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Fitch honored at OYEOklahoma Jerry Fitch was recently honored as one of the two Oklahoma Youth Expo Show Honorees. Fitch, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service sheep specialist, has served for years as the sheep superintendent at the OYE and the Tulsa State Fair. As sheep superintendent, he is in constant contact with exhibitors, advisors, county Extension educators and parents while volunteering his time and expertise to support the junior livestock program. Fitch, a strong proponent of Oklahoma's agricultural youth and dedicated to supporting and promoting the junior livestock show, said taking care of an animal is a great opportunity for youth to learn responsibility for themselves. "The show itself is just the final piece to the project," Fitch said. "All the time they spend at home feeding, watering, exercising and preparing the animal for show is what is really important and where youth learn about agriculture." The Sirloin Club Honorees Committee selects individuals who impact Oklahoma's youth for their leadership abilities, their dedication and their consistency in supporting the youth of Oklahoma. This year's other nominee was Tom Gilliam of Newcastle. "I am honored to be mentioned in the same sentence with great livestock people such as Bob Totesuk, Joe Hughes and others," Fitch said. Ron Kensinger, animal science department head, said Fitch is an asset to the sheep industry because he was raised on a sheep farm and has tremendous expertise in sheep production and management. In addition, he also has great enthusiasm for the sheep industry. "Dr. Fitch is deserving of this honor because of his 20 years of enthusiastic support for the Oklahoma Youth Expo," said Kensinger. "He has great enthusiasm about the future of youth and believes that 4-H and youth programs have positively impacted the development of many great young men and women in Oklahoma. Jerry also knows that Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Youth Expo is a wonderful relationship." Fitch also serves as the lead faculty representative for the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter offered through the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the OYE, which offers class members the opportunity to gain knowledge about agriculture on an international level and create opportunities in which students may not have a chance to participate. He attended college at California Polytechnic State University and earned his master's and doctorate degrees from Colorado State University. He came to OSU in 1988 to join the animal science department as the Extension sheep specialist. Fitch has been a part of the Oklahoma Junior Livestock Program since 1988. His family ranching operation consists of Dorset and Hampshire sheep and his wide-spread efforts for Oklahoma's sheep industry have lead him to be a respected judge at various shows across the country. Fitch and his wife, June, live in Stillwater with their children, Brian and Laurie. 4/7/08 Date: 4/3/08 Advertisement
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