Volume 23, Number 2 – Summer/Fall 2021

COWBOY JOURNAL

Cowboy Journal Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership 448 Agricultural Hall Stillwater, OK 74078-6031

OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture Volume 23 Number 2 • Summer/Fall 2021

FC

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VOLUME 23 NUMBER 2 • SUMMER/FALL 2021

RÉSUMÉ AND COVER LETTER

OSU FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

NAVIGATE YOUR FUTURE

Investing in

Oklahomas Future

Find Us On Social Media:

@AFRYouth www.afrcoop.org

New look. Improved features.

Unlimited possibilities.

Visit the website agresearch.okstate.edu With a fresh design and user-friendly features, Oklahoma State University Ag Research brings modern accessibility to trusted OSU research.

Administered by the

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Featured Content Hallowed Ground. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Donors and officials break ground on new building for the Ferguson College of Agriculture

Brightening Rural Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . 20 Quilt trail increases agritourism in rural Oklahoma

20

10 50

From Classroom to Courtroom ������������ 50 Ferguson College of Agriculture alumna becomes public defender

Uprooting Food Insecurity. . . . . . . . . . 56 Students manage garden to assist the community

Dawning New Days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 OSU Agriculture constructs new Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center

From the Editors

56 90

4 SUMMER/FALL 2021

Vision, details and teamwork.

We, the staff, would like to thank Shelly Sitton, Shaun Tune and the entire agricultural communications faculty for their guidance and support throughout this process as well as for our time in their classes. Without them, our Cowboy Journal would not have come to fruition.

To our incredible staff — thank you for your dedication and perseverance. This truly is OUR Cowboy Journal. When we walked into class this semester, we planned the most ambitious issue ever. We believe we succeeded.

To our Ferguson Family — thank you for letting us tell your stories. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed getting to tell them. Go Pokes!

Braeden, Alisa & Sarah

Editors

Braeden Coon Sarah Harris Alisa Northcutt

Managing Editor Shelly Peper Sitton, Ph.D.

Assistant Managing Editors Dwayne Cartmell, Ph.D. Ruth Inman, Ph.D. Angel Riggs, Ph.D. Quisto Settle, Ph.D. Shaun Tune, B.S.

Assistant Editor Sarah Palmer

Photo Coordinator Alicia Young

Sponsorship Coordinator Tianna Kozuszek

Social Media Coordinator Lauren Millang

Staff

Chelsea Alexander | Makenzie Barnes-Elkins Savanna Chandler | Emily Cooper | Haven Davis Karli Fuss | Amy Gardner | Tieren Gates Carly Gump | Kirsten Hollansworth | Katie Lacey Chrissy LeClear | Jiawen Li | Lauren Raley Payton Randle | Rylee Reynolds | Mark Scalmanini Anne Signore | Adriana Toste

Inside

Being the Best Byrd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 International Innovation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Cultural Diversification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 The Field Less Traveled. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Coming in Hot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 No Man’s Land Reclamation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Water Connects Us All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 More Than Meets the Eye. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Crickets and Couture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Opening the Pantry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 A Natural Treasure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 All American Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 STEMing from Adversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 DASNR’s Golden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Passion for History in Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 BAE’s Brightest Green. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Up in Smoke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Developing Dairy Curriculum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Pickel’s Picks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Beacon of Light. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Don’t Fence Me In. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Alumni News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Honoring OSU Agriculture Retirees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture Volume 23 Number 2 • Summer/Fall 2021

On the Cover

Whether helping with Pete’s Pantry or the garden for the Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center, OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture students serve others in need. Photo by Braeden Coon.

Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, visit https://eeo.okstate.edu. This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President for Agricultural Programs and has been prepared and distributed at no cost to the taxpayers of Oklahoma.

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6 SUMMER/FALL 2021

BEING THE BEST

BYRD OSU assistant professor receives national award

n 2018, cotton acreage in Oklahoma skyrocketed, creating a need in the Oklahoma State University Department of Plant and Soil Sciences for a dedicated, high-caliber professional to serve as a cotton specialist.

The hire was Seth Byrd, and in 2021, Byrd received the Beltwide Cotton Specialist of the Year award. This award is presented to a U.S. cotton specialist who displays exceptional leadership and service performance within the industry, Byrd said.

“This award represents the value you are providing to the industry,” said Tyson Raper, 2019 Beltwide Cotton Specialist of the Year. “No cash award is received, but from a value standpoint, winning the award really hits home for recipients.”

Byrd grew up in rural North Carolina and later attended North Carolina State University, earning his bachelor’s degree in agronomy in 2007.

Once Byrd graduated with his degree in North Carolina, the

Seth Byrd, 2021 Beltwide Cotton Specialist of the Year, helps Oklahoma cotton producers as a plant and soil sciences assistant professor at OSU. Photo by Payton Randle.

COWBOY JOURNAL 7

Cotton research trials for producers are developed across Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the No. 4 producer of cotton in the U.S. with an estimated 1.1 million bales annually. Photo by Seth Byrd.

opportunity arose for him to move to the Midwest to work with producers, applying his research and skills he gained from his undergraduate career, he said.

“I was ready to get out and work one-on-one with producers,” Byrd said. “I learned a lot from them, and it’s rewarding if I can provide them with even a little information or help make their operation more profitable or productive.”

Three years later, Byrd started graduate school studying agronomy at the University of Florida with a focus in irrigation management for potatoes.

He also had experience with cotton in Florida, which was the start to his cotton career, he said.

“I have always enjoyed doing new things,” Byrd said. “But, it is interesting learning about different commodities within agronomy.”

Following his success at UF, Byrd studied under the cotton specialist 8 SUMMER/FALL 2021

at the University of Georgia while earning his doctorate in crop and soil sciences. This role sparked his career and his interest within the cotton industry, he said.

“I didn’t get truly hooked on cotton until I began researching it during my time at UGA,” Byrd said.

Byrd received his doctorate at UGA in 2015 and accepted a cotton specialist job for Texas A&M University.

The resources and cotton industry were booming in Texas, he said.

However, his wife, Misha Manuchehri Byrd, was working in the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences as an assistant professor.

“We would alternate weekends of driving back and forth to each other,” Byrd said. “The situation started to become a challenge.”

Then, in 2018, the cotton specialist position at OSU became available.

Byrd could not resist applying, he said, and he eventually got the job.

Byrd and his wife are now in the same town and welcomed their daughter in December 2020.

“The opportunity to really build something sounded extremely appealing to me,” Byrd said. “My job at OSU is very different compared to my job in Lubbock.”

When he started at OSU, the acreage and farming of cotton in Oklahoma compared to Texas was limited, but it has expanded during the past three years, he said.

“Oklahoma is in the top five states for planting acreage in cotton,” said Jeff Edwards, plant and soil sciences department head.

The Oklahoma cotton industry began in the southwest corner, but it has expanded across the state.

Cotton as a commodity is not finished once it has been harvested, Byrd said, but rather it goes through many phases before and throughout the production cycle.

In his role, Seth Byrd, assistant professor of plant and soil sciences, analyzes cotton after harvest. Photo by Payton Randle.

“Cotton requires a lot of management to produce, and there is also some intensive processing after harvest,” Byrd said. “There are many steps and people involved in the production and harvesting of cotton.”

As a cotton specialist for OSU, Byrd said he focuses on the producer and research aspects of cotton.

“For the producer side, I set up on-farm variety trials, field visits and meetings with producers,” Byrd said.

“For the research side of my job, I do a lot of work with irrigation, small plot variety trials, and almost every single input of cotton production.”

What motivates Byrd are the people with whom he works, he said. He has endless opportunities to work with great people in the cotton industry, including producers, consultants, fellow cotton specialists, researchers, commodity organizations and allied industry representatives across the nation, he added.

“I learn a lot from producers,” Byrd said. “I typically end up asking them more questions than I get asked, but hopefully we’re learning from each other, and I think that’s the overall goal of my program.”

The Beltwide Cotton Specialist award is voted on by cotton specialists across the nation.

“Seth really deserved this award,” said Raper, who serves a cotton specialist at the University of Tennessee.

“He benefits the grower and focuses on what will benefit the industry.”

Receiving the award helped Byrd gain confidence that his work is appreciated, he said, and added an increased level of value to his job.

“It’s gratifying to receive this award by the guys you looked up to in your youth,” Byrd said. “Knowing that you’re in the same playing field as them is humbling.”

Byrd has made many new connections and has brought plenty of depth

to the plant and soil sciences department in the short time he has been at OSU, Edwards said.

His efforts provide a huge contribution to the recruitment of cotton scientists and researchers at OSU, Edwards added.

“Byrd’s work ethic, expertise, and social and leadership skills were of a high caliber and just what we needed to fill the position,” Edwards said.

The work Byrd has done for OSU has been tremendous, Edwards said.

Byrd has created an environment of success, networking and engagement, Edwards added.

“We are fortunate to have Byrd,” Edwards said. “He truly represents our program in such a positive manner.”

PAYTON RANDLE

DURANGO, COLORADO

COWBOY JOURNAL 9

Ground H A L LOW E D

Donors and officials break ground on new building for the Ferguson College of Agriculture

10 SUMMER/FALL 2021

our years after an assessment explored the possibility of the New Frontiers Campaign, ground was broken on the new building for the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

On April 23, 2021, more than 250 guests gathered in The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts to watch donors, administrators and dignitaries launch the next phase of the project by symbolically breaking ground on the new building.

Heidi Williams, senior director of principal gifts at the Oklahoma State University Foundation, said the master planning process assessed many buildings, including Agricultural Hall, and noted the building’s wings were at the end of their serviceable life.

This day was long awaited, starting with the master planning process in 2017, Williams said.

The cost to renovate the existing

Agricultural Hall was $90 million, so the focus turned to constructing a new building, Williams said.

“We brought in a consultant early on and asked him to do a feasibility study that was helpful,” said Thomas Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “Then, we took what he found and met with President Burns Hargis to garner his support.

“We went through a series of different decision points,” Coon said. “At one point, after we got the feasibility study back, it didn’t seem clear that we would be able to raise enough money to do the full building.

“However, the Ferguson family’s gift changed our outlook,” he added.

Williams said the total cost of this project is $100 million. Half of the cost will come from private support with the other half coming from the university, she added.

Thomas Coon (right), vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture, joins donors and OSU representatives to “break ground” April 23, 2021: Jeff Hilst (left), Lynn Hilst, A.J. Jacques, Susan Jacques, Frank Robson, Kay Ingersoll, Barry Pollard, Roxanne Pollard, John Groendyke, Kayleen Ferguson, Larry Ferguson, OSU Foundation President Blaire Atkinson and OSU President Burns Hargis. Photo by Alicia Young.

COWBOY JOURNAL 11

“The goal was ‘we need to get to $40 million before we’ll do groundbreaking,’” Williams said.

At the time of the announcement, the campaign was $43 million toward a $50 million goal, Williams added.

Preparations were made for the big day even before the groundbreaking ceremony was underway.

Randy Raper, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources director of capital projects, has worked with the architects and faculty regarding the new building.

“The only way I think you make something like a new building be effective and work is if you have complete faculty involvement,” Raper said.

With this project, everyone who understands what is going on and why needs to be involved, Raper said.

“Our faculty have said ‘this is how we think that should look’ and ‘this is how we think it should work,’” Coon said. “That’s the beauty of this project.

It’s a lot of people who are contributing to the creative process of having a building and space that’s going to serve our students well long into the future.

“We want to have teaching space that is flexible and adaptable to the way students learn and teachers teach so the faculty members can create the learning environments they want,” Coon added.

One piece of incorporated technology in this building is the teaching lab for agricultural education, Coon said.

This lab will allow students studying to be agricultural education teachers to practice their craft, he added.

“They can go in and record themselves teaching a class, and then they can go back and review it with their instructors or with their advisers,” Coon said.

The new building also will change the way faculty conduct research, Coon said.

“Our old model allows every professor to have his or her own laboratory, and that’s where they get their work Pistol Pete participates in the ground breaking ceremony to show the project’s impact on OSU. Photo by Alicia Young.

12 SUMMER/FALL 2021

done,” Coon said. “We want to have large laboratories with multiple investigators in them.”

In the new building, faculty and students will be assigned the amount of laboratory bench space they need, allowing faculty to share expensive equipment as well as communicate and collaborate together, Coon said.

In addition, the new building will have a lot of windows, Raper said.

“As you walk down the hallway, you’re going to be able to look into a research lab and actually see the research going on, which is different than what we have in Agricultural Hall now,” he said.

The natural resource ecology and management department also will see major upgrades, Raper said.

“When NREM was created, it was an assemblage of faculty from across campus, and when they were brought into DASNR, we didn’t really have room for them,” Raper said.

“Essentially, we put them wherever we could find space.”

Because of this, the NREM faculty and labs are dispersed across multiple buildings, he said. The new building will consolidate most of the ecology labs in one area so faculty can work together, he added.

The new building will bring back the Dairy Bar, and the menu for the new restaurant was presented during the groundbreaking event.

“What we heard from the alumni is they really missed the old Dairy Bar,” Coon said.

The old Dairy Bar was located east of Agricultural Hall but was demolished when construction began on what is now the Henry Bellmon Research Center, Coon said.

The Dairy Bar was a place where students and others could get together and drink a glass of milk, have an ice cream, or enjoy a cinnamon roll and coffee, he added.

Something Coon said he really appreciates is the New Frontiers campaign is on schedule.

“Four years ago, we said we want to

break ground in the spring of 2021,” Coon said. “And guess what? We did that even though we’ve had a pandemic for the last year.”

The most rewarding part of this project will be seeing people coming and spending time in this building to develop a sense of community, he said.

Coon also wants to see alumni come back and spend time in the building and at the new Dairy Bar, he added.

“We’ve designed a space where people can be creative, whether they’re teaching or learning, conducting research or planning,” Coon said.

“Whatever it is, we want them to find this the most attractive place they can go to get that work done and to be with friends and colleagues.”

ALICIA YOUNG NAPA, CALIFORNIA

COWBOY JOURNAL 13

Siewe Siewe, OSU adjunct professor, has worked with FAPC to create the first USDA-approved edible beef skin. Photo by Anne Signore.

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INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION FAPC helps client produce first USDA-approved edible beef skin

he words of Matshona Dhliwayo can offer direction for entrepreneurs: “If you know where you are from, it is harder for people to stop you from where you are going.”

His quote inspired the journey of Siewe Siewe, adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University, to become an entrepreneur by producing a food from his African culture.

Siewe worked with the staff from the OSU Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center to produce the first U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved edible beef skin in the country.

The idea for this product came from food Siewe grew up producing at home in Cameroon, West Africa, he said.

Beef skin is a common food in many different cultures around the world, Siewe added.

“This project is important to me because it is an aspect of my identity,” Siewe said. “I am part of the beef-hideeating African culture.”

Siewe named his product KandaKpomo. In his culture, beef skin is called Kanda, he said, and in Nigeria, where his wife is from, the food is called Kpomo.

When Siewe brought the idea of this project to FAPC about two years ago, the staff immediately started the process of helping market his product, said Andrea Graves, FAPC business planning and marketing specialist.

“I didn’t know if he was entirely serious, to be honest with you, because it was something I’d never heard of,” Graves said.

“The USDA did not consider cow at FAPC,” Siewe said. “They helped me hide as an edible product,” she said. navigate all of the hurdles, and there “We had to come up with a food safety were plenty of them.” plan that we had to send to prove the Learning the process of producing way we were going to produce this the product while maintaining regedible cow hide was safe.” ulatory compliance was a challenge Innovation and helping develop during this project, said Jacob Nelson, value-added products always have former FAPC facilities manager. been important goals to FAPC at OSU, “It wasn’t necessarily the USDA Graves said. approval of this product that was the Graves helps manage projects that most difficult part of this project,” come to the center and has been one of Nelson said. “It was making sure our the main members of FAPC to help on process was compliant with the existthe KandaKpomo project, she said. The ing regulations.”

FAPC team developed a more mechanNelson showed Siewe new processical, commercialized process to make ing technology to enhance the product the product more and gain USDA apThis project is efficient and ecoproval, Siewe said. important to me nomically feasible, Although Nelson Graves added. because it is an aspect has since left OSU, In addition, he is still a consulof my identity. the team assisted tant on Siewe’s team Siewe Siewe in writing necesand works with him sary food safety protocols by writing on ideas to maximize efficiency and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point address regulatory compliance for the plans, she said. project, Siewe said.

“FAPC helps you develop a techFrom the start of their process to nique, a product and a processing help Siewe, members of FAPC sent strategy,” Siewe said. “We had to devel- him in the direction of creating a op machines, HACCP plans and new successful business, Graves said. The ways of processing the product.” staff first sent him to a one-day workNot only have the staff members shop called “Basic Training for Food at FAPC helped Siewe get his product Entrepreneurs.” They then helped him USDA-approved, but also they have create a business plan, she said. helped him with branding for his “We want to ensure everyone who business and finding ways to make comes to FAPC has a foundation and producing his product more effective, does the first steps you need to do corSiewe said. They have reduced prorectly,” Graves said. cessing time from six hides in two days Almost two years from the day to six hides in four hours, he said.

Siewe presented his product idea, he “I was very blessed to meet the team finally saw the product, Siewe said.

COWBOY JOURNAL 15

KandaKpomo’s edible beef skin product can be used in many traditional African recipes. KandaKpomo is the only USDA-approved beef skin on the market. Photo by Haven Davis.

Prior to USDA approval, the product was not available for purchase legally in the U.S., Siewe said, and the quality was terrible.

“I’ve been able to find the proper way of producing my project,” Siewe said. “We use the way of doing it right according to the culture and the principles and the laws of this country, which makes it even better.”

This project is significant because of its meaning for the cultures that consume it and because the consumer base is so large, he said.

“The end product has a high value in the specialty stores where it is being sold,” Graves said.

Siewe has sold hundreds of pounds of KandaKpomo every month since it launched, Graves said.

With more than 3 million West Africans in the U.S. and a high demand from the customer base, this project was worthwhile to market, she said.

“We see trends that African flavors are hitting more of the mainstream market now, so that is another reason this is a strong project,” Graves added.

16 SUMMER/FALL 2021

Siewe has direct customer sales online all over the country. He sells the majority of his product to businesses in Oklahoma and Texas, which is about 60% of his total sales, he said.

Goals for this product are for it to be common to eat in the U.S. and for most African households to be consuming this product, Siewe said.

“We are hoping someday everybody starts eating beef hides because we started processing it the right way,” Siewe said. “We worked it into something that becomes cross-cultural.”

This project also may bring new growth to the hide industry, as there has been a decline in the leather market, Graves said.

“The leather market just isn’t there right now,” Nelson said. “Hides of freshly slaughtered beef are of little value from any industry.”

