High School Students Selected for AgVenture 2004

ARDMORE, Okla. — Twenty-four high school students from southern Oklahoma and northern Texas have been selected to participate in AgVenture 2004, the Noble Foundation's educational program for students with a strong interest in the agricultural industry.

The students chosen from Oklahoma are: Joseph Baker, Anadarko; Dusty Baker, Sulphur; Daniel Ballard, Rush Springs; Diane Becker, Lawton; Steven Robert Calhoun, Ninnekah; Kyle Ray Cothren, Ada; Cole Craige, Durant; Sam Donica, Ardmore; Dell Farris, Addington; Nicole Keesee, Norman; Aaron Kidd, Addington; Keisha Neff, Ada; Tyler Peterson, Wetumka; Tiffani Pruitt, Chickasha; Robert Rothell, Roff; Jason Stringfellow, Holdenville; Will Wheeler, Chickasha; Kelly Whetstone, Springer; Jeremy Wilkins, Sulphur; and Josh Wilkins, Sulphur.

Selected Texas students are: Ryan Bland, Chico; Kelsey Evans, Paris; Yates McCurdy, Decatur; and Micah Waldon, Commerce.

"2004 should be another great year for AgVenture, if the quality of the participants is an indicator of the end result," said Shan Ingram, education and special projects manager in the Foundation's Agricultural Division and AgVenture 2004 coordinator. "AgVenture is one of those win/win programs — the kids learn a lot and the people who work with the kids benefit and become inspired as well."

The four-day program begins on June 15 at the Foundation's campus in Ardmore, and will include visits to several of the Foundation's research and demonstration farms as well as trips to agricultural businesses. The students will interact with Foundation agricultural specialists, Oklahoma State University personnel and other ag industry professionals while they learn about pond management, native range management, wildlife, prescribed burning and cattle handling.

For more information about AgVenture 2004 or other Noble Foundation programs, visit the Foundation's Web site at www.noble.org or call (580) 223-5810.

###

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release