Volume 24, Number 2 – Summer/Fall 2022

OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture Volume 24 Number 2 • Summer/Fall 2022

THE VOICE OF family agriculture

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Host Lyndall Stout To view full episodes and more, visit sunup.okstate.edu.

Editors Braden Payne Halle Roper Sydney Trainor

Featured Content

Managing Editor Shelly Peper Legg, Ph.D. Assistant Managing Editors Dwayne Cartmell, Ph. D. Audrey King, Ph. D. Linnea Langusch, M.S. Tyler Price, M.S. Angel Riggs, Ph.D. Quisto Settle, Ph.D.

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Fact Checker Haley Fair

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Graphics Coordinator Reagan Skow Online Media Coordinators Jaylinn Pfeifer Ariel Scholten Photo Coordinators Blair Cupps Maddie Neuschwander

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Sponsorship Coordinator Jill Scott Staff Dalee Barrick Reagan Calk Maddie Cox Brandy DeVous Emily Garrett Emily Gerstenkorn Lily Gisclair Amarie Griffeth Sarah Henderson Jencee Jarvis Bailey Lewis Hannah McCoon Erick Moreau Audrey Ochsner Madelyn Owens Abby Piccin Tré Smith Kelsey Vejraska Wade Yoder 4 SUMMER/FALL 2022

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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 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.

A Message from the Editors This Cowboy Journal is the culmination of four years of training beforehand and one semester of countless hours of work by more people than we could name.

We are so proud of what the staff was able to create to showcase their individual talents. A special thanks to the leadership team who helped make this a cohesive representation of our class.

We could not have produced this issue without help from Shelly Legg, Tyler Price, Braeden Coon, Sarah Drown, Mandy Gross, Todd Johnson, Kristin Knight, Melissa Mourer, Sarah Palmer, Samantha Siler, Lyndall Stout, the AGCM faculty or our Ferguson Family.

Though we put in the many hours and the hard work, none of this Cowboy Journal could have been brought to life without the stories of our Ferguson Family. Thank you for letting us share a piece of you with everyone else. We hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as we enjoyed the opportunity to tell them. Go Pokes!

— Braden, Halle and Sydney

On the Cover OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture Volume 24 Number 2 • Summer/Fall 2022

From meat and barbecue sauce to strawberries and candy, the food stories appear throughout this issue.

Photo by Amarie Griffeth.

Volume 24 Number 2 Summer/Fall 2022

Something to Offer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Small-Town Strawberries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Uniquely Situated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Calling Rural Veterinarians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Farm Kid to High Steaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Honoring Her Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Managing the Menace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 A Unique Welcome Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Ride for the Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Gardening for Everyone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Researching Compassion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Catching a Future in Fisheries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Candy Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Extending Her Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Conquering Oklahoma’s Pest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 An Enhanced Worldview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Bottles for Ransom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Grafting a Better Tomato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 From Crossroads to Careers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Irrigation Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Science Meets Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Abnormal Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Making His Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Progress with Probiotics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Behind the Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Growing New Beginnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Learning Without Leaving Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 A Legacy of Brotherhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 A Successful Balancing Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

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COWBOY JOURNAL 5

Kelli Payne serves as the first female president of the Oklahoma National Stockyards. Photo by Audrey Ochsner.

6 SUMMER/FALL 2022

SOMETHING TO

D

ust stirs and cattle bawl as the sun rises over the Oklahoma National Stockyards, nestled in the heart of Oklahoma City.

No stranger to the grit and determination the day will demand, Kelli Payne, Oklahoma National Stockyards president and Oklahoma State University alumna, greets the morning with a twinkle in her eye.

Payne grew up on her family’s farm in southwestern Oklahoma near Chickasha. From the time she was a child, her life has been defined by a balance of work and play.

“We worked a lot,” said Rita Wiedemann, Payne’s younger sister.

“But, I don’t think we perceived it as work. It was just how we were raised.”

Like most children, Wiedemann and Payne would hurry through their chores so they could have fun, playing cops and robbers or pulling pranks on one another, Wiedemann said.

Payne spent her free time reading anything she could get her hands on, Wiedemann said.

ANSI ALUMNA MAKES HER MARK ON OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURE “I loved to learn,” Payne said, “and was always an avid reader.”

In fourth grade, Payne joined the 4-H club at Friend School to show pigs.

Soon after, a friend asked Payne to be her partner in a team demonstration for the local talks contest.

“The first competition we entered I was woefully underprepared,” Payne said. “I had not disciplined myself to memorize the presentation even enough to wing it. I think we got honorable mention out of four teams.

“However, that contest gave me confidence to start being more verbal and get out of my shell because I wanted to do a better job,” she said.

After transferring to AmberPocasset High School in the ninth grade, Payne joined FFA. Soon after, she began competing in the FFA Creed competition. Throughout her time in the FFA program, she competed in the cooperatives, agribusiness and extemporaneous public speaking divisions as well as on the parliamentary procedure team.

The parliamentary procedure competition was the spark that lit the flame of Payne’s love for public speaking, Wiedemann said.

Payne’s natural talent for wooing an audience is one of the things Wiedemann admires most about her sister even today, she said.

Payne graduated from AmberPocasset High School in 1994 near the top of her class. The transition to OSU, however, proved to be difficult for her, she said.

“I like to say I went through college backward,” Payne said. “But, I don’t have any regrets. I guess I did college my way.”

Payne was the first in her family to attend a four-year institution and had enough scholarships to cover the first few years, she said.

When Payne left for college, her father told her the education she obtained while at OSU would not necessarily be in the classroom, she said.

Payne took this sentiment to heart, busying herself with activities like COWBOY JOURNAL 7

Since opening in 1910, the Oklahoma National Stockyards has processed more than 102,000,000 cattle. Photo by Audrey Ochsner.

joining the OSU Dairy Judging Team, participating in the college’s student council and the Dairy Science Club, and conducting research at what was known as the OSU Dairy Center.

“It was not unusual for me to wear my coveralls to class because I would leave and go to the dairy to do research,” she said. “I loved everything about it.”

However, Payne’s extracurricular activities left her with little time to commit to her studies, she said.

“After a couple of years, my grades were in the toilet,” she said. “My focus was just not where it needed to be.”

In the summer of 1997, Payne took an internship at Select Sires Inc. in Plain City, Ohio.

“When I got back to Oklahoma, there was a letter in the mail saying that OSU was not going to let me come back to campus,” she said. “I thought, ‘Well, what am I going to do now?’”

Throughout the next year, Payne worked intermittently for her father at the stockyards and spent seven months in Montana conducting research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Eventually, she returned to OSU for another semester. However, soon after, 8 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Payne left OSU again and returned to the stockyards. One night, after a long day of working cattle at the sale barn, her father sat her down and told her he would not allow her to work at the stockyards forever, pushing her to look for other jobs, Payne said.

When she said she did not feel qualified to work anywhere else, he joked she should apply to work for a congressman, she added.

“We kept selling cattle that night, and we sold all day Tuesday and into Wednesday morning,” Payne said. “By Friday, I had dropped my résumé off at Congressman Wes Watkins’ district office in Stillwater.”

The next week, Payne was running cattle in the stockyards and could hear the landline ringing in one of the booths along the main alley. Not wanting to lose momentum, she thought nothing of it until her father’s voice popped on over her radio, she said.

“He said, ‘Kelli, answer the phone in the booth. What have you done?

There’s a congressman on the phone,’” Payne said. “I jumped in there, and cattle were bawling, there was noise, and the gates were clanging. And it certainly was Congressman Wes Watkins.”

He asked her to come interview for a position with his office.

“She seemed to be an exceptional young lady who was mature in her thinking and very sincere about wanting to do a good job,” said Watkins, a former member of Congress representing southeastern Oklahoma and an OSU agricultural education alumnus.

Payne got the job and served as one of Watkins’ 18 staff members, eventually handling all agricultural concerns from constituents.

Payne worked with Watkins to strengthen rural economic development around the district, she said.

Watkins said Payne’s sincerity and willingness to listen made her skilled in recognizing a community’s issues and identifying sustainable solutions.

