The Muscogee Nation

Tag: Ag

  • Muscogee (Creek) citizen crowned as National Junior Miss United States Agriculture

    (Photo: Submission) Muscogee (Creek) citizen Jade McPeak pictured at the National Junior Miss United States Agriculture Pageant in Orlando, Florida.

    Muscogee (Creek) citizen crowned as National Junior Miss United States Agriculture in Orlando

    Darren DeLaune/Multimedia Specialist

    McPeak, ray of sunshine in ‘Sunshine State’

    CHECOTAH, Oklahoma — The new 2020 National Junior Miss United States Agriculture is Muscogee (Creek) citizen Jade McPeak of Checotah, Okla.

    Ten-year-old McPeak was crowned as the National Junior Miss (NJM) Agriculture over the weekend of June 20 in Orlando, Florida. Several contestants from across the country competed in the two-day event.

    McPeak said she brought some of her culture to the event when she had to do her introduction.

    “I introduced myself in Creek,” Jade said. “My [great] grandpa [French Wildcat], and my JOM (Johnson O’Malley) teacher taught it to me.”

    McPeak is already Oklahoma’s Junior Miss Agriculture but she felt that she could do good at the national competition.

    “Being how she won the Oklahoma Junior Miss, she was able to compete for the national title,” her mother, Emmy McPeak said.

    Away from pageants, Jade’s hobbies are showing her cattle and goats and taking care of them.

    “I also like playing basketball and softball,” she said.

    Jade has been active in the McIntosh County 4-H program for over three years. Throughout her reign as Oklahoma Junior Miss Agriculture, she was able to advocate for agriculture by reading to elementary students throughout her region and also attending several livestock shows.

    Jade said she is going to enjoy being the NJM for 2020-2021 reign.

    “I get to go other state pageants and crown their state winner,” Jade said.

    National Director of the Miss United States Agriculture, Ciera Ingram believes events such as this pageant will help build strong leaders for the future.

    “The idea behind the Miss United States Agriculture Pageant Program is to celebrate the agriculture industry and our local farmers all while promoting self-esteem, building strong leaders and awarding scholarships to encourage a continuous pursuit of education,” Ingram said. “As well as incorporating our motto: Teach. Inspire. Advocate.”

    Jade hopes to continue teaching her generation during her reign and after about where food comes from and how it gets to their table.

    Jade is the daughter of Jason and Emmy McPeak and is of the Hotvlkvlke (Wind Clan) and Koweta Tribal Town.

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Agriculture Youth Manager to Receive Honorary State FFA Degree

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 26, 2018

    OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Agriculture Youth Program Manager Billy Haltom will receive the Honorary State FFA Degree May 1, 2018 at the Oklahoma FFA Association 92ndState FFA Convention in Oklahoma City, Okla., for his contributions to the Native Ag youth and the FFA.

    The Honorary FFA Degree is the highest grade that you can bestow on anybody in the Oklahoma FFA Association and goes to individuals with outstanding service toward the advancement of the youth in FFA programs.

    Haltom brags on the youth program and explained MCNis one of the few tribally funded programs and the only tribe in Oklahoma with a program that initially assists in the purchase of a show animal.

    “We’re the only tribe to help them in the beginning to help them get started,” Haltom said. “A lot of our kids come from and not all of them but from lower social economic backgrounds and it’s expensive. My theory is you can pay for your kids now when they’re young when we have the ability to have influence on them. They take part in a program and it’s family oriented.”

    Carly Hotvedt, MCN Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said with the help of Haltom, the MCN Ag Youth Program has grown tremendously.

    “Billy has worked tirelessly to support the Ag Youth Program and participating students,” Hotvedt said. “We have seen tremendous growth and popularity of this program and its events.”

    From archery to the Livestock Assistance Program, the MCN Ag Youth Program works with Muscogee (Creek) students who live within the tribal jurisdiction and are enrolled in FFA or 4H.

    Haltom said the biggest success the program has had is the Muscogee (Creek) Livestock Show, which finished up its fifth year holding the event.

    The event is open to all Native American students and has grown from just 200 animals in the show to more than 500 animals in just five years.

    Haltom said the programs’ achievements and growth has been a team effort.

    “I am accepting the award for the Creek Nation,” Haltom said. “It was not me that earned this. This was a conglomeration of putting this together.”

    Another highlight of the program is the Livestock Assistance Program, which assists tribal youth in FFA or 4H in purchasing an animal or assisting in other costs through a $500 grant to help them secure a show project.

    “I just want to thank the people that are on my 4H board, they are individuals that volunteer their time and they don’t receive anything. When we have the livestock show it’s pretty labor intensive.”

    The Honorary State FFA Degree and VIP Banquet will be held Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 5 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center.

    For more information on the MCN Ag Youth Program and its services, visit: //www.muscogeenation.com/division-of-agriculture-and-natural-resources/.

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