This project provides a new marketability for beef hides and could decrease the amount of food waste the beef industry contributes, Nelson said.

Although this project has been successful, Siewe still works through

FAPC to improve upon his product and business, he said. They are working to reduce processing time for six hides down to one hour and on patenting the machines used for processing through OSU, he said.

“Siewe and the FAPC team are continually adding new equipment to quicken the process and make it more efficient,” Nelson said.

Siewe plans to grow his business outside of FAPC, he said. Although FAPC has been crucial to this project, the business will need to move locations to continue the growth of this project, he added.

“A lot of people come in with ideas, but it really takes someone special to move forward with it,” Graves said.

Team members working on this project at FAPC believe this product is unique and could make a mark on the world, Graves said.

ANNE SIGNORE

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Savanna Souza, agricultural communications sophomore, welcomes Celebrate AgriCULTURE participants. Ferguson College of Agriculture Multicultural Programs Leaders serve as liaisons to foster relationships of mutual respect among students, faculty and staff within the college and across campus. Photo by Jiawen Li.

CULTURALDIVERSIFICATION OSU students celebrate cultural diversity in agriculture

sing games, music and professional speakers, the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture Multicultural Programs Leaders hosted Celebrate AgriCULTURE in March 2021.

The goal of Celebrate AgriCULTURE is to expand the understanding of culture, diversity and inclusion in the agriculture, food and natural resources industries, said José Uscanga, director of multicultural programs in Ferguson College.

“We had more than 20 options of activities for participants to attend in person or online,” Uscanga said.

“Participants could choose what they liked during the event.”

Cynda Clary, associate dean of Ferguson College, said Celebrate AgriCULTURE was not only about education but also a celebration in the college community.

“It not only brought our community together,” Clary said, “but also it helped build friendships, understanding and a shared vision for where we are going in the future.”

Celebrate AgriCULTURE was designed to increase awareness of the different cultures within the agricultural industry, said Ethan Attebery, agribusiness senior and multicultural programs leader.

Event participants interacted with Temple Grandin, animal science

professor at Colorado State University, and Thomas RaShad Easley, assistant dean for community and inclusion at Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Participants also learned the unique stories of faculty, staff and students, Clary said.

“Over the course of three days, each activity targeted different aspects of diversity and inclusion in agriculture,” Attebery said.

Grandin, who has autism, showed students anything is possible, he said.

“She has never let autism stop her in her field,” Attebery said. “She is a world-renowned expert on animal handling. She is very motivating and has inspired many people.”

COWBOY JOURNAL 17

Vincent Li, agribusiness senior, took home Moroccan food, the recipe and a door prize from the celebrate AgriCULTURE cooking panel. Photo by Jiawen Li. 18 SUMMER/FALL 2021

Grandin revolutionized animal husbandry practices and brought change to the animal agriculture industry, said Ashley Di Agostino, animal science sophomore and multicultural programs leader.

“We are both women in agriculture,” Di Agostino said. “Seeing Grandin’s work is inspiring. Her work ethic is something that I can relate to and I aspire to have when I am working a job.”

Easley shared with participants about the challenges he faced as an African American in the forestry and natural resources industries and how diversity works in a unique way, Attebery said.

“Easley told the participants we can use hip-hop music as a way to elevate people and put some teaching in,” Uscanga said.

In the agricultural industry, leaders discussed what diversity and inclusion means to their specific organizations in their hiring process, what they value in the company, and initiatives they use to promote diverse workplaces, Attebery said.

Through a women’s panel, participants learned about the agricultural industry from a female’s perspective, Uscanga said.

“I found myself inspired by the different speakers and panelists from the industry,” Clary said. “Listening to their stories and seeing their enthusiasm and happiness in talking to students made me so proud.

“This event was an opportunity to celebrate all our differences and to learn more about how differences contribute to building a stronger community and a stronger world,” Clary said. “I hope students, faculty and staff were inspired by the event and will take the next step forward.”

Participants left each activity with a better understanding of how careers look in diverse workplaces or how to work with peers from different backgrounds, Attebery said, giving them a greater respect of different cultures.

Agriculture has a strong foundation in diversity, said Dalee Barrick, agricultural communications and

agribusiness junior and multicultural “If we can stop seeing diversity as our programs leader. Culture can affect skin differences, we can progress in the way agriculturalists strategize and agriculture and in everyday life.” make tactical decisions, Although the It was a lot of she added.

Ferguson College hosted Celebrate pressure, but it was this event, everyone at AgriCULTURE celethe kind of pressure OSU was encouraged to brated diversity and come, Di Agostino said. individuality within the you feel when you In the week prior to agricultural industry to know you are on the the event, the multiculbring people together, tural programs leaders verge of making a set out a booth in front Di Agostino said. positive impact on of Agricultural Hall to “It is more than the skin color you have or the lives of others. recruit students who the sexual orientation walked by to sign up for Dalee Barrick you claim,” Barrick said. the event, Attebery said.

“It is more than your political affiliaMore than 500 people attended the tion or your religious opinions. event based on the attendance record“It is your ideologies, your ed, Uscanga said. About 300 people strengths, your weaknesses, what attended on Zoom and about 200 peomakes you happy, what makes you sad, ple attended in person, he added. and so much more,” she added.

“That gave us an estimate of what Barrick said she hoped participants we can expect next year,” Uscanga said. felt challenged to be open-minded and People have come through a tough open to change. time being isolated last year, Clary “We are all so unique and so beausaid. This event was an opportunity tiful in our own ways,” Barrick said. to bring everybody together and to

connect with each other in a different way, she added.

The multicultural programs leaders started working on this event in the Fall 2020 semester, Di Agostino said, and much collaboration was done to host the event.

“We formulated the idea and worked every week up to the event to find sponsors, create panels, craft game ideas, and find club members to help,” Barrick said. “It was a lot of pressure, but it was the kind of pressure you feel when you know you are on the verge of making a positive impact on others.”

Barrick said she hoped participants left the event with positive perspectives on their roles in agriculture.

“It doesn’t matter if you have a huge background in farming or none at all,” Barrick said. “You have a place in the Ferguson College of Agriculture.”

JIAWEN LI

BEIJING, CHINA

COWBOY JOURNAL 19

BRIGHTENING

Rural

OKLAHOMA Quilt trail increases agritourism in rural Oklahoma

he colors of an Oklahoma sunrise fill the sky as farms and ranches come alive. These vibrant colors also are seen when exploring the Oklahoma Quilt Trail.

Across the state, barn quilts can be spotted from roadways as they hang on barns, houses and fences.

Starting as a piece of mediumdensity overlay plywood, these wooden quilts are transformed into a piece of artwork with paint.

Oklahoma’s history and traditions are relayed through these unique art pieces, said Lynda Latta, Ellis County family and consumer sciences/4-H Extension educator.

“The quilting history of Oklahoma is important to preserve family traditions,” Latta said. “Everyone who has a family quilt knows how precious they are and the meaning behind each color and symbol being used.”

The Oklahoma Quilt Trail was established five years ago and is growing at a tremendous speed, Latta said.

More than 350 barn quilts are registered throughout the state.

“The main goal of the Oklahoma Quilt Trail is to promote the history of quilting in Oklahoma,” Latta said. “The barn quilt trail is a way to pull people 20 SUMMER/FALL 2021

into our smaller communities and explore rural Oklahoma.”

Each barn quilt is named and placed on a structure. Barn quilt dimensions range from 2 feet for beginners to 8 feet for advanced quilters, Latta said.

However, quilts can be created to fit any space, she added.

The Oklahoma Quilt Trail committee recommends specific supplies to create a barn quilt — an MDO plywood board, primer, paint, a quilt pattern, pencil, ruler and painters’ tape.

“Once sectioned off with tape, starting with the lightest color, you begin painting,” Latta said.

A barn quilt is a painted wood surface featuring quilt blocks from a specific quilt pattern or any other design, said Joy Rhodes, Garfield County FCS/4-H Extension educator.

“Starting with one color at a time, the area must be taped off, painted and left to dry completely before moving on to the next color,” Rhodes said.

“This ensures the colors and shapes come out correctly at the end.”

Barn quilt projects can take hours or days to complete, depending on how detailed and big each art piece is, Rhodes said.

“It is amazing how communities

Barn quilts, like this one near Sharon, Oklahoma, adorn many objects. They are not limited to barns. Photo by Todd Johnson.

COWBOY JOURNAL 21

Sandy Davis (left), Barbara McHendry, Cindy Bolz, Annette Tooman and Joy Rhodes have helped create these barn quilts in Covington, Oklahoma. The quilts are displayed in various locations for people to enjoy. Photo by Lauren Raley.

come together to create these wonderful pieces,” Rhodes said. “It can really add life and something special to the smaller, rural counties in Oklahoma.”

Several rural communities are making enhancements to local property and businesses to display barn quilts, said Recia Garcia, retired northwest district FCS program specialist.

“People actually use these artwork pieces to show their skills and show how beautiful their property is,” Garcia said. “They have a sense of pride in their artwork and what their town and history mean to them.”

The quilt trail maps convey history and culture, Garcia said. This has been a goal to formalize Oklahoma’s quilt trail map, Garcia added.

“Having a statewide map is necessary to develop quilt trails into a tourist attraction capable of generating economic income as drivers dine, shop and refuel,” Garcia said. “This is especially true for rural areas.”

22 SUMMER/FALL 2021

One community on the Oklahoma Quilt Trail map will be Covington, Oklahoma, where locals Cindy Bolz, Sandy Davis, Barbara McHendry and Annette Tooman transformed the TriCounty Senior Citizens Center into a piece of art.

“Our big project was to bring some life to the outside of the community center and brighten it up,” Tooman said. “We chose objects and symbols that represent Oklahoma and the traditions centered around it.”

With careful consideration on colors and figures, sketches came to life on board, Rhodes said.

“We wanted to draw people to come see the history of our town with these barn quilts,” Davis said. “It’s like a museum on the senior center. This building is 100 years old.”

The senior center is a community place where people gather for activities and meetings in Covington, Bolz said. What used to be a booming oil

town has turned into a quiet and small community, she added.

“The locals of Covington love seeing the barn quilts hanging on the building,” Bolz said. “They draw the interest of people to come inside the community center and learn about the history of our town.”

Coming up with ideas and being creative are what barn quilts allow an individual to do, McHendry said.

“The fellowship you gain with others is the best thing,” Davis said.

“You also gain a sense of accomplishment from what you created from drawing to painting a barn quilt.”

For more information about the Oklahoma Quilt Trail, visit oklahomaquilttrail.okstate.edu.

LAUREN RALEY

SANGER, CALIFORNIA

THE HISTORY BEHIND BARN QUILTS Dating back to medieval times and beyond, quilts were used as clothing in the Middle East, China, North Africa and the colder areas of Europe. Now, these fabrics are generally associated with wall hangings and bedcovers.

Quilting in Europe was used during the Crusades in the late 11th century. The Turks would wear the thick fabric underneath their armor to provide warmth and protection.

Even though fragments of patchwork were found in Asia and the Middle East through tomb excavations, two large 14th century whole cloth Sicilian pieces might be the earliest existing quilts.

Quilts also have been passed down through family generations to preserve traditions and memories. Today, quilts are used to craft, remember important history, and create timeless memories with family.

In 2001, Donna Sue Groves of Adams County, Ohio, came up with the idea for barn quilts. She wanted to capture tourism and honor her mother’s Appalachian heritage.

Sources: Encyclopædia Britannica and Pieced Together Marlene Buck, retired Garfield County Extension educator, paints a barn quilt. Photo by Todd Johnson.

Proudly supporting

the future of Oklahoma agriculture. okagcredit.com 405-938-1700 1-866-245-3633 NMLSR ID 809962 COWBOY JOURNAL 23

Gregory Schultz, retired OB-GYN professor at the University of Florida, earned both a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate from OSU. Photo by Raychal Rabon.

24 SUMMER/FALL 2021

essor oth rom

BIMB alumnus garners national recognition ot all careers look the same for graduates of the Ferguson College of Agriculture. Although some return to their family farms to continue the legacy of those before them, others enter into the workforce with an occupation far from traditional livestock pastures and crop fields.

After his studies at Oklahoma State University, Gregory Schultz found his career in medical research.

“While working at some of the most prestigious academic universities in the world, I was proud to say I got my education from Oklahoma State University,” said Schultz, who was named a 2020 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. “The phenomenal quality and breadth of instruction that goes on at OSU is outstanding.”

Schultz graduated from OSU in 1971, receiving a bachelor’s in biochemistry with honors.

In 1976, he completed his doctoral studies at OSU prior to attending the Yale School of Medicine for post-doctoral research.

Schultz said he is forever grateful to the OSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for serving as the foundation for his future career success. Schultz’s pathway to OSU can be accredited to his older brother, Rodney, he said.

“Rodney completed his bachelor’s in physics at OSU,” Schultz said. “He was a major factor in convincing me to go to OSU, and his unbelievable accomplishments during his 30 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory inspire me still to this day.”

Before becoming Cowboys in Stillwater, the Schultzes called Enid — a small oil- and agriculture-focused town in northwest Oklahoma — home.

“It’s crazy to see how time frames and conditions of your life influence where you end up,” Schultz said.

“Rodney and I had a unique opportunity that was created by the vision of our teachers in small-town Enid.”

The Schultzes’ high school physics teacher, Jim Smeltzer, built community support to build a functioning astronomical observatory on the roof of Enid High School, Schultz said.

Schultz said using the observatory planted the seed for a deeply rooted love of science in his brother and him.

“We had a unique opportunity that was created by the vision of those people,” Schultz said.

Schultz’s high school background and his passion for the science industry opened the doors of many success stories, he said.

His efforts have led to 35 issued patents with six patent applications

pending. He has co-authored more than 400 scientific publications, including research journal articles, book chapters, and clinical diagnoses and treatment consensus guidelines. These publications have been cited more than 21,000 times, which puts him in the top tier of medical researchers for health sciences, Schultz said.

After finishing his post-doctorate research training at Yale University, Schultz continued his career at the University of Louisville College of Medicine in the Department of Biochemistry and retired in December 2016 from the Institute of Wound Research at the University of Florida.

John Gustafson, OSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department head, said Schultz represents what the department wants graduate students to become.

Gustafson said Schultz recognizes where he got his start, the opportunities provided to him, and how much he appreciates OSU. “He found the opportunity in his heart to provide funds that can help all students succeed,” Gustafson said.

One of the best things about OSU was meeting his wife, Ruth, 1975 home economics alumna, Schultz said.

“Greg and I met in 1972 through my Willard Hall roommate, Kathy Kraft, COWBOY JOURNAL 25

BIMB graduate students receive research resources and financial support from the Dr. Gregory and Ruth Schultz Endowed Graduate Student Fellowship. Photo by Makenzie Barnes-Elkins.

when she worked as a lab assistant in the biochemistry department,” Ruth Schultz said.

The couple met while on a camping trip at Lake Tenkiller and married in 1974, she said.

“Ruth and I both received a phenomenal foundation at OSU,” Gregory Schultz said. “We wanted to enhance the opportunity for other students who would hopefully have as much benefit.”

Gregory Schultz said despite the differences in their studies, he and his wife agreed to create their endowment in biochemistry.

“Throughout the years, Greg loved going to our children’s activities and supporting their endeavors, especially the science fairs,” Ruth Schultz said.

“He loved impressing middle school classes with electrophoresis and guiding our kids in the lab. It was as much fun for him as them.”

The couple wanted their endowment to benefit the whole department 26 SUMMER/FALL 2021

instead of being consumed as a prize, Gregory Schultz said.

“He and Ruth have allowed us to utilize his endowment in the best possible way,” Gustafson said.

In addition to his recent Fellow recognition, Gregory Schultz was named a 2018 Ferguson College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumnus.

“It was totally unexpected and tremendously appreciated,” Gregory Schultz said. “When we were informed I had been nominated and then was selected as a distinguished alumnus, it really just brought home how fortunate we had been at OSU in the earlier parts of our lives.”

Gregory Schultz said receiving the award provided both him and his wife the opportunity to reconnect with the OSU community.

“I loved the beautiful campus and the feeling that there was a tremendous amount of knowledge available for me,” Ruth Schultz said. “I loved

spending time studying at the library and exploring new fields.”

The Schultzes also loved coming to the OSU football games after obtaining their degrees, she said.

“It’s hard for me to think of someone more deserving and who could do a better job at being a representative of science,” Gustafson said.

Gregory Schultz’s story is a true testament to the saying, “once a Cowboy, always a Cowboy,” Gustafson added.

Schultz said he loves the Cowboy heritage, has pride in his orange passion, and appreciates all OSU has done for himself, his wife and his brother.

“Oklahoma State University played a phenomenal role in who we are today and how we got where we are,” Gregory Schultz said.

MAKENZIE BARNES-ELKINS COALGATE, OKLAHOMA

Four women represent the Ferguson College of Agriculture as members of the Cowgirl Softball Team: Logan Simunek (left), agricultural communications senior; Kelly Maxwell, biochemistry and molecular biology junior; Jules Callaham, animal science sophomore; and Chelsea Alexander, agricultural communications senior. Photo by Christine LeClear.

HOT

Cowgirl Softball players find success in the Ferguson College of Agriculture

coming in peakers blare. ... I don’t do the most, but I do a lot … I’m coming in hot.

The music of Lecrae and Andy Mineo echoes throughout Cowgirl Stadium as Oklahoma State University agricultural communications senior Chelsea Alexander walks to the plate, intensity evident on her face.

That intensity remains a constant for Alexander, especially in academics for herself and the other three Ferguson College of Agriculture students who compete on the nationally

ranked Cowgirl Softball team: Logan Simunek, agricultural communications senior; Jules Callaham, animal science sophomore; and Kelly Maxwell, biochemistry and molecular biology junior.

These women have pursued their athletic careers through Cowgirl Softball and found their academic futures within the Ferguson College, Simunek said.

Balancing academics and athletics is not an easy task, Alexander said.

In addition to regular classwork

and homework, the girls balance team meetings, practices and the more than 50 games on the schedule each season.

They average four hours a day in practice time and attend classes each day, Alexander said.

“School and softball can be a lot,” Maxwell said. “But making a plan each day and working hard to not fall behind is really important for all of us if we want to have an opportunity to play on the field.”

Maxwell plans to attend medical school and knew choosing BIMB as COWBOY JOURNAL 27

a major would be a challenging and competitive option when applying for graduate programs, she said.

“OSU is known for its agricultural school,” Maxwell added. “It’s really cool that I can say I am a part of the college even though I didn’t grow up in agriculture.”

The girls are extremely diligent in their schoolwork and on the field, said Kenny Gajewski, OSU Cowgirl Softball head coach.

