My name is Harley Casey, and I am a resident of Sequoyah County. I attend school at Vian High School. I was born in the aftermath of addiction.
My parents quit using drugs when I came along in 2005. It was a very hard road they traveled so my siblings and I could have a better life, which they did. This has taught me so much, and my motto is to never give up; never let any circumstance in life impact a dream.
My dream in life is to attend college in agriculture and to advance my understanding of land and soil development through preservation or business. This is my passion, which is dear to my heart. I am an avid hunter, which has helped me understand conservation and land management. I believe the biggest aspect of life is building a strong foundation in education, which I have personally seen in my family.
I have rodeoed since I was 7 years old. That has taught me a lot about patience, accountability, respect for others, including animals, and most of all, acceptance.
Rodeo is helping me establish the character traits that are needed in a world that challenges moral reasoning. Often in life, we can overlook the little things that are so important each day. Rodeo has allowed me to cultivate hu- mility and grace within myself.
During my time as a Vian FFA member, I have studied countless hours to achieve the goal of winning the state championship in land judging.
In 2023 and 2024, I achieved this goal. In 2023, I was the fourthhighest individual out of 134 students.
In 2024, I was the third-highest individual out of 139 students from across the state of Oklahoma.
Our team went to Nationals in 2024. We placed fourth out of 38 states and 177 teams. That is back-toback state titles, with a fourth-place finish at the national level. Obtaining this goal wasn’t easy. However, those early mornings and late nights in the agriculture barn, walking across land to recognize slopes, grades and the tarry of the books, really paid off.
My post-high school aspirations and goals are numerous.
My 10-year objective is to work for or occupy an office or employment position in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture has always been a part of my life, even as a young child. My favorite memories are from my time spent in the soil.
Pursuing a passion for agriculture in college will be a dream come true. I am confident that the diligence I have developed throughout the course of my time in agriculture will benefit me in the future.
For me, agriculture plays a major role in fostering cooperation between rural and tribal areas, and enhancing the general benefits of healthy living for Oklahomans.
From small company owners to farmers and ranchers to the gardeners who supply farmers markets, agriculture plays a major role in the American economy.
I want to be involved in our community to bring them information that will help them produce sustainable crops. Agriculture is important to me.
Since studying agriculture beginning in the eighth grade, I’ve come to realize that every goal is interconnected and cannot be achieved in isolation. They all originate from a broad viewpoint, which is essential to agriculture as a whole.
For me, it is crucial to return solid information to the community in order to provide effective resources. Being exposed to agriculture while in FFA has helped cultivate this passion.
I would greatly benefit from scholarships to avoid the burden of student debt, which can be thousands of dollars. I would utilize my scholarship to pay for tuition and books. I am a forward-thinking person and self-motivated to establish good study habits to maintain good standing with my awarded scholarships.
I know in college I will be exposed to new ideas and models of thinking, which will help me adapt to individualizing my identity.
Knowledge is power, and I am confident that attending college at Connors State College will do just that.
