Several Kingfisher County FFA students excelled in their respective categories at the American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Northwest District Speech Contest held Nov. 16 in Enid.

Harper Roller of Cashion placed third in the Novice AFR/OFU category.

Dover’s Gabby Cervantes placed second in the Senior Agriscience category and Aliyah Bowers placed second in the Senior Ag Policy category.

Ten Kingfisher students placed in their respective categories.

Rylan Burns placed third in the Junior AFR/OFU category.

Two students placed in the Intermediate Natural Resources category as Addison Hood was second and Madeline Pope, fifth; Two students placed in the Intermediate Agriscience category with Lily Lunsford taking fourth and Adian Gilles fifth.

Caroline Swafford placed third in the Intermediate Ag Policy category; Keylun Combs placed third in the Senior Natural Resources category; Kylie Hood placed first in the Senior Agribusiness category; Rylee Inskeep placed fifth in the Novice AFR/ OFU category; and Keynun Combs placed fifth in the Senior Agriscience category.

Lomega also had nine students place in their respective categories.

Three of them placed in the Intermediate Ag Policy category: Emma Carter, second, Saidee Wright, fourth, and Samantha Rivera, fifth.

Claire Myers placed first in the Intermediate Agri-business category; Hadley Ott placed first in the Intermediate Natural Resources category; Kate Myers placed first in the Senior Ag Policy category; Isabel Hansen placed second in the Intermediate Agriscience category; and Mia Foreman placed fourth in the Junior AFR/ OFU category.

This marks the 78th year of the statewide contest. The event has gone through many changes over the years but has always maintained its central agricultural theme.

Varying by grade level, this year’s speech categories are AFR/OFU, Agricultural Policy, Agribusiness, Natural Resources, Agri-Science and Extemporaneous. All students, grades four through 12, are eligible to compete.

Nearly 500 students will compete in AFR district speech contests this season, resulting in more than 160 finalists advancing to the state contest held Dec. 2 at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

“Public speaking is one of the most valuable skills young people can gain for their future careers,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “We are honored to host the 77th Annual AFR Speech Contest, which has a long-standing tradition of fostering professionalism and confidence in Oklahoma’s youth.”