“That started a love in my heart for helping,” Payne said, “not just helping our fellow citizens but also helping to build communities.”

She worked for Watkins until his retirement and helped him start his non-profit ministry, the Matthew 25:40 Mission Inc. “I felt like I could always count on Kelli to do the best job possible,” Watkins said. “Yes, indeed, if I was

PAYING IT FORWARD

Kelli Payne guides a tour of the stockyards. Photo by Audrey Ochsner.

serving in office again, I would look to hire Kelli Payne or someone like her.”

After leaving her role at Watkins’ office in Oklahoma City, Payne returned for one final semester at OSU. She graduated in Spring 2014 as a Top 10 Animal Science Senior with a 4.0 GPA for the semester.

“I guess I got my focus back,” Payne said with a chuckle.

Payne applied for 212 jobs after graduation, she said. The 212th time was a charm, and she began working for the Stillwater Main Street Association as its coordinator.

Since then, she has worked a vast variety of roles, from Guthrie Main Street coordinator to house painter and from small business owner to AmeriCorps volunteer.

“Then, I got a call to come back to the Oklahoma National Stockyards,” Payne said with a laugh. “No surprise.”

She worked in order buying for seven years before transitioning to her role as Stockyards City Main Street coordinator. Eventually, Payne shifted to a role as the stockyards’ liaison, and in 2019, became the first female president of the company.

“God’s going to open doors for you,

and the least you can do is peek inside,” Payne said, quoting a friend.

To go from applying for so many jobs when first entering the industry to having offers practically fall in to her lap has been a humbling experience, she said.

“I owe it to a lot of people who took chances on me,” Payne said.

“I don’t know where I’ll go next,” Payne added. “I hope I stay where I’m at for a while, but it’s just been a whale of a ride.”

Wiedemann said she has not been surprised by her older sister’s unique career path.

In addition to her numerous roles in the agricultural industry, Payne assisted Wiedemann in kick-starting Growing Paynes. The pair has turned the family farm into this thriving agritourism venue, Wiedemann said.

“Kelli just wants to experience,” Wiedemann said. “She wants to experience everything she can and wants to make sure she makes a difference in every position she has.”

Payne said she encourages all individuals involved in agriculture to strive to make a difference, as well.

“Whatever your role is in

Kelli Payne attributes many of her fondest memories to her time on the Oklahoma State University Dairy Judging Team.

When Payne heard the OSU Dairy Judging Team was the only animal science judging team without sufficient reoccurring funds to provide financial support to its members, she went to work.

Through a phone campaign and generous donations, she had helped to secure an endowment, a fund that generates enough interest each year to cover travel expenses and provides scholarships to team members.

Payne and her friend Dave Newcomb also created the Kelli Payne and Dave Newcomb Annual Fellowship, which supports a U.S. Military veteran working toward a master’s degree in the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

“I’m obviously not a $10 million donor at all,” Payne said.

“Sometimes $100 is all we can do.

“It’s the least I can do to give back and let students who need someone to take a chance on them to be able to succeed,” she said, “because I certainly owe a debt of gratitude to a lot of people who took a chance on me.” agriculture, whether you’re in southwest Oklahoma running cattle or you happen to be in the café at the same time as your state legislator, you’re an expert to somebody,” she said.

“We’ve all got something to offer,” Payne added, “and we play a much bigger role than we ever give ourselves credit for.”

AUDREY OCHSNER

STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA

COWBOY JOURNAL 9

S

Strawberries are packed with vitamins, fiber and high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols. Photo by Halle Roper.

10 SUMMER/FALL 2022

small-town

S T R AW B E R R I E S

W

OSU EXTENSION HELPS PRESERVE OKLAHOMA STRAWBERRY FARMING

hen thinking of Oklahoma, Strawberry Capital of the World may not come to mind. However, Stilwell, a small town in the Ozark foothills of eastern Oklahoma, has held the official title in the state since 1949.

Stilwell berries are known for being bright red, small, sweet, flavorful and juicy, said Jennifer Patterson, Adair County OSU Extension director.

Stilwell is good for growing strawberries because of the rocky, slightly acidic soil and good drainage.

Below the ground in Stilwell lays chert rock, which breaks down into the soil and gives the Stilwell strawberries a unique taste, Patterson said.

Stilwell strawberry farmers have another advantage when it comes to producing such special strawberries.

“The Adair County OSU Extension is a resource strawberry growers can utilize for additional information to help maximize their production,” Patterson said. “We are proud to help strawberry growers learn how to market and use social media to benefit their business, as well.”

The Adair County OSU Extension office has stepped up to provide services to strawberry growers and to help with the issue of decreasing strawberry acreage.

In the early 1950s, more than 1,500 acres were used for strawberry production in Adair County, Patterson said. Today, the county averages 20 acres of commercial strawberry production annually with only seven strawberry farms.

“The strawberry growers, along with the Adair County OSU Extension staff, are exploring ideas to raise public awareness of the impact the growers have on their community,” Patterson said.

The strawberry growers use the soil- and plant tissue-testing services Adair County OSU Extension offers.

After growers collect samples from the farms, the staff sends them to the OSU Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Lab or the OSU Soil Testing Lab in Stillwater for testing and results.

Educating growers about maximizing plant production through fertilizer levels has been a great asset for those producers, Patterson said.

Adair County OSU Extension staff also assists the Stilwell community by working with the Strawberry Growers Association, the youth berry contest, and the annual Stilwell Strawberry Festival contest and auction.

“More than 20,000 people come to the annual Stilwell Strawberry Festival,” Patterson said.

“People from the outside do not realize how much economic drive strawberry growers bring into our county,” Patterson said. “People from Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas come to buy strawberries — the audience strawberry farmers reach is impressive for our little county.”

Bobby Doyle, member of the Strawberry Growers Association and strawberry farm owner since 1957, said the Adair County OSU Extension staff members always offer a helping hand to the strawberry growers in the area.

Doyle said he uses the soil testing on a regular basis.

“Without the soil fertility testing, successful growing is a shot in the dark and a hope for the best,” Doyle said.

Doyle said he is an annual particiant and has competed in the Stilwell Strawberry Festival contest and auction since he started growing strawberries. His success comes from hard work, organizational skills and help from Adair County OSU Extension programs, he added.

2022 marks the 75th year for the Stilwell Strawberry Festival. Doyle said he encourages those who have not eaten a Stilwell strawberry to come and purchase a flat of berries at the festival, which occurs on the second Saturday in May each year.

COWBOY JOURNAL 11

Black plastic placed over raised strawberry plant beds greatly reduces weed growth. Photo by Todd Johnson.

“Once you taste a Stilwell strawberhis family have taken the issue into ry, you will come back year after year,” their own hands with the help of Doyle said.

Adair County OSU Extension to raise With the decreasing number of awareness about the need for new strawberry growers and the increasing strawberry growers. numbers of festival attendees, pro“My family’s goal is to get youth viding enough involved with the strawberries is plants,” Miller said.

ONCE YOU TASTE increasingly dif“Reaching one kid ficult each year, is one more grower Doyle said. than we had before.”

A STILWELL “Our strawMiller said he berries, unlike donated 700 strawSTRAWBERRY, YOU those in the groberry plants to local cery store, have a schools, 4-H clubs WILL COME BACK YEAR shelf life of 1 to 2 and FFA chapters days,” said Bryce for youth to learn Miller, owner how to grow strawAFTER YEAR. of Miller Farms berries. With the BOBBY DOYLE and president of help of Adair County the Strawberry OSU Extension, the Growers Association. “The decrease contest allows youth who produced of growers also has an impact on not strawberries to compete. having enough strawberries to sell to Wyatt Davis, sixth grader at Zion people visiting for the festival.”

Public Schools near Stilwell, parThis past year, Miller said he and ticipated in the 2021 Adair County 12 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Strawberry Contest. Davis said his favorite part of the experience was staying after school to water and cover his strawberry plants, which were located in the school garden.

“I wish to continue strawberry farming as a hobby when I get older,” Davis said.

