PERSPECTIVE September 19, 2025
More than 100 high school students head to state Capitol for fourth-annual OKFB Capitol Camp ore than 100 4-H and FFA members from around the state gathered at the Oklahoma state Capitol Sept. 3-4 for Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s fourth-annual Capitol Camp. Capitol Camp is an immersive twoday experience for high school juniors and seniors to learn about Oklahoma’s legislative process and how bills become law through a mock legislative experience. This year, students had the opportunity to present bills on the floor of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate. The event began with attendees electing fellow students to serve as speaker of the house and house floor leader along with a senate president pro tempore and senate floor leader. “This was my second year at Capitol Camp, and I was elected as Senate Pro Tempore,” said Tylor Aary of Miamai FFA. “Capitol Camp has allowed me to
grow in several ways and has given me a passion to be an active member in the government system.” Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to present a piece of legislation they wrote about an issue important to them and then helped guide it through the legislative process. Bills were first heard in committees, and bills that passed their assigned committee were heard and voted upon in the House Chamber and Senate floor. During day two of Capitol Camp, students had the opportunity to experience first-hand how the Oklahoma state legislature operates as bills that passed in the Senate and House swapped chambers and were heard and voted upon by the opposite mock legislative body. Bills that passed through both chambers were either signed into law by the Capitol Camp governor or vetoed and sent back for a potential veto override. “Capitol Camp was truly an amazing
experience,” said Katelee Martin of Alva FFA. “As Speaker of the House I couldn’t contain my joy with every tap of the gavel that passed a bill.” Students had a special visit from Gov. Kevin Stitt, who addressed the group. Students also heard from several legislators and industry leaders during the two-day event, including OKFB President Rodd Moesel and Oklahoma legislators Rep. Scott Fetgatter, Rep. John Pfeiffer, Rep. Judd Strom, Rep. Steve Bashore, Sen. Brenda Stanley and Rep. David Hardin. In addition to the mock legislative activities, Capitol Camp attendees took time at the end of the event’s first day to complete a community service project at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, enjoy dinner and fellowship at the Dust Bowl bowling alley and wrapped up the day with a night tour of the Oklahoma City National Memorial from OKFB President Rodd Moesel.