A poster depicting Emma Grace Moore leaning over a couple dozen cut roses hangs in the hallway of the Oklahoma State University animal science building. It’s a promotional piece for the Sam Noble Foundation Scholarship Program. Emma is the 2022 recipient, and the flowers are just one part of her impressive story.

Even though it may be a bit embarrassing for the college sophomore to see her photo across campus, Emma’s says she feels honored to be chosen. To those who know her well, it’s no surprise at all.

“Emma is an exceptional young woman,” said Stacy Newman, Noble Foundation Director of Philanthropy and long-time family friend of Emma’s. “I’ve known her and her family for many years. Seeing her step out and become a philanthropist at such a young age warms my heart.”

Emma’s never met a challenge she couldn’t solve with hard work and the support of her community. That’s how she rallied support for a FFA Chapter at her high school, organized the Heart of a Champion livestock show, and launched Gracie Jean Floral & Co. 

A changemaker finds her footing

As a junior in High School, Emma launched an initiative to add agricultural education and restart an FFA Chapter at her high school. She rallied support and presented it in front of the Plainview School Board.

“I fought for an agricultural program at my school, and I never could get one there. But I think everyone kind of needs some agriculture in their life,” she said. “To know what their food is coming from.”

Luckily, she didn’t stop there. Getting more people involved in the agriculture industry, through education and accessibility, is a passion for Emma. After hearing a story  at a conference, Emma returned to her community with a new idea to get more folks involved in agriculture.

In 2021, Emma petitioned the Carter County Jr. Livestock Board to allow her to host a special livestock show for kids with disabilities. Her petition passed, and Emma set to work planning the first Heart of a Champion livestock show.

“I contacted every agriculture teacher and special education teacher in our area,” Emma recalls. “My first year, I had about 40 students with disabilities, and over 60 4-H and FFA volunteers. It was such a successful first year that the county fair board had to place a cap on the number of students taking part in the show due to lack of space.”

Now that Emma is nearly three hours away, and a full-time college student, she’s finding the show a bit harder to plan. “It’s not like in high school where I could go door to door and get a sponsorship or take the forms to the high schools and to the elementary schools and be like, fill this out,” Emma said. But she’s learning to balance her responsibilities at home with those at school.

Creating good things for others

Being incredibly busy is a blessing. At least that’s how Emma talks about her schedule. When she’s not in class at OSU pursuing her degree in Agricultural Communications and Marketing, she’s planning sorority events, coordinating the third annual Heart of a Champion show, or taking orders for her business, Gracie Jean Floral & Co.

“I always get told, ‘you can’t complain if you put it on yourself,’ and all these things I get to do , I’ve put on myself,” said Emma. “So, I think every day that I even get to do a paper or get to do an event form, or you get an email or get a card from the students from heart of a champion is truly  an answered prayer honestly.”

Emma’s giving heart is hereditary. She’s the daughter of a woman who doesn’t say no to anything. “She will say yes until she’s blue in the face. That woman is the most giving person I know,” said Emma of her mother.

Likewise, she grew up watching her father, a pharmacist, go out of his way to support local youth programs, and make sure customers got the right medicine when they needed it. “We’d get a call at midnight, ‘Hey, I forgot my medications,’ and he’s driving up there to help,” said Emma.

It’s her family legacy of giving back to the community that helped her see the potential in her life to create something good for others.

“The joy on the kid’s faces at Heart of a Champion, that’s something. At the end of the day, I literally sit at the top and just cry happy tears because these kids are genuinely just so happy to be here.”

Emma’s giving heart, and her love of a challenge led her into the show ring in high school. That first foray in agriculture as a high school sophomore led Emma down a path to a future she never imagined for herself.

New possibilities and challenges

A career in agriculture wasn’t something Emma thought about much growing up. Despite being the granddaughter of a fourth-generation Oklahoma rancher, Emma grew up mostly away from the family ranch, spending her free time pursuing cheerleading and dance. It wasn’t until high school that Emma’s dad showed her a photo of a steer and asked her if she wanted to show one.

Emma recalls her reaction, “I was like, ‘yeah, it’s a fluffy cow.’” A week later, Emma’s first show steer was grazing in her backyard. And with it, a new host of chores and responsibilities to fit into her already busy schedule.

On top of a full academic schedule – including concurrent college credit courses – and her after school cheer and dance, Emma blocked out time to care for and train her new show steer. An endeavor that led her to fall in love with her family’s legacy in agriculture and consider her own future within the industry.

Emma’s grateful to have found an industry that supports her and keeps her focused when life gets hectic. Emma hopes more people are afforded the opportunity to see and understand the agriculture industry the way she has.

“Within every heart lies the power to champion change,” said Stacy Newman. “Through compassion and action, Emma Moore has created the Heart of Champions, creating an event where every child, regardless of ability, can shine.”

Emma’s already planning the next Heart of a Champion livestock show and making plans to ramp up her floral business. For Emma, the Sam Noble Scholarship has given her freedom to pursue her passion projects.

“It’s helped me kind of maintain a little business on the side, Gracie Jean  Floral & Co,” Emma said with a smile and a touch of surprise. “I’ve already started taking floral orders for a dance recital in May. So as soon as school’s out I can go do that. The Sam Noble scholarship kind of just backs me up in those ways. I get to continue and do the things that I love and make me happy, as well as being a full-time student.”