Miller said he is excited to continue and grow this event in hopes of developing new interest in strawberry growing. Miller and his family along with Adair County OSU Extension are working to improve the event and contest for the coming years, he added.

“I want to continue to drive by the sign in town that reads Strawberry Capital of the World for many years to come,” Miller said.

JENCEE JARVIS

HULBERT, OKLAHOMA

Mari Chinn grew up in urban Oakland, California, and began working at OSU in January 2021. Photo by Ariel Scholten.

14 SUMMER/FALL 2022

G

Uniquely SITUATED

NATIVE CALIFORNIAN LEADS IN FERGUSON AND CEAT

rowing up in urban Oakland, California, Mari Chinn never imagined a future intertwined with agriculture.

Before receiving her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in biosystems engineering, her perspectives of farming primarily included highway views, Chinn said.

Now, Chinn heads the OSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering within the Ferguson College of Agriculture and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. She also serves as the interim director of the Biobased Products and Energy Center.

Since starting in January 2021, Chinn has used her specialized research knowledge along with her personal background to lead a complex department, she said.

“I would be on golf courses with nut trees, smell the cow pastures, and see the flooded areas going from Oakland to Tahoe as part of my unwitting knowledge of agriculture,” Chinn said. “I liked biology and math, so I did undergraduate research in the department of biological and agricultural engineering at the University of California, Davis.

“I received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship,” she said. “It allowed me to branch out into different spaces.”

As a master’s student and later a doctoral student at the University of Kentucky, she gained a deeper understanding for agriculture through her microbial research pursuits and the

sheer proximity of farms, she said.

California, Kentucky and North After completing her degrees, she purCarolina, Chinn brings a rich backsued a professorship at North Carolina ground to her position at OSU, said State University, where she stayed for Ron Elliott, BAE department head 18 years. emeritus. As the first woman and first “Then, someone from Oklahoma person of color to lead the department, State called,” Chinn said. “I saw the she serves as an outstanding role modpotential to have a leadership role outel, he added. side of my own research and teaching.”

Danielle Bellmer, BAE professor, Chinn has a said, 20 years ago widespread imshe was the first SHE IS THE KIND OF pact across BAE by female faculty assisting faculty and member in BAE. graduate students “When I started, PERSON YOU WANT with research and there were only grant applications, four female facTO WORK FOR YOUR said Randy Raper, ulty members in OSU Ag Research the whole College ENTIRE LIFE. assistant director. of Engineering, “The students Architecture JANA MOORE and faculty alike and Technology,” respect her,” Raper Bellmer said. said. “She is engaging and has been “Today in BAE, it is close to 50% fecreating a common vision for people to male in both faculty and students.” work toward.”

A lot of people in leadership put He said Chinn’s vision includes up walls or lose their personality, building up the agricultural systems but Chinn does not, Bellmer said. technology program, a new major Chinn’s leadership style is marked by housed within BAE. Although the transparency, honesty and communiprogram was in development before ty-building, she said. her arrival, Chinn spent time asking “It takes time to break through questions to solve problems before stereotypes and allow time for people they arose, Raper said. to see role models,” Bellmer said. “Dr. “What is really engaging about Dr. Chinn is certainly one for a lot of peoChinn is she didn’t come from a rural ple these days.” background, but she recognized the Another hallmark of Chinn is being part of agriculture she could identify a good listener, Bellmer said. Making with,” Raper said. “She’s been able to sure to get input from everyone, espemake an impact and be a role model for cially those who typically might not other people who are similar.” speak up, allows for different perspecWith academic experience in tives to be heard, Bellmer added.

COWBOY JOURNAL 15

Mari Chinn (left) and her three kids, Dakota, 12, Cody, 10, and Carson, 10, cheer on the OSU Cowboy Football Team during the 2021 season.

Photo courtesy of Mari Chinn.

“I do recognize that even though it’s never my intent to be a model for anybody, it does help for many young women and young women minorities to see if I’m in this position, they can be, too,” Chinn said.

As someone who has worked in the department through multiple department heads, Jana Moore, BAE undergraduate academic program coordinator, remarked Chinn has a unique ability to connect with others.

“Dr. Chinn just has an energy that makes you excited to work for and alongside her,” Moore said. “When you feel seen and are working toward a common goal, it is a very comfortable environment.”

Chinn’s ability to put an emphasis on camaraderie for faculty and staff has been well received, Moore said.

“Watching her interact with longtime donors her first year was almost baffling because Chinn did it so well,” Moore said. “She shows you do not need to be an alumnus yourself to 16 SUMMER/FALL 2022

connect with the Ferguson family, and she showed the department’s deep appreciation with excellence.”

As someone not from a rural background herself, Moore said Chinn represents an accurate swath of students who are not rural either.

“When I meet with prospective students, they sometimes ask if they will fit in without a commercial agriculture background,” Moore said. “It is great to be able to let them know the department head grew up in the city and represents agriculture and engineering so well.”

Growing up a golfer, basketball player and involved community member, Chinn said she loved where and how she grew up.

“I don’t deny any one aspect of my identity and neither does the department,” Chinn said. “What I can offer with my cultural experiences and living as a mixed-race person is being open to everyone and anyone.”

The department is an integration of

agriculture, life sciences and engineering, Chinn said.

The faculty, staff and students in BAE work together to make a difference in people’s lives, she added.

“Dr. Chinn really has brought a new life to the department,” Moore said.

“She is the kind of person you want to work for your entire life.”

Chinn’s care for people, work-life balance, strong focus, impressive intellect, and passion for biosystems and agricultural engineering are just a few of her characteristics that inspire those around her, Elliott said.

“Why do I do what I do?” Chinn asked. “I always want to try to add value to people’s lives. That’s the one reason I do what I do.”

ARIEL SCHOLTEN

SEBASTOPOL, CALIFORNIA

CALLING Rural Veterinarians OSU AND OKLAHOMA WORK TO FILL RURAL VETERINARIAN POSITIONS

T

he sun rises over rural Oklahoma. Tools neatly line the veterinary box, prepared to assist in a day of unknowns. The phone rings alongside the morning cup of coffee, and a rural veterinarian starts the day.

Rural veterinarians are an enormous asset to a community, said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, director of continuing education for the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and beef cattle specialist for OSU Extension.

Veterinarians are critical in helping with not only animal health but also food safety, public health, education and military services, said Biggs, who is an alumna of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and the OSU-CVM. “Agriculture is one of the top industries in Oklahoma,” Biggs said.

“It is at the heart of all things good in Oklahoma. Rural communities are focused largely on agriculture, especially animal agriculture.”

A recent shortage of rural veterinarians has brought challenges to rural Oklahoma, Biggs said.

However, rather than being discouraged, State of Oklahoma officials, the veterinary community, and OSU administrators and faculty are

committed to overcome these challenges in the most effective manner, Biggs said.

Dr. Rod Hall, Oklahoma state veterinarian and OSU-CVM alumnus, said he attributes the state’s veterinarian shortage to the salary-to-student debt ratio, the need for emergency calls, the rural lifestyle, the misconception of fair pay for veterinarian services, and the hard work that goes into being a rural veterinarian.

“We have to figure out how to help students get into veterinary school,” Hall said, “and how to help them be successful after graduation.”

In 2021, 718 students applied to OSU’s veterinary medicine program, and 106 were accepted. Of these applicants, 171 Oklahoma residents competed for the 58 spots reserved for in-state students. The remainder competed for the 48 out-of-state spots.

The OSU-CVM has implemented programs to allow veterinary medicine students the ability to gain hands-on experience as well as networking and job opportunities with an emphasis in fostering sustainable veterinary practices, Biggs said.

“OSU’s Integrated Beef Cattle Program is a cross-disciplinary partnership across veterinary medicine,

In 2021, the USDA NIFA distributed $1,250,000 to rural veterinarians for the Rural Practice Enhancement program.

Photo by Maddie Neuschwander.

