Shoemake Champion Exhibitor Award established

One outstanding county fair exhibitor could walk away with $1,000, awarded in memory of a longtime supporter.

The first Jerry Shoemake All-Around Champion Exhibitor Award will be presented this year after the Okmulgee County Free Fair. The award, named in honor of the late legislator and community supporter, was created to encourage participation by 4-H and FFA exhibitors in the County Fair.

Shoemake, a lifelong Morris resident, was raised on the family dairy and spent his life farming and ranching. He began serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2005, faithfully serving District 16 until 2016, when he couldn’t run again due to term limits.

He was a member of the Okmulgee County Fair Board for 20 years, along with serving on the Rural Water District 20 Board of Directors, Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association Board of Directors, Tulsa State Fair Horse Division Superintendent, Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, OSU-Okmulgee Rodeo Team Advisory Committee, Connors State College Advisory Committee, Oklahoma Fairs and Festivals Association Board of Directors, Morris Lions Club, Okmulgee County Cattlemen’s Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and the Oklahoma Amateur Quarter Horse Association.

Shoemake was also an Oklahoma State FFA Honorary Degree Recipient.

Following his passing, his wife Lynda started a trust in Shoemake’s honor. A longtime friend of Shoemake and Okmulgee County Fair Board District 1 Representative Jim Beard, came up with the idea to honor him by giving an award to an outstanding 4-H or FFA member.

After discussion with other Fair Board members, along with the Shoemake family, a committee was formed to put the plan in motion and set up the criteria for exhibitors.

The main goal of this award is to encourage participation in the County Free Fair by young men and women.

“This will encourage some diversity with those who enter exhibits, so that it’s not just a livestock show … it would be the whole thing,” Lynda said.

This is what it takes to become the winner, according to the committee:

Jerry Shoemake All-Around Champion Exhibitor Award

• A total of ($1,000) will be awarded to the All-Around Champion Exhibitor/ Exhibitors.

• Each exhibitor’s premium money will be totaled and the exhibitor with the highest dollar earned will be recognized as the All-Around Champion. Only premium money listed in the Okmulgee County Free Fair will be counted (no bonus monies will be counted, i.e.: money added to market animal premium lineup).

• There will be no limit to the number of an exhibitor’s entries. Exhibitors are encouraged to enter as many sections as possible.

Minimum entry ledger must include: • 4-H and FFA Members: Must have a minimum of one (1) entry from section 101, 102, 103 or 104 (Animals).

• 4-H and FFA Members: Must enter one (1) Judging contest from section 105 (Judging Contests comprising Commercial Cattle Grading, 4-H Preservation and 4-H Food Judging.

• 4-H Members: Must have two (2) entries from section 300-325 (Art, photography, wood science, design construction, leadership, geology etc.).

• FFA Members must have two (2) entries from section 416-424 (Open Show - Open Class) - includes plants, photography, news reporting, horticulture, agriscience, etc.

If entry requirements are not met by any contestant, no champion will be recognized, no money will be paid out, and the money will remain in the trust fund.

In the event of a tie: If, after determining total premium money won by each qualifying exhibitor, two or more exhibitors have identical winnings a tie will be declared, and the $1000 award will be equally divided among the tied exhibitors.

In speaking about this award, Beard noted that this was probably the only one of its kind.

A special thanks goes to Watson Langford and Langford Cattle for a matching contribution to make this year’s award a total of $1,000. Anyone wishing to help contribute to the fund may do so by contacting any member of the committee.

Information has been shared with county school FFA programs and 4-H organizations, and all youth are urged to participate in as many activities as possible. Those may include some things they are not familiar with - basically step outside the box.

The Okmulgee County Free Fair is held the second week of September each year.

Okmulgee County Fair Board Jerry Shoemake Award Committee members are:

• Jim Beard, OCFB District 1

• Jim Hall, OCFB District 2

• Floyd Robison, OCFB District 3

• Lynda Shoemake, Family Member

• Kristy Shoemake Huckabee, Family Member

• Mike Carman,Financial Advisor Edward Jones

• Emily Oldham, Financial Advisor - Edward Jones --- The Legacy of Jerry Shoemake • Upon retiring from the Oklahoma State Legislation, it was said “He was an honest legislator and a steadfast representative of his constituents.”

Speaker Charles McCall said: “Jerry was considered a friend by his colleagues and the legislators.”

•Spoke out in support of agriculture, forestry, youth, minors, children and America’s Veterans.

• Sponsored HR 1058 which proclaimed “4H Day at the Capitol” with the following statement: “Celebrating youth who have made an impact in their community and accepted the challenge of a complex and changing world, and challenging others to join their Revolution of Responsibility.”