As a child I was always outside, and I taught myself to repair lawnmowers before moving on to vehicles and equipment. I wanted to do outside activities instead of being inside the classroom. I was a student who thrived at hands on activities and suffered through lectures and bookwork. I obtained my tractor driving certification and worked outside my family as soon as possible for area farmers and ranchers. Through FFA I participated in welding and Ag mechanics events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. While competing I learned about a summer internship with Western Equipment, and interned in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. During the internship I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. I enjoy the hands-on work of diagnosing and servicing John Deere equipment. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation but was planning to just enter the workforce. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. At 13 years old I became a Junior Firefighter with Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department. While I could not go on emergency calls, I could still attend their meetings and trainings, clean the station, help with vehicle maintenance, and participate in all the celebrations. Through my involvement with the fire department, I became acquainted with most of the area first responders. In September 2023 I arrived at the scene of a 3-vehicle crash. While one EMT worked with injured people, the other EMT and I went to check on one of the vehicles. Unfortunately, one of the children in the vehicle did not survive. Upon discovering the status, I immediately went to the other side of the vehicle to assist the EMT with extracting two other children. The Laverne EMS director reached out to me to suggest that I enroll in the upcoming EMR class she was holding. Before that day I never considered taking any steps toward serving with EMS. On January 6, 2024, I successfully completed the EMR class. I have discovered that I truly have a passion for helping others and hope to continue my training to become a full EMT. Next year I will be attending Garden City Community College as a student in the John Deere Service Technician program. However, I have also met with fire science and EMS faculty at the college. While completing the John Deere program I would also like to pursue completing Firefighter I training as well as EMT training. I want to serve as a first responder for many years to come. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma and raise my future family. Without the opportunity from Western Equipment, I don’t think my future would look as successful as it does. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. I am looking for a career not just a current job, and my skilled trade is going to provide that stability. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship as first-generation students. I will be working to pay for college, and I would greatly appreciate any scholarships I receive to help lessen the burden.

“No. I’m not going to college.” I made this comment so many times growing up until one FFA activity changed my entire path. I was one of those students who thrived at hands on activities and suffered through lectures and bookwork. I always wanted to be outside driving the tractor or taking care of the cattle instead of stuck inside a classroom. Growing up on a small farm/ranch in rural Northwest Oklahoma that has been in my family for about 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture and hard work. My family’s roots run deep in Harper County. I live in the house where my granddad was born and raised, and my uncle lives in the house built by my great-great grandparents. Since I could walk, I followed my granddad around while he did the daily chores. As I got older, I began to take on more of the responsibilities associated with farming and ranching. I obtained my tractor driving safety certification and started working outside my family as soon as possible. My work ethic provided me with many opportunities to work for area farmers and ranchers. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events during high school. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I received the internship and worked in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead I was planning to just enter the workforce. Thanks to my successful internship Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. Two years ago, I partnered with my uncle to purchase a Miller 235 welder generator to use for completing projects around the farm. Thanks to my experience welding in FFA on projects and at contests my skills had increased to the point where I could handle most of our welding needs on my own. Since purchasing the welder, I have used it multiple times for my employers and school as well. I want to complete my John Deere training and continue my welding. Hopefully, in the future I can become one of the welders qualified to work on equipment for John Deere service centers. Even if I don’t become a John Deere welder, I see myself continuing to weld to supplement my income. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma and raise my future family. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. I am looking for a career not just a current job, and my skilled trade is going to provide that stability. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship for our parents. While I know my path will provide me with the success to repay any student loans, I would greatly appreciate any scholarships I receive to help lessen the burden.