“I’m envious of what they have,” Gajewski added. “What sticks out to me is how dedicated they all are to what they want to do and what they want to be.

“I don’t worry if they need to miss an hour of practice for school because 28 SUMMER/FALL 2021

I know where they are and how immy schoolwork,” Alexander said. “But portant it is to them,” he said. our professors in the Ferguson College Although each girl plays a different are really understanding, and having role on the team, they all work hard people in our circle helping us do what and find ways to excel, Gajewski said. it takes to succeed makes it so much Callaham and What sticks out to me is easier on all of us.”

Alexander are both Alexander said how dedicated they all are she did not count outfielders for Cowgirl Softball. to what they want to do on playing softball in college but did Simunek and and who they want to be. always plan on Maxwell are pitchKenny Gajewski coming to OSU. ers for the team.

When she looked into playing Alexander said finding a way to stay softball at OSU and met her Ferguson on top of their academics while taking College professors, Alexander knew time to focus on softball takes a lot of she was going to have the helping hand work, but the friends and professors she needed to continue her softball from the Ferguson College make it career while pursuing her academics, much easier for each of them. she said.

“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in

Left: Logan Simunek, agricultural communications senior, pitches for the OSU Cowgirl Softball team. Photo by Christine LeClear. Top Center: Jules Callaham, animal science sophomore, plans to become a veterinarian. Photo by Bruce Waterfield. Bottom Center: Kelly Maxwell, biochemistry and molecular biology junior, was a 2021 All-Big 12 First Team selection. Photo by Bruce Waterfield.

Right: Left fielder Chelsea Alexander, agricultural communications senior, was a 2021 All-Big 12 Second Team selection. Photo by Christine LeClear.

“My favorite thing about the Ferguson College of Agriculture is all of the support,” Callaham said. “It’s amazing when professors and advisers really want to see us succeed in both school and softball. They work hard to help us be successful in the classroom and on the field.”

Gajewski said Callaham is a great student and softball player because she is locked in on her path for both her academics and athletics.

Callaham said she plans to attend veterinary school.

“She is laser-focused in her studies and on the field,” Gajewski said. “She takes both very seriously.”

Alexander said one of her favorite parts of being a student in the

Ferguson College is all of the people who support the team who have ties to the college but the players might not know about them.

“The Ferguson College community reaches so far at OSU and in Stillwater,” Alexander said. “There are so many people who come watch games or help out, and none of us have any idea they are part of the college.

“The Ferguson College family runs so deep and wide,” she added. “We don’t even know all the supporters we have throughout the college, university and Stillwater.”

Simunek said an important part of being a student in the Ferguson College is her classmates and peers within the college.

Simunek plans to continue her love of softball after college by giving pitching lessons and hosting softball clinics until she finds a marketing job.

Alexander, Simunek, Maxwell, and Callaham play a large role in the Cowgirl Softball team, but they’re leaving a footprint in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, as well, Gajewski said.

“The balance between athletics and academics isn’t always easy,” Alexander said, “but it’s worth it.”

CHRISTINE LECLEAR

MEADE, KANSAS

COWBOY JOURNAL 29

Grain sorghum, or milo, is being used for research on SMARTFARMs in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Photo by Todd Johnson.

30 SUMMER/FALL 2021

NO MAN’S LAND

RECLAMATION OSU research uncovers key to sustainability through OSU SMARTFARM

magine a cool autumn wind stirring against the back of your neck, leaving your skin speckled with goose flesh as you take in the myriad of pastel colors displayed in the westward sk­yline.

As the wind rustles the leaves of the crop to come, you relish in the feeling of fresh air in your lungs and the approach of a cool evening. This scene is a genuine reward for the hard work of today, yesterday and the days of long ago. Without toil, the crop field before you might not have existed nor would the expanse of beautiful scenery be observable from all directions.

This place is still desolate, a place so antiquated in the history of the past that has come and gone it even garnered the name “No Man’s Land.” Regardless, this land is brimming with biota and other evidence of life.

Such is the setting in the Oklahoma Panhandle region where efforts in sustainability are unfolding through the SMARTFARM initiative.

As a tool, the act of sustainability can be used in a proactive way to confront climate change, said Gopal Kakani, plant and soil sciences professor at Oklahoma State University. Ultimately, actions such as these will prove monumental in the sustainability movement, he added.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the act of being sustainable relates to “the method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.”

What does this word truly mean today, but more importantly, for the lives of the generations to follow?

COWBOY JOURNAL 31

eventually help Oklahoma producers extract value from the carbon market, Edwards said.

“We have to do better with what we have,” said J.B. Stewart, a 75-year-old fourth-generation Cimarron County producer who works with the OSU SMARTFARM. “We must always have a tremendous respect for the land and what it can do while taking joy in what we do as agriculturalists.”

Farmers and ranchers are obligated to take care of the land, he added.

“I’m beyond excited to see what the OSU SMARTFARM research brings in terms of sustainability education,” said Alisen Anderson, owner of Ogeechee Gopal Kakani, plant and soil sciences professor, heads the research projects at the new OSU Ranch and Anders Farm Enterprises.

SMARTFARM. Photo by Todd Johnson.

All of the research on behalf of the OSU SMARTFARM is conducted by “The gold standard is the data Despite the desolation, areas in the studying grain sorghum, a biomass outputs we produce from this projOklahoma Panhandle, in the Texas crop often called milo. ect,” Kakani said. “We collect the data Panhandle and in southwest Kansas “Milo is an efficient crop that’s using sensors that measure carbon are being used to protect generations growing stages are very similar to inputs — or sequestered carbon — in to come, Kakani said. corn,” Anderson said. “It thrives in the the ground.”

OSU officials, in coordination with Panhandle because it’s a drought resisKakani’s sustainability efforts Texas Tech University and Kansas tant crop that grows well in that kind with the SMARTFARM initiative State University, began a partnership of soil.” are praised at OSU, in researching bioenergy crop producIt’s not just playing in the dirt The research Edwards said. tion to study grain sorghum in 2020, anymore. We have to face this taking place Kakani’s skillhe said. issue of sustainability now or at the OSU set, reputation and Approved and funded by the U.S. research have been an be confronted with the wrath SMARTFARM Department of Energy, the program’s of mother nature in the future. focuses on grain asset to the departresearch and activity began in 2021, Gopal Kakani sorghum’s benement, Edwards added. said Jeff Edwards, head of the OSU fits in creating ethanol products and “We are fortunate to have Dr. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. high-energy, carbon-heavy alcohols Kakani working in our state and “We all want to be smart,” that can be used as fuels, Kakani said. working for the people of Oklahoma,” Kakani said. “The SMARTFARM Though the agricultural industry Edwards said. “I’m proud of the work initiative represents the Systems is constantly in the spotlight for its he does, and I consider us fortunate to for Monitoring and Analytics for actions regarding climate change, the have him here.”

Renewable Transportation Fuels efforts of Kakani and his counterparts Kakani’s efforts with the OSU from Agricultural Resources and exist to help the farmer, he added.

SMARTFARM intitiative are going to Management. This market is expect“Every agricultural system requires have a major impact on what is uned to exponentially grow to a value of inputs,” Edwards said. “The major derstood about climate change and $200 billion in the coming years.” focus of agricultural systems is to sustainability, Edwards said.

Research on behalf of the maintain production that is econom“A sustainable system has the least SMARTFARM initiative focuses on ically viable and meets the food, fuel negative impact on the environment,” the study of sustainability and carbon and fiber needs of the country but uses Edwards said. “To be sustainable, an sequestration, which is the act of storthose inputs the most efficiently.” agricultural system really needs to be ing and putting carbon back into the Every agricultural system can play both agronomically sustainable and soil, Kakani said. an important role in being sustainable, economically sustainable.”

“The goal of the SMARTFARM proEdwards added.

The work and research taking gram is to develop technologies to put “If we don’t figure out how to live place at the SMARTFARM will lead organic matter, or carbon content, into sustainably, it will be detrimental to a better understanding of climate the ground while optimizing the ‘gold for the human race,” Anderson said. variability, carbon sequestration and standard,’” Kakani said.

32 SUMMER/FALL 2021

Crops such as grain sorghum are beneficial because they return carbon to the ground. Photo illustration by Sarah Harris and Jacob Sitton.

“Taking care of the world is our right, and as agriculturalists, it’s our job.”

Anderson and her family take pride in running their sustainable crop farming and ranching operation in Fairland, Oklahoma, and throughout Ottawa County, she said.

An adamant believer that sustainability is of utmost importance, Anderson said it provides the answer to feeding the world for decades.

“Sustainability in agriculture has been a buzz word for 20 years,” Stewart said. “It’s taken a different meaning throughout that time frame.”

Now more than ever, farmers and ranchers like Anderson and Stewart are being called to support the sustainability movement.

“Our love and passion as farmers and ranchers is to take something we have and make it better so it can withstand the test of time,” Anderson said.

Anderson and Stewart both said

they want to leave the next generation with the opportunity to continue the farming and ranching tradition in a better world.

“For my farm, I want to keep the land just as good and just as productive as it was when I took it over,” Stewart said. “That takes a lot of studying, a lot of learning and a lot of experimenting.”

The future of sustainable agriculture lies in the hands of the current and upcoming generations to make a difference, Kakani said.

The knowledge, tools and passion from previous generations and sustainability research will help the next generation feed the world in years to come, Anderson said.

“It’s not just playing in the dirt anymore,” Kakani said. “We have to face this issue of sustainability now or be confronted with the wrath of Mother Nature in the future.”

You shift your focus from the oil painting of the sky to study your worn leather shoes, as cracked and weathered as the parched ground beneath your feet. As you lower to the ground and scoop up a handful of soil, the thought of your children crosses your mind, and a smile works itself into your tired features.

The soil falls through your fingertips as you think back upon your years.

A feeling of pride is met with a brimming adoration and a love not only for the land you so tirelessly tend but also for your family members who will continue the legacy.

They are the future of this land, this heritage, this operation.

They are the future of this world.

SARAH HARRIS

SPRINGWOOD, VIRGINIA

COWBOY JOURNAL 33

4-H’ers share their knowledge around the globe ometimes the most meaningful connections are the ones individuals don’t see coming.

Such is the way Oklahoma 4-H members impacted youth in the Republic of the Congo through the international Water Connects Us All 4-H curriculum, said Jeff Sallee, former state 4-H STEM extension specialist.

Sallee said he was excited to adopt the Water Connects Us All curriculum because of its STEM ties.

“Oklahoma 4-H members traveled to Iowa to learn the curriculum,” Sallee said. “This was made possible through Bayer Agriscience and the National 4-H Council.”

In 2020, these 4-H members and the Luzabu Group Association formed a partnership to dive into the Water Connects Us All curriculum.

The Luzabu Group Association is an organization that promotes STEM education in the Republic of the Congo.

Japhet Mavoungou, the association’s co-founder and vice president, 34 SUMMER/FALL 2021

shares the same motivation as Oklahoma 4-H members to spread the impact of the curriculum, he said.

Living in the Republic of the Congo, Mavoungou is a petroleum engineer by profession and an entrepreneur and youth trainer by passion, he said.

The Luzabu Group Association organizes workshops to familiarize students with STEM and prepare students for careers, Mavoungou said.

Mavoungou was selected to be a part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2018, a flagship program of the Young African Leaders program created by former President Barack Obama. This opportunity served as a valuable connection to Sallee.

“Sallee invited me to join a camp with Oklahoma 4-H, and once I came back to the Congo, I was invited to be a part of the Water Connects Us All project,” Mavoungou said.

The curriculum is about the importance of water and how it connects the whole planet, Mavoungou added.

The students tried to engineer practices that could improve water quality in both agriculture and communities, Mavoungou said. Students designed a watershed and learned of its importance, he said.

“We know a human being can destroy resources, but at the same time, we can contribute as a team to find solutions so we can use resources smartly,” he added.

Mavoungou and his staff received training materials from the U.S. and met with Oklahoma 4-H members online via Zoom to learn the curriculum.

“Our kids went through the activities and lessons with Mavoungou and his staff,” Sallee said. “Watching young kids from different counties in Oklahoma demonstrate what they know was amazing.”

After training, the staff took the curriculum from school to school to do the same presentation for as many students as possible in the Congo, Mavoungou said.

“It was amazing to see how we can duplicate anything we do, whatever the distance and geographical area,” Mavoungou said.

In addition, 4-H members used videos to train teens across the state, both in person and via Zoom. The group sent their videos to the Republic of the Congo to set up training to teach instructors how they could implement the new curriculum.

“I jumped on the opportunity because I enjoy teaching others about agriculture,” said Teegin Crosthwait, Oklahoma 4-H Ambassador who played a role in the project.

Crosthwait was chosen as a top teacher and attended the National Ag Innovators curriculum in Iowa last February, she said. The trip allowed her to meet new people who shared her passions, she added.

“We learned the curriculum, and the opportunity arose to teach youth in the Republic of the Congo,” she said.

How Water Connects Us All was

interesting to teach in the U.S. and other countries, she said.

“In Oklahoma, water connects us to other states, but it also connects us with everybody,” she said. “We can all play a role in water conservation.”

Crosthwait’s experiences with Oklahoma 4-H and the Ag Innovators have further motivated her future career plans.

“I could definitely find a rewarding career teaching others about something I’m so passionate about,” Crosthwait said.

Moving forward, Crosthwait plans to continue teaching others and has set a goal to reach 1,000 students with this curriculum, she said.

Mavoungou also has a vision for how to continue this partnership moving forward, he said.

Although Kenya and several other countries in Africa have 4-H programs, the Republic of the Congo does not have an established 4-H program, Mavoungou added.

Top: Water covers more than 70% of the Earth. Photo by Lauren Millang. Bottom: Japhet Mavoungou (left) of the Luzabu Group Association teaches the Water Connects Us All curriculum to students in the Republic of the Congo. Photo courtesy of Japhet Mavoungou.

“It is my burning desire to create 4-H in the Congo so we can have more collaborations in the years to come,” Mavoungou said. “That is my dream, and dreaming is always good.”

LAUREN MILLANG

WOODLAND, CALIFORNIA

COWBOY JOURNAL 35

We all look for that sparkle and excitement in the student’s eyes when they see the future of agriculture education at Oklahoma State University. The P&K Equipment family and I also look forward to seeing the faculty and staff work together in this new environment that allows for the free exchange of ideas and thoughts to further enhance agriculture research. With the opening of this facility the future will look even brighter for the university with “The Brightest Orange.”

Dr. Barry Pollard, ’73, New Frontiers Cornerstone Donor

When you give to the New Frontiers campaign you are investing in OSU Agriculture and the efficacy of its research, the quality of education, the power of Extension and OSU’s important role in feeding the world.

To learn more about the campaign and to view construction progress, visit: OSUgiving.com/New-Frontiers

Tobii Pro 3 eye-tracking glasses track the direction of consumers’ eyes. Photo by Tianna Kozuszek.

More Than Meets the Eye FAPC and AGCM partner on innovative technology

recent investment in eye-tracking glasses could allow the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center and the agricultural communications program to “see” what you see.

The units partnered to invest in a pair of Tobii Pro Glasses 3. These specialized eyeglasses can track eye movement and the amount of time someone looks in a certain direction, said Megan Silveira, agricultural communications master’s student.

After an idea to purchase a pair of directional eyeglasses was discussed, a plan to invest in the technology was put into place, said Mandy Gross,

former FAPC communications services manager.

“The faculty and staff in the agricultural education, communications and leadership department and the FAPC bought the glasses, a license for the technology, and a laptop that connects directly to those glasses,” Gross said.

Silveira was the first graduate student to use the equipment, getting help from Greg Clare, design, housing and merchandising associate professor, for the research and data analysis.

Clare has a two-dimensional, computer-mounted version of this eye-tracking technology and has partnered in other research studies.

“The Tobii X2-30 of Dr. Clare’s are

different from the Tobii Pro Glasses 3 because the 2D technology doesn’t account for individual’s head movement or the direction they are looking,” Silveira said.

Once one calibrates the glasses to the participants’ eyes, the system tracks their head movement and where they specifically look through the glasses as they look at the screen, Silveira said.

“It’s set just to the screen, and it tracks the eye movement on the screen,” Silveira said. “The glasses basically examine the whole field of vision the viewer has. The Pro 3 glasses are 3D because we see in 3D, and that is what the glasses capture.”

COWBOY JOURNAL 37

The research Silveira conducted will help benefit FAPC with the evaluation of its newly redesigned website, Gross said.

“The first part of the research focuses on the usability of the FAPC website,” Silveira said. “The second part of research is testing these glasses for FAPC and getting the first experience with this type of technology.”

The research consisted of comparing data from the X2-30 system and other thesis research from OSU, Silveira said.

“I collected 15 sets of data with the computer-mounted device, and then another 15 with the eye-tracking glasses,” Silveira said. “I had participants look at the FAPC website on the same laptop, but data was collected with both of the different technologies.”

Volunteer participants had certain tasks to perform, such as finding specific information on the updated FAPC website, Gross said.

Silveira said having the opportunity to be the first to experience this technology opened her eyes and gave her new marketing knowledge.

“From an industry perspective, background?” Holcomb asked. “Or are we want to give Oklahoma companies they looking for a link that’s not there the best information about what the because the design has been changed?” consumer is looking for, what caught Eye-tracking also can be used to the consumer’s attention, and why the examine consumers’ preferences in consumer chose that product,” said the food labeling aspect of the agRodney Holcomb, agricultural ecoricultural industry, which plays an nomics professor who assists in FAPC. important role in the world of marketData from ing, Holcomb said.

From an industry Silveira’s project When asking consumshows researchperspective, we want ers if they would buy this ers a rich data product, the main concern to give Oklahoma set and allows is which specific prodthem to compare uct they would choose, companies the best data from both possible information Holcomb said. the Tobii X2-30 “With these eye-trackabout what consumers ing glasses, we can send and the Tobii Pro Glasses 3, someone to the store and are looking for.

Holcomb said. let them buy whatever Rodney Holcomb “The technolothey would buy normally gy can be used to examine consumers’ while we see what they are looking at,” preferences,” Holcomb added.

Holcomb said.

In marketing, especially on a “Take produce, for example,” website, a lot of what you do revolves Holcomb said. “The consumer may around finding the thing that attracts look at where the product is grown or or catches the consumers’ attention, visual appeal of the products.”

Holcomb said.

The glasses are being used to ob“Do consumers really care about tain research about what consumers pretty images and moving video care about, Holcomb said. They help to discern if consumers spend their time contemplating price, where the product was grown or how the product looks, he added.

“In addition, researchers get a better idea of what factors really impact consumers’ buying, as opposed to what they say impacts their buying,” Holcomb said. “Consumers don’t realize what unconscious factors impact their buying decisions.”

