Jumping in feet first four years ago, Kingfisher FFA co-advisers Tyler Gradert and Megan Thormodsgard have continued the journey to maintain the state’s premier and award-winning program.

Taking the helm of a program with a record 18 consecutive State FFA Sweepstakes awards, as well as the most wins overall, might have been intimidating to some.

For Gradert and Thormodsgard it was the perfect opportunity.

Raised in Briggsdale, Colo., Thormodsgard said she grew up with a passion for agriculture from a very young age.

“I was very lucky to be raised by a hard-working farm and ranch family,” she said.

In high school, she was involved in production agriculture on the family farm and was part of the local FFA chapter livestock judging team and exhibited cattle and hogs.

Crediting her high school agriculture teacher with having a significant positive influence on her life, Thormodsgard said, “I had an incredible ag teacher and learned the importance of a good FFA program.

“When I began to think of what I wanted to study in college and those who you want to model your life after, my ag teacher was definitely that for me.”

After graduation, Thormodsgard attended Colorado State University, where she obtained a bachelor’s in agriculture education and animal science.

She also was elected to serve as state FFA reporter and took a year away from her studies at CSU to fulfill that role.

Then what led her to Oklahoma, and ultimately Kingfisher, was her student teaching duties at El Reno.

Having accepted an assistantship to obtain her master’s at West Texas A&M University, the next step was already in motion for Thormodsgard.

That was until former Kingfisher Superintendent Jason Sternberger began to reach out to her.

“I was excited to start my assistantship, but decided I would just go interview and that it would be great practice,” she said.

“Kingfisher is a great school and they have a great program, so I figured it would be a great place to practice for a tough interview in the future, if I ever did want to teach.”

Sometimes plans change quickly and Thormodsgard said, “It was a God-thing.”

Obviously aware of the legacy of Ryan and Lori Burns, Thormodsgard said, “They have done such a great job and they’re someone to look up to and model your career after…so I accepted the job and it just felt right.”

Also growing up out of state, Tyler Gradert was raised in the northwestern Illinois town of Geneseo.

His family has lived in the area for many years, farming and raising cattle, he said.

“I grew up in agriculture,” Gradert said.

“In high school I was involved in livestock judging and showed hogs through 4-H and FFA.”

After graduation, Gradert attended Black Hawk East College in Kewanee, Ill., where he was a member of the livestock judging team and obtained his associate’s degree.

Gradert then transferred to Western Illinois University where he was also a member of their livestock judging team and earned a bachelor’s in agricultural science.

His next step was a “short stint” in Iowa where he was in charge of coordinating educational livestock clinics and camps for students while working for Sullivan Show Supply.

Next, he returned to Black Hawk College as an associate professor of animal science and was a livestock judging coach for three years.

Then, upon his girlfriend Haley’s graduation from Oklahoma State University (his wife of two years now), and employment with an animal health company, the couple were ready to make a more permanent move to Oklahoma.

Looking for that opportunity, it came knocking. It was Sternberger who opened the door and Gradert stepped through.

“I got the call from Sternberger, met with him and the Burnses and after that day it felt like the perfect fit,” Gradert said.

Following in the footsteps of longtime advisers Ryan and Lori Burns, who were responsible for much of Kingfisher’s previous success, Gradert and Thormodsgard echoed each other’s sentiments about how welcoming and helpful the Burnses were to them as they began a new season for the chapter.

“The Burnses were awesome to work with in terms of helping us during the transition,” Gradert said.

“I was excited for the opportunity to come into Kingfisher and to be a part of the program, taking what they had established and keeping the ball rolling from there.”

Now in their fourth year at Kingfisher, Gradert and Thormodsgard have set goals for the chapter and been busy helping their students achieve results.

Thormodsgard said in 2020 “they started off with a bit of a thud” because of the pandemic with many activities being canceled including the state contests.

Since then, the chapter has garnered a number of top placings at various contests, had state winning teams and qualified for nationals each year, she said.

Continuing the longstanding tradition under Gradert and Thormodsgard’s direction, the Kingfi sher FFA chapter now has another state sweepstakes award to include in its trophy case as well.

“We certainly have tried not to change too much in the program,” Thormodsgard said, “but we try to place a lot of precedence on the students’ interests and try to really work hard on things that matter to our students.”

In keeping with the chapter’s tradition, Gradert said, as instructors, they are continually working on different contest areas and working towards the goal of obtaining the multi-teacher sweepstakes award at the state contest each year.

“Whether it’s working on their oral communication and public speaking skills or judging…we try to focus on career development events, seeing the value in leadership development type scenarios for our students,” Thormodsgard said.

With a passion for livestock judging, Gradert added, “I personally really enjoy coaching kids for livestock judging contests and also help a lot in the area of showing hogs.”

With a two-adviser program, the pair are able to use their individual strengths in different areas to add to the chapter’s success.

“We try to divide and conquer,” Gradert said.

“Megan helps with the cattle and sheep and I spend more time working with hogs and goats.”

Comfortable in their roles at Kingfisher, new things have recently fallen into place for Thormodsgard and Gradert.

Gradert and his wife now have a three-week-old son, Meyer, who, no doubt, will be introduced to the agricultural scene soon (if he hasn’t already) and Thormodsgard is engaged to be married to Kolton Mueggenborg Saturday.

As agriculture education instructors, Gradert and Thormodsgard don’t have much time for hobbies outside of agricultural related activities, but they don’t seem to mind.

“Probably 90 percent of what we do as a family involves agriculture on a dayto- day basis,” Gradert said.

“It’s what we’ve chosen to engulf our lives with.”

Being very competitive by nature, Thormodsgard added, “Getting to work with my students is about all the hobbies I need.”

As the pair continue to pour themselves into the Kingfisher FFA chapter and its students, Gradert said he’s enjoying the opportunity and it’s been a perfect fit.

Thormodsgard added: “I can’t begin to describe the culture and tradition the Burnses have built and continued here.

“Kingfisher’s been a really awesome place to work…I can’t say enough good things about the community and the students.”