x10 trailer with his best friend Holden Nowakowski in shop class. The trailer was exhibited at the Tulsa State Fair in the fall of 2024.
His Supervised Agricultural Experience includes applying herbicide to pastures for customers, as well as doing odd jobs for local farmers. He really enjoys having a positive impact on members in his community. As well as Ag he also enjoys volunteering at the Jacktown Fire Department as a Junior Firefighter and spending time with family and friends. His plans for his future are to attend a trade school and one day own his own business.
McLoud:
Gracie Little is a senior at McLoud HighSchool. She has served her chapter to the highest degree in the offices of Sentinel, Vice President, President and Treasurer of the McLoud FFA chapter. Gracie is heavily involved in her SAE projects and FFA chapter. She has been showing livestock since the age of 9 and currently has extended her SAE projects to raising cattle and swine.
Gracie has enjoyed her time in FFA by attending State and National FFA conventions, Alumni Camp, Leadership Conferences and many other livestock shows and FFA competitions. Gracie plans to pursue a degree inVeterinary Medicine or Ag Business. She is the daughter of Craig and Lyndsey Little.
North Rock Creek:
AugustusGoodsonisthis year’s Gordon Richards, Sr. AwardrecipientfromNorth Rock Creek. Gus is a Senior this year and has been very active throughout his time in FFA. He has been involved in many different areas in public speaking, milk products judging, attending WLC conference, both State and National Conventions, livestock and cattle grading contests and served as a chapter officer the past 2 years.
He is currently serving as the chapter FFA Secretary, and just finished his term of service this fall as a Pottawatomie County Jr. Fair Board Officer, and is still serving on other local community youth boards. Gus is a member of the NRC high school student council and a member of National Honor Society. As a recent recipient of an OYE Scholarship, Gus is deserving of the Gordon Richards, Sr. Award.
Gus is the son of Josh and Lindsay Goodson.