As a child I was always outside, and I taught myself to repair lawnmowers before moving on to vehicles and equipment. I wanted to do outside activities instead of being inside the classroom. I was a student who thrived at hands on activities and suffered through lectures and bookwork. I obtained my tractor driving certification and worked outside my family as soon as possible for area farmers and ranchers. Through FFA I participated in welding and Ag mechanics events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. While competing I learned about a summer internship with Western Equipment, and interned in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. During the internship I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. I enjoy the hands-on work of diagnosing and servicing John Deere equipment. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation but was planning to just enter the workforce. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. At 13 years old I became a Junior Firefighter with Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department. While I could not go on emergency calls, I could still attend their meetings and trainings, clean the station, help with vehicle maintenance, and participate in all the celebrations. Through my involvement with the fire department, I became acquainted with most of the area first responders. In September 2023 I arrived at the scene of a 3-vehicle crash. While one EMT worked with injured people, the other EMT and I went to check on one of the vehicles. Unfortunately, one of the children in the vehicle did not survive. Upon discovering the status, I immediately went to the other side of the vehicle to assist the EMT with extracting two other children. The Laverne EMS director reached out to me to suggest that I enroll in the upcoming EMR class she was holding. Before that day I never considered taking any steps toward serving with EMS. On January 6, 2024, I successfully completed the EMR class. I have discovered that I truly have a passion for helping others and hope to continue my training to become a full EMT. Next year I will be attending Garden City Community College as a student in the John Deere Service Technician program. However, I have also met with fire science and EMS faculty at the college. While completing the John Deere program I would also like to pursue completing Firefighter I training as well as EMT training. I want to serve Northwest Oklahoma as a first responder for many years to come. If I could start a charity, I would address an often-overlooked aspect of rural medicine. People in rural Oklahoma often must drive a significant distance for medical resources. Some parents don’t have reliable transportation to travel great distances or only have one household vehicle. I would like to form a network of volunteers who could assist with transporting underprivileged children and their parents the 30 minutes to 1 hour to the nearest town offering more services. Many people commute that distance regularly for groceries and services not provided locally, and I would like to connect the individuals.

“No. I’m not going to college.” I made this comment so many times growing up until one FFA activity changed my entire path. I was one of those students who thrived at hands on activities and suffered through lectures and bookwork. I always wanted to be outside driving the tractor or taking care of the cattle instead of stuck inside a classroom. Growing up on a small farm/ranch in rural Northwest Oklahoma that has been in my family for about 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture and hard work. My family’s roots run deep in Harper County. I live in the house where my granddad was born and raised, and my uncle lives in the house built by my great-great grandparents. Since I could walk, I followed my granddad around while he did the daily chores. As I got older, I began to take on more of the responsibilities associated with farming and ranching. Farming relies heavily on equipment that is constantly requiring maintenance and upkeep. As a child I taught myself to repair lawnmowers and get them running before moving on to vehicles and farm equipment. I obtained my tractor driving safety certification and started working outside my family as soon as possible. My work ethic provided me with many opportunities to work for area farmers and ranchers. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I received the internship and worked in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. I knew I had some of the necessary mechanical skills, but during the internship I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. Thanks to my successful internship Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. During summers and college breaks I will be working at Western Equipment to support myself through college. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma and raise my future family. Without the opportunity from Western Equipment to attend the John Deere TECH program, I don’t think my future would look as successful as it does. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. I am looking for a career not just a current job, and my skilled trade is going to provide that stability. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship for our parents. While I know my path will provide me with the success to repay any student loans, I would greatly appreciate any scholarships I receive to help lessen the burden.

Not every child thrives in a normal classroom setting. Some like me benefit from hands on activities like those offered in mechanics, welding, and various other trades. Growing up on a small farm in Oklahoma that has been in my family for 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture and hard work. Farming relies heavily on equipment that is constantly requiring maintenance and upkeep. As a child I was always helping with equipment and taught myself to repair lawnmowers before learning to repair vehicles and farm equipment. I think I was about 13 when a neighbor dropped off their lawnmower for me to get running again. I bought an old pickup with my own money at 15 years old, repaired it to drive again, and that was my vehicle when I got my license. Through FFA I participated in numerous Ag mechanics contests including the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. Thanks to my successful internship the Woodward location of Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. I have been accepted to the college, signed the contract with Western Equipment, and have one of the spots in the Fall 2024 program. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. As technology advances, so does the John Deere equipment used across the nation. It takes specialized training to work on most pieces of equipment today. A new generation of service technicians trained to properly repair farming equipment is vital to the future of agriculture in our country. I feel I will be providing an important service to the small family farms struggling to continue operating in our area. I plan to continue being involved in my family’s farming and ranching, so I feel that training to work on John Deere equipment will be beneficial to continue the agriculture tradition of my family. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My older brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship for our parents. My determination and work ethic will allow me to succeed, but your scholarship would help me stand on my own two feet just a little easier.

