Oklahoma Youth Expo won't release audit performed last year, director says

Tyler Norvell, executive director of the expo for the past year, said the audit performed by Oklahoma firm J.D. Beller and Company is being withheld by the organization's board of directors because of ongoing litigation.

The audit is the first one performed on the private charity, which was founded in 2001. The original audit was finished in September, but Norvell said a mistake was discovered before it was approved by the board.

“The second version of the audit was finalized on Dec. 6 and approved by the board on Dec. 12,” Novell said. “However, due to pending litigation, (our) legal counsel has still not authorized the release of the audit.”

The expo's annual youth livestock show, billed as the world's largest, is scheduled to begin later in the month.

But as the state's vocational agriculture students begin descending on Oklahoma City in the coming days, the Oklahoma Youth Expo likely will remain embroiled in two lawsuits involving millions in taxpayer funds appropriated to the organization by the agriculture department.

In September, state Reps. Mike Reynolds and Mike Ritze filed a lawsuit against the state and several officials in attempt to stop the state Agriculture Department from giving $2 million to the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

The initial lawsuit claimed the use of taxpayer funds in such a way wasn't appropriate.