Culver recognizes Red Fern Festival Royalty on House floor

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, said he recognized the royalty for Tahlequah's Red Fern Festival on the House floor this past week.

Red Fern Royalty are youth ambassadors chosen at the Red Fern Festival Pageant to represent Cherokee County, The Red Fern Festival, Tahlequah Main Street, and their peers. They make appearances throughout the year for Tahlequah Main Street Association, Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce, Northeastern State University, and the Cherokee Nation.  

Stephanie Webb, this year's Miss Red Fern, joined Culver. Webb is a senior at Sequoyah High School, a two-year council member of the Cherokee Nation Youth Tribal Council, and All-State in speech and debate. She is in the application process for the President's Leadership Council at Oklahoma State University, and is a finalist for the Bill Gates Scholarship. She also is a certified USA umpire.

With her was Mr. Red Fern, Kellen Davis. Kellen has accomplished getting his first-degree black belt in Taekwondo and is testing for his second degree. Kellen, by invitation, in January joined the Leadership Program in Taekwondo to help mentor and teach the lower ranks.

He's a starter on his school's basketball team, participating in area and state championships. Kellen has overcome dyslexia and uses his experience to motivate and champion others who may be dealing with similar issues with their schoolwork. 

Miss Red Fern Sweetheart is Skylar Simmons. She is a volunteer for the toddler class at her church, and her platform is suicide prevention.

Little Miss Red Fern is Presley Parker. Presley goes to Heritage Elementary School and volunteers to help with the Kindergarten and first grade classes, greeting students in the car line, and taking on other duties to help her fellow classmates.

Culver said it was great to get to recognize this talented and inspirational group of young people.

The Red Fern Festival is April 25-26 in downtown Tahlequah. During this time, there are coon dog trials, rubber duck races, over 150 vendor booths, food, dances, bands, and more. Tahlequah is the place to be on Red Fern weekend.

For those who don't know, "Where the Red Fern Grows" was a book written by Wilson Rawls. The movie version was first filmed in Tahlequah in 1974 when Culver was a sophomore in high school. Culver said it was a really cool deal to go watch the production crews film out on the Illinois River.

"It's still a great time to celebrate this festival each year. I encourage everyone in the state to come out for this," Culver said.

Anyone needing assistance from Culver are asked to call his Capitol office at 405-557-7408 or email him at bob.culver@okhouse.gov.