In the future, FAPC staff plans to partner with different agricultural industries to determine what food labels attract the consumer’s attention, Gross said.

“Research with these glasses will prove to be beneficial in the agricultural field and marketing in general,” Silveira said. “I am excited to see the impact they will have.”

Megan Silveira, agricultural communications master’s student, analyzes data from this eyetracking technology for her research project. The technology will allow researchers to know how consumers react to what is in front of them. Photo by Tianna Kozuszek.

38 SUMMER/FALL 2021

TIANNA KOZUSZEK

NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS

e ENTO senior combines passion for fashion and insects n Oklahoma State University with my fiancé, and while we were student turns off the sewing visiting with friends, I saw a cicada,” machine to focus on her real Partin-Topper said. “I then said, ‘Oh, passion. As she rises out of her seat, that would be so cool if I could someshe looks forward to her next advenhow study bugs and just hang out with ture with a rather unconventional them all day.’ That’s when my friend subject: insects. asked, ‘Why don’t you?’”

From vogue to vespids, she comPartin-Topper said her friend then bines the unlikely explained how components of crick- I am really appreciative entomology was a ets and couture. bachelor’s degree for to have each set of Getting an associavailable at OSU. skills because it is ate’s degree in fashion “I had literaldesign and following ly never heard of useful in other ways. it with a bachelor’s entomology,” PartinMorgan Partin-Topper degree in entomology Topper said. “It was is not what most people have in mind in August right before the new semeswhen they choose what they want to be ter started when she told me this, so it when they grow up. just kind of clicked.

Neither did Morgan Partin-Topper, “Then, I was accepted in October,” but here she is. she said.

“I always loved bugs and fashion dePartin-Topper said she loved insects sign,” said Partin-Topper, entomology at a young age and especially loved her senior. “When I was in my last year of books about ladybugs, snails and other fashion design school, I knew I didn’t creatures. want to continue in fashion. I wanted “Making the switch to entomoloto get my bachelor’s in something else. gy and a new university actually was I just didn’t know what.” not scary at all,” Partin-Topper said.

Partin-Topper said she planned to “Since it took me four years to get my earn a bachelor’s in women’s studies associate’s degree in fashion design, I but couldn’t find any jobs to secure was already around 23 years old when after attaining the degree.

I made the move to OSU.” “I was visiting the OSU campus Partin-Topper is originally from

Oceanside, California. Her fiancé’s family was in Stillwater, so she had another family to provide support.

“It was crazy how it worked out,” Partin-Topper said. “The fact OSU had an incredible entomology program and I had a second family was awesome.”

Since she cannot go back in time, Partin-Topper is thrilled to have both degrees, she said. She is most likely one of a few individuals who have a fashion degree and an entomology degree, she said.

“I am really appreciative to have each set of skills because it is useful in other ways,” Partin-Topper said. “If I could go back though, I wish I would have known entomology was a subject from high school age because then I would have immediately known what I wanted to do.”

Partin-Topper said she always envied those who knew exactly what they were born to do. That’s how she felt when she found entomology, she added.

“Right now, I am looking at insect rearing positions and taking care of colonies of insects on a larger scale,” Partin-Topper said.

Partin-Topper is interested in conservation of natural resources, she said. She is also interested in doing COWBOY JOURNAL 39

Morgan Partin-Topper, OSU entomology senior, has an associate’s degree in fashion design and works at the OSU Insect Adventure. Photo by Tieren Gates.

40 SUMMER/FALL 2021

Morgan Partin-Topper, OSU entomology senior, works with diverse insect species including jungle nymphs and giant walking sticks. Jungle nymphs originate from the Malay Peninsula. Giant walking sticks are found across North America. Photo by Tieren Gates.

research about using insects for alternate protein sources.

“I’m interested to see how insects can play a roll in conservancy and fashion all at the same time,” PartinTopper said. “I would like to study this sector more once I graduate.”

Andrine Shufran, coordinator of the OSU Insect Adventure, said the best thing about Partin-Topper having studied fashion before entomology is the different perspective she brings to the discipline.

Partin-Topper brings a unique viewpoint from her experiences that is really fresh, interesting and leads to novel ideas, Shufran added.

“Morgan has used her fashion abilities frequently while working in the entomology department and OSU Insect Adventure,” Shufran said.

“In fact, she made me a wonderful

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach costume that is so realistic. She’s also designed and made new cages for our walking sticks.”

Wyatt Hoback, OSU entomology and plant pathology associate professor, was an influential part of Partin-Topper’s academic career, Partin-Topper said.

“Fashion looks for inspiration, and insects have more than a million different kinds to use,” Hoback said.

Hoback said insects can be marked with various colors and patterns that relay warning signals, advertise danger, indicate distastefulness or poison, or offer amazing camouflage.

The patterns, colors and shapes of an insect exist to help these insects survive, Hoback said.

“With Partin-Topper’s background in the fashion industry, she can see

insects in the environment in a different way than people who have been scientists all their lives,” he added.

Partin-Topper is a passionate student who enjoys learning, Hoback said, and she especially enjoys teaching others about entomology.

Partin-Topper’s previously acquired skills, her unusual academic career with its ties to fashion and her interest in insects gives her an adept talent when teaching kids, Hoback said.

“She cares about the environment and the role insects play in food webs,” he said. “She is an incredible human, a hard worker, and I believe she will make a real impact on the industry.”

TIEREN GATES PARIS, TEXAS

COWBOY JOURNAL 41

Opening the

PANTRY Pete’s Pantry helps ensure food security for OSU’s students

42 SUMMER/FALL 2021

ood fuels the brain, and Oklahoma State University students use their brains every day toward completing their education.

However, recent research proves some students worry about where they will get their next meal.

To combat the situation, members of the OSU Student Government Association’s food insecurity committee created an initiative to help food insecure students.

According to the “Assessment of Food Security among Oklahoma State University Students,” food security is emerging as a serious problem in the U.S., including in Oklahoma.

Through a survey distributed to a random sample of OSU students, 43% of the respondents reported being food insecure.

This research project shows rates of food insecurity at OSU are higher than the national average of 12%.

Healthy food for OSU college students is available at Pete’s Pantry. Photo by Mark Scalmanini.

COWBOY JOURNAL 43

Amarie Griffeth, agribusiness and agricultural communications junior, shares the diverse range of food groups offered in Pete’s Pantry to students. Photo by Aubrey Treumann.

“These numbers are organized into low food security and mild to moderate food security, but the bottom line is we realized we had a problem,” said Amarie Griffeth, agribusiness and agricultural communications junior.

“The students’ perspective showed an on-campus pantry would be beneficial because the majority of food insecure 44 SUMMER/FALL 2021

students work full-time jobs and needed something at their disposal.”

Vanessa Wiebe, 2018 SGA vice president and OSU agribusiness and agricultural communications alumna, set the foundation for what is known today as “Pete’s Pantry.”

The pantry was developed through cooperation among Big 12 schools,

campus administration and other SGA legislators, Wiebe said. She said she recognized a problem existed on campus for food insecure students and knew she had to be proactive to change the circumstances at hand.

“After realizing we were the only Big 12 school without a food pantry for its students, I developed a sense of guilt

for not doing anything earlier,” Wiebe agribusiness and plant science senior. said. “From there, I developed a strong “There are resources about things on passion to ensure the continuation of campus, too, whether that be about success for fighting food insecurity.”

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Wiebe appointed Griffeth as the Program help, mental health awareSGA director of food insecurity in ness or graduate school resources.

April 2019.

As the SGA vice president, Muller As of fall 2020, members of the was key to starting Pete’s Pantry, SGA food insecurity committee began Griffeth said. the SGA food pantry, better known “Coming from a production agrias “Pete’s Pantry,” Griffeth said. The cultural background and coming to pantry is a “no questions asked” wela land-grant university like OSU, we coming process where students can pride ourselves in feeding and clothing obtain resources from Room 211 of the the world, but we weren’t doing a good OSU Student Union, she added. job of that with our neighbors on cam“We are great partners with Our pus,” Muller said. “Pete’s Pantry truly Daily Bread, the local food resource helps students on campus in a whole center that does mobile markets on new way.” campus, making them Seeing people Coming from a our benefactor in the with children enter sense that they donate production agricultural the pantry is an extra or leftover items background, we pride eye-opening expeto us,” said Melisa rience, Echols said. ourselves in feeding Echols, OSU SGA proNot only single grams coordinator. and clothing the world. individuals receive Our Daily Bread help from Pete’s Luke Muller Food & Resource Pantry, but also Center can offer something SGA’s families and the community get aid, committee cannot offer to students, she added. which are perishable food items, The whole goal from the beginning Griffeth said. The partnership is valuwas to impact and uplift the Stillwater able not only for the pantry but also community, Echols said, and that goal for the students to have access to more is the most important part. options of food, she added.

Four years ago, Pete’s Pantry began Pete’s Pantry has done a great job as a small portion of non-perishable of diversifying the food products food on a shelf and fridge in the SGA available for students, Echols said. vice president’s office, Wiebe said. The Students can find foods of high nutriplatform of Pete’s Pantry has expanded tional value to supplement a healthy tremendously through hard work and diet of a college student, she added. leadership, impacting students on an “We try to pay close attention to entirely new level, she added. dietary needs for different students “Honestly, I am grateful to be when purchasing food for the pantry,” surrounded by caring leaders who Echols said. “By supplying vegetable want to serve other students,” Griffeth and plant-based items, we are able to said. “The joyful way in which a provide more than just your common difference can be made and the happy nonperishable goods.” place that students can spend their Other resources are accessible to time is incredible.” students through Pete’s Pantry, which supplies non-food items to assist students in financial stress.

“We have hygiene products such as toothpaste and shampoo, articles of MARK clothing and heavy coats, and menSCALMANINI HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA strual products,” said Luke Muller,

Want To Help?

Interested in donating food and resources or making a monetary donation to Pete’s Pantry? You can help in multiple ways.

Donate directly to the Pete’s Pantry donation box in Room 211 of the OSU Student Union.

Examples of needed items include the following: • Non-perishable foods • Coats and jackets • Toothbrushes and toothpaste • Shampoos and body washes Monetary donations can be made in two ways: • Donate through Venmo to @okstateSGA • Mail a check to OSU SGA at the following address: Pete’s Pantry Oklahoma State University 211 Student Union Stillwater, OK 74078

Students use Pete’s Pantry stickers to brand and spread awareness. Photo by Mark Scalmanini.

COWBOY JOURNAL 45

A NATURAL TREASURE Owens retires after 14 years of service to OSU Agriculture

uch like a natural treasure, the impacts of Keith Owens’ time at Oklahoma State University will continue to last for years to come.

After nearly 14 years serving in leadership positions in the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Owens plans to retire in July 2021.

Owens has provided leadership as the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station associate vice president since 2014.

“I wanted to major in forestry based on the time I spent in the woods on my grandparents’ farm in Delaware,” Owens said.

Owens has undergraduate degrees in forestry and in range management from the University of Idaho. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wyoming and a doctorate from Utah State University, both in range management and range ecology.

“The range ecology came after I spent time in the natural ecosystems in the West,” Owens said.

Owens said he pursued research because he was always interested in why something happens.

“A lot of my friends during my undergraduate career were graduate students,” Owens said. “I got to help on their projects, which fueled my research interests.”

After completing his education, he became an assistant professor at Texas A&M University. He worked 20 years at a research and extension center in a position fully funded for research.

“I worked as a 100% research 46 SUMMER/FALL 2021

faculty member in the areas of plant department, he brought together peowater use, fire ecology and wildlife ple from different academic cultures.” grazing,” Owens said.

Engle said he considers Owens a Owens said being inquisitive and great colleague and friend as well as an not giving up are two things that made excellent research scientist and leader. him successful as a researcher.

Owens has provided constant “Some things must be repeated and support for faculty, staff and students corrected to get an answer,” he said. while challenging them to do good In 2007, Owens joined the faculty work, Engle said. at OSU as the first “He allowed us I will always remember to be independent full-time departthe departments, ment head for the scholars,” Engle newly formed OSU said. “He created an students, faculty and Department of environment that enstaff. Those interactions couraged excellence Natural Resource Ecology and across the board.” are important and Management in the The NREM something I’ll cherish. department still reFerguson College Keith Owens of Agriculture. flects the leadership He spent seven years as the NREM Owens provided in his time as departdepartment head. In Fall 2014, he was ment head, Engle said. appointed to interim associate director “One thing Owens accomplished of OSU Agriculture before officially was to get faculty members, staff and taking the role of associate vice presistudents to pull together as one dedent in July 2015. partment,” Engle said.

The NREM department was formed Engle said he believes Owens was by uniting the OSU Department of chosen to lead OSU Ag Research Forestry, the range faculty from the because he demonstrated his strong OSU Department of Plant and Soil leadership abilities while serving as Sciences, and the wildlife faculty the NREM department head. from the zoology program in the OSU “Owens left NREM with departCollege of Arts and Sciences. mental faculty and staff thinking he “It wasn’t a seamless transition, but did a great job bringing the different it worked well,” Owens said. departments and colleges together,” He credited the ease in the transiEngle said. tion to the effort by the faculty and the Thomas Coon, vice president and positive attitude from students. dean of OSU Agriculture, has worked “Owens has served OSU to the best closely with Owens in the leadership of of his ability and to our benefit,” said OSU Agriculture, which includes the Dave Engle, NREM faculty emeritus.

Ferguson College, the OSU Extension “When he came into the newly formed and OSU Ag Research.

Keith Owens, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station associate vice president, has a passion for research and the outdoors. Photo by Christine LeClear.

Each has its own mission, and each mission is unique, Coon said.

Administration’s task is to manage the three parts as one division, he added.

“Dr. Owens has been responsible for the research mission and for research infrastructure such as laboratories and field stations,” Coon said.

Coon said the administration works as a team to maintain the different stations and infrastructure.

OSU Agriculture has 18 research stations across the state and about 25,000 acres to manage, Owens said.

Owens’ position for OSU Ag Research requires extensive collaboration among the research stations, he said.

Owens also managed the financial resources for research, Coon said. The funds come from the federal and state government resources as well as grants faculty receive.

“Dr. Owens has a really strong sense of mission,” Coon said. “Accountability is really important to him as well as for those who hold positions funded by OSU Ag Research.”

Owens’ manner makes a difference, Coon said. His willingness to work with people and hold them accountable works well in various situations.

Listening is a key to being successful in administration, Owens said. He added the enjoyment of helping faculty, staff and students succeed is an important part of being a leader.

“In any of my positions, the success of the individual depends upon the success of the people in the department or the people in the organization,” Owens said.

After retirement in July, Owens plans to spend time with his wife, Mia Elizabeth, traveling to visit his daughters and grandchildren, he said.

“We are a family that values education,” Owens said. “Among Mia and I, our three daughters and their husbands, we collectively have 21 academic degrees.”

Owens has five grandchildren with one more on the way, he said.

“We also have a wish to visit all the national parks in the United States,” Owens said. “We’ve been able to visit most of the parks in the West.”

Owens said they would like to split their time between their home in Stillwater and their home in Colorado.

“I will always remember the departments, students, faculty and staff,” he said. “Those interactions are important and something I’ll cherish.”

RYLEE REYNOLDS

STRATFORD, OKLAHOMA

COWBOY JOURNAL 47

from classroom to

COURTROOM Ferguson College of Agriculture alumna becomes public defender

acy Griswold sat, hunched over her desk for the second day in a row, taking the longest exam she would ever have. Her hand ached, and the tip of her pencil was losing its ability to write. Soon, the bar exam would be through, and the next chapter of her life would begin.

Griswold, Ferguson College of Agriculture alumna, said she had an interesting career path to get where she is today.

“It was one of those crazy fate things,” Griswold said.

Griswold graduated with degrees in animal science and agricultural communications in December 2016.

Griswold’s Oklahoma State University studies gave her the ability to interact with people, she said, and

Macy Griswold, Ferguson College of Agriculture alumna, keeps a globe on her desk as a reminder of where she has been and where she plans to go.

Photo by Sarah Palmer.

50 SUMMER/FALL 2021

she still maintains a close relationship with people from her time at OSU. “You learn people have different backgrounds and grew up differently,” Griswold said. “The people in the Ferguson College of Agriculture are inclusive of all that.”

Griswold learned how to handle herself through different circumstances in the Ferguson College, said Jerry Fitch, animal and food sciences professor and her academic adviser.

His strongest memory of Griswold was her competitive and driven spirit with livestock and in her academic career, he said.

“She didn’t like to be second in anything she did,” Fitch said, “including her classwork.

“Her advising appointments were

COWBOY JOURNAL 51

Macy Griswold, Ferguson College of Agriculture alumna, joined the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System as a public defender in June 2020. Photo by Sarah Palmer.

basically trying to find her niche and where she was going with the rest of her life,” Fitch said.

After graduating, Griswold said she took the next semester and the summer off to recuperate.

During that time, Griswold used her agricultural communications skills to run her photography business and spent time figuring out her next step, she said.

In January, her grandfather’s death shifted her path, Griswold said.

She had contemplated nursing school but made a 180° turn to apply for law school, she said.

52 SUMMER/FALL 2021

“It definitely was a leap of faith,” Griswold said.

Griswold said her academic break was a “blessing in disguise.”

In April 2017, Griswold toured the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Along with the tour, she also reconnected with Jessie Heidlage, Griswold said.

Heidlage, who now serves as a Muskogee County assistant district attorney, was in FFA and on the OSU Meat Judging Team with Griswold while the pair were students in the Ferguson College.

Heidlage was a first-year law

student in the OU College of Law when she gave Griswold a student’s perspective of law school.

“Macy came to observe class since she was touring OU,” Heidlage said.

During her tour, Griswold learned the deadline for the June LSAT was the next day, she said.

“In a matter of hours I was like, ‘this is where I want to be — this feels like home,’” she said. “I went home that night, talked to my parents, and said, ‘I think I’m going to law school.’”

Griswold registered for the LSAT that night and had six weeks to study for the test, she said.

“Everything was kind of a blur during that time,” Griswold said.

When Griswold started law school in August 2017, she knew she wanted to practice criminal law and learned law school is different from undergrad, she said.

“Law school is definitely a different experience,” Griswold said.

Griswold had to adjust her mindset in the first year because law school classes were unlike anything she had experienced before, she said. In law school, most classes do not have homework and students’ grades are determined by the final exam, she added.

Every day, students are immersed in new material and required to keep up to date on extensive reading lists, Griswold said.

The competitive atmosphere in law school was intense, Griswold said.

“Once you get to law school, everybody is smart,” Griswold said.

Law professors will not give everyone an A, Griswold said.