COWBOY JOURNAL 17

who are being successful at hiring animal science, agricultural economveterinary associates are beginning to ics and extension,” Biggs said. “This understand that they’re going to have program addresses the current chalto pay more and give some benefits to lenges in veterinary medicine and puts graduates,” Hall said.

20 practicing veterinarians learning One recent OSU veterinary medialongside 20 veterinary students to cine alumnus has already made strides help them develop various skills.” toward a debt-free veterinary mediWill Shelby, 2021 OSU animal cine career, Biggs said. science alumnus and first-year OSU “An alumnus veterinary medicine in our program student, has taken SEEING THE has been out for advantage of the two years with a scholarships and six-figure debt programs offered DIFFERENCE YOU and has already through the OSUpaid that back,” CVM. Shelby said he MAKE IN RURAL Biggs said. is thankful for the “There is oppormany opportunities COMMUNITIES AND tunity out there. he has received and Together through looks forward to his education, both future career.

BUILDING THOSE from the underDr. Bob McCraw, graduate level mixed animal CONNECTIONS IS AN and the College veterinarian and of Veterinarian OSU-CVM alumAWESOME THING TO Medicine, nus, said the OSU turns out student-debt crisis DO EVERY DAY. practice-ready is one of the biggest veterinarians. We challenges facing WILL SHELBY support them all recent veterinary the way through.” medicine graduates.

Supporting veterinarians and aspirHowever, veterinary medicine has taken initiative in combating this issue ing veterinarians is a task that relies on community support, Biggs said. nationally, he said.

Rural Oklahoma has communities The U.S. Department of Agriculture with students who have the potential Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment to be tremendous assets to veterinary Program will pay up to $25,000 each medicine, Biggs said. year toward education loans to eligible “If I ask a grade-school class, ‘How veterinarians, according to the USDA. many of you would be interested in The program requires recipients to being a veterinarian?’ there’s always a work at least three years in shortage lot of hands,” Biggs said. “I want each zones designated by the National student who raises a hand to know that Institute of Food and Agriculture. they can.”

This year, up to seven Oklahoma In Oklahoma, multiple families have veterinarians could be nominated for the loan repayment program, Hall said. a long line of veterinarians, Biggs said.

Having a mother who was a veterinarOklahoma is one of the states with ian allowed Biggs to see the number of the greatest number of nominations opportunities veterinary medicine can for the program, he said, and officials offer as did being surrounded by posiencourage a multitude of different tive advocates for veterinary medicine, veterinary practices to apply for this she added. program. Hall said he also hopes to Shelby also had strong veterinary see older practices increase pay and role models throughout his life, he resources for graduates. said, including his father, Dr. Troy “The people in rural Oklahoma 18 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Shelby. Will Shelby found his passion for veterinary medicine early in his life, he said.

Will Shelby, who grew up in Madill, Oklahoma, said veterinarians make a difference through their work with rural communities and as advocates for the agricultural industry.

“I believe that to cattle producers, especially in a rural area, having a good veterinarian they can plan with and come together with is really vital to their successes, especially since cattle producers work on such tight margins,” Will Shelby said. “Anything veterinarians can do to increase efficiency or decrease death loss helps bring success to their businesses.”

The relationship between veterinarians and their clients is similar to a partnership, Biggs said. Veterinarians operate with the goal of saving their clients money, she said.

Supporting rural veterinarians sets off a chain reaction of helping a long list of small businesses, she added.

“As a rural veterinarian, you automatically are considered an upstanding citizen,” Hall said. “People value your expert opinion. You will have opportunities to be involved in civic organizations.”

Serving the rural community as a veterinarian can be a privilege, Will Shelby said. However, drawing a line after business hours is a difficult task for rural vets, he added.

Current veterinarians and aspiring veterinarians must know their boundaries and when to say no, McCraw said.

Often, saying no is difficult but necessary when prioritizing your work-life balance, he added.

“You can really make a difference as a veterinarian,” Will Shelby said.

“Seeing the difference you make in rural communities and building those connections is an awesome thing to do every day.”

MADDIE COX

EAGLE POINT, OREGON

Will Shelby examines a fecal sample in an OSU-CVM lab. As a student at OSU-CVM, Shelby learns the fundamentals of identifying potential illnesses in different species. Photo by Maddie Cox. COWBOY JOURNAL 19

FARM KID OSU ALUMNUS RETIRES AFTER FOUR DECADES AT TYSON FOODS INC.

Tyson International Fresh Meats primarily markets beef and pork. Photo by Amarie Griffeth.

20 SUMMER/FALL 2022

TO HIGH

D STEAKS W

hat is it like to walk in the footsteps of giants while blazing one’s own trail?

Ask Rob Shuey.

In December 2021, Shuey concluded his career voyage, a nearly 41-year journey at Tyson Foods Inc., as the senior vice president of Tyson International Fresh Meats.

Reaching such career prestige was a marathon, not a sprint, Shuey said. He ran his race with principle and diligence, believing every step mattered, he said.

Shuey first developed a passion for the agricultural industry in Springfield, Ohio, where he was born and raised, he said. Picture a full-scale operation with crops and cattle — plus five young boys. While it sounds like chaos mixed with many challenges for his mother, Shuey said with a chuckle, this upbringing brings him great pride.

“Growing up on a farm makes you self-responsible,” Shuey said. “We did a lot of things on our own. We pretty much never got in trouble — and we could have — but we seldom did. That is because of how responsible we were and how seriously we took the operations on the farm.”

The farm is where he learned to work independently while also being a

team player, he said. Farming takes every individual intentionally playing his or her role, a lesson Shuey has carried with him, he said.

When the time came for Shuey to continue his education, he allowed the reputation of Oklahoma State University to guide him 829 miles from the farm and his family, a risk that came with rewards greatly exceeding his expectations, he said.

“I originally didn’t know anybody,” Shuey said, “so I had to be self-reliant, but I also had to communicate and meet people.”

Soon, Shuey created lifelong relationships along with something else — a new, unexpected passion.

Sometimes, life does not go as planned. To continue to fuel his desire for learning about livestock, Shuey hoped to work at the OSU Purebred Beef Center, he said.

Instead, he found himself working at the meat lab — and not just for a semester, but for three years of his college experience, Shuey said.

Little did Shuey know, this pivot would set the rest of his life in motion.

“I saw myself, hopefully, on the livestock team, but the meat team was new, and I didn’t know much about it,” Shuey said.

COWBOY JOURNAL 21

Roby Shuey and Mary Kalka-Shuey received the 2022 Dr. Robert Totusek Brand of Excellence Award from the OSU Animal Science Alumni Association.

Photo by Ariel Scholten.

Shuey decided to embrace all the university had to offer and joined the 1979 OSU Meat Judging Team, he said.

“I realized if I knew more about the meat business through the meat team, it would probably help me on the livestock end, which it did,” he said.

Under the direction of OSU Livestock Judging Team coach Bob Kropp, Shuey fulfilled his dream of competing on the 1980 OSU Livestock Judging Team, he said.

Classes. Practices. Contests. Repeat.

Shuey found himself in a rhythm of dedication to each team, he said.

However, the list of unforeseen benefits associated with his decision to join the meat team continued.

“That’s where I met my wife, Mary, when you get down to it,” Shuey said.

As classmates and teammates, the two were often in the same circles, Mary Kalka-Shuey said.

“We found out we had a lot in 22 SUMMER/FALL 2022

common,” his wife and life partner of 40 years said. “A lot of that was in our goals, morals and ethics. Those kinds of things drew us together.”

At the time, Kalka-Shuey was the only female on the OSU Meat Judging Team, she said, and it came with a great time commitment.

“We had to go to Oklahoma City every Saturday morning,” Kalka-Shuey said. “We had to all get in a car on campus and drive to OKC. Then, we would work out at the Wilson plant early in the morning — and we would stop for breakfast on the way home.

“The time together on the team allowed us the opportunity to get to know each other better,” she said.

The Shueys also had many of the same classes and would get together to work on assignments and study for tests, she added.

While his wife was the greatest gift to come from the meat team,

Shuey said, he also received another life-changing, powerful opportunity.

