It’s an accomplishment which is not new, but is deserving of an acknowledgment and celebration all the same. Oakdale High School FFA has been named the winner of the Stanislaus County Fair John Thurman Award for the seventh time.

The distinguished honor recognized the efforts of close to 150 students for their commitment to their chosen field; be it livestock project, horticulture or Ag mechanics.

“It’s a good thing, absolutely. It is a good thing,” shared OHS Ag leader and teacher Isaac Robles. He further shared this year definitely presented a different hurdle for the team than they’ve been up against in the past.

“The adversity that was there. We were down a person, as far as staff and the kids stepped up big time,” Robles stated. “Our older kids, our veteran kids. I would be lying if I said we made it through the fair without their help and without some of the parents’ help.”

The longtime teacher shared, while he hated to get into the current controversy of the Ag Department, he felt it important to acknowledge as it placed the team, parents and staff in uncharted territory.

“We would not have made it to the fair to the degree we did, to the way we did without them,” he said regarding the student and parent support. “In all honesty, there were about four or five senior kids that absolutely became leaders. Not just became leaders, but showed us they were leaders.”

Robles shared when it was confirmed to the team that they would be down a staff member for the fair, he realized he had to pull the team together for a different type of pep talk.

“I said if there’s ever been a time I need you kids to put what we’ve taught you into practice, it’s right now,” he noted.

And that they did.

Adding to the diversity, as well as accomplishment, OHS alum and newly appointed Ag teacher Donna Hicks was onsite to help in whatever way possible. A longtime Ag student and fair showman-turned teacher, the novice educator nonetheless proved to be an asset during the recent county fair.

“Donna worked like a veteran, ten times her experience,” Robles said of his former student. “Yes, she was one of our former graduates, maybe I’m going to brag about that because we obviously taught her something because she put it into practice as well. It was like working with a veteran. It was all hands on deck.”

Seeing the hard work and dedication come to fruition with the John Thurman Award was satisfying for all involved.

“For as bad a situation we were in, it was as good of an outcome as we could have ever expected. Simply because, everyone saw a need and they filled it,” Robles said.

Offering further acknowledgment, Robles mentioned the selflessness and dedication of the Ludlow family, who pitched in wherever needed at fair, explaining they sacrificed their own time to help shear sheep, as well as help students with their individual projects.

“Lots of kids doing really well. It wasn’t just numbers,” Robles said of the overall outcome as the Thurman winners. “It was quality of projects and quality of participation that was key. It feels like it’s arrogant to say, but we have that performance standard in mind and the kids live up to it. Everybody stepped up and said ‘okay what do we have to do to make this work’ and it paid off.”