“No. I’m not going to college.” I made this comment so many times growing up until one FFA activity changed my entire path. I was one of those students who thrived at hands on activities and suffered through lectures and bookwork. I always wanted to be outside driving the tractor or taking care of the cattle instead of stuck inside a classroom. Growing up on a small farm/ranch in rural Northwest Oklahoma that has been in my family for about 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture and hard work. As a child I taught myself to repair lawnmowers and get them running before moving on to vehicles and farm equipment. I obtained my tractor driving safety certification and started working outside my family as soon as possible. My work ethic provided me with many opportunities to work for area farmers and ranchers. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I applied, interviewed, and received the internship to work at Western Equipment in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. I knew I had some of the necessary mechanical skills, but during the internship I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. Thanks to my successful internship Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. I have been accepted to the college, signed the contract with Western Equipment, and have one of the spots in the Fall 2024 program. During summers and college breaks I will be working at Western Equipment to support myself through college. My other passion has been volunteering with the Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department. My dad has been a volunteer firefighter for many years, and I became a junior firefighter when I was 13 years old. The fire department doesn’t just go out on emergency calls. They oversee or assist with most of the town’s holiday celebrations such as 4th of July, Santa Comes to Town, Halloween bonfire, and more. While I was not allowed to go on fires or emergency calls, I could still attend their meetings and trainings, clean the station, help with vehicle maintenance, and participate in all the celebrations. Since I have served as a junior firefighter with Fort Supply for several years, I have become acquainted with most of the area first responders. In September 2023 I ended up at the scene of a 3-vehicle crash north of my hometown. While one EMT was working with some injured people, the other EMT and I went to check on one of the vehicles. Unfortunately, one of the children in the vehicle did not survive the crash. Upon discovering the status, I immediately went to the other side of the vehicle to assist the EMT with extracting two other children. My actions and conduct at the scene of the accident did not go unnoticed by the Laverne EMS director. She reached out to me to suggest that I enroll in the upcoming EMR class she was holding. On January 6, 2024, I successfully completed the EMR class. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma and raise my future family. Without the opportunity from Western Equipment to attend the John Deere TECH program, I don’t think my future would look as successful as it does. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. I am looking for a career not just a current job, and my skilled trade is going to provide that stability. I have discovered that I truly have a passion for helping others and hope to continue serving the Northwest Oklahoma area as a first responder serving with the volunteer fire department and EMS for many years to come. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship for our parents. While I know my path will provide me with the success to repay any student loans, I would greatly appreciate any scholarships I receive to help lessen the burden.

Growing up on a small farm in Oklahoma that has been in my family for 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture and hard work. My family’s roots run deep in Harper County. I live in the house where my granddad was born and raised, and my uncle lives in the house built by my great-great grandparents. Since I could walk, I followed my granddad around while he did the daily chores. As I got older, I began to take on more of the responsibilities associated with farming and ranching. In high school I started thinking about starting my own custom haying business. Farming relies heavily on equipment that is constantly requiring maintenance and upkeep. As a child I was always helping with equipment and taught myself to repair lawnmowers before learning to work on vehicles and farm equipment. I obtained my tractor driving safety certification through 4-H and started working outside my family as soon as possible. I have chosen to pursue becoming a John Deere Service Technician after high school graduation. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I applied for and received the internship to work at Western Equipment in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023 after my junior year of high school. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead I was planning to just enter the workforce. Thanks to my successful internship the Woodward location of Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. I have been accepted to the college, signed the contract with Western Equipment, and have one of the spots in the Fall 2024 program. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma and raise my future family. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. While I continue my family’s tradition of farming, my skilled trade is going to provide stable income and my custom haying business will help supplement the income. In our area people are always looking to hire someone to swath and/or bale hay. Studying to become a John Deere service technician will provide me with the knowledge to maintain and repair haying equipment when others typically have to wait for repairs from outside companies.

