Students Encouraged to Apply for AgVenture 2004

ARDMORE, Okla. — The Noble Foundation is now accepting applications for AgVenture 2004, a hands-on, agriculturally oriented summer program for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. The June 15-18 program takes place at the Foundation's Ardmore campus, and includes visits to each of the Foundation's farms and ranches plus other area ag businesses.

Students will learn about topics such as controlled rotational grazing, prescribed burning, fencing materials and methods, deer spotlight surveys and livestock marketing from the Foundation’s agricultural specialists.

"AgVenture is truly enjoyed by all who participate," said Shan Ingram, education and special projects manager in the Foundation's Agriculture Division and AgVenture 2004 coordinator. "It's our most in-depth youth educational activity."

Applicants must live or go to school in the following counties — Oklahoma: Atoka, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Lincoln, Love, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Seminole, Stephens or Tillman; Texas: Archer, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Jack, Lamar, Montague, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Wichita or Wise. To be eligible, students must have completed their sophomore, junior or senior year by June 2004.

Application forms are available on the Noble Foundation's Web site at http://www.noble.org/ag/agventure/2004/ or call (580) 224-6411 to receive one by mail.

Interested students should complete the application and write a personal letter describing: their involvement in agriculture, including any responsibilities on their family's property; their goals — what they plan to be involved in five years from now; why they desire to attend AgVenture 2004; how they believe AgVenture will help them reach their goals; and what they believe will be the important issues facing agriculture in the next decade.

Completed applications and letters should be returned to Noble Foundation, Attn: Melissa Castleman, P.O. Box 2180, Ardmore, OK 73402. The application deadline is April 15, 2004.

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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