This year’s Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center continues this morning with the swine show starting at 10 a.m.
Suzanne Gilbert, who is chairman of the Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show Committee, said an estimated 250 animals are to be judged.
The show concludes on Friday evening with the Premium Auction.
But preceding the auction is the presentation of several awards and scholarships.
Gilbert noted that once again, as in the past few years, there will be no animals at the Premium auction, only the 4-H and FFA students with their banners and all.
The annual PCJLS Appreciation reception for buyers begins at 5:30 p.m. During the reception, the presentation of the Gordon Richards, Sr. Achievement Awards sponsored by the Clinic Pharmacy will take place.
Tim and Jamie Barrick areownersofthepharmacy.
Eight young women and men, each considered the outstanding member of his or her FFA chapter, will be honored.
It’s the 79th consecutive year for the Gordon Richards, Sr. Achievement Awards Also, just prior to the auction itself, four $2,500 scholarship recipients will be named.
These will be given to four seniors who participate in the show, Gilbert said.
Tome,maybewhathelps make Friday night unique in a way is the presentation of the scholarships.
I’ve covered this stock show for more than 50 years, the first time being the Spring Show of 1968.
This is the 21st year for the scholarships to be awarded. Gilbert explained the funds come from the Community Foundation of Oklahoma, she said.
The scholarship program was started through Arvest Bank through the Walton Foundation, Gilbert said, and the John and April Stobbe Foundation also helped with that making a significant contribution to it and several others have as well, she noted.
For the first 10 years, three $1,500 scholarships were handed out.
Then, it was raised to presenting four $1,500 scholarships andthatamountwas increased to $2,000.
Gilbert said in 20202021 is when four $2,500 scholarships started being presented.
She explains the seniors, who must be participants of the livestock show, must apply for it. “We have a committee who screens them. A student must have a minimum GPA of 2.50,” she said.
A couple of other things that I’m impressed with this scholarship program is it’s not just based on grades, but leadership has a great deal to do with it.
And, Gilbert informs me, that the program has a 100 percent success rate.
You see, even though a scholarship recipient is named just prior to the Premium auction, the student has to come back before next year’s show and provide proof from whatever institution he or she is attending showing the student has completed the first semester and then receives the money.
Important, too, I think is the scholarship can be used for a student continuing his or her education whether it be traditional college, cosmetology school, welding, EMT or whatever.
Gilbert said recently, “We received a very nice gift for the scholarship program,” announcing “that a $10,000 check has been given by Shelley and Katelyn Fleming in memory of the late Shawn Fleming.”
Shawn was Shelley’s husband and Katelyn’s father.
Gilbert further explained it will be invested in the Community Foundation of Oklahoma for the scholarship program.