Wyatt earns Diversified Crop Production Placement State FFA Proficiency Award
TULSA, Okla. — Taya Wyatt (second from right) of the Hydro-Eakly FFA Chapter captured first-place honors in the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Diversified Crop Production Placement Proficiency Award area. Kelly Stewart (right), of Gateway First Bank congratulates Wyatt as well as Joel Parker (left) of the Cherokee FFA Chapter and Callen Oldenburg of the Mulhall-Orlando FFA Chapter during the 98th Oklahoma FFA Convention on May 8.
Joel Parker of the Cherokee FFA chapter and Callen Oldenburg of the Mulhall-Orlando FFA chapter earned second- and third-place honors, respectively.
Wyatt is employed by Wyatt Farms, where their operation consists of growing crops in a rotational format to produce grain and forage to supplement their beef operation. She helps raise wheat, haygrazer, crab grass and Bermuda grass, as well as plants a cover crop of cowpeas and sudan. She operates the tractor, disc mower, baler, rake, and the planting and tillage equipment. She runs the grain cart and completes maintenance on their equipment during harvest. Wyatt also helps with the farm’s fertilizer program by completing soil samples and fertilizing according to the results of the sample.
“My jobs in the beginning were at a beginner level,” Wyatt said. “As I began to get more experience, my responsibilities increased. Now, I am operating the tractor with all the tillage equipment and learning to run the baler. When we begin cutting [wheat], it is my job to make sure the combine is empty and transport the grain to the trucks.”
The diversified crop production placement proficiency award is designed to recognize students involved in a supervised agricultural experience related to the best management practices available to produce and market two or more crop-related proficiencies. This includes grain production, fiber/oil production, forage production, specialty crop production, vegetable production and fruit production.
The Hydro-Eakly freshman is the daughter of Shalen and Jaysa Wyatt. Her agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor is Chris Klaassen. The award is sponsored on the state level by Ron Hays of the Oklahoma Farm Report and Great Plains Kubota. The Gateway First Bank provides a $1,000 state winner scholarship.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 29,670 members and 366 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fifth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.