My sophomore year of high school a new Ag teacher joined the faculty at Laverne High School. Mr. Wetherell had just completed college and chose Laverne, Oklahoma for his first teaching position. He grew up in Illinois and had no ties to our community, but he brought fresh new ideas and wanted to do new activities with his students. I had been enrolled in agriculture classes and participated in FFA since 8th grade, but I was not involved in all the activities until Mr. Wetherell’s guidance. He started an FFA shotgun team that I joined and was considered a leader due to my prior 4-H shotgun experience. He took us to contests throughout the state and even into Kansas. I grew up on a farm/ranch owning cattle of my own, but I had never shown cattle at livestock shows until my sophomore year. Mr. Wetherell convinced me to give a speech at an FFA contest to qualify for an officer position. Through FFA I also participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. Mr. Wetherell gave up his personal time to take another student and me on this overnight opportunity. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I applied, interviewed, and received the internship to work at the Woodward, Oklahoma location during June and July 2023. I had some mechanical skills, but during the internship I discovered John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead I was planning to just enter the workforce. Thanks to my successful internship the Woodward location of Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. I have been accepted to the college, signed the contract with Western Equipment, and have one of the spots in the Fall 2024 program. Thanks to Mr. Wetherell pushing me to succeed and providing me with opportunities I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma and raise my future family. Without the opportunity from Western Equipment to attend the John Deere TECH program, I don’t think my future would look as successful as it does. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. I am looking for a career not just a current job, and my skilled trade is going to provide that stability. I credit Mr. Wetherell for helping me take the first step down my path to the future.

Growing up on a small farm/ranch in rural Northwest Oklahoma that has been in my family for about 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture and hard work. I have been active in 4-H and FFA and worked for area farmers and ranchers. As a child I was always working outside on equipment, and I taught myself to repair lawnmowers before learning to work on vehicles and equipment. I wanted to spend time taking care of the cattle or driving the tractor instead of being stuck inside the classroom. I obtained my tractor driving safety certification and started working outside my family as soon as possible. Through FFA I participated in Ag mechanics events. One was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the summer internship with Western Equipment. I interned at Western Equipment in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. I knew I had some of the necessary mechanical skills, but during the internship I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. I enjoy the hands-on work of diagnosing and servicing various equipment. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead was planning to just enter the workforce. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. I also became interested in my dad’s work with the volunteer fire department. At around 13 years old I became a Junior Firefighter with Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department. While I was not allowed to go on fires or emergency calls, I could still attend their meetings and trainings, clean the station, help with vehicle maintenance, and participate in all the celebrations. Over the years I have become acquainted with most of the area first responders. In September 2023 I ended up at the scene of a 3-vehicle crash north of my hometown. While one EMT was working with some injured people, the other EMT and I went to check on one of the vehicles. Unfortunately, one of the children in the vehicle did not survive the crash. Upon discovering the status, I immediately went to the other side of the vehicle to assist the EMT with extracting two other children. My conduct at the accident did not go unnoticed by the Laverne EMS director. She reached out to suggest that I enroll in the upcoming EMR class she was holding. Before that day I never considered taking any steps toward serving with EMS. On January 6, 2024 I successfully completed the EMR class. I have discovered that I truly have a passion for helping others and hope to continue serving the Northwest Oklahoma area as a first responder serving with the volunteer fire department and EMS for many years to come. Next year I will be attending Garden City Community College as a student in the John Deere Service Technician program. However, I have also met with fire science and EMS faculty at the college. While completing the John Deere program I would also like to pursue completing Firefighter I training as well as EMT training. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship for our parents. While I know my path and work ethic will provide me with the success needed to repay any student loans, I would greatly appreciate any scholarships I receive to help lessen the burden.

Growing up on a small farm in Oklahoma that has been in my family for 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture and hard work. Farming relies heavily on equipment that is constantly requiring maintenance and upkeep. As a child I was always working on equipment and taught myself to repair lawnmowers before learning to work on vehicles and equipment. I wanted to spend time taking care of the cattle or driving the tractor instead of being stuck inside the classroom. My work ethic provided me with many opportunities to work extra jobs for local farmers and ranchers. Through FFA I participated in Ag mechanics events. One was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about a summer internship with Western Equipment, and I worked in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. I had some mechanical skills, but during the internship I discovered John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. I enjoy diagnosing and servicing various equipment. I originally was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead was planning to enter the workforce. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. It takes specialized training to work on most pieces of equipment today. I plan to continue being involved in my family’s farming and ranching, so I feel that training to work on John Deere equipment will be beneficial to continue the agriculture tradition of my family.