“I would have never had this job if I hadn’t been in Stillwater because when I was on the meat judging team is when I first went to an Iowa Beef Processors beef plant,” Shuey said. “That’s when I became familiar with IBP, and then Tyson eventually bought IBP.” In the summer following Shuey’s junior year at OSU, he earned an internship at IBP, which set his career in motion, he said.

“When I was in that internship, I saw the youthfulness of the company,” Shuey said, “and that was a deciding factor that led me to work at IBP.” Shuey said the leadership of IBP at the time was aggressive, which was exactly what he was looking for following his graduation from OSU in 1981 with an animal science bachelor’s degree.

“They were not afraid to try new and innovative ideas in the meat and livestock industry,” he said. “We were doing things our competition wasn’t doing, and that continues today.”

The long, hard hours were gone in the blink of an eye because of the company culture, Shuey said.

“I was given — and earned — really neat opportunities in the company and the industry,” Shuey said. “All I had to do was continue to work hard, and the company would continue to move me around — and it was a lot of fun.”

During Shuey’s time at IBP and Tyson, he was willing to learn to do any role, which exposed him to an abundance of knowledge about the company and the industry, he said.

“I have been mostly in sales, and that includes variety meats, rendered products, trim sales, boxed beef, hides and tannery as well as margin management,” Shuey said. “Margin management is being in charge of pricing the product.

“So in other words, I was involved in the pricing of the beef as well as the pricing of the hides,” he said.

Shuey and his team priced all of the beef, including the Certified Angus Beef, he said.

“That is an aggressive play on a

daily basis, where you’re trying to figure out what the markets are, using supply and demand fundamentals, and how to make the best decision for the customers and the company,” Shuey said. “You’ve got that much business in your hands. It’s pretty neat.”

Through margin management, Shuey said he began to take a particular interest in another sector of the business — the international markets.

“When we sold meat internationally,” Shuey said, “I started to price and negotiate it, and that started to intrigue me.”

During this time, Shuey absorbed all he could learn from his mentor — Roel Andriessen, who was Shuey’s predecessor as the senior vice president of Tyson International Fresh Meats.

Tyson values mentorship and future plans, specifically succession plans, Shuey said. He stayed focused and diligent until the final piece of his succession plan came together — getting to walk in Andriessen’s career footsteps, Shuey said.

“In that position, I was responsible for nearly all of our fresh meat international sales,” Shuey said. “That’s a $4 billion piece of the business.”

Much more goes into international meat sales than what one may think, Shuey said.

“Selling meat is one thing,” he said, “but learning about the different cultures around the world like those in Japan, Taiwan and Korea or in the Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia is impactful. If you do not go to visit those various countries and see it for yourself, you can’t understand those markets.”

When Shuey stepped into his final leadership role, he made it a priority to learn more about the needs and cultures of his customers, he said, including using his time to incorporate more travels to strengthen the international markets.

“We’re trying to understand their business better,” Shuey said. “We visit a lot of stores. We tour their restaurants. We learn their culture, and we learn what they need.”

For example, some Asian customers that aren’t consumed in the U.S., and prefer smaller cuts of meat compared we add value to them by selling them to the U.S. consumer, he said. internationally, which all goes back to Because of his travels, Shuey took the bottom line and adds revenue for suggestions back to the production the producers,” he added. floor to reimagine cuts of meat in ways Even with such positive strides, the that could be more equation known appealing to citizens as supply and in other countries, demand, and the I AM THANKFUL FOR he said. role he plays in “We also made the equation, THE OPPORTUNITY the conscious decontinues to get cision to do more more complex TO TRY TO SUPPORT business in what as consumwe refer to as the ers change emerging markets,” nationally and PRODUCERS. THAT’S Shuey said. “Those internationally, are markets the Shuey said.

WHERE IT ALL STARTS, U.S. is not strong in “The younger that we know are consumers do SO IF I HAVE BEEN developing, such as not want to take Central America, the time to prep South America and a meal for two ABLE TO HELP THE Southeast Asia. or three hours,” “We believe these Shuey said.

CATTLE FEEDER OR countries could “We’ve got to become larger conlook at what the THE HOG PRODUCER, sumers of U.S. beef consumer deand pork,” he added. mands. We need A decision like to continue to be TO ME, I HOPE THAT’S this is purposeful, innovative and Shuey said. look at how we BEEN MY BIGGEST “We are trying to prepare products create more demand, in a more usCONTRIBUTION TO THE er-friendly and which adds more value and more reveconsumer-ready INDUSTRY. nue, which goes back package.” to our bottom line,” And yet, even ROB SHUEY Shuey said. “Then, with leading it goes back to the the charge in so producer. The more revenue we get out many crucial conversations, Shuey alof an animal, the more we can pay a ways humbly comes back to the basics, producer for that animal.” he said.

Shuey prides himself in the oppor“When we go on vacation, Mary tunity to serve the industry by adding doesn’t even ask what we are doing value to the animal through marketing anymore,” Shuey said. “She knows I am channels, he said. going to walk through the meat case at “In 2021, the U.S. industry set revarious grocery stores and markets, no cords for both beef volume and dollars matter where we are, to see what is inwe exported,” Shuey said. “In terms novative. I try to better visualize what of the total value on a per head basis the consumer needs.” exported, we achieved more than $400 While it may seem unnecessary to per head for beef and more than $60 complete such a task after years of per head for pork. working in the industry, the act comes “We take the parts of the animal back to something much bigger.

COWBOY JOURNAL 23

Shuey cares about each individual and travel funds,” said Gretchen Mafi, who makes up American agriculture, OSU Department of Animal and Food he said.

Sciences Ralph and Leila Boulware “I am thankful Endowed Chair. for the opportuni“They welcome us WHEN YOU WORK ty to try to support and always show producers,” Shuey us their owboy said. “That’s loyalty when we HARD AND YOU’VE where it all starts, go to Dakota City, so if I have been Nebraska, for our BEEN BLESSED, IT’S able to help the international judgcattle feeder or ing contest.”

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY the hog producEach time, the er, to me, I hope students learn TO GIVE BACK. that’s been my bigfrom Shuey’s ungest contribution selfish dedication, MARY KALKA-SHUEY to the industry.”

Mafi said.

Shuey also has “When you a passion for the future of the agriculwork hard and you’ve been blesstural industry, Kalka-Shuey said. ed, it’s your responsibility to give When the Shueys were members of back,” Kalka-Shuey said. “Judging the meat judging team, the university team scholarships enable students to provided travel, but the team members participate more fully without finanwere responsible for many expenses cial worry, as they know their travel associated with competing, she said. expenses will be covered.

“The Shueys are contributors to “It feels great to be able to help the OSU judging teams’ scholarships students in this way,” she added. “We

were both blessed with wonderful mentorship at the university.”

The Shueys love giving back to those around them with financial gifts and their time, she said.

Their contributions to others — past, present and future — have not gone unnoticed, said Megan Smith, OSU Animal Science Alumni Association executive director.

To honor their contributions, the couple received the 2022 Dr. Robert Totusek Brand of Excellence Award.

“The award was first presented in 2014 by the OSU Animal Science Alumni Association in recognition of an individual’s service and support to the association,” Smith said.

“Rob and Mary are strong supporters of the university and have a passion for giving back to OSU,” Smith said.

AMARIE GRIFFETH CUSHING, OKLAHOMA

Feeding your

Yes, the ORIGINAL. L I V E S T O C K for 130 years

HIDEAWAY

A Stillwater Tradition Since 1957

405-372-4777 | Hideaway Pizza, 230 S Knoblock St Stillwater, OK 74074

24 SUMMER/FALL 2022

800-364-6804 | stillwatermill.com 800-364-6804 stillwatermill.com

Now residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kathy (left) and David Winslow support and represent OSU every chance they get with America’s brightest orange being a wardrobe staple. Photo by Abby Piccin.

Honoring

W

her father

hen Albert E. “Al” Darlow was selected in 1953, by O.S. Wilham, then president of Oklahoma A&M College, to become the dean of agriculture, the role was not his first or last effort in having an impact on the university.