“You are graded on a curve,” Griswold said. “Somebody has got to be at the top, and somebody has got to be at the bottom.”

Being driven by her peers was where Griswold found her motivation, she said. Students have to be able to keep up with lectures and discussions or take practice tests to see if they are on the right track through the semester, she added.

“You have a pretty good social life during the semester, and then about

two weeks before finals, it’s like you don’t leave the library,” Griswold said.

“Finals are two weeks long rather than just one.”

Griswold said first-year students either love or hate the Legal Research and Writing class, but she really loved the course because of what she learned in her agricultural communications classes at OSU. Griswold said her three-semester experience in the University of Oklahoma Legal Clinic was her favorite class.

Brenda H. Barnes, OU Law clinical legal education assistant professor, supervised the class. In the clinic, practicing attorneys supervise the students who each carry a caseload.

Griswold said she had a unique student experience because one of her cases in the clinic almost went to trial before it was settled.

Griswold was disappointed when her case did not go to trial because she had completed all the preparation, Barnes said.

“That was truly a defining moment in my law school career when I decided low-income clients were the clients I wanted to help,” Griswold said. “That was the position I wanted to be in.”

Gaining courtroom etiquette from the legal clinic was a huge help, Griswold said. Starting her career was “like trying to drink water from a fire hose” but would have been more difficult without her experience in the clinic, she said.

Barnes said her strongest memory of Griswold is the big smile she brought into the clinic each day. She brightened everyone’s day, Barnes said.

Griswold was known for putting in more hours than required, Barnes said.

“Once you go to law school, it ruins your experience watching shows like ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Law and Order,’” Griswold said. “You are critiquing them and have a more accurate representation of what is realistic and what is not.”

Griswold took the bar exam in February 2020, learned she had passed in April, and started her current job

for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense people each and every day, whether System in June, she said. that be in person or on the phone, “When she had her first trial as first at the office or in the courthouse,” chair, I got to go watch,” Barnes said.

Griswold said. “I like the diversity of “It was exciting to get to see one of my my job and the fact that every day I get former students in trial themselves. the opportunity to help somebody.”

“She won!” Barnes said.

Griswold’s empathy makes her Griswold was nervous starting as a an exceptional attorney, a quality lawyer, she said, but she sometimes hard to You learn people soon found her groove. find, Heidlage said. have different Griswold is one Griswold invests of the five salaried in her clients on an backgrounds and staff attorneys in extra level because of grew up differently. her ability to empaCleveland County, the third largest counthize and hear each The people in the ty in Oklahoma, and client’s situation, Ferguson College works in a satellite Heidlage added. of Agriculture are office. Anyone who “Macy has a heart applies and qualifies in inclusive of all that. of gold, and I know Cleveland County for a that if you’re in need, Macy Griswold court-appointed attorMacy would give you ney is represented by the office. the shirt off of her back,” Heidlage As the second newest hire, she has said. “That serves true in her profesthree more-experienced attorneys sional life.” who provide support when she needs Griswold works tirelessly to repadvice, Griswold said. resent the interests of her clients and “My life as a public defender is serve those around her, Heidlage said. extremely diverse,” Griswold said.

“She’s a giving person,” Fitch said.

“Truly, no two days are the same.

“She’s got a heart as big as Oklahoma.”

“The ability to effectively and Everyone Griswold meets grows persuasively communicate is the to love her, Barnes said, and she has most important thing for a lawyer,” never met any strangers.

Griswold said.

The most important skill for a lawAnother key factor to being a good yer is to possess the ability to evaluate lawyer is to have confidence in your facts with an open mind and advocate abilities, Griswold said. for any position, Heidlage said.

“I am in a unique position to be able “Macy embodies that, and it’s been to help people in ways that a lot of evident throughout her life,” Heidlage people aren’t,” Griswold said. “As an said. “I can only imagine she is an outattorney, I’m in the position to ask for standing advocate for her clients now.” what people can’t ask for themselves.”

Even though her path was unconThe career of a public defender ventional, Griswold said she was proud often may be overlooked because the of where she is. position pays less than other areas “I had a very diverse education of law, Griswold said. However, she path,” Griswold said. “I might not use would not get the same emotional fuleverything I thought I might, but I fillment from any other job, she added. think everything happens for a reason.

“At the end of the day, happiness It brought people into my life I is more important than my salary,” wouldn’t have met otherwise, and I Griswold said. wouldn’t change anything.”

Griswold’s happy demeanor in her job sometimes surprises people, she said. A big part of the job comes from connecting with people, she added.

SARAH PALMER “I interact with a lot of different IDABEL, OKLAHOMA COWBOY JOURNAL 53

ALL AMERICAN

LEGACY AFS judging teams provide path to national recognition

he lights dim as the master of courses, spend hours at practice, and ceremonies moves to the podibegin to understand time management, um, the heels of his square-toe he added. boots the only sound audible across “We require our team members to the banquet hall. Anxious competitors be dedicated to their studies as we watch his every movement in anticipatravel through the country going to tion of the names he is about to read. contests,” Cooper said. “They leave the Members of the team understandThe tradition of Oklahoma State ing how to balance University Livestock excellence will continue responsibilities.”

Judging Team sit To be named as OSU Cowboys around their table, an All American all eyes on the man as in horse judging, a continue to embrace he begins to describe the All American legacy. team member must the legacy of the All be a top 10 finalist Parker Henley American title. at the national conThe All American title exists to tests and maintain a 3.5 GPA. recognize some of the most talented, “Being recognized as an All competitive students in the agricultur- American is no easy feat,” said al industry, said Parker Henley, OSU Gretchen Mafi, OSU Meat Judging Livestock Judging Team coach.

Team coach.

All Americans are recognized in the Since the American Meat Science collegiate livestock, meat, horse and Association began recognizing All dairy judging disciplines.

Americans in 2007, Mafi has wit“Being recognized as an All nessed 23 of her students achieve the American is like the icing on the cake accomplishment, she said. for a competitor,” said Morgan Pfeiffer, “Meat judging is so competitive,” OSU alumna and All American in Mafi said. “Being an All American is both livestock and meat judging. “If so impactful for the students’ careers selected, you are recognized for your because employers understand the academic and competition successes.” difficulty of the competition.”

The qualifications for becoming To become an All American meat an All American vary by discipline, judge, results from a competitor’s two but overall selection is based upon highest contest placings, placings at performance in the classroom and/or the international contest and GPA are arena, said Steven Cooper, OSU Horse taken into account, Mafi said.

Judging Team coach.

Livestock judging All Americans are Team members take a full load of selected through applications.

54 SUMMER/FALL 2021

“The process to become an All American livestock judge begins in the summer,” Henley said. “Students submit their applications to the All American academic program to be reviewed by a panel of administrators across the country. The students are then evaluated on their judging and academic successes and their future career goals.”

Being involved in a judging team and striving for the national championship title is the opportunity of a lifetime, Pfeiffer said.

“The judging program helps keep team members disciplined and introduces them to so many people,” Pfeiffer said. “While competing at national contests, team members have the opportunity to join a long-lasting legacy of talented individuals.”

Cooper said the All American program is beneficial because it provides interaction with industry professionals, develops public speaking and team working skills, and offers the opportunity to help future career successes.

“All Americans have put forth the effort in the classroom, during workouts and at contests,” Henley said.

“The tradition of excellence will continue as OSU Cowboys continue to embrace the All American legacy.”

KARLI FUSS

CLEVELAND, OKLAHOMA

102 1996-2007

Brad Chapman, Dairy Brandon Covey, Dairy Alan Jennings, Dairy Daniel Neely, Dairy Carl Oblander, Meat Samuel Percival, Meat Wravenna Phipps, Livestock Amber Skinner, Livestock Reed Smith, Meat Andrea Troyer, Livestock

2008

Cassie Bacon, Livestock Amanda Burrows, Horse Kelly Manke, Meat Erin Way, Livestock Kristi Wright, Horse Jason Zwilling, Livestock

2009

Leslie German, Dairy Kylee Willard, Livestock

2010

Megan Bryant, Livestock Jett Eder, Livestock Garrett Knebel, Livestock Michael Kinna, Livestock Zach Robertson, Meat Travis Timmons, Horse

2011

McKenzie Clifton, Meat Carrie Doyle, Horse Laura Padgett, Dairy Stephanie Willis, Livestock

2012

Katie Duysen, Livestock Emily Handke, Horse Morgan Meisenheimer, Livestock Morgan Neilson, Meat Lauren Wells, Horse Clay Zwilling, Livestock

Cowboy

All Americans 2013

Jeffery Dalton Newell, Livestock Taylor Graham, Livestock Katie Jordan, Horse Morgan Neilson, Livestock Kass Pfeiffer, Livestock Sarah Schobert, Horse

2014

Gary Agar, Livestock Jake Bloomberg, Livestock Jessie Heidlage, Meat Jessica Neal, Horse Jenalee Nies, Horse Wilma Van der Laan, Dairy Kelly Vierck, Livestock Audrey Zoeller, Meat

2015

Marissa Chapa, Horse Elizabeth Nixon, Livestock Faith Onstot, Horse Hope Onstot, Horse Macy Perry, Meat Kyndal Reitzenstein, Livestock Matt Walta, Livestock

2016

Callie Akins, Livestock Julianna Albrecht, Meat Abby Bechtold, Meat Taylor Gilbert, Horse Rebecca Janes, Horse Jenna Kool, Horse Taylor Leach, Dairy Hana Murphy, Horse Macy Perry, Horse Dylan Price, Horse Garrett Reed, Horse Emily Rice, Meat Franchesca Rollerson, Horse Logan Van Allen, Livestock

2017

Brooke Catterton, Horse Kayleigh Crane, Horse Emily Haak, Horse Karli Jones, Horse Jessica Judge, Livestock Mattie Lemmons, Horse Faith Onstot. Livestock Hope Onstot, Livestock Charley Rayfield, Meat Krista Rodney, Horse

2018

Jax Bauer, Dairy Grayson Cottrell, Horse Justin Dewbre, Horse Lyndsey Harvey, Horse Kathryn Hearn, Meat Lilly Hildebrand, Meat Anna Grace Parnell, Livestock Katelynn Priest, Horse Nicole Sanders, Dairy Rachel Scott, Horse Haley Stark, Livestock

2019

Justin Chupp, Dairy Erin Leach, Dairy Shane Robison, Dairy Nicole Sanders, Horse Truitt Taylor, Horse

2020

Holly Beringer, Horse Leo Elsasser, Horse Grace Harris, Meat Mamie-Cate Haydon, Meat Lara Hays, Horse Dani LeDonne, Meat Will Shelby, Livestock Hannah Tweed, Horse

COWBOY JOURNAL 55

Diverse vegetables, planted by students, grow in the garden at Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center.

Photo by Kirsten Hollansworth.

56 SUMMER/FALL 2021

U

Uprooting food insecurity

Students manage garden to assist the community hile kneeling in the garden at Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center, students unearth much more than the top layer of the nutrient-rich soil. They tackle food insecurity, which much like the fast-growing and unwanted weeds of a garden, threatens to disrupt the success and harmony of individuals within the community.

Bailey Norwood, agricultural economics professor at Oklahoma State University, plants the seed of food insecurity knowledge into the minds of his students by offering a handson experience to benefit low-income residents of Payne County.

This experience is part the Farm to Fork course, AGEC 3023, with more than 200 students enrolled in the Spring 2021 semester.

“If Our Daily Bread employees had to put resources to a garden, it would take away from the actual mission,” Norwood said. “By running a garden,

we take the responsibility off of the staff, and they still get the garden that the community expects. We get value out of it by having students gain hands-on experience.”

As a self-taught gardener, Norwood credited learning about the craft from reading and online videos. The experience in his own garden and through Master Gardener classes contributed to his ability to teach gardening concepts, he said.

“People expect a food pantry to have a garden, but it would be a drain on the staff if they had to do it,” Norwood said. “People think you can produce food cheaper in your garden than from the store, but it’s just not true.”

Most of the produce at Our Daily Bread comes from the food pantry system, Norwood said. Volunteers spend all week going to grocery stores and getting their surplus, he added.

“It’s mainly a way of helping people afford the things they need by taking

COWBOY JOURNAL 57

Bailey Norwood (second from left), professor of agricultural economics, joins Rachael Condley (third from right), executive director at Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center, celebrate harvest with Ferguson College of Agriculture students Tanner Weston (left), Tuff Johnson, Allison Carson, Brooklyn Downs, Ethan Buck and Spencer Sanders. Photo by Kirsten Hollansworth.

food that otherwise would be thrown away,” Norwood said. “In one way, it’s bizarre that the richest nation in the world has people needing food banks, but living in this world is expensive.”

Most people wait until April or May to start gardening, but by using the greenhouse, students can plant cool season crops in March, Norwood said.

Some plants, such as lettuce, handle the cold and taste better when grown in cold conditions, he added.

“We start plants in the greenhouse because it is the ideal environment, and the plants don’t experience any adversity,” Norwood said. “Before transitioning the plants to the garden, they are rotationally moved outside to adapt to colder temperatures.”

Almost all for-profit vegetable farms use drip irrigation, Norwood said. If you have too much water in the soil, the plants can’t take in oxygen and it can cause fungal diseases, he added.

“Drip irrigation works at a much lower pressure,” Norwood said. “The nice thing is it leaks slowly and is very low maintenance.”

To ensure high germination rates, seeds are purchased from supply stores, Norwood said. Choosing where to purchase seeds is crucial to the success of the garden, he added.

58 SUMMER/FALL 2021

“It has been nice to incorporate in-class experiences to help students become more aware of food insecurity problems,” Norwood said. “The resources available help community members stretch food budgets.”

Katy Rippetoe, agribusiness senior, worked 10 to 15 hours a week as the garden manager.

“Our Daily Bread represents people who are getting the chance to have a choice in their food selection,” Rippetoe said. “It’s important to help teach community members about growing their own food.”

The garden is an opportunity to see fruits grown, such as raspberries and grapes that are not as common in Oklahoma, Rippetoe said.

“Having experience in a garden is beneficial to students especially agriculture majors,” Rippetoe said. “A garden is resourceful because students can grow food and lessen food insecurity by giving to others.”

The garden at Our Daily Bread grants community members the privilege of picking their own food, Rippetoe said.

“Anyone can have an at-home garden to grow at-home food,” Rippetoe said. “The advice I would give to someone looking to garden is it can be

affordable and easy. You don’t have to have a lot of land or equipment to grow your own produce.”

Brooklyn Evans, agricultural leadership senior, experienced the impact of the community garden firsthand as a student in the class.

“Dr. Norwood demonstrated how to do the task before I did it myself, which made me feel more comfortable through the whole gardening process,” Evans said.

Students working in the garden have taken the initiative to help fight food insecurity by providing fresh fruits and vegetables to the families in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Evans said.

“Norwood did a great job of explaining the purpose of planting specific things,” Evans said.

When students submerge seeds in the nutrient-rich soil at Our Daily Bread garden, growth is imminent. To an untrained eye, the top layer of soil looks untouched, but from the perspective of students, they planted their own seed in combating food insecurity within the community.

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800-364-6804 | stillwatermill.com COWBOY JOURNAL 59

STEMing Oklahoma 4-H’er garners national award

from adversity

dversity either motivates incredibly talented young man who is individuals or sends them on a continuously applying his knowledge completely different path. to learn more.”

Aidan Spencer, 18-year-old In 2021, the National 4-H Council Oklahoma County 4-H member and named Aidan Spencer the winner of Epic Charter High School senior, took the Youth in Action Award for STEM, his adversity and channeled it into a making him the first individual from new passion.

Oklahoma to win this honor.

When he was younger, Spencer was “Aidan has been doing the work for active in both basketball and football. years and has always known what he Adversity struck, Spencer said, and was here for and found his passion in 4-H became a grounding force when his involvement in STEM,” Virginia his life turned upside down.

Spencer said.

In 2014, his entire house burned Of the 6.5 million 4-H members in down, leaving his family with almost the U.S., only four individuals each nothing left. Just two months later, the year are selected as 4-H Youth In car in which Spencer was riding was Action winners. rear-ended by a distracted driver. This The National 4-H Council reaccident left him with a back injury serves the Youth in Action Awards for and unable to do many physical things, students who exhibit impact within he said. pillar areas based upon their personal Spencer’s friends recognized his impact story and the influence of 4-H struggles and began in their lives.

The most important asking him to come Through this award, thing to me is to workshops and Youth in Action winners events put on by travel on behalf of National showing people Oklahoma County 4-H and become spokesmen what they can 4-H. He said he for their awards, Yount said. believes without his Aidan Spencer applied for accomplish and accident he might the award during a time of leading by example. not have become uncertainty when the global Aidan Spencer interested in 4-H. pandemic was beginning last Before Spencer became active in March, said Mindy McNeil, Oklahoma 4-H, he was confined to his house in a County 4-H Extension educator. hard plastic back brace, said Virginia All of his time as a Youth in Action Spencer, Aidan Spencer’s mother. ambassador occurred during the “Aidan found his passion for COVID-19 pandemic. Even with the STEM after his accident while lookadversity he has faced, he has maining for a way to channel his energy,” tained a good attitude and a desire to said Cody Yount, Oklahoma County help others get involved in the commu4-H Extension educator. “He is an nity, McNeil said.

60 SUMMER/FALL 2021

“When I first heard I was a finalist, I thought someone was messing with me,” Aidan Spencer said. “The lady who interviewed me showed no emotion. I left the interview thinking I bombed the interview.”

Aidan Spencer said he realized most things people do in agriculture relate back to STEM. He wants to ensure STEM education is available for all individuals, he said.

“What allowed me to give back so much is having the ability to fundraise through my award for others who are involved in my clubs,” Aidan Spencer said. “We could do more projects and make more connections with business partners with more funding.”

Aidan Spencer has always been passionate about helping others, whether it was his sister who suffers from a chronic illness or helping fight for diversity and inclusion, his mother said.

Aidan Spencer said winning this award allowed him to raise approximately $8,000. As president of his 4-H club, he realized no position handled sponsorships or fundraising, he said.

“I realized a need for this, and I wanted to do more for my club, so I began cold calling businesses in the hope of finding a new way to raise funds for our community members,” Aidan Spencer said.

He began working with a program called “Sciencing on Saturday,” an activity designed to get children and teenagers involved in STEM, he said.

Aidan Spencer’s robotics coach wanted team members to find their passion, Virginia Spencer said.

Aidan Spencer, 4-H STEM Pillar winner, demonstrates the assembly of a robot for his workshop. Photo by Mark Scalmanini .

Aidan Spencer assists and mentors younger 4-H members with their projects. Photo by Mark Scalmanini.

COWBOY JOURNAL 61

4-H Youth in Action Award winner Aidan Spencer facilitates a robotics workshop for 4-H members. Photo by Mark Scalmanini.