At a young age, I became interested in how my dad volunteers with the Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department doesn’t just go out on emergency calls. They oversee or assist with most of the town’s holiday celebrations such as 4th of July, Santa Comes to Town, Halloween bonfire, and more. At around 13 years old I became a Junior Firefighter with Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department. While I was not allowed to go on fires or emergency calls, I could still attend their meetings and trainings, clean the station, help with vehicle maintenance, and participate in all the celebrations. Since I have served as a junior firefighter with Fort Supply for several years, I have become acquainted with most of the area first responders. In September 2023 I ended up at the scene of a 3-vehicle crash north of my hometown. Due to a dispatch malfunction the Laverne Fire Department did not initially receive the page to the accident only EMS. While one EMT was working with some injured people, the other EMT and I went to check on one of the vehicles. Unfortunately, one of the children in the vehicle did not survive the crash. Upon discovering the status, I immediately went to the other side of the vehicle to assist the EMT with extracting two other children. My actions and conduct at the scene of the accident did not go unnoticed by the Laverne EMS director. She reached out to me to suggest that I enroll in the upcoming EMR class she was holding. Before that day I never considered taking any steps toward serving with EMS. On January 6, 2024 I successfully completed the EMR class. I have discovered that I truly have a passion for helping others and hope to continue serving the Northwest Oklahoma area as a first responder serving with the volunteer fire department and EMS for many years to come. The average age of first responders keeps going up, and more first responders are quitting or retiring every day. I want to be an example to the younger generation that their communities need them to step up and get involved. Rural Oklahoma needs more volunteers willing to give time as first responders, and I would very much like to continue training to fill this role. Next year I will be attending Garden City Community College as a student in the John Deere Service Technician program. However, I have also met with fire science and EMS faculty at the college. While completing the John Deere program I would also like to pursue completing Firefighter I training as well as EMT training. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship for our parents. While I know my path will provide me with the success to repay any student loans, I would greatly appreciate any scholarships I receive to help lessen the burden.

Tremors. A movie about underground monsters terrorizing a small group of people in a tiny, isolated town. Yes, I know how weird it is for that to be the movie that has had the greatest impact on my life. The comedy horror movie came out in 1990 which was 16 years before I was born. However, out of all the movies I have watched throughout the last 18 years Tremors still tops the list. I have watched the sequels, prequel, and television show based off the movie, but the original is still the best. When I was approximately one and a half years old my mom discovered by accident that Tremors would put me to sleep at naptime when nothing else would work. Every afternoon from that point through Pre-K when she had trouble getting me to take my nap, we would lay down on my parents’ bed and watch the movie. My dad was at work and my brother at school, so it was just Mom and me. Those times and memories hold a special place in my heart. We watched the movie so often that we can see the scenes in our heads and quote it line by line. Now that I am older, I realize that many of my characteristics align with those of Val and Earl, the main characters. I honestly think that is most likely due to the rural setting of the movie and the fact that I live outside a small rural town. Like the characters, I find myself building fences, doing various and often dirty odd jobs, and acting resourcefully to get things accomplished. Growing up on a small farm/ranch in rural Northwest Oklahoma that has been in my family for about 80 years has taught me the importance of hard work. My work ethic and desire to succeed led me to work for other area farmers and ranchers as well. Although I admire many of the qualities in these movie characters, I know that I do not want to survive by doing various jobs for irregular income. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about a summer internship with Western Equipment. I applied for and received the internship to work at Western Equipment in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. I enjoy the hands-on work of diagnosing and servicing John Deere equipment. Prior to my internship I was not considering college, instead I was planning to just enter the workforce. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. While I may not be fighting monsters to survive, there are still challenges to be met every day. I feel the ability to meet any obstacle head on and overcome the situation is an important theme to take away from Tremors. A person must enter every situation with self-assurance and a positive mental attitude.