“Education was always important to him,” said Kathy Winslow, Darlow’s daughter. “Agriculture was very important to him, as well. He taught us that without a good agricultural foundation, the lifestyle that we all have would not exist.

“We wanted to give to the New Frontiers project to honor his legacy with the naming of the assistant dean’s office,” she said.

DONORS OF NEW FRONTIER PROJECT HONOR PAST DEAN

In Winslow’s childhood, the Darlow family resided on a small farm north of Stillwater on Admiral Road. The farm was surrounded by empty lots on the edge of town until the university began to boom and grow before their eyes, Winslow said. Soon, a neighborhood surrounded the family’s property, one of those neighbors being her future husband, David Winslow.

“Growing up, everyone in Stillwater knew each other,” Kathy Winslow said.

“We love OSU because it’s who we are,” she added, “and it’s important that we recognize and celebrate the growth of the university and the individuals who have made it all possible.”

Darlow’s contributions go beyond

his accomplishments and titles, his daughter said. His dedication to his students paired with his dynamic leadership qualities were what truly made a difference, she said.

“Dr. Darlow was known as an iconic stockman, evaluator of livestock, educator and administrator with skills recognized nationally and internationally for decades,” said Bob Kropp, professor emeritus of the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “He was instrumental in establishing a foundation of excellence in animal husbandry at OSU.” OSU animal science alumna Minnie Lou Bradley, who was a student at the time of Darlow’s leadership, said COWBOY JOURNAL 25

1963

Al Darlow and his wife, Clara (Priest) Darlow, appear in a scrapbook made by their daughter Kathy Winslow. Photo by Abby Piccin.

accomplishments in and outside of the classroom are not the only thing that set Darlow apart.

“One spring, I was out for a couple of weeks because my parents were in a car accident,” Bradley said.

“Upon returning, I was having trouble getting caught up and was overwhelmed to say the least,” Bradley added. “Concerned, I ran into Dr. Darlow, and he gave me a ride and listened to my worries.

“That next week, the professor called me aside and said not to worry about the makeup assignment,” she said. “Only one person could’ve made that happen, and it was then that I realized who Dr. Darlow really was.”

Darlow took the time to get to know 26 SUMMER/FALL 2022

his students and truly care for them, David Winslow said.

As donors to the New Frontiers project, the Winslows will honor Darlow’s legacy in the new building, scheduled to be completed in 2024.

“It’s very important to our family to have his name in the new building because we know he would be so proud,” Kathy Winslow said. “We are proud of everything this institution has grown to be, and it is thanks in part to my father.”

1933 ABBY PICCIN

MOORE, OKLAHOMA

1948

REMEMBERING ‘DR. DARLOW’ At the time of Albert Darlow’s undergraduate commencement in 1918, the Oklahoma A&M campus had 16 brick buildings. After earning his bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry, Darlow continued his studies, earning a master’s in animal husbandry in 1922, which was a new graduate program for the college at the time. In the 1920s, he ran the OAMC sheep unit and taught sheep production, becoming a sheep-producing icon recognized worldwide.

Prior to his teaching and administrative positions, Darlow coached the OAMC livestock judging team in the 1920s, producing four national champion teams and five high individuals in the annual contest at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago during the span of his decade as coach.

In 1935, Darlow left OAMC for the University of Wisconsin, where he served as head of the animal husbandry department and earned his doctorate in 1942. The topic of his doctoral thesis was “Effect of Plane of Nutrition on Reproduction Processes in the Ewe.” He returned to Stillwater the following year to serve as the head of the OAMC animal science department.

In 1954, Darlow served as the first president of the American Society of Animal Production.

The organization recognized him as a Fellow for his distinguished service to animal science and the livestock industry.

From 1953 until his retirement in 1964, Darlow served as dean of the OAMC Division of Agriculture and vice president of agriculture, serving the university and his students well for more than 20 years.

— Albert E. Darlow: A Brief Biography by Richard Willham Photos Courtesy of the OSU Archives Collection

COWBOY JOURNAL 27

From wet to dry environments, eastern redcedar can grow in a wide range of weather conditions and soils. Photo by Reagan Calk.

28 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Managing the

I

Menace

RESEARCH LINKS EASTERN REDCEDARS TO ARTHROPOD SPREAD

f one asks landowners in Oklahoma if they are familiar with the eastern redcedar, a high probability exists they may show feelings of displeasure toward this encroaching woody plant species.

According to Oklahoma State University Extension, many Oklahoma landowners associate the eastern redcedar with groundwater loss, wildfire risk and pasture takeover. However, recent studies conducted by OSU faculty members suggest the eastern redcedar also may contribute additional displeasing side effects to areas inhabited by this plant.

“When I first came to Oklahoma State as an assistant professor, I was looking for different ticks around the state,” said Bruce Noden, OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology associate professor. “By doing this, I spoke to several landowners who informed me ticks can be found underneath eastern redcedars.”

After speaking with many Oklahoma landowners, Noden said he found it interesting no evidence of a relationship between eastern redcedars and ticks had been documented in research literature.

“One of the things we do as scientists is take this kind of information and figure out if it is true,” Noden said.

In the early years of research, the scientists found this invasive tree may allow expanded distribution of ticks throughout Oklahoma, Noden said.

Each eastern redcedar tree creates a microclimate better suited

for supporting ticks and mosquitoes than the surrounding pasture, said Samuel Fuhlendorf, OSU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management Regents professor.

“Eastern redcedars largely influence humidity, wind and temperature,” Fuhlendorf said. “The wind inside the canopy of the redcedars becomes calmer and holds more water, making it warmer or cooler, depending on the time of year.”

Noden said ticks use eastern redcedar trees because they provide a habitat for the arthropods to expand where they could not before.

The humidity is high enough underneath an eastern redcedar’s canopy for ticks to survive without an animal host in dry places like western Oklahoma, Noden added.

“After the ticks take a blood meal from animals, like deer, they drop off the hosts, and they die unless they are near something that fits their preferred abiotic conditions, like a cedar tree,” said Scott Loss, OSU NREM associate professor. “The area under the tree often will retain enough moisture even if it is drier in the open.”

The native range of the eastern redcedar tree is eastern Oklahoma and regions further east, Loss said.

The plant is usually confined to places that escape fire like rocky ravines and outcroppings, he added.

“Dr. Noden and I have been studying tick-borne diseases for almost nine years,” Loss said. “We recently received a National Institutes of COWBOY JOURNAL 29

One can identify an eastern redcedar tree by the minute and scalelike leaves grown at the end of the twigs of the tree. Photo by Reagan Calk.

Health grant for the next two years to study how different stages of eastern redcedar encroachment affect tick populations and tick-borne diseases.”

The NIH grant does not include research on how eastern redcedar trees affect mosquito populations and the transmission of diseases like West Nile virus, but the researchers hope to receive funding for that topic in the future, Noden said.

“West Nile virus is transmitted from birds to mosquitoes and from mosquitoes to birds,” Noden said. “We see peaks of West Nile virus in August, September and October when mosquitoes start to feed on humans, horses and donkeys, instead of birds.”

In the winter, the birds migrate south, and the mosquitoes die, but West Nile virus stays, Noden said.

A small number of mosquitoes can transfer the virus to their eggs, so when the offspring hatch in the spring, some may be infected, he added.

The American robin is considered a “super spreader” for West Nile virus in other regions and prefers eastern 30 SUMMER/FALL 2022

redcedars because they like feeding on the cones the tree produces, Loss said.

“We have found the mosquitoes that transmit viruses in other places, such as Zika virus and Western equine encephalitis virus, prefer to live in redcedars,” Noden said. “An outbreak of these diseases are not happening now, but it is a risk.”

Disease distribution is altered by things that change the distribution of the invertebrates and wildlife that transmit diseases, Loss said.

Those distribution disruptions can include climate change, people’s commerce and the transfer of goods, he added.

“Oklahoma already has the mosquito vectors we know are physiologically capable of transmitting the pathogens that cause disease,” Loss said. “This tells us if these diseases do move in, the eastern redcedar could help facilitate their transmission.”