“When you give children their own voices, that is what allows passion to grow,” Virginia Spencer said. “That is how the world is changed.”

Aidan Spencer was able to flourish and be passionate about the business and fundraising aspects, Virginia Spencer said.

“We average 60 individuals per event,” Aidan Spencer said. “These events are anywhere between dissecting a cow eye to building robots.”

With fundraising, the club is able to provide funding for the FIRST® LEGO® League as well as for the community to provide different camps and activities, Aidan Spencer said.

“He’s passionate about serving the underserved minority youth and takes any chance he gets he is working to recruit individuals for workshops such as robotics club,” Yount said. “He is service-minded, raising thousands of dollars for STEM funding.”

Being proud parents is an understatement for Virginia Spencer and her husband, Brendan, she said.

Aidan Spencer is an individual who has always been respectful to others, even those with differing viewpoints, and embraces the idea of having 62 SUMMER/FALL 2021

challenging conversations, Virginia Spencer said.

In addition to being a Youth in Action winner, Aidan Spencer is a coach for the robotics competition team in Oklahoma County. He also works with the youngest LEGO® League robotics team, serving as the coach and now mentor to the team.

“Aidan is always wanting to work and serve his community and find new ways to get individuals involved,” McNeil said.

Aidan Spencer has worked on the most recent Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Projects, or MAPS 4, he said. Through his involvement, he was able to work with a team to provide a location for workshops as well as practice area for the robotics team.

During his 4-H journey, Aidan Spencer felt overwhelmed at times and made a few mistakes, he said, but he is proud of his accomplishments. His mistakes helped him learn to serve his teams and peers better, he added.

McNeil said Aidan Spencer looks for new recruits in the STEM program and includes individuals who otherwise might not have the ability to participate in STEM. He has worked

with several organizations to implement approximately 60 STEM-based events to younger members of his community, she said.

“Winning the award and knowing I was the individual chosen still shocks me,” Aidan Spencer said. “I am just trying to teach people about STEM.” Aidan Spencer said being able to bring more awareness to Oklahoma 4-H STEM education has meant less about himself personally and more about the message and impact STEM has on individuals.

“This award is bigger than me,” Aidan Spencer said.

“The most important thing to me is showing people what they can accomplish and leading by example,” Aidan Spencer said. “I invite people to different events, and if they can’t come to me, we go to them and find ways to accommodate each individual wanting to get involved in STEM. Anyone can do it.”

SAVANNA CHANDLER

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Judy Hall, biochemistry and molecular biology instructor, prepares samples daily for her students in her lab. Photo by Alisa Northcutt.

64 SUMMER/FALL 2021

DA S N R ’ S

GOLDENGIRL Judy Hall celebrates 51 years of dedicated service to OSU

sanitized lab bench covered with materials is prepared for biochemistry students as a stoic woman stands to the side, awaiting the arrival of the students in her class.

The woman is Judy Hall, biochemistry and molecular biology instructor at Oklahoma State University. Although this scene is a normal occurrence, this year is monumental as Hall celebrates 51 years at OSU as an instructor, an accomplishment few people achieve.

Hall has seen and experienced tremendous changes in the world of science throughout her time instructing and has done so with great patience and perseverance, said John Gustafson, head of the OSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She is at the forefront of scientific laboratory teaching and is an essential piece of the department’s success, he added.

“She is kind, direct and has an incredible work ethic,” Gustafson said.

“Hall is a true fixture in this department, and we can always count on her being here.”

Hall said she has adapted to many technological changes and advancements in science throughout her life with experiments and research.

“Getting the job in the lab was a total accident,” Hall said. “I took the job

in the lab because I needed it. It was various types of plants in the Noble not at all what I had anticipated doing Research Center on the weekends. Hall at first.” has experienced many different reHall said she is doing what she likes search and experimentation methods and not at all what she had envisioned throughout her years of experience. while she attended school at OSU pur“I find it fun to dig for new ways to suing a degree in microbiology. experiment with things,” Hall said. “I She said her original plan was like adapting and trying new things to attend nursing school, but upon and would much rather be teaching graduating in 1966, she continued students than living in a retirement working as a labohome somewhere.” ratory technician at I enjoy seeing students Hall is affected by OSU. George Odell, post-polio syndrome, a understand what I a professor in the am teaching and then disorder of the nerves department, encourand muscles. Her finding ways to apply symptoms of this disaged her to attend graduate school to order have caused her it after graduation. earn a master’s degree to maneuver through Judy Hall in biochemistry, she the lab with a walker said. Hall obtained her master’s degree to assist her. As a child, Hall contractin biochemistry in 1970. ed polio and had numerous surgeries Stillwater, Oklahoma, became the and operations throughout her life place she built a home, married, found in hopes of minimizing the effects of a job she loves, and raised a family, she polio, she said. said. The job in the lab allowed her to Her adaptability and willingness spend valuable time with her three to try new experiments despite any children and husband, Leo, as they obstacle shows her love for the job, navigated life together, she added.

Gustafson said. Her colleagues and A typical day for Hall involves prestudents alike know her love for sciparing and analyzing data in between ence and teaching is genuine, he added. lab sessions. She researches different Just as she looks for new ways to proteins and how they bind to differdo an experiment, she also encourages ent samples. Additionally, Hall and and helps her students whenever posher husband spend time stewarding sible, said Bri Clary, BIMB senior.

COWBOY JOURNAL 65

Judy Hall, biochemistry and molecular biology instructor, works with students during their lab sessions to ensure understanding and handson learning. Photo by Alisa Northcutt.

“She explains things in a way that makes sense for everyone, and she allows us the freedom to figure things out on our own,” Clary said. “If I ever have a question or any difficulty, she is always willing to help me.”

Hall has established sincere professionalism in the biochemistry and molecular biology department and has impacted hundreds of students throughout her 51-year career, Gustafson said.

Her diligence to reinvent laboratory exercises and adapt to technological changes has proven to be a huge success in the department, he added.

“She is constantly reinventing the laboratory curriculum to keep up with 66 SUMMER/FALL 2021

the technological advances that are ongoing in biochemistry and molecular biology, which is central to our students’ education,” Gustafson said.

“Judy has included authentic research experiences in the lab for our students,” Gustafson added, “which really gives them a hands-on experience with modern research and common biomedical issues humanity faces.”

Amid all the changes, one thing has stayed consistent through it all: her love for teaching.

“It was just an accident,” Hall said.

“I graduated. I wanted a job. I wanted a career.

“I started teaching, and I liked it,” Hall said. “I enjoy seeing students

understand what I am teaching and then finding ways to apply it after they have graduated.”

Hall has seen science go from “bucket chemistry” — chemistry with few safety precautions and limitations ­— to technologically advanced research in her 51 years of experience.

“She has made a tremendous impact on the OSU campus and on the lives of her students, and we are proud to call her an integral part of the Cowboy family,” Gustafson said.

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COWBOY JOURNAL 67

Passion AECL doctoral student creates course

for history in ag

n interest in her history sparked a passion in one agricultural education doctoral student for understanding the development and changes for African Americans in agriculture into a new one-credit course.

In Spring 2020, Courtney Brown was assigned to teach a weekend course to help students gain information about George Washington Carver.

The course would have taken students to Diamond, Missouri, to visit the birth place of this famous African American. However, the learning experience was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brown, along with Rob Terry, agricultural education, communications and leadership department head, came together to create the course and then redesigned it for Fall 2020.

“Courtney deserves tons of credit for taking that situation and coming up with an alternative that turned out to be tremendous,” Terry said.

“She is people-oriented and really shared her passion for advocating for diversity in agriculture,” Terry said.

Brown said she wanted to create a space where students had the opportunity to discuss things they lacked information on and to feel comfortable doing so.

The course topic has a deep historical narrative, Brown said, and she needed a creative way to discuss it for six hours on a Friday night.

Brown and 16 guest speakers described the experiences and challenges 68 SUMMER/FALL 2021

of African Americans and how they approach those situations, she said.

Brown organized the class to inform students about the facts and history of African Americans in agriculture.

Students also heard real-life experiences and opinions from multiple African American professionals within the industry.

“I really appreciate her integration of variety and methods to get students engaged with guest speakers and assignments,” Terry said.

Brown explained a variety of perspectives to expand on the things that happened to African Americans throughout history and the strength those individuals developed from those events, she added.

Agricultural education freshman Erick Clements took the course and thought the content was well organized by learning historical background one day and having interviews with discussions the next.

“I wanted the angle of the class to focus on the resiliency of Black people in agriculture,” Brown said.

Brown incorporated content to show the African American perspective of agriculture as well as the economic impacts of American slavery.

She expanded on what happened to African Americans throughout history and the strength developed from them, she said. Topics also included leaders who emerged from the diversity like George Washington Carver, Fannie Lou Hamer and Booker T. Washington, she added.

Brown focused on showing students the historic and current facts of African American culture and its relevance to agriculture, she said.

“I knew it was going to be challenging to talk about race and agriculture, especially when it relates back to slavery,” Brown said.

During the course, Brown talked about the Reconstructive Era and how newly freed slaves were met with excitement and uncertainty when deciding what to do or where to go. Most of the freed slaves did not know what it was like to be a free person and had to learn how to live that life, she said.

Another topic of the course was the discussion of what 1890 land-grant institutions have contributed to the agricultural industry.

With OSU being a land-grant university, many students were aware of the Land-Grant College Act of 1862, or first Morrill Act, but not the second Morrill Act in 1890, Brown said.

The second Morrill Act helped establish Black colleges and universities to focus on agriculture and mechanical arts. The act was designed to also encourage higher quality agricultural research and education programs and to produce graduates in these areas, Brown said.

As a result, the historically Black colleges and universities helped build African American communities by developing educators and future leaders, Brown said.

Discussion of 1890 land-grant institutions naturally led to talk of

n agriculture the New Farmers of America as well as its merger in 1965 with the Future Farmers of America, now known as the National FFA Organization.

“My favorite topic was probably the NFA,” Clements said. “I had no idea it existed until that class.”

The merger between the NFA and FFA felt like NFA was absorbed into FFA in the eyes of African American students and teachers, Brown said.

Students who went from NFA to FFA lost the ability to run for national offices and other opportunities they originally had, Brown added, and many of the African American instructors who taught in the NFA lost their jobs after the merger.

The OSU students in Brown’s course did not realize the gravity of what had happened and what was lost in the African American community because of the merger, Brown said.

The entire course was interesting, Clements said, and learning about different cultures and forgotten history was beneficial.

This course was started as an opportunity for students to learn about one man within the agricultural industry, but it evolved into something much more when things did not go as planned, Brown said.

HAVEN DAVIS

CARMEN, OKLAHOMA

Courtney Brown, OSU agricultural education doctoral student, created a course based on her interest in African American experiences in agriculture. Photo by Haven Davis.

COWBOY JOURNAL 69

JoMarie Hickerson, former communications specialist in biosystems and agricultural engineering, demonstrates the new classroom equipment. Photo by Emily Cooper.

70 SUMMER/FALL 2021

Green BAE’s Brightest

Donors provide support to update technology

lthough Oklahoma State University touts “America’s Brightest Orange,” a second bright color shares the stage in the OSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering — the green of John Deere.

“P&K Equipment and John Deere have a longstanding relationship with OSU and the Ferguson College of Agriculture in particular,” said Scott Eisenhauer, P&K Equipment general manager. “The John Deere Classroom is one example of that partnership.”

P&K Equipment took the lead in funding the 2020 renovations to the classroom, said Craig Trible, BAE systems administrator. Additional donors were Jay and Cathy Albright, Jo Lyn Becton, Charles and Verna Gause, Greg and Kristen Hart, Larry Herriman, Brad Kosanke, Ken and Judy Long of Long’s John Deere, Todd Love, Don and Kim Yarbrough, and Yancy and Christina Wright.

Initially designed in 1994, the John Deere Classroom in Room 225 Agricultural Hall has had multiple upgrades during the years.

“The age of the current equipment made it necessary to upgrade the room in 2020,” Trible said. “The BAE department worked with the OSU Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence to design an updated classroom.”

The classroom is used heavily by undergraduate and graduate students, so all technology in it must be kept up to date and functional, Trible said.

The most recent updates included improving lighting conditions, installing an HDMI source, and adding two 85-inch flat panel TVs. “Now, all of the lights in the room can be on and the displays are still easy to see and read from the back of the room,” Trible said. “The instructor also can display different information on each screen because of the updates.”

In addition, the classroom’s technology now allows for wired connections as well as wireless screen sharing from laptops, tablets or cellphones to the video/sound system.

Eisenhauer said the renovations brought the classroom, program and students into a new era of opportunity.

With the changes happening within the Ferguson College as well as the specific technology upgrades in this classroom, students will have experiences beyond what anyone thought possible just a short time ago, Eisenhauer said.

John Veenstra, retired head of the BAE department, said he is a strong believer in giving students the best equipment and technology to use while earning their degrees and developing the necessary skillsets to have successful careers.

“P&K Equipment has been a big supporter of OSU students,” Veenstra said. “They did not hesitate to help when asked if this was something the company wanted to be involved in.”

The company supports OSU BAE in other ways such as providing academic

scholarships and hiring graduates to serve in various roles at its 18 locations in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

“P&K has enjoyed watching the program advance over time,” Eisenhauer said. “Through the years, the college has produced incredibly strong assets for the agricultural industry.”

Donors like P&K Equipment make academic program advancements possible, said Mari Chinn, BAE department head.

“The students and faculty are fortunate to have the support of the donors that help the programs here at Oklahoma State,” she said. “Because of them, we get to enhance the experience the students receive.

“We are very thankful for those who stepped up and helped with the upgrading of the room’s equipment,” she added.

Eisenhauer said P&K will continue to provide support to the department and the college.

“We were proud to play a part in this classroom renovation project, knowing more agricultural leaders will emerge from those doors and continue to advance the industry,” Eisenhauer said. “P&K Equipment is proud to support the positive and forwardthinking development within the Ferguson College of Agriculture.”

EMILY COOPER PRAGUE, OKLAHOMA

COWBOY JOURNAL 71

UP IN

SMOKE

OSU Extension restores native lands through prescribed burns

Grasslands burn near Lake Carl Blackwell during a prescribed fire conducted by OSU Extension. Photo by Katie Lacey.

72 SUMMER/FALL 2021

klahoma is known for its beautiful tallgrass prairies, but a hot history glows behind how this landscape came to be.

Natural fires played a vital role in the creation of the native prairies, scrublands and forests, according to Oklahoma State University Extension.

Today’s landscape is often threatened because of the lack of fires occurring throughout the state, said Aisha Sams, natural resource ecology and management master’s student.

Several things such as years of fire suppression, lack of burning and Eastern red cedar encroachment have

contributed to the endangerment of Oklahoma’s ecology, Sams added.

“Fire is not a part of Western European culture,” Sams said. “There has been almost 200 years of fire exclusion in the area plus major changes since the 1950s.”

Fire was part of Native American culture, Sams said. Explorers such as Washington Irving and Thomas Nuttall found Native Americans using fire in what would become Oklahoma, according to OSU Extension.

“Without periodic fire to keep cedars and other woody plants in check, grassland ecosystems in Oklahoma

COWBOY JOURNAL 73

Cole Fagen, natural resource ecology and management master’s student, stands downwind of the fire while moving a hose to spray a prescribed burn at Lake Carl Blackwell to control the direction of the burn. Photo by Katie Lacey.

will transition to forests and shrublands,” Sams said.

After the Dust Bowl leveled the farming lands of Oklahoma, federal conservation programs started mitigation to prevent another Dust Bowl from happening, Sams said. One of the prevention practices was planting Eastern red cedar trees as windbreaks and to help prevent soil erosion.

“The Eastern red cedar is native to Oklahoma but is also a volatile tree that catches fire easily,” Sams said.

“Prescribed burns can control woody invasion into prairies.”

Eastern red cedar trees are considered hazardous fuels because of volatile oils that are stored in the trees, Sams said, and their structure allows fire to crawl from the grass to the tree’s top in what is called a fuel ladder.

The tree burns in a shower-like fashion and makes this tree hazardous 74 SUMMER/FALL 2021

to homeowners and firefighters alike, she added.

OSU Extension staff have use fire as an ecological driver to restore ecosystems and landscapes, according to OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Prescribed fires throughout the state are used to mitigate the Eastern red cedar trees and to improve the quantity and quality of forage in grazing lands, Sams said.

“Patch burning is the most costeffective tool for wildfire prevention and brush management,” Sams said.

“OSU Extension is pioneering this research and is doing a really good job of handling misconceptions.”

Patch burning is when small sections of pastures are burned without igniting the whole field, Sams said.

Sams said the positive outcomes from prescribed burning heavily

outweigh the negatives. A lot of misconceptions still exist, however, because of safety and liability issues, she added.

“New technology and burn demonstrations have allowed for more fire to happen throughout the state,” Sams said. “The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a good example of what fire can do for natural landscape.”

About 10 years ago, a major wildfire impacted the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now emphasizes the use of prescribed fire for prevention and habitat management, Sams said.

Prescribed fires are planned to meet specific management objectives, such as enhancing the habitat, she added.

Cole Fagen, NREM master’s student, has conducted research using drones to assist with prescribed burns.

Using drones is becoming

increasingly popular throughout multiple agricultural practices, according to OSU Extension.

Using drones can make conducting prescribed fires safer, Fagen said.

During a prescribed burn, multiple people are posted around the burn to monitor the live fire.

People will end up downwind of the fire right in the line of the smoke, Fagen said. Smoke can aggravate breathing and eyesight among other things, he added.

“This person does a lot of what we call ‘eating smoke’ when they’re on that job,” Fagen said. “The drone has helped eliminate this person eating smoke throughout the day.”

Fagen said the drone he uses has two cameras: a regular conventional camera and an infrared camera that can detect heat signatures.

The infrared camera can see through the smoke and help see where the fire might get away from the burn area, he said.

The drone also allows the operator to see how fast and in what direction the fire is moving.

“Using drones for prescribed fire is not perfect,” Fagen said. “Operating the drone is a one-person job, and you really have to know what you’re looking at.”

The drone can replace three or four people at a prescribed burn and will be useful technology for the future of fire, Fagen said.

Fire is crucial to the health of the ecology in Oklahoma and drones allow prescribed fire to become safer and more regular throughout the state, according to OSU Extension.

“Even with new technology like drones, prescribed fires are still a hands-on event,” said John Weir, associate Extension specialist in NREM. Through outreach programs with landowners, agencies and students, OSU Extension provides information on prescribed fire. Weir said he has worked for 30 years to start more fires in Oklahoma — safely of course.

