Four young women and five young men were honored Monday during the 75th Gordon Richards FFA Banquet. They are the recipients of the 2020 Gordon Richards FFA Achievement Awards.
Annually, Richards Drug Stores in Shawnee honors the top FFA student in each of the now nine chapters throughout Pottawatomie County.
The national FFA organization was 18 years old when the event began in 1946.
Jeremy Frye, Ag Business Coordinator at Gordon Cooper Technology Center, was the featured speaker.
He focused his remarks on “Positioning yourself for success,” saying, “A goal without a plan of action is just a wish.”
He said, “Find excellence in small things,” stressing, “Take a moment to thank the people who are important to you in your lives. Be grateful for the people who came before you.”
Among this year’s recipients are:
Paden Thomas, Dale FFA
Paden is a junior at Dale High School. He currently serves as the Dale FFA Chapter President. Paden participates in swine showing, agricultural mechanics, livestock judging and public speaking. His supervised agricultural experience includes raising swine and working as a farm hand for Luke and Angela Dockrey.
Paden is also a student at the Gordon Cooper School of Aviation. His plans are to finish aviation school and begin a career in the aviation industry. In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing, and riding dirt bikes.
Maycee Spain, McLoud FFA
Maycee Spain is a junior at McLoud High School and is the daughter of Luke and Shawna Haley. Maycee has been a member of the McLoud FFA Chapter for four years and is currently serving as the Chapter Reporter. Her SAE Experience is showing pigs and she has attended many state and local livestock shows. She has also attended CDE activities, among them Livestock Judging Competitions and Speech Contests.
While in FFA Maycee has also attended many leadership activities including FFA Alumni Camp, Made For Excellence, Advanced Leadership Development, Central Area COLT Conference and State FFA Convention. Being in FFA has fueled her passion of caring for animals and the FFA. She is determined to pursue her ambition of the FFA and plans to attend Oklahoma State University after high school and work towards a degree in Agriculture Education.
Konnor McKey, North Rock Creek FFA
Konnor McKey is a 16-year-old, sophomore, from Earlsboro who attends North Rock Creek High School. Konnor is the NRC FFA Chapter President and son of Lance and Lindsay McKey. Some of his hobbies are playing football for his school and spending time with his girlfriend and family.
He has been involved in Livestock Judging and Commercial Cattle Grading. Konnor also works for his family company, McKey’s Bobcat and Backhoe Service. He is trying to start his own side job, McKey’s Hauling.