The new NIH grant is one of the first comprehensive, fully funded studies looking at the worldwide issue of how woody plant encroachment

affects disease, especially with eastern redcedar, Loss added.

“The Prairie Project recognized the greatest threat to natural resources in the area is the encroachment of woody plants, most of which is eastern redcedar,” Fuhlendorf said. “The research project Dr. Noden and Dr. Loss are doing will give us a new, and possibly the biggest, talking point in terms of why this is a serious issue.”

In Oklahoma, people must be aware of the risks of having more ticks and mosquitoes in an area, Noden said.

The ability to link issues back to a specific place on their property will allow landowners to identify a specific source of health risks to humans and animals in the future, he added.

“There has been a big push to conduct research that supports the removal of eastern redcedars,” Loss said.

“If we find this plant is facilitating many infectious diseases further west than they used to be, that will provide another compelling piece of information to help people decide how they need to manage eastern redcedar.”

This research may allow the faculty members to measure how different levels of eastern redcedars encroachment affect tick populations and disease prevalence so people can avoid allowing the plant to grow beyond a certain point, Loss added.

The research results will be useful for rural people who own land as well as attract the attention of urban people, Fuhlendorf said.

“If we could better understand how what is on the land affects the prevalence of pathogens in ticks and mosquitoes,” Loss said, “then we could better predict where on the land is going to be more problematic from the perspective of human, wildlife and domestic animal disease.

“Eventually, we could help direct public health efforts benefiting human health or veterinary health,” he said.

REAGAN CALK DENVER CITY, TX

I

AUnique Welcome Home

magine a young 4-H member whispering “Welcome home” into the ears of well-deserving veterans as they are wrapped in a quilt 4-H’ers spent weeks making by hand.

As 4-H alumni and supporters can tell you, the century-old organization is known for its ability to instill a sense of patriotism and passion for service in its members, said Cathy Allen, senior specialist for OSU Extension. The partnerships between Oklahoma 4-H clubs and the Quilts of Valor® Foundation provide evidence of “hands to greater service,” she said.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a nationwide organization that presents handmade quilts to service members and veterans who have been impacted by war while serving their country.

Catherine Roberts, founder of the foundation, believes quilts equal healing, according to Quilts of Valor.

32 SUMMER/FALL 2022

When Roberts founded the Quilts of Valor Foundation, she set high-quality standards for the organization, according to the foundation.

“A Quilt of Valor had to be quilted, not tied, which meant hand or machine quilting,” according to Quilts of Valor.

“It would be awarded, not just passed out like magazines or videos, and would say unequivocally, ‘Thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.’”

The Training, Leadership, and Community 4-H Club of Rogers County, Oklahoma, has partnered with the Quilts of Valor Foundation for multiple years.

The TLC Club 4-H members have made and awarded more than 32 quilts to local service members and veterans, said Donna Daley, the TLC Club volunteer leader.

The 4-H’ers enjoy thanking veterans

for their service through this project, said Katie Parks, first grade member of the TLC 4-H Club. They also enjoy the process of making the quilts, which includes selecting fabric, designing, sewing, ironing and more, she added.

4-H members of all ages — from 5-year-old Cloverbuds to high school seniors — participate in this project, Daley said.

Members choose to participate because they are passionate about service and genuinely want to recognize and honor the service members and veterans who served their country, Daley said.

“To be eligible for a Quilt of Valor, a service member or veteran must be touched by war,” said Allison Fentriss, assistant executive director of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. “Only the service member or veteran can make that determination.”

4-H’ERS HONOR VETERANS WITH HANDMADE QUILTS When a Quilt of Valor is awarded to a veteran, the ceremony is typically held at an event such as a county fair, Veterans Day Ceremony or school assembly, Daley said. The presentation is often a surprise for the service members or veterans who are awarded, she added.

As part of the presentation, the 4-H members will deliver a prepared speech about the recipient’s service, Daley said. After the speech, the 4-H’ers will wrap the service member or veteran in the new quilt and whisper, “Welcome home.”

“Some of these veterans were not welcomed home with the hero’s welcome they deserved,” said Thorne Thomas, 11th grade member of the TLC 4-H Club. “It is very meaningful to all of us to get the chance to finally welcome them home with the appreciation they deserve.”

The Oklahoma 4-H clubs that partner with the Quilts of Valor Foundation work with Oklahoma Quilts of Valor coordinators to find potential quilt recipients in their areas.

The partnership cultivates a relationship among 4-H’ers and local service members and veterans, said Lynda Latta, 4-H educator in Ellis County, Oklahoma.

“It is so moving, especially for the youth,” Latta said. “For them to understand what these men and women have sacrificed for our freedom and then get to honor them, it’s always an exceptional presentation.”

SARAH HENDERSON

BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS

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Anyone interested in donating a Quilt of Valor should contact a local group or Quilt of Valor state coordinator to complete the registration process.

For more information or to learn more about the Quilts of Valor Foundation, visit QOVF.org.

COWBOY JOURNAL 33

Ride for the

Ranch

OSU RANCH HORSE TEAM CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The OSU Ranch Horse Team finished as the fifth overall D2 team at the Collegiate Ranch and Stock Horse National Championship in April 2022. Team members included JT Danielecki, outstanding freshman and scholarship recipient (left), Kathryn Moore, Sierra Walter, Vivienne Sander and Amy D’Epagnier, 6th overall novice rider. Photo

by Madelyn Owens.

34 SUMMER/FALL 2022

I

n a state with 326,000 horses, Oklahoma State University and the Ferguson College of Agriculture are well known for their collegiate equestrian and rodeo teams.

Now, a new riding team is gearing up to start its competitive season.

The OSU Ranch Horse Team was established in 2020, and after more than a year of building a team and program, members are ready to hit the road competing, said Megan Newlon, agricultural communications and animal science junior.

When Newlon started her education, she noticed a missing opportunity at the university, she said.

Newlon grew up showing in the ranch horse discipline, and during her college search, she sought universities with established programs, she said.

Although OSU did not have the ranch horse riding team she wanted, she fell in love with the academic programs, she said. Once her freshman year started, she began the process of creating a club for the sport she loved, Newlon said.

“We are Oklahoma State, and we are in horse country,” Newlon said. “I thought ‘Why don’t we have a ranch horse team? What is stopping us?’”

With excitement for a new team and a passion for the horse industry, Newlon applied for an internship at the OSU Charles and Linda Cline Equine Teaching Center her freshman year, she said. In her interview, she told her ranch horse team idea to Marissa Chapa, senior equine herd manager at the center, Newlon said.

“I went in, interviewed and told her

my idea,” she said. “Marissa said ‘That is a great idea! Let’s do it!’”

Originally from Kansas, Newlon said she did not know anyone on campus. Because the first steps to the creation of the team were finding other interested students and building an on-campus club, Newlon’s idea took off when she connected with fellow ranch horse competitor Sierra Walter, agricultural communications junior, Newlon said.

“I knew Sierra because I had seen her at shows,” Newlon said, “but I

COWBOY JOURNAL 35

Vivienne Sander (left) and Sierra Walter participate on the competitive team, which competes in the Collegiate Ranch and Stock Horse National Championship each April.

Photo by Madelyn Owens.

never really talked to her before I came to OSU and ran into her one day at North Dining.”

Chapa, now the team adviser, was excited to help the girls start the process, she said.

“Megan and her peers, like Sierra, are liaisons for the team and the right type of people to bring the initiative to start the team,” Chapa said.

With the team up and running, members like Newlon and Walter are key in the success and growth of the program, Chapa said.

“Some of those girls on the teams have a lot more experience than I do in the ranch horse events specifically,” Chapa said, “and can offer another level of value and insight to their teammates that I personally don’t have experience in.”

36 SUMMER/FALL 2022

To help aid in the success and building of the team, the team put together an executive committee, Newlon said.

Members help with everything from sponsorships and paperwork to practice coordination, she said.

“Being a student-led organization, all the students have to really be foundational leaders,” Newlon said.