Since I was one year old my dad has played a part in securing our community. In 2007, he began his career as a corrections officer at William S Key Correctional Center in Fort Supply, Oklahoma and worked there until the facility closed in 2021. While working at William S Key Correctional Center my dad became part of the facility’s fire department. After they closed the facility’s fire department, he joined the Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department where he still volunteers today. When I was really young, I didn’t exactly understand all the details of my dad’s job. As I got older, I became interested in my dad’s work with the fire department. The fire department doesn’t just go out on emergency calls. They oversee or assist with most of the town’s holiday celebrations such as 4th of July, Santa Comes to Town, Halloween bonfire, and more. At around 13 years old I became a Junior Firefighter with Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department. While I was not allowed to go on fires or emergency calls, I could still attend their meetings and trainings, clean the station, help with vehicle maintenance, and participate in all the celebrations. Since I have served as a junior firefighter with Fort Supply for several years, I have become acquainted with most of the area first responders. In September 2023 I ended up at the scene of a 3-vehicle crash north of my hometown. Due to a dispatch malfunction the Laverne Fire Department did not initially receive the page to the accident only EMS. While one EMT was working with some injured people, the other EMT and I went to check on one of the vehicles. Unfortunately, one of the children in the vehicle did not survive the crash. Upon discovering the status, I immediately went to the other side of the vehicle to assist the EMT with extracting two other children. My actions and conduct at the scene of the accident did not go unnoticed by the Laverne EMS director. She reached out to me to suggest that I enroll in the upcoming EMR class she was holding. Before that day I never considered taking any steps toward serving with EMS. On January 6, 2024 I successfully completed the EMR class. I have discovered that I truly have a passion for helping others and hope to continue my training to become a full EMT. I hope to continue serving the Northwest Oklahoma area as a first responder serving with the volunteer fire department and EMS for many years to come. The average age of first responders keeps going up, and more first responders are quitting or retiring every day. I want to be an example to the younger generation that their communities need them to step up and get involved.

Let me explain how I came to realize I have a caretaker mentality and a servant’s heart. It took me some time to learn this lesson, but once I did I embraced it completely. In elementary school my teachers always said I was more concerned about the other students than staying focused on my schoolwork. Those comments followed me through elementary and middle school. As I got older I found myself assisting with a special needs classmate that has severe seizures who requires supervision and medication. My junior year of high school there was a senior student who began suffering blackout episodes. I was one of the students the teachers would call on to pick her up from the floor and place her in a wheelchair. I kept an eye on her at activities and caught her as she was passing out at the concession stand at a football game. At around 13 years old I became a Junior Firefighter with Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department. While I was not allowed to go on fires or emergency calls, I could still attend their meetings and trainings, clean the station, help with vehicle maintenance, and participate in all the celebrations. Since I have served as a junior firefighter with Fort Supply for several years, I have become acquainted with most of the area first responders. In September 2023 I ended up at the scene of a 3-vehicle crash north of my hometown. Due to a dispatch malfunction the Laverne Fire Department did not initially receive the page to the accident only EMS. While one EMT was working with some injured people, the other EMT and I went to check on one of the vehicles. Unfortunately, one of the children in the vehicle did not survive the crash. Upon discovering the status, I immediately went to the other side of the vehicle to assist the EMT with extracting two other children. My actions and conduct at the scene of the accident did not go unnoticed by the Laverne EMS director. She reached out to me to suggest that I enroll in the upcoming EMR class she was holding. Before that day I never considered taking any steps toward serving with EMS. On January 6, 2024, I successfully completed the EMR class. I have discovered that I truly have a passion for helping others and hope to continue my training to become a full EMT. I hope to continue serving the Northwest Oklahoma area as a first responder serving with the volunteer fire department and EMS for many years to come. While this may not be on a worldwide scale, serving as a first responder will have a significant positive impact on my community.

Agriculture has played a significant role in building this country and still today counts for a large percentage of our nation’s economy and jobs. Growing up on a small farm/ranch in rural Northwest Oklahoma that has been in my family for about 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture. I have been active in 4-H and FFA and worked for area farmers and ranchers. Farming relies heavily on diesel equipment. As a child I was always working outside on equipment, and I taught myself to repair lawnmowers and get them running. I always wanted to spend time taking care of the cattle or driving around in the tractor instead of being stuck inside the classroom. During high school my work ethic provided me with many opportunities to work extra jobs for local farmers and ranchers. I obtained my tractor driving safety certification and started working outside my family as soon as possible. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I applied for and received the internship to work at Western Equipment - Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023. I knew I had some of the necessary mechanical skills, but during the internship I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. I enjoy the hands-on work of diagnosing and servicing John Deere equipment. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead was planning to just enter the workforce. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. As technology advances, so does the John Deere equipment used across the nation. It takes specialized training to work on most pieces of equipment today. A new generation of service technicians trained to properly repair farming equipment is vital to the future of agriculture in our country. I feel I will be providing an important service to the small family farms struggling to continue operating in our area. I also plan to continue being involved in my family’s farming and ranching, so I feel that training to work on John Deere equipment will be beneficial to continue the agriculture tradition of my family. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship for our parents. While I know my path will provide me with the success to repay any student loans, I would greatly appreciate any scholarships I receive to help lessen the burden.

