Project LEAP Spotlight: Brayden Arnall

Following the launch of Project LEAP last month, we are honored to share a success story from one of last year’s awardees. 

Meet Brayden Arnall, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Calling Stillwater, OK, home, he participates in FFA and 4-H, focusing on livestock showing, wildlife and fisheries, shooting sports, and leadership.

“Agriculture is resilience and diligence. It's about working hard to serve and provide. While many things are out of our control in agriculture, it is about people who have the ability to have optimism in a volatile climate, environment and market. Agriculture is about handing down generational traditions and knowledge.” —Brayden Arnall, 2025 Project Leap Application

Photo provided by Brayden and family during his Project LEAP award year.

Here is a list of Brayden's successes from last year:

• Champion Broiler at the Stillwater Local Show

• Reserve Champion Broiler at the Payne County Junior Livestock Show

• Participated for the first time at the Tulsa State Fair Broiler Show

• Processed and sold almost 50 broilers

• Built a broiler house

• Modified the broiler house with digital/automatic thermometers and heating/cooling system to help better control temperature, along with adding a better ventilation system to the broiler house

Brayden has been very active over the past year. He is diligent in caring for his animals while participating in and competing in numerous FFA and 4-H events. His enthusiasm for agriculture is clear. In his application, he wrote, "Even through all the woes of farming and ranching, I've witnessed passion, dedication, and fortitude. A group of people who are educated and know how to put food on the table. Agriculture is more than a field or a cow. It's a community. It's science. It's technology. It's education. It's a culture.”

Success for Project LEAP is showcasing how youth develop and lead their own projects. Brayden's story highlights the dedication of Tribal youth and young professionals to lead with passion and build hope for their communities. The Intertribal Agriculture Council is proud beyond measure of the future of Tribal agriculture.

Project LEAP aims to support as many Tribal youth and young professionals as possible in 2026. With support from Newman’s Own Foundation, Project LEAP continues to offer $500 awards to help youth grow their skills and take the next step in agriculture, natural resources, and food systems. To view Project LEAP's application guidelines and eligibility, visit bit.ly/2026ProjectLeap to access the application portal. Awards are available on a rolling basis until funds are gone.

To learn more about IAC's Youth Program, visit us at indianag.org/youth.