“We help people write burn plans, use tools, understand wind directions

Ryan Parisotto, fire and ecology management senior, monitors a fire during a prescribed burn at Lake Carl Blackwell. Photo by Katie Lacey.

and more so they are able to host their own burns,” Weir said.

People who are interested in developing burn plans and learning more about what prescribed fire can do for their lands should contact their local county extension office, Weir said.

OSU Extension also offers a basic, online prescribed fire course through its website.

“I recommend people find someone who is burning and go help or watch,” Weir said. “People can be scared of fire, but experiencing it makes it less of a big scary monster.”

KATIE LACEY

LONE PINE, CALIFORNIA

COWBOY JOURNAL 75

Support from the Ferguson Family Foundation, Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers and the OSU Foundation has allowed for the development of the visitor center and curriculum. Photo by Adriana Toste.

76 SUMMER/FALL2021 2021 8 SUMMER/FALL

DEVELOPING

DA I RY CURRICULUM Industry support helps build dairy visitor center

s a land-grant university, Oklahoma State University serves as an avenue for learning, research and extension, not only for students, but also for alumni, families, community members and visitors of all ages and origins.

The same goes for OSU’s livestock units in close vicinity to campus, including the Ferguson Family Dairy Center, which is equipped with a state-of-the-art freestall barn, robotic milking system and new visitor center, which made its debut in Fall 2020.

The implementation of a visitor center developed when discussing the potential for additions and renovations to the dairy center, said Rob Terry, OSU agricultural education, communications and leadership department head.

Management at the Ferguson Family Dairy Center expressed a desire for the visitor center because as many as 3,000 visitors stop by the center each year, an impressive number that intrigued various supporters, including Thomas Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture, Terry said.

“Because people see it as a destination to learn about the dairy industry

or just satisfy some curiosity, the visitor center will be a great feature for the facility,” Terry said.

He said Coon recognized if a dairy visitor center was created, it would need to be intentional, purposeful and allow visitors to leave with dairy industry knowledge.

The idea to create specialized curriculum brought in the involvement of the agricultural education, communications and leadership department and the OSU Foundation to find sponsors, Terry said.

“This is a great opportunity for us to do some agricultural literacy teaching and help people understand where their milk comes from, see how a working dairy operates and experience the process of production agriculture,” Terry said.

To help with this project, Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers became a sponsor, Terry said.

Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers, a USDA-qualified dairy checkoff program and promotion agency, is supported by dairy farmers across 12 states who give 10 cents per hundredweight of their milk marketed each month toward a local agency COWBOY JOURNAL 77

of their choice for dairy promotion and education, said Jim Hill, CEO of Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers.

“OSU came to us because of our reputation in dairy education and promotion, and we thought it was a great fit,” he said. “Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers was eager to contribute.

“Although our Mobile Dairy Classroom dairy education program is a message for all ages, our expertise lies in talking to young children and school students, knowing what they want to hear, seeing their reactions, and answering their questions about dairy,” Hill said.

One of the main reasons the organization sponsorship opportunity was enticing was because of the DeLaval robotic milking machine recently installed at the Ferguson Family Dairy Center, Hill said.

The company saw this innovation as a win-win because Southwest/ Southland Dairy Farmers could use the milking technology featured at the dairy in their own outreach efforts, Hill said.

78 SUMMER/FALL 2021

“The robotic milker attracted us because the one thing we want to talk more about in our presentations is modern technology,” Hill said.

The opportunity to sponsor this project also provides the Southwest/ Southland Dairy Farmers with a visual way to show dairy farmers what their monetary contributions are going toward, Hill said.

“We’ve been around for 38 years, so we have our own credentials that are strong, but the collaboration adds credit to our program,” Hill said. “It adds credit for our producers who are interested in a facility such as Oklahoma State University as a research center, and it’s something that was needed.”

Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers’ sponsorship is funding the two-year assistantship of agricultural education master’s student Jaycie Heath and will assist in the production cost of the visitor center displays, Terry said.

Since its grand opening last fall, the visitor center has been open to guests,

Terry said. However, the learning displays and curriculum are a work in progress dependent on the pieces Heath completes during her assistantship, he added.

With the support and input of Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers, Heath is designing a unique matrix of educational content followed by learning activities for an array of audiences, Terry said.

“Our goal is to have a variety of different types of lesson plans for different settings,” Heath said.

Around 90 lesson plans are being developed to satisfy a variety of scheduled tours, such as public and homeschool groups, 4-H clubs, and adult groups, as well as unscheduled tours, which would primarily include families or people just traveling through, Heath said.

Curriculum will be presented on wall displays featuring QR codes, with pre-recorded informative videos and through online formats, Heath said.

The variety of formats used to present the material ensures all visitors

Guests of all ages, like 8-year-old Audrey Arnall (left) and her 10-year-old brother, Brayden Arnall, can come to the visitor center to learn about the dairy industry, the on-farm technology used and the robotic milker. Photo by Adriana Toste.

will receive a well-rounded experience at the visitor center, even if a dairy employee or tour guide is not present during someone’s visit, Heath said.

“Online formats give teachers an option to stay in their classrooms if they are not allowed to do field trips,” Heath said. “They can play the videos on their screens in their classrooms, and students still get some of the experience without necessarily going to the dairy.”

Heath and the other individuals involved in this project may make the displays interchangeable to go along with the season or to accommodate different audiences better, she added.

“Some of the bigger topics we want to showcase are life cycles of dairy cattle, the importance of dairy as a food group, dairy breeds and the robotic milker,” Heath said.

While much of the curriculum will be targeted toward children, Heath plans to capitalize on the technology used on-farm, such as the robotic milking system, and the QR code feature to engage adults, she said.

“Our whole goal is to educate about not only the Ferguson Family Dairy Center but also dairying as a whole in Oklahoma and the United States,” Heath said.

The lessons developed by Heath will integrate STEM standards, which will add value in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Terry added.

“As an agricultural education major, I know how important it is to have intracurricular activities that link science to agriculture,” Heath said. “I want to make sure with each lesson we develop we’re hitting some of the core standards for each age group.”

Because of the diverse variety of lessons and STEM certification, teachers will be able to tie their lesson plans with the curriculum developed

by Heath and be confident in the value it adds to the learning goals they are trying to achieve, Terry said.

After lessons are designed and materials are assembled, the displays and curriculum will go through a pilot period, Terry added.

Various audiences will be sent a pre-test prior to their visits and a posttest after their visits to see if their knowledge and perceptions changed after visiting the center, Heath said.

The learning opportunities the visitor center will bring to the Ferguson Family Dairy Center are key to achieving the land-grant mission of teaching students hands-on and incorporating the research and extension sectors, Terry said.

“If you think about it, there’s research taking place, there’s teaching with for-credit courses, and then there’s extension to people who aren’t taking for-credit courses who can benefit from learning something about agriculture,” Terry said.

The “learning by doing” concept being done at the visitor center has the potential to be conducted across other animal and plant units, especially because of their convenient location to Stillwater, Terry said.

“We can duplicate the idea of ‘learning by doing’ if we get the formula figured out,” Terry said. “Wouldn’t it be neat if a person could interface with a facility and learn about that commodity area?”

The support of the OSU Foundation and Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers has been instrumental in how things have come together, he added, and they hope to have the visitor center in full swing come May 2022.

“If we can get outside support — get people to believe in what we’re doing enough to help fund it — we can really produce some great educational products,” Terry said. “You have to have that kind of support to make something like this happen.”

ADRIANA TOSTE

GUSTINE, CALIFORNIA

COWBOY JOURNAL 79

James Pickel, owner of Prairie Earth Gardens, uses a hoop house to grow crops when temperatures are too cool to have them outside. Photo by Mark Scalmanini.

8 SUMMER/FALL 80 SUMMER/FALL2021 2021

PICKEL’S PICKS OSU alumnus operates urban garden in Oklahoma City

rive slowly or you might miss the turn, but once you know where to go, you will never forget how to get there. Old stone buildings, garden plots and a “Prairie Earth Gardens” sign let you know you have arrived at the right place.

Prairie Earth Gardens is an urban garden northeast of downtown Oklahoma City.

What began as a hobby and a little roadside stand has grown into a professional gardening operation consisting of one greenhouse, three hoop houses and four garden plots, said James Pickel, Oklahoma State University alumnus and owner of Prairie Earth Gardens.

While growing up in Duncan, Oklahoma, Pickel was raised by his grandparents who always had a garden in their yard, he said. Gardening is something he has been around his entire life, he added.

“My first job was going door to door when I was 8 years old selling vegetables to the ladies in our neighborhood,” Pickel said. “I went to college so I wouldn’t have to grow vegetables.

“Now, here I am, retired from my professional career, growing vegetables,” he said with a laugh.

Pickel graduated from OSU in 1972

with an agricultural economics degree.

After graduation, he worked in agricultural sales for three years, until realizing his passions were elsewhere, he said.

Pickel spent eight years helping a fraternity brother start his architectural firm, he said. He then spent six years working with a general contractor before becoming co-owner of Smith & Pickel Construction, he said.

After 37 years in the construction industry, Pickel and his partner sold the business at the end of 2013.

Just two years after he retired, Pickel began to expand his personal garden, he said. Owning a professional garden was something Pickel said he never imagined for himself.

“It’s the worst retirement plan in the world but the greatest way of life,” he said. “I am no longer the owner of a construction company, but I still haven’t been able to cut back to a 40-hour work week.”

Pickel credits the growth of Prairie Earth Gardens to Julia Laughlin, his friend and 4-H Extension educator in Oklahoma County.

Laughlin helped turn Prairie Earth Gardens from Pickel’s personal garden to a multi-acre gardening operation, he said.

“I met Pickel at the wedding of a mutual friend of ours,” Laughlin said.

“I’m not sure either one of us expected this gardening business to come out of our friendship.”

Laughlin had just left her job as an associate professor and department head of horticulture at OSU-Oklahoma City in January 2015.

Pickel said he was looking for someone to help at the garden and heard Laughlin was looking for a job.

“Hiring Julia was the turning point for Prairie Earth Gardens,” Pickel said. “She has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience.”

Laughlin graduated from OSU with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture. With her experience in the industry, Laughlin said she knew a growing need existed for locally grown produce. Starting Prairie Earth Gardens was a dream job, she said.

“I wanted to work with Pickel because of his ideas for the community and his neighbors,” Laughlin said. “His enthusiasm drew me in.

“Pickel is a community-minded person with deep roots in Oklahoma agriculture,” she added.

The pair’s vision came to fruition in 2015 when Prairie Earth Gardens officially opened.

COWBOY JOURNAL 81

Lettuce is one of Prairie Earth Gardens’ most popular cold weather crops. Photo by Savanna Chandler.

and her mother owned a garden accesThe garden offers a wide variety of sory store, Wilshire Garden Market. produce ranging from crisp lettuces “Because of the pandemic, we startin the winter to tasty tomatoes in the ed offering home deliveries, and people summer, Pickel said. can pick up produce throughout the Prairie Earth Gardens and its nine week,” White said. “We call it ‘barnemployees provide fresh produce to side’ pickup.” local restaurants as well as routine During the last year, Prairie Earth customers throughout the week. The Gardens built a website and began takgarden also has its own farmers maring credit card payments, White said. ket every Saturday morning.

“Technology “Prairie Earth We deal with salt-of- and gardening are Gardens truly grew organically,” Pickel said. “I the-earth people who so different,” she hate to use the pun, but make it all worthwhile. said. “It created chaos, but we made it’s true.”

James Pickel it through and grew Prairie Earth Gardens during the process.” once supplied fresh produce to more Despite the occasional challenges, than 30 local restaurants, Pickel said.

White has enjoyed her time at Prairie When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Earth Gardens, she said. that number dropped to zero but has “I love being able to have personal built up during the past year, he added. communication with the customers “Much of our business with local during the Saturday Market,” White chefs has grown from word of mouth,” said. “I love seeing their excitement Pickel said. about our produce.”

Fortunately, the garden kept its regEveryone at Prairie Earth Gardens ular customers by continuing to open takes pride in what they do, Pickel the Saturday Market and offering new said. Product quality and customer services, Pickel said. satisfaction are top priorities for the Christy White, Pickel’s friend and business, he added.

Prairie Earth Gardens market man“There is a distinct difference in ager, played an important role in the the taste and quality of the produce garden’s success during the last year, we grow,” Pickel said. “It’s hard to beat he added. homegrown vegetables.”

White began working at Prairie However, the produce is not the Earth Gardens in 2017. Before that, she 82 SUMMER/FALL 2021

only thing that makes Prairie Earth Gardens special, Laughlin said.

“There is a sense of community at Prairie Earth Gardens,” Laughlin said.

“Whether you’re a customer or an employee, you feel like family.

“Prairie Earth Gardens is Pickel’s family,” she added.

In addition to owning the garden, Pickel is also a member of several non-profits and other organizations in Oklahoma City.

“Since retiring, Pickel has mellowed out in such a good way,” White said.

“He stays very busy but is able to commit his time to people well.

“He truly has the best interest of others in mind, no matter what he’s doing,” she added.

Gardening is now a way of life for Pickel, he said. He enjoys the little things in life and appreciates simplicity, he added.

“We plan to stay who we are,” he said. “We aren’t trying to become a huge garden.

“It’s an enjoyable way of life,” Pickel said. “We deal with salt-of-the-earth people who make it all worthwhile.”

CHELSEA ALEXANDER ADA, OKLAHOMA

I believe in the future of agriculture.

okffa.org

Seraiah Coe’s passion for learning earned her the Spring 2021 Outstanding Senior of the Ferguson College of Agriculture award. Photo by Amy Gardner.

84 SUMMER/FALL 2021

BEACON OF

LIGHT Small-town girl earns 2021 Outstanding Senior honors

t a young age, Oklahoma State University natural resource ecology and management senior Seraiah Coe of McKinney, Texas, developed a passion for life and a hunger to learn about the details of her surroundings.

“As a child, my mother encouraged me to keep a nature journal to record the unique things I saw when I explored,” Coe said. “I would then delve into study at our local library concerning any flora or fauna I found in the hopes I could truly understand what I was observing and teach this information to anyone who would listen.”

Coe’s drive for success and service to others led her to receive the 2021 Louis and Betty Gardner Outstanding Senior Award.

This drive became essential, she said, as she encountered various family trials. Although she faced tribulation in her early years, Coe said failure was not an option.

“My father got remarried when I was 10,” Coe said. “My sisters and I suffered about three years of physical, emotional and verbal abuse at the hand of his wife and her son.”

Coe was told she was “extremely stupid,” would never make it through high school, and was not capable of achieving success, she said.

“From that experience — not because of it but in spite of it — I used my undergrad career as an opportunity to define the future I want,” Coe said.

“Attending OSU was one more step toward the life I wanted to make for myself,” Coe said, “a life I would refuse to allow anyone to dictate my limitations concerning growth and success.”

While attending OSU, Coe received awards, scholarships and recognitions for her work.

José Uscanga, director of multicultural programs, said Coe’s outstanding academic abilities set her apart from any student he has ever known. She has an excellent ability to manage her time, he added.

“Seraiah is brilliant,” Uscanga said.

“She is so dedicated to her academics.

She has an ability to keep up with all of that and get involved.”

By looking at her transcript, one sees she is a talented student, he said.

People are blinded by her 4.0 GPA before they see the other areas they can learn from her, he added.

“She’s always been extremely enthusiastic,” said Sue Fairbanks, NREM associate professor and Coe’s academic adviser.

Coe’s level of interest, enthusiasm and diverse involvement makes her stand out, Fairbanks added.

Coe attributes her success to the mentors who helped her as an undergraduate student. She said a turning point was during her sophomore year when she met Karen Hickman, director of the environmental science program, and Cynda Clary, Ferguson College of Agriculture associate dean.

“Both Dr. Hickman and Dr. Clary provided me with essential connections and support for internships and positions that could further develop the vision I had of my future,” Coe said.

“During my time in the Ferguson College and at OSU, I found my community, my second family and my home,” Coe said. “That’s one of the major aspects that has shaped me throughout my college career.”

Aside from academic achievements, OSU gave Coe the opportunity to impact her peers, Uscanga said.

Coe said her first experience on OSU’s campus made it evident to her the people around her were genuinely interested in showing her the best options possible.

“This knowledge that I was actually respected as an individual within my college helped me to feel valuable,” Coe said. “However, I still felt isolated as an out-of-state student with no prior connections to the university.”

The feeling of isolation gave her COWBOY JOURNAL 85

determination to find specific people to help her reach her full potential through professional growth, she said.

“During freshman year, I was introduced to the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences organization, and it helped save me,” Coe said. “In MANRRS, I found a community of support and inclusivity I never realized I needed.”

Coe became involved in MANRRS, realizing a way to heal from her experiences by providing students a welcoming and encompassing community, she said.

“Through my involvement in this club, I found a voice that did not have to be validated by achievements,” Coe said. “Instead, I could find my purpose by pouring myself into making the campus better for those who will come after me.”

Coe used her personal challenges in the most productive way someone can — to develop herself, Uscanga said.

Coe does things over and above what is necessary or required of her, Fairbanks said.

While gaining experience to further her own future, Coe remains committed to helping others and involving herself in the community around her, Fairbanks added.

“Having that awareness of how the broader community is important and how you can give back, at such a young age, is really special,” Fairbanks said.

“She’s not only focused on her own goals and career, but also she pulls others up with her.”

As the 2021 Louis and Betty Gardner Outstanding Senior, Coe wore the distinguished orange gown across the stage at graduation.

“When I was a freshman, I found out what an orange gown senior was,” Coe said. “I swore to myself as a freshman that I would be an orange gown senior but for all the wrong reasons.”

When she started her college career,

she tried to find her self-worth through achievements alone, aside from how she saw herself as a person, Coe said, but today, she stands confident in herself aside from her accomplishments.

Coe plans to earn a master’s degree in biology and has been accepted to the University of North Carolina-Greensboro to research transgenerational environmental epigenetics, she said. Her end goal is to work at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, she added.

“My background has been composed of many intertwining positives and negatives,” Coe said. “I have used that background as a springboard to higher ambitions. Now, my path forward shines as a beacon of light to me.”

AMY GARDNER

LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO

Georgia Blackwell Venus, Texas biochemistry and molecular biology

Honoring 2021 Dean’s Award of Excellence Recipients

Adrienne Blakey Stillwater, Oklahoma plant and soil sciences / agricultural communications

Seraiah Coe McKinney, Texas natural resource ecology and management / biology

Ridge Hughbanks Alva, Oklahoma agribusiness

Luke Muller Altus, Oklahoma plant and soil sciences / agribusiness

86 SUMMER/FALL 2021

Don’t Fence M he long days of building and fixing fence may soon be over.

