FFA MEMBERS ATTEND LEADERSHIP CAMP

Posted Date: 07/06/2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6th, 2021

CONTACT: Emmie Swanson
Shattuck FFA Reporter (580) 827-2833

FFA MEMBERS ATTEND LEADERSHIP CAMP
By Emmie Swanson

WAGGONER, OKLAHOMA - “Kinetic…..Potential into Action,” was the theme of the 2021 Oklahoma FFA Alumni Leadership Camp. This year, 12 lucky Shattuck FFA members made the trip to “ the happiest place on earth,” for the first session of Alumni Camp at Camp Tulakogee on Fort Gibson Lake. In 2020, due to COVID restrictions, camp was condensed to fewer days and fewer campers, but this year camp was back to normal with 4 fun filled days and included 414 campers in session one alone. According to camp leadership, over 85% of those students were attending alumni camp for the first time! As our Shattuck first time campers walked into the main building for registration, they experienced a small taste of what the next four days would entail. Loud music, dancing, and high energy greeted everyone waiting in line to receive their bunk and small group assignments. At the first camp session, 27 OSU students, also FFA alumni, were assigned to lead the camp and small group sessions. The Oklahoma FFA State Officer team is also in attendance during camp. Each day started with a morning devotional, raising of the flag, and breakfast. Campers are told that if they are caught sitting with someone from their own chapter at meals, they will have to quack like a duck, sing about a teapot, or sizzle like bacon for the entire camp! Needless to say, this definitely helps to encourage students to reach out and meet new people. The days were filled with both physical activities like a ropes course and dodgeball, to general sessions with various speakers. Every day also included a small group session in which members discussed ways to elevate their leadership potential, and worked on communication skills. Perhaps the most anticipated and fun activity of the week is always the water olympic games. This year, Shattuck Reporter Emmie Swanson’s team came in second in the dodgeball tournament, and Shattuck FFA President Teagan Charmasson was also the first camper called up onto stage during a general session “hot spot,” in which he was able to tell the camp about where he was from, and how he represents the FFA!

The leadership camp is presented by the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association with corporate financial sponsorship provided by Sonic – America’s Drive-In, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, P&K Equipment, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Trusted Choice Insurance Agents. The FFA and FFA Alumni are an integral part of the agricultural education division within the Oklahoma CareerTech System. The primary aim of the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association is to provide a strong, efficient statewide organization to promote, serve and support agricultural education and the FFA. For more information visit www.okffa.org. (Pictured from left to right: Sydney Melton, Teagan Charmasson, Emmie Swanson, Eric Quisenberry, Ellie Swanson, Cindy Lara,Olivia Quisenberry, Bela Herber, Sadey Schoenhals, Tate Charmasson, (photo bomb: Dalton Rogers, Oklahoma FFA President), and Mason Magness.)