What trade are you pursuing and why are you passionate about it? I have chosen to pursue becoming a John Deere Service Technician after high school graduation. As a child growing up on a farm in Northwest Oklahoma I was always working outside on equipment, and I taught myself to repair lawnmowers and get them running before learning to work on vehicles and equipment. I always wanted to spend time taking care of the cattle or driving around in the tractor instead of being stuck inside the classroom. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I applied for and received the internship to work at Western Equipment in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023 after my junior year of high school. I knew I had some of the necessary mechanical skills, but during the internship I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. I enjoy the hands-on work of diagnosing and servicing John Deere equipment. As technology advances, so does the John Deere equipment used across the nation. It takes specialized training to work on most pieces of equipment today. I plan to continue being involved in my family’s farming and ranching, so I feel that training to work on John Deere equipment will be beneficial to continue the agriculture tradition of my family. What are your plans after your trade education? Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead I was planning to just enter the workforce. Thanks to my internship Western Equipment’s Woodward location is sponsoring me in the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. I have been accepted to the college, signed the contract with Western Equipment, and have a spot in the Fall 2024 program. Now I already have guaranteed employment after graduation. During summers and school breaks I will also work at Western Equipment, so I will have current employment as well as future employment. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma and raise my future family. Without the opportunity from Western Equipment to attend the John Deere TECH program, I don’t think my future would look as successful as it does. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. I am looking for a career not just a job, and my trade is going to provide that stability. Describe a time in your life when you overcame adversity? How did you work through it? In March 2017, a wildfire burned 69,000 acres including a significant amount of our pastures and fences. A green wheat field north of our house saved our house in most people’s opinion. Mom and I were standing with several neighbors watching the fire a couple of miles north moving northeast away from all of us when the wind suddenly shifted. We all jumped in our vehicles and headed for home because we knew we were in trouble. My family had to drive down roads with active fires on both sides to evacuate. Our neighbors had pastures, fences, livestock, and even a house destroyed that day. It took months of hard work by myself and my family to rebuild all the fence around our land.

I have chosen to pursue becoming a John Deere Service Technician after high school graduation. Agriculture has played a significant role in building this country and still today counts for a large percentage of our nation’s economy and jobs. Growing up on a small farm/ranch in rural Northwest Oklahoma that has been in my family for about 80 years has taught me the importance of agriculture. As a child I was always working outside on equipment, and I taught myself to repair lawnmowers and get them running before learning to work on vehicles and equipment. I always wanted to spend time taking care of the cattle or driving around in the tractor instead of being stuck inside the classroom. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I applied for and received the internship to work at Western Equipment in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023 after my junior year of high school. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead I was planning to just enter the workforce. Thanks to my successful internship the Woodward location of Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. I have been accepted to the college, signed the contract with Western Equipment, and have one of the spots in the Fall 2024 program. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. As technology advances, so does the John Deere equipment used across the nation. It takes specialized training to work on most pieces of equipment today. I plan to continue being involved in my family’s farming and ranching, so I feel that training to work on John Deere equipment will be beneficial to continue the agriculture tradition of my family. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma and raise my future family. Without the opportunity from Western Equipment to attend the John Deere TECH program, I don’t think my future would look as successful as it does. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. I am looking for a career not just a current job, and my skilled trade is going to provide that stability.