Virtual fencing allows ranchers to put up fence from the comfort of their own homes.

The concept of virtual fencing first sparked an interest with Ryan Reuter and Laura Goodman about four years ago as a way to practice rotational grazing with no physical barriers.

Reuter, Oklahoma State University associate professor of animal and food sciences, researches beef cattle management and facilitates the Blue Stem Research Range where a virtual fencing pilot project is being conducted.

In the current research project, Reuter and Goodman use collars to control and track cattle behaviors in response to virtual fencing, said Goodman, assistant professor in the OSU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management.

88 SUMMER/FALL 2021

“When the animal approaches a boundary where it’s not supposed to be, the collar will beep at the animal,” Reuter said.

Virtual fencing operates through a GPS system the cattle wear around their necks, similar to a dog collar, Reuter said.

The GPS system allows Reuter and Goodman to program the collars for where they want the cattle to graze for a certain period of time.

Cattle have responded to the sound well, Reuter said.

On occasions when the cattle do not respond to the sound, “the collar gives an electronic stimulus to encourage the animal to stay in the area it’s supposed to be in,” Reuter said.

Reuter and Goodman work with Todd Parker, director of product and programs for Vence Inc., to conduct this project. Vence Inc. provides the

technology needed for Reuter and Goodman to conduct their research.

Right now, about 50 cows are being used for this project, Reuter said, and he plans to expand in the future. This technology has allowed Reuter and Goodman to come up with several ideas they hope to implement over time, he added.

Goodman would like to experiment by concentrating the cattle to certain areas of the pasture to make for grazed fire breaks, she said.

These fire breaks would protect land the cattle are grazing from wildfires without the use of heavy equipment like a bulldozer or mower, she added.

“We could create fire breaks to help control the spread of fires and protect critical structures,” Goodman said.

Virtual fencing also can keep cattle away from the sensitive areas in the

e Me In. pastures, like creek banks and ponds, to protect those areas from too much animal activity, Reuter said.

Kevin Wagner, OSU Oklahoma Water Resources Center director, plays an important role in this pilot project, as well.

Wagner received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund the next steps in the virtual fencing project.

“Putting in permanent fence to protect a riparian area can be a real issue for some landowners,” Wagner said.

Riparian areas include the banks of the river or the area between the land and any adjacent waterways, Wagner said.

Floods along with other natural disasters can take these fences out, Wagner added.

Virtual fences allow ranchers to keep their cattle where they’re

OSU faculty research unique fencing alternative

supposed to be even if these disasters occur, Wagner said.

When it comes to grazing management, most ranchers use electrical wire or permanent fence to cross fence their pastures, Wagner said. This means cattle have to be physically moved from one paddock to the next, he added.

“Virtual fencing allows ranchers a hands-off approach to achieve their grazing goals,” Wagner said.

While the advantages of using a virtual fence are substantial, learning how to use this technology comes with a curve, Reuter said.

With all the technology involved, planning ahead is crucial for this project to be successful, he added.

Moving forward in the project, Reuter plans to expand not only the number of cows but also the acreage they graze, he said.

Goats may be a primary target in expanding this technology into other species, he added.

“Goats are notoriously hard to contain with physical fencing, and we would like to use them in Oklahoma to really focus on some of our invasive species of weeds,” Reuter said.

Reuter, Goodman and Wagner have high hopes for the future of this project, Wagner said.

As the project is only a year old, they plan to continue expanding their team so they can expand the research that goes along with it, Reuter said.

CARLY GUMP

FLETCHER, OHIO

Beefmaster heifers wear GPS collars that control where cattle are allowed to roam.

Photo by Carly Gump.

COWBOY JOURNAL 89

DAWNING N s the first specks of light caress a white building, a young woman approaches the door.

Kneeling to adjust her battered pant leg, she’s overwhelmed with a memory.

Not long ago, she approached a different building to conduct her research. Thoughts of the challenges she faced there bring a grimace to her face.

However, like the sun, the old brick and mortar gave way to a new dawn.

During the 2018-2019 school year, Brittany Lippy, Oklahoma State University animal science doctoral candidate, conducted her undergraduate honors thesis at the original OSU Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center west of Stillwater.

“I had 30 individually stalled sheep,” 90 SUMMER/FALL 2021

Lippy said, “but those stalls were built for cattle.”

Lippy adapted the stalls for sheep by installing heavy floor mats to protect the sheep’s hooves, she said.

“I had to individually put hog panels down the middle of the stalls to make them smaller for the sheep,” she said.

Lippy experienced more challenges in the winter months, she said.

One cold night on the way home from Edmon Low Library, Lippy stopped to check the sheep and discovered a water leak, she said.

The pipes in the 1970s building could not withstand the belowfreezing temperatures, Lippy said.

The building was outdated, said Keith Owens, associate vice

president of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

Similar to Lippy, OSU faculty also had difficulties maintaining equipment in the aging facility, said Blake Wilson, animal and food sciences assistant professor.

“The squeeze chute we had was pretty old,” said Andrew Foote, animal and food sciences assistant professor.

Using up-to-date equipment, like a proper squeeze chute, is the best practice for accurate research and safety, Foote said.

The old facility was labor intensive for project preparation, Wilson said.

“If you wanted to run a research project out there, you had to have all hands on deck for a week or two just

NEW DAYS OSU Agriculture constructs new Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center

Graduate students arrive to the facility early to feed and water the research animals at the center. Photo by Braeden Coon.

trying to get the facility into usable shape,” Wilson said.

Faculty, staff and students faced problems with the old facility’s insulation and drainage systems, Foote said. Therefore, extra biosecurity precautions were necessary to prevent sample contamination, he added.

“The old facility did not prevent faculty and students from doing research,” Wilson said. “But, it was more of ‘we had to make it work’ because we had research to do.”

Conducting safe research involving animals is a constantly changing process, Owens said. Researchers take safety seriously, he added.

“The available technology and what we know about an animal’s wellbeing

has changed,” Owens said. “We needed a better facility.”

Changing expectations and challenges in the old facility were catalysts to a five-year process of researching and designing OSU’s new Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center, Owens said.

A committee formed within OSU Agriculture began designing a “dream” building, Wilson said. The committee had engineers and architects look at the existing structure, he added.

“The base foundation of the facility was in a state of disrepair,” Wilson said. “Even if we stripped everything out there, really there wasn’t anything worth saving.”

Visiting other institutions’ new,

similar facilities was a major aspect of the planning, Owens said.

Implementing successful elements from different facilities and altering less successful ones helped create the blueprint for OSU’s center, he added.

A $7.1 million budget constructed a 23,000-square-foot building consisting of three wings west of Stillwater, Oklahoma. The budget was funded internally with support from animal science alumni for maintenance costs, Owens said.

“The new design of the working facilities is vastly superior,” said Paul Beck, OSU animal and food sciences associate professor.

Each wing of the center has a unique use, Owens said. One is for COWBOY JOURNAL 91

The new cattle chute allows faculty, staff and students to safely monitor the health of cattle while protecting those involved from threat of injury. Operations include inserting cannula and catheters as well as completing medical checks. Safety is one of the most vital aspects of research involving animals. Photo by Braeden Coon.

92 SUMMER/FALL 2021

large animals, one is for smaller animals, and the other is for aquatic ecology, he added.

The large animal wing has two large rooms, each with metabolism stalls.

Owens said the building’s design prioritizes animal health and safety.

Upcoming projects in the facility include cattle nutrition trials, Foote said.

“In a metabolism trial, we’re looking at the source of fat in feedlot diets and the concentration of fat,” Foote said. “The trial is a factorial look at the effects of the type of fat on fiber digestion and feedlot finishing diets.”

The trial will compare commodity soybean oil to GMO soybean oil with a different fatty acid profile, Foote said.

“There’s a chance the oils may affect fiber digestion differently,” Foote said.

“We may be able to feed a little bit more fat to increase the energy density of the diet and not have negative effects on nutrient digestibility.”

The small animal wing consists of lab space and individual rooms with the ability to control lighting and temperature, Owens said.

Research involving chickens will look at probiotic use to avoid infection, Owens said. Limiting antibiotic use in animals has led to probiotics as a preventative measure, he added.

“The facility is designed so we can have separate rooms so the flow of air is independent of different treatments,” Beck said.

The third wing is unique unto itself, Owens said. The fisheries and aquatic ecology area is equipped to adjust light, temperature and humidity to replicate cave environments, he added.

“There are various endangered crayfish, salamanders and even fish we have not been able to do research on until now,” Owens said.

Lippy is intrigued by the aquacultural research planned for the facility, she said.

“Being from a mid-Atlantic state where aquaculture is the No. 2 agricultural industry,” Lippy said, “it is really cool to have aquacultural research done in a completely landlocked state.”

The facility will feature 10- and

500-gallon aquarium tanks. Varied sizes allow for diverse research trials, Owens said.

Researchers will look at how water opaqueness affects hunting habits of sportfish, like bass, by imitating reservoir ecosystems, Owens said. Other projects will look into fish growth and development, he added.

“Sport fisheries and the number of fishermen in the state outnumber the number of hunters,” Owens said. “This situation has a huge recreational and economic impact.”

Owens said funding for aquatic ecology will come from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the OSU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management.

“Just to have the ability to do aquatic ecology research makes us more valuable,” Lippy said. “Getting into different things that you would not expect coming from Oklahoma will put OSU on a really cool platform from a research perspective.”

Valuable research and facilities are important to OSU Extension personnel and prospective students, said Clint Rusk, head of the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

“In OSU Extension, we are charged to take research-based information and make recommendations to producers,” Beck said. “To make the best recommendations, research should flow right through OSU Extension and to producers so they can use this information as quickly as possible.”

Beck said having the facility at OSU will enable OSU Extension specialists to better serve producers.

Investments like the new Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center show prospective students advancement is a top priority, Rusk said.

Building a facility featuring cuttingedge technology shows dedication to the students’ education and research, he added.

“We do not just talk about it,” Rusk said. “We are living it, and here’s a building that shows we are putting our money where our mouth is. We say, ‘we need this,’ and we invested our money

Individual research stalls are equipped with feeders and waterers to ensure proper animal care and complete variable control. Photo by Braeden Coon.

to try to have the best possible facilities for our students and faculty.”

Foote said potential graduate students who have visited have been impressed with the new facility.

“There are not a lot of facilities at other universities that are similar to this one, especially combining the monogastric and aquacultural aspects in the same facility,” Foote said. “Just the aspects we have on the large animal side ­— this is certainly the newest one in the nation.”

The new facility is representative of OSU’s quality research, Wilson said.

“Having new technologies, clean stalls and brand new fencing is really appealing,” Lippy said, “especially to potential graduate students.”

Beck said the new facility sets a higher bar for conducting multidisciplinary research.

“The types of research we can do will be way ahead of what we’ve been able to do in the past,” Beck said.

Opening Jan. 15, 2021, the new Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center is available to all Oklahoma State University colleges and departments. For more information, contact Chris Richards, OSU Field and Research Service Unit director at chris.richards@okstate.edu.

BRAEDEN COON

MOUNTAIN VIEW, OKLAHOMA

COWBOY JOURNAL 93

FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE A ALUMNI EARLY CAREER

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Stephanie Rogers serves as the acting principal director of biotechnology for the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense

for Research and Engineering in Washington, D.C. Rogers received her bachelor’s degree in 2006 from Oklahoma State University and completed her doctorate in plant pathology at OSU in 2011.

During her time at OSU, Rogers held many leadership positions, served as a member of Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture, and received recognition for the OSU Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship.

In her current and prior positions, Rogers has played a large part in the development and implementation of strategic road maps for biotechnology that modernize national security capabilities to build a healthy, secure and resilient nation. Among a wide range of responsibilities, she is involved with biotechnology efforts across the U.S. government to advance capabilities for

the nation’s protection against biological threats, improve the stability of the economy, and create new opportunities for supply chain resiliency. In the words of her peers and mentors, Rogers’ vast expertise has set her career path at a higher level, unique to anyone who came before her.

Rogers embodies the culture of the Ferguson College of Agriculture. She has mentored a freshman entomology and plant pathology class as a guest speaker, sharing her career journey and the growth she experienced along the way. She advocates for the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and its programs to her colleagues and leaders in national security by highlighting the program’s innovation of merging plant pathology with forensic science to strengthen biodefense capabilities.

Sara Scott serves as the vice president of foodservice at Certified Angus Beef ® in Wooster, Ohio. Scott attended

Oklahoma State University where she received her bachelor’s degrees in agribusiness and marketing in 2007. She is a current member of the OSU Alumni Association and is known by her peers for her welcoming demeanor and professionalism that exemplifies the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

She began her career at Certified Angus Beef ® in 2007 and has since held multiple positions as she worked her way to earning her current role.

As vice president of foodservice, Scott leads a sales team nationwide and plays an integral role in the company by planning and executing strategy targeted toward the success of the Certified Angus Beef ® brand and its distributor and restaurant partners across the nation.

Aside from her successful career

at Certified Angus Beef ®, Scott is co-owner and operator of Scott Land and Cattle in Elk City, Kansas, and serves on the Montgomery County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. In 2015 she participated in the Kansas Farm Bureau Leadership Program, a year-long program that is limited to 10 participants who work to further develop agriculture and communities across the state.

In 2019, she and her husband, Travis, recieved the Montgomery County Conservation District Clyde Clubine Conservation Award for their dedication in resource conservation.

Since graduating from OSU, Scott has remained involved in the Ferguson College of Agriculture by interacting with current and past students through scholarships and internships.

94 SUMMER/FALL 2021

RE ALUMNI NEWS FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ALUMNI SOCIETY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kirby Smith

President Oklahoma City Central District

Haley Nabors

Vice President Enid, Oklahoma At-large Member

OSU ANNOUNCES CENTENNIAL HOMECOMING CELEBRATION The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association is announcing plans to host the centennial edition of America’s Greatest Homecoming Oct. 24-30, 2021. The nationally recognized celebration, which was first hosted by the Alumni Association in 1920, was postponed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“OSU’s centennial Homecoming is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our Cowboy family,” said Rob McInturf, OSU Alumni Association president. “Our staff and student volunteers have put a tremendous amount of work into planning it, and we look forward to welcoming home alumni and friends to celebrate OSU’s greatest tradition in the safest manner.”

OSU Athletics also is anticipating a return to full capacity at Boone Pickens Stadium. Accordingly, the Alumni Association will continue to closely monitor the situation with COVID-19 and make any necessary adjustments to Homecoming events and gatherings to ensure the health and safety of both students and alumni.

More than a dozen Homecoming events are expected to take place throughout the week leading up to the Kansas vs. OSU football game Oct. 30 at Boone Pickens Stadium.

The OSUAA is working on opportunities for hotel and ticket blocks for members. More information about Homecoming 2021 will be available at orangeconnection.org/homecoming.

WE ARE THE FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ALUMNI SOCIETY In January 2020, Oklahoma State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources was changed to the Ferguson College of Agriculture in honor of the $50 million gift from the Ferguson Family

Foundation to fund the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall. In celebrating with the college name change, we have changed our name from the CASNR Alumni Association to the Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Society.

Rick Reimer

Secretary Claremore, Oklahoma Northeast District

Dr. Cynda Clary

Executive Secretary Stillwater, Oklahoma

Philip Cowley

Morrison, Oklahoma At-large Member

Raylon Earls

Guymon, Oklahoma Northwest District

Mechelle Hampton Tulsa, Oklahoma Northeast District

Jon Marc Holt

Woodward, Oklahoma Northwest District

Amber McNeil

Elgin, Oklahoma Southwest District

Charles Rohla

Ardmore, Oklahoma Southeast District

Meg Stangl

Okarche, Oklahoma At-large Member

COWBOY JOURNAL 95

STEADFAST SUPPORT Our job is to serve and support you through the ever-changing challenges of a life in agriculture. From unpredictable weather to market shifts to global crisis, we are committed to supporting your financial needs. We remain dedicated to facing today’s challenges with you, while working toward a better tomorrow.

Call 800.800.4865 today or visit AgLoan.com A part of the Farm Credit System. Equal Opportunity Lender.

96 SUMMER/FALL 2021

HonoringOSU Agriculture Retirees Glenn Selk

Department of Animal and Food Sciences Glenn Selk retired from Oklahoma State University on Feb. 21, 2021, after a 48-year career.

Selk received his bachelor’s in animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his master’s at OSU. He then earned his doctoral degree in animal breeding and physiology at OSU. Selk served as an area extension specialist, a field director for the OSU

Alumni Association and an extension animal reproduction specialist. Since 2010, he has written the weekly Cow Calf Corner newsletter, presented it on “SUNUP,” and provided weekly management tips on KFRM radio.

“The highlights of my OSU career were always the interaction with cattle producers of Oklahoma,” Selk said.

In his retirement, Selk and his wife, Mary, plan to stay in Stillwater.

Joe Schatzer

Department of Agricultural Economics After a 38-year career, Joe Schatzer is set to retire from Oklahoma State University on July 2, 2021.

Originally from California, Missouri, Schatzer received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from the University of Missouri at Columbia and doctoral degree from Iowa State University, all with majors in agricultural economics.

Schatzer served OSU as an

agricultural economics professor and academic advising coordinator.

“While evaluating my career at OSU, I enjoyed helping students achieve their goals,” Schatzer said.

In his retirement, he and his wife, Pam, plan to move back to Missouri to spend time with extended family. They also will do some traveling in the U.S. and abroad.

Larry Sanders

Department of Agricultural Economics On July 1, 2021, Larry Sanders is set to retire after a 36-year career at Oklahoma State University.

Originally from Carlsbad, New Mexico, Sanders received his Bachelor of Art in sociology. In 1979, Sanders received his Master of Science from New Mexico State University. A small business endeavor led Sanders to complete his doctoral degree in economics at Colorado State University.

Sanders served as a professor focused on agricultural policy who assisted multiple times with the development of the U.S. Farm Bill.

He is known around campus for his unique and personable teaching style.

Sanders’ teaching and life philosophy is, “We are here on this planet for two reasons ­— to learn and to have fun — and sometimes we are blessed to do both at the same time.”

COWBOY JOURNAL 97

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Cowboy Journal Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership 448 Agricultural Hall Stillwater, OK 74078-6031

OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture Volume 23 Number 2 • Summer/Fall 2021

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Our Ferguson College Career Services team is here to guide you on your path to success. Let us help you discover, prepare, secure and thrive by providing you the tools and support to get you to your career destination!

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FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE CAREER SERVICES 136 Agricultural Hall | Stillwater, OK 74078 405.744.5395 | agriculture.okstate.edu

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VOLUME 23 NUMBER 2 • SUMMER/FALL 2021

RÉSUMÉ AND COVER LETTER

OSU FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

NAVIGATE YOUR FUTURE