Farmers Educational And Cooperative Union Of America

DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE UNION OF THE FARMERS & COOPERATIVE UNION OF AMERICA, IS ORGANIZED TO FUNCTION AS A GENERAL FARM ORGANIZATION, TO ESTABLISH AND ISSUE CHARTERS TO LOCAL AND COUNTY UNIONS, AND TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE OF FARMERS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. THE DUES PAID TO THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION (NFU) ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NFU TO FORWARD THE MISSION. THE DUES PAID TO THE COUNTY AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ALLOW THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTINUE TO FORWARD THE MISSION ON A LOCAL LEVEL. THE 3 MISSION AREAS OF EDUCATION, COOPERATIVES AND LEGISLATIVE HAVE BEEN CONSTANT SINCE THE FORMATION OF THE ORGANIZATION IN 1902 UNDER THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION AND CREATION OF ITS' OWN FULLY ACCREDITED STATE DIVISION IN 1905. ITS LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERS HELPED FOUND THE NEW STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH SEVERAL STATE AND LOCAL AFFILIATES TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS:-AS PART OF THE EDUCATION FUNCTION, THE ORGANIZATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO TOP STATE SPEECH WINNERS. THE STUDENTS FIRST COMPETE IN ONE OF THE FIVE DISTRICT CONTESTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 800 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING AROUND THE STATE. THE TOP THREE SPEAKERS IN EACH CATEGORY AT DISTRICTS AND STATE ARE AWARDED TROPHIES AS WELL. -STATE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE GIVEN TO TOP STUDENTS BASED ON THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE YOUTH PROGRAM AND COOPERATIVE AS A WHOLE, SUCH AS THE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT.-SCHOLARSHIPS ARE GIVEN FOR LIVESTOCK GRADING AND HANDLING AND SAFETY WORKING THE CHUTE THROUGH THE MIDWEST AND TULSA FARM SHOWS. -STATE MATCHING SCHOLARSHIPS WITH COUNTY AND LOCAL AFFILIATES ARE GIVEN BASED ON A SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS. AN AGRICULTURE-BASED STATEWIDE POSTER CONTEST FOR FIRST THROUGH FOURTH GRADERS, IS CONDUCTED WITH THE TOP THREE IN EACH DIVISION AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE TOP 100 HONORED AT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION.-FUNDING SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH SPONSORSHIP OF STATEWIDE LIVESTOCK JUDGING CONTEST TO TEACH BEST ANIMAL SELECTIONS. FUNDS ARE ALSO DONATED TO TOP JUDGES OF THE NATIONAL LAND JUDGING CONTEST BASED HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

AS PART OF THE EDUCATION FUNCTION, THE COOPERATIVE SPONSORS FUNDS FOR AN ANNUAL CHALICE AUCTION AND DINNER TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND PREMIUM SALE AUCTION WINNERS FOR THE OKLAHOMA YOUTH EXPO (OYE) THE WORLD'S LARGEST JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW. AT OYE, YOUTH CAN PARTICIPATE IN AN ALL-INCLUSIVE KNOWLEDGE COMPETITION CONSISTING OF AN ANIMAL SCIENCE TEST, SHOWING THEIR ANIMALS, AND AN INTERVIEW PROCESS. THE TOP TEN STUDENTS TAKE HOME SCHOLARSHIPS. AT OYE, BOTH WINNERS AND NON-WINNERS DONATE THEIR ANIMALS TO THE OKLAHOMA REGIONAL FOOD BANK. AT THE TULSA STATE FAIR, SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO STUDENTS. THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE FUNDED THROUGH A JOINT EFFORT WITH OTHER STATE AND LOCAL AFFILIATES.