Which trade are you going to pursue after graduation? I am choosing to pursue a plan after high school to become a John Deere Service Technician which will allow me to work with all different types of John Deere equipment. Why are you interested in this particular trade? As a child growing up on a farm in Northwest Oklahoma I was always working outside on equipment, and I taught myself to repair lawnmowers and get them running. I always wanted to spend time taking care of the cattle or driving around in the tractor instead of being stuck inside the classroom. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I knew I had some of the necessary mechanical skills, but during the internship I discovered becoming a John Deere Service Technician would be the perfect career for me. I enjoy the hands-on work of diagnosing and servicing John Deere equipment. A person entering the trades should be able to think outside the box, be creative, and problem solve. Give some specific examples of things you currently do or have recently done during your high school years that require these types of skills. (examples: working on engines, welding projects, building projects, etc) My FFA program was struggling last year to move large items around the shop for welding projects. Seeing the need I started the process of designing and creating an overhead hoist to assist with moving heavy objects. Upon completion I entered the project in the county fair, District Stock Show Ag Mechanics contest, and OYE (Oklahoma Youth Expo) Ag Mechanics contest. After seeing what I had built one of our local mechanics asked to borrow it for a few weeks to determine if he wanted to have Laverne FFA build him one of his own. Another example of thinking outside the box and problem solving is successfully completing EMR training during my senior year. During training I volunteered for two 12-hour shifts with Woodward EMS which is larger than my local EMS. You never know what kind of call you are going to receive that requires you to use all sorts of problem solving. I also serve as a Junior Firefighter with Fort Supply Volunteer Fire Department, but I plan to fully join the department after graduation. I hope to continue using my skills to serve my community as a first responder for years to come. A great applicant is someone that truly wants to enter the trades after graduation and already has a plan to achieve their goal of a career in the trades. What is your plan and how far along are you in your plan? Please be specific as possible. (Do you have a job lined up? Have you talked to any potential employers? Have you researched schools or courses? Are you already signed up for classes/courses?) I applied for and received the internship to work at Western Equipment in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023 after my junior year of high school. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead I was planning to just enter the workforce. Thanks to my successful internship the Woodward location of Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. I have been accepted to the college, signed the contract with Western Equipment, and have one of the spots in the Fall 2024 program. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. If I were to call an adult in your life that knows you well, why would they recommend you to receive this scholarship? I would have you contact my current employer for a recommendation on receiving this scholarship. I have been working for him as a farm laborer since 2020, but over the years my responsibilities have increased drastically. While I started just building fence and working cattle, my work ethic brought on additional responsibilities such as operating, maintaining, and repairing farm equipment in addition to being responsible for the entire farm during his lengthy work hours and vacation time. Most of my generation don't have the desire to put in the long hours in the less than pleasant conditions required to operate a farm. He also serves as my internship employer for the last two hours of my school day during my senior year. He would tell you that I am a hardworking and deserving young man who is always ready to help in any situation whether at work or within our community.

I have chosen to pursue becoming a John Deere Service Technician after high school graduation. As a child growing up on a family farm in Northwest Oklahoma I was always working outside on equipment, and I taught myself to repair lawnmowers and get them running before learning to work on vehicles and equipment. I always wanted to spend time taking care of the cattle or driving around in the tractor instead of being stuck inside the classroom. Through FFA I participated in numerous welding and Ag mechanics contests and events. One event was the Western Equipment Ag Tech Invitational contest held in Plainview, TX in January 2023. At the contest I learned about the opportunity to apply for a summer internship with Western Equipment. I applied for and received the internship to work at Western Equipment in Woodward, Oklahoma during June and July 2023 after my junior year of high school. Prior to my internship I was not considering college after high school graduation, but instead I was planning to just enter the workforce. Thanks to my successful internship the Woodward location of Western Equipment has agreed to sponsor me to attend the John Deere TECH program at Garden City Community College. I have been accepted to the college, signed the contract with Western Equipment, and have one of the spots in the Fall 2024 program. Now I already have guaranteed employment after college with Western Equipment. As technology advances, so does the John Deere equipment used across the nation. It takes specialized training to work on most pieces of equipment today. I plan to remain in Northwest Oklahoma to raise my future family and continue being involved in my family’s farming and ranching, so I feel that training to work on John Deere equipment will be beneficial to continue the agriculture tradition of my family. Without the opportunity from Western Equipment to attend the John Deere TECH program, I don’t think my future would look as successful as it does. It is important to me to have a steady job to support my family, and so many men in this area fight the ups and downs of oilfield jobs. I am looking for a career not just a current job, and my skilled trade is going to provide that stability. College, even a 2-year trade program, can be an expensive undertaking. My brother and I will both be enrolled in college during my 2-year program which creates a financial hardship for our parents. While I know my path will provide me with the success to repay any student loans, I would greatly appreciate any scholarships I receive to help lessen the burden. My determination and work ethic will allow me to succeed, but your scholarship would help me stand on my own two feet just a little easier.