The Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show finished up last Friday evening with the annual premium auction and presentation of awards and scholarships.
A new wrinkle, if you will, was having the Gordon Richards, Sr. Achievement Awards presented on the same night.
This was the 77th year for the award that was originated in 1946 by the late Gordon Richards, Sr., and the late Otto Krause.
Many might not be aware of the prestige this award carries with it each year. This was the first time in its history that the recipients were honored before several hundred people who were gathered at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center for the annual premium auction and awards associated with the livestock show.
In the past, the Richards Awards banquet has always been held in mid-February and only the honorees, members of their families, some members of the press, the sponsors and other guests have attended.
For various reasons, it was decided the awards would be dove-tailed with the Friday night event that marks the conclusion of the livestock show.
Several of this year’s recipients of the award I know also participated in the livestock show.
I don’t know if in the future it will be done again or not. I do know the recipients were recognized before a much larger crowd than previously and that may even add more prestige to the Gordon Richards, Sr., Achievement Award though it may or may not need that.
I had at least one Ag teacher who said he prefers the way it was done this year and there were several others who indicated the same to me.
The Gordon Richards Sr., Achievement award honors the top FFA student in each of the nine chapters in Pottawatomie County.
That selection, as I understand it, is made by the Ag advisor or advisors in each chapter.
The recipient’s selection is based on several criteria, though I acknowledge I don’t know what they all are.
There have been a number of winners of the award that have represented at least two generations of a family.
This year, one of the winners, Katelyn Fleming, represented the third generation of her family to be selected for the award. Her dad Shawn and his sister Gina (Fleming) Jones each were winners as was their dad David Fleming, Katelyn’s grandfather.
The late Karl Kozel won the award as did his son Tony and Randy Gilbert and his daughter Dustie were winners.
These are just some who came to mind quickly.
However it’s done in the future makes no difference to me, because either way the honoree will always know the prestige the award carries.