The importance of youth organizations in shaping young people

          Being a community journalist and having covered numerous youth activities, county fairs and school events, I’m often reminded about the importance of student and youth organizations such as 4-H and FFA.
          I have witnessed first-hand and written many stories about young people in both organizations and how they have helped them become better students and find purpose in life.
        I have taken hundreds of photos of youngsters in both organizations and their winning pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, horses, chickens and dogs.
           These kids work hard and put in a lot of hours to become the best.
         One year I did a story on 4-H’er who participated in a 4-H feeder calf project where, after the fair, she raised her calf to market size.
          And earlier this year, I attended a work-related training session led by this same young lady, who is now married and has three children.
      And in November 2002, I was able to attend the FFA National Convention in Louisville, Ky., where I covered Montezuma, who had four teams there that year.
       And through the years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to be a 4-H photography judge. I enjoy helping young people be better at what they enjoy.
        I was not in 4-H or FFA, but did participate in Cub Scouts, Webelos and Boy Scouts through my school days in my native state of Oklahoma.
        I attended Boy Scout summer camp during the second week of June from 1972 – 1976 (sixth grade – 10th grade) at Camp Garland near Locust Grove, Okla., a small community about 50 miles east of Tulsa.
        I only attained a second class rank in Boy Scouts, but did garner more than a dozen merit badges.
      I don’t remember the year, but do remember the experience. I was working on hiking merit badge and had to join other Boy Scouts on a five-mile hike and overnight campout.
      My hiking boots didn’t fit too well and by the end of the hike both of my feet were covered with blisters. And to top that, we had to build a makeshift camp. Several Boy Scouts in my group stretched and tied a piece of tent canvas between several trees. A thunderstorm with rain and high winds rolled through that evening and knocked down our tent and soaked all of our sleeping bags. It took a day to dry out my sleeping bag.
       Another time, a morning storm blew through camp knocking down trees and I slept right through it all. I always put large rocks under my trunk to keep everything dry.
       Another year, my campmate had a broken arm. He got his cast wet and it stunk up our tent.
      Camp was a great experience as I enjoyed shooting 22 rifles at the range, participating in archery, making new friends, swimming in the pool and participating in camp activities.
     My first year of camp my parents gave me $3 spending money. I only spent $2 and when I gave my parents back the $1, they were surprised and let me keep it. Three dollars in 1972 was a lot of money.
You can’t even buy a daily newspaper today for $3.
      Another organization I took part in was Royal Ambassadors or RA as it was called. It was a Christian-based organization based on the Boy Scout model for young boys who attended Southern Baptist Churches. The girls had their own organization and it was called GAs. My mom was a GA leader for lower elementary age youngsters for 25 years. 
       Mr. Bruce Irvin, a prominent Tulsa architect and long-time member of the First Baptist Church, where my family attended, was the leader of the RAs.
       Each fall, Mr. Irvin, and a host of volunteers and all the RAs took a bus to the John Zink Ranch northwest of Tulsa where we hiked the rugged terrain, held a Bible study and ate hobo-style dinners. The meal consisted of hamburger meat, potatoes, carrots and onions mixed together and cooked in foil paper over hot coals. We topped it off with an apple with the core cut out and filled with red hots, which was also heated over the hot coals.
        The Zink Ranch featured a western town with a store where we all got to purchase candy and treats. 
        I also camped at the Zink Ranch with my Boy Scout troop.
       One year, some of the Scouts decided to go snipe hunting. They lured me and a friend from the camp and asked us to hold a paper sack open on the ground and use a flashlight to lure the critters our way.
       The onery rascals would walk down the road aways and yell and make all kinds of noise. “The snipe are heading your way,” one of them would say.
        After a bit, my friend and I figured out that there was no such thing as a snipe. So, we left and went back to camp and found solace in our tent.
        A bit later here came the rest of the Scouts wondering where we had gone.
        We were sound asleep.
       I’m thankful for the opportunities life has given me and the opportunity to tell stories and take photos of area youth and their many successes.
        Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.