“Because it is all students, not people getting paid to organize all of it.

Everyone has to step up and want it.”

Student involvement is what sets this team apart from teams at other universities, Newlon said.

“Our members want to be here, and they want to make this better for all the students who will come after them,” Newlon said.

The team works to involve any student who is interested the industry,

even if they do not show or have a horse, Newlon said.

“We want more novice riders to develop through our program,” Newlon said. “We wanted to connect students with the industry, as well. They will be able to have those contacts by the time they graduate and have more capacity to find jobs in industry.”

The OSU Ranch Horse Team works with the OSU Horseman’s Association to host clinics and connect students with the industry, Walter said.

“One of our goals, in terms of educating students, is networking,” Walter said. “Many of those types of opportunities, like clinics and educational seminars, are coordinated through the OSU Horseman’s Association.”

Many members of the OSU Ranch Horse Team hope its creation will help bring more students involved in ranch riding and cowhorse disciplines to OSU, Newlon said.

“In terms of recruiting students, this is a huge positive for OSU,” Walter said. “I know a lot of kids in high school who are not necessarily interested in being on an equestrian team, but they are interested in being on a ranch team.”

While meeting with prospective students and alumni, Chapa was asked about a ranch horse team, she said.

Many prospective students who grew up showing want a way to stay competitive and involved in the equine industry during college, Chapa said.

As the ranch horse team continues to grow and build a presence, they prepare to ride for OSU at collegiate events, said Vivienne Sander, a sports management junior.

Sander is originally from Germany and first came to the U.S. as an exchange student in high school, she said. She was placed with a family in Oklahoma and was exposed to the ranch horse disciple and ranch lifestyle, she added.

After returning to the states for college, Sander was looking for a way to still ride and connect to the equine industry when she heard about the ranch team, she said. Being involved

Founding member Megan Newlon (left) and Marissa Chapa, team coach, began building the team in 2020. Team member Amy D’Epagnier joined the team in Spring 2021. Photo by Madelyn Owens.

with the team helped her find community and continue her passion for riding, she added.

Amy D’Epagnier, animal science junior, learned about the creation of the ranch horse team while taking a class at the OSU Charles and Linda Cline Equine Teaching Center, she said.

After watching her older sister compete on a ranch horse team for another university, she was eager to join in on the ground level, she added.

As a practice coordinator,

D’Epagnier gets to work with the team and loves watching everyone learn and succeed, she said.

To help promote the new team, the executive committee created a slogan to reflect the team culture and goals, Newlon said. After much deliberation they settled on “Ride for the Ranch,” she added.

Each member has taken this and created his or her own meaning, but together they want to support each other and build a lasting reputation in

SUPPORT THE RIDE

Many two-year and four-year colleges around the country offer students the opportunity to compete in the ranch horse discipline at a collegiate level.

Teams compete in four events designed to demonstrate the skills needed by a working ranch horse: reining, ranch trail, ranch riding and working cow horse. Novice, limited and advanced non-pro riders make up each team.

A team can compete as Division 1 with four to six competitors or Division 2 with three to four competitors who are either novice or limited.

the collegiate ranch horse community and at OSU, she said.

“We are not riding for our own benefit or personal gain,” D’Epagnier said. “It is more than that. It has to do with helping each other and being there for the ups and the downs.”

MADELYN OWENS

PENRYN, CALIFORNIA

D1 teams are a combination of non-pro, limited and novice riders. The OSU Ranch Horse team is competing at the D2 level, and riders provide their own horses.

In 2021-2022, the team had 40 members but not all competed. Without direct funding from the university, members fund themselves for their competitions.

If you would like to support the OSU Ranch Horse Team Fund, visit the OSU Foundation website at osugiving.com or call 800-622-4678.

COWBOY JOURNAL 37

Water troughs are one of the many materials used as planters in the backyard gardens. Photo by Jill Scott.

38 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Gardening for Everyone

THE BACKYARD GARDENS PROJECT DEMONSTRATES GARDENING ON YOUR OWN TERMS

O

ld tires, water troughs and pallets are not the first things to come to mind when one thinks about a garden, but at The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University, these junk pieces are just some of the materials used in the new backyard garden exhibit.

Casey Hentges, assistant OSU Extension specialist and host of the “Oklahoma Gardening” TV show, first saw demonstration gardens being used at the Noble Research Institute in Ardmore, Oklahoma, she said.

“The backyard garden project started as an in-kind donation from the Noble Research Institute,” Hentges said. “They disassembled the gardens and transported all the materials to OSU in 2020.”

The Noble Research Institute changed its focus to regenerative agriculture and no longer could use the backyard gardens, she said. She saw the potential impact the demonstration gardens could have in The Botanic Garden at OSU and asked if they could be moved to Stillwater, she added.

“People are inspired by The Botanic Garden as they walk around, but sometimes they feel like they don’t know how to accomplish the same concept in a backyard setting,” Hentges said.

The backyard gardens project has three different types of gardens

designed to demonstrate different includes a hobby greenhouse and a techniques and methods, Hentges said. potager garden, she added.

Although open to anyone, the Many people think they must sacSchool Yard Garden has a focus on rifice the appearance of their gardens teachers and those who want to engage to grow food, but this is not the case, with youth, Hentges said. It uses recyshe said. This garden is a good example cled materials like old tires and water for people who live in a neighborhood troughs as planters. The School Yard where they have to maintain a certain Garden also has several types of raised appearance, she added. beds for individ“The idea is to uals who cannot give people options WE WANT TO SHOW bend over easily, and to make them she added. aware of different The Cow Creek types of systems PEOPLE THAT Place Garden is and technologies designed to be a they can employ in GARDENING DOES practical example a backyard setting of growing a large to grow food or NOT NEED TO BE quantity of plants flowers,” said Steve while upcycling Upson, horticulture EXPENSIVE. ANYONE unexpected maconsultant who terials, Hentges assisted with develsaid. This garden oping the project.

CAN DO IT. has a hobby hoop “The emphasis is SHELLEY MITCHELL house, which does for food security.” not need electricPeople think ity, and uses upcycled materials like food deserts are either an urban or animal mineral tubs, she said. This a rural problem, but they are evgarden has more of a unitarian purerywhere, Hentges said. Having a pose, she added. backyard garden gives people more The Country Club Residence control over their food, she added.

Garden is designed to demonstrate Cost may prevent people from starthow to include edible plants in a ing a garden, Upson said. Many think landscape while maintaining the yard’s gardening is too expensive for them; aesthetics, Hentges said. This garden however, by exposing them to different COWBOY JOURNAL 39

Casey Hentges (right), host of “Oklahoma Gardening,” explains how to use recycled tires in backyard gardens to Kam Bessinger (left) and Dana Bessinger. Photo by Jill Scott.

systems they can purchase or build, they can find the best solutions for their situations, he added.

People can create a cost-effective garden if they do not mind getting their hands dirty and putting a little “sweat equity” into the project, he added.

Much of the backyard garden construction was featured on “Oklahoma Gardening,” a TV show produced by the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources that airs weekly on Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, Hentges said.

“Everything in the garden is educational whether you notice it or not,” said Bailey Lockhart, project coordinator for “Oklahoma Gardening.”

“Around the garden are QR codes in front of the displays. If you scan them, they will take you to a video showing you how to build that concept.”

The gardens have been planned all the way down to the walkways, 40 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Lockhart said. One walkway connects the three gardens, and the walkway’s pavers change for each garden to show visitors different patterns and styles they can use in their own gardens.

The backyard gardens are located within The Botanic Garden at OSU, which is open year-round. Visitors are encouraged to walk around the backyard gardens, scan the QR codes, and learn how they can bring gardening to their own backyards, Lockhart said.

“We want to show people that gardening does not need to be expensive,” said Shelley Mitchell, associate extension specialist in horticulture and landscape architecture. “Anyone can do it.”

JILL SCOTT

SAN JACINTO, CALIFORNIA

GARDENING EDUCATION On March 18, 2022, the first Backyard Gardening 101 event was hosted at the