(Courtesy of Cherokee Phoenix)

The lives of three Cherokee boys from Eufaula changed after they were named the Oklahoma State FFA Talent Show winners this past May.

In a competition voted on by their peers, the group won first place in front of an estimated crowd of 14,000 people during the 98th Oklahoma State FFA Convention and Expo in Tulsa.

“Winning the state competition overall, there’s not really words to describe that,” Cherokee Nation citizen Tucker Leathers said. “It was just a roller coaster of emotions that, to be honest, I would love to do again every day for the rest of my life.”

The trio of Cherokee Nation citizens came together as the country music band Blue Mentality to compete in the competition. The lineup consists of Tyse Buck on lead vocals, piano and rhythm guitar; Tucker Leathers on lead guitar and backup vocals; and Turner Pitts on drums.

After we won it (the competition), we’re really trying to take it (the band) places,” Pitts said. “Playing different venues and putting on a show for people is awesome. It’s re- ally fun.”

The group won as the Eufaula FFA Chapter, but due to Leathers graduating and Buck changing schools, they will represent as the Oklahoma FFA Chapter during the National FFA Talent Competition at the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana in late-October.

Since winning state, the group has performed at various locations in Eufaula to help raise funds to attend nationals, which Buck said he and his band mates are excited for.

“This fall nationals will be … in front of, I believe, 35,000 people. It will be a huge event, lots of FFA members from across the country,” Buck said. “We’re just going to go up there and give it our all.”

Various local establishments in Eufaula have donated their venues to help the band fundraise. One of the venues is Xtreme Resort, which has hosted country acts such as Gretchen Wilson at the resort’s amphitheater.

“I’d just like to thank Ron and Mary (Henry) for letting us come out here and giving us a venue to help fundraise to go to nationals,” Pitts said.

Leathers echoed that sentiment and added that performing locally is a way for the band to give back to those locally who continue to show support.

“The support of our town, the support of the people who come out and watch us – they tip us great and every bit of that goes straight to our fund to go to nationals,” Leathers said. “So being here tonight in Eufaula and providing a show for the town of Eufaula, it really just means to me that we’re really staying within our community, the people who first actually started to support us in the beginning.”

For upcoming shows or to donate towards Blue Mentality’s trip to nationals, find the band on Facebook or Instagram.

“A good way to help us get to the nationals is to come and support,” Pitts said.