Marlow FFA Banquet Honors Students, Supporters

Removing her official FFA jacket to hang on the pedestal coat rack, senior Kennedy Kizarr’s action signaled the end of the 2022-23 season for the Marlow High School chapter. While Kizarr’s goodbye speech was mostly exuberant and filled with advice, it was the complete opposite for her fellow FFA member and classmate, Ruby Crow.

Crow shared candidly how much the FFA program came to mean to her.

“I didn’t know about FFA until my dad told me about it. I want to give a big thanks to him. When he first told me that you could show an animal, I was confused. I was like how do you show an animal, they’re just animals,” she said. “He told me about his FFA jacket and all he accomplished in it, so when I first got my jacket, I was so excited to see my name printed on it and everything that I could do.”

She like the others, thanked ag teacher, Quaid Kennan, family and friends. “Thanks to my ag teacher and family, because if they didn’t push me to do the stuff I didn’t want to do at the time, I wouldn’t be me. I’m a better me now because of them. I appreciate everything everyone has done. Sad to be leaving, but thank you Dad for inspiring me to join FFA and it has become one of my favorite things to do. I love you.”

Oh and yes, Kizarr battled the onset of tears and was victorious, adding that she was ready to put up her high heels. Katy Diedrich related her time in FFA as filled with firsts, noting it taught her extremely valuable life skills.

Korben Baker praised Kennan for becoming a new dad and five days later attending state convention with the students.

Baker’s dad, Kenny, also gave some farewell advice to the seniors and continuing FFA members.

“Get out there and get some effort, start paying attention to these older people, listen … this is an awesome program. If you want to be successful, get in front of people and talk.” Baker is retiring as the Booster Club president after about a decade of service.

The year-end chapter banquet was held Tuesday evening, May 9, 2023, at the Life Center, with the presentation of awards to all active members.

Honorary Scholarships awarded:

Alvin Tatum Memorial Scholarship – Korben Baker.

Ernest Muncrief Memorial Scholarship – Katy Diedrich, Kennedy Kizarr and Korben Baker.

Wes Bannister Memorial Scholarship – Kennedy Kizarr.

Marlow Ag Booster Club Scholarship – Korben Baker, presented to him by his father, Kenny Baker, and Nicole Throckmorton.

Ag Booster Work Force Scholarship – Keenan Simpson.

Daniel Holland Memorial Scholarship – (presented by Lorrie Davies on behalf of MHS Class of 1981) - Katy Diedrich.

Longtime supporter Ricky Sparks received the Honorary FFA Degree from the high school chapter for his efforts made on behalf of the program.

The following awards were presented:

State FFA Degrees Plaques 97th State FFA Convention: Kennedy Kizarr, Katy Diedrich, Korben Baker, Ruby Crow. To receive this prestigious award, members have to remain active, compete and attend a minimum of 25 hours of community service, maintain a satisfactory grade point average and create a net profit in their FFA project.

Top Meat Sale: The Top Meat Sale Award went to Clayton Robinson. He sold a grand total of $8,199 between the two sales the chapter conducted this year. Belt buckles were also awarded.Emma Throckmorton, Brylie Stoll, Katy Diedrich, Kellen Welch, Kadan Heaton, Brody Morris, Kyler Blendell, Carson Lovett, Avery Throckmorton, Kinley Castle, Hunter Miller, Gracie Webb, Maci Miller, Maddy Elroy, Kennedy Kizarr, Clayton Robinson, Kylie Sullivan, Jase Hunt, Andrew Wollenberg, Katelyn Reynolds, Jarrod Herndon and Blake Dupree.

Washington Leadership Conference scholarship recipient and attendee this summer: Maci Miller. She was one of 50 Oklahoma FFA members to receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend the conference.

Oklahoma FFA CDE Contest Highlights: 4th Overall Agronomy Team at State, 8th Overall Natural Resources Team at NEO, 5th Overall Livestock Judging Team in Sheep and Goats at the Showcase.

Agronomy: Katy Diedrich, Maci Miller, Ruby Crow and Ethan Vanston.

Livestock Show Team: Emma Throckmorton, Avery Throckmorton, Katy Diedrich, Ruby Crow, Carson Lovett, Maci Miller, Maddy Elroy, Aubree Harmon, Kennedy Kizarr, Clayton Robinson.

Regional Champion O/C Ceremonies/State Qualifier: Jack Glover, Major Fleetwood, Avery Throckmorton, Kinley Castle, Reese Dickerson, Lillie Morningstar.

Region Champion in Animal Science Speaking Division: Brody Brantley.

Oklahoma Youth Expo Agricultural Mechanics Division Champion: Korben Baker, Hunter Miller and Wade Townley.

Shooting Sports: Ethan Vanston, Joseph Hickman, Conor Hutton, Kadan Heaton, Brody Morris, Jack Glover, Hunter Miller, Korben Baker, Noah Vanston.

Livestock Judging: Emma Throckmorton, Avery Throckmorton, Kinley Castle, Briley Stoll, Katy Diedrich, Brad McClure, Maci Miller, Maddy Elroy, Korben Baker, Hunter Miller, Jayden Carpenter.

Public Speaking: Brody Brantley, Avery Throckmorton, Jack Glover, Kinley Castle, Katelyn Reynolds, Lillie Morningstar, Billie Lewis.

Opening/Closing Ceremonies: Jack Glover, Kylie Sullivan, Reese Dickerson, Avery Throckmorton, Major Fleetwood, Brody Morris, Kinley Castle, Ethan McMasters, Lillie Morningstar.

Green Hand Quiz: Jack Glover, Kylie Sullivan, Reese Dickerson, Lillie Morningstar, Kinley Castle.

Natural Resources: Hunter Miller, Gabe Wright, Jack Glover, Andrew Wollenberg, Wade Townley.

Star Chapter Farmers awards went to Maci Miller and Emma Throckmorton.

Star Chapter Greenhand awards went to Jack Glover and Avery Throckmorton.

Chapter Degrees: Jase Hunt, Maci Miller, Dylan Ruth, Jackson Salie, Briley Stoll, Emma Throckmorton, Ethan Vanston, Gracie Webb, Taegan Archer, Bradyn Brantley, Brody Brantley, Aubree Harmon, Kadan Heaton, Ryleah Pratt, Clayton Robinson, Kellen Welch.

Regional Runner Up Freshman Agriscience Quiz Bowl: Billie Lewis, Lillie Morningstar, Kylie Sullivan, Reese Dickerson, Katelyn Reynolds.

Greenhand Degrees: Morgan Buckallew, Jasen Escue, Joseph Hickman, Dani Howard, Conor Hutton, Paytin Nunn, Patrick Saavedra, Connor Schmidt, Kayden Sommer, Gabe Wright, Shawn Armstrong, Haydyn Baker, Kyler Blundell, Cooper Brumley, Jayden Carpenter, Kinley Castle, Reese Dickerson, Major Fleetwood, Jack Glover, Billie Lewis, Thomas Lewis, Carson Lovett, Ethan McMasters, Ethan Mitchell, Lillie Morningstar, Brody Morris, Easton Petersen, Katelyn Reynolds, Makayla Richmond, Krysta Shelby, Kylie Sullivan, and Avery Throckmorton.