When Koda Oller was announcing the Oklahoma FFA state secretary for the new year, Braden Burns was calmly rocking back and forth with candidates for several offices.

Then, when the announcement was made, every bit of calm left Burns’ body.

“And your new 2021-22 State FFA secretary….” said Oller, the Garber native who has held the post for the last year, before pausing….

“From the Kingfisher FFA chapter…Braden Burns!”

Before Burns even heard his name, he broke from the pack and rushed through the throngs of would-be congratulatory pats on the back and highfives to the main stage of the Oklahoma FFA State Convention.

What happened next wasn’t so much Burns hugging Oller, but bum-rushing him.

Burns leapt into his arms as he was realizing a dream.

He had become the 17th person from Kingfisher FFA to serve in a state office and the eighth to be named secretary.

It’s one he knew – quite well – may not come true, no matter his qualifications or efforts.

State officers are voted on by every chapter in the state.

“There have been so many times the past five years that I have seen some of the best candidates never run onto that stage and be able to serve despite their extreme qualifications,” Burns said.

In fact, Burns had witnessed that almost firsthand.

“One example of this,” Burns said, “is my brother Peyton.”

During the end of his own stellar high school FFA career in 2019, the elder Burns balanced a busy senior year that included running for State FFA reporter.

His qualifications were impeccable. His work ethic was almost unmatched, but Peyton Burns was not elected to the office.

That made Braden Burns realize there was only so much he can do…all of which he certainly did.

“After seeing his journey, it proved to me that you can be the best you can be and do everything right, but some things are just out of your control,” the younger Burns said.

Burns is the current Kingfisher FFA president and the only things that match his accomplishments in Career Development Events (CDEs) and Leadership Development Events (LDEs) are those in the show ring.

He’s won at the state and national level in CDEs and was recently named the Premier Exhibitor at Oklahoma Youth Expo.

Still, Burns knew his fate as State FFA secretary was in others’ hands.

“After learning so much from my biggest role model, I knew that anything could happen and I am just so extremely humbled to have this opportunity,” he said.

“But I would be lying if I said that there wasn’t a whole lot of people behind me helping me every step of the way.”

On the heels of that victory, the Oklahoma State Department of Education announced on Friday that Burns was one of nine Oklahoma seniors named as semifinalists for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars award.

“We are proud to salute these exceptional seniors, who have excelled in the face of an unprecedented pandemic that has impacted all schools,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said.

“Their dedication, resilience and leadership in their schools and communities are to be commended.”

From among the semifinalists in each state, up to 161 graduating seniors nationwide will be selected by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars in mid-May.

The semifinalists were chosen from among 6,500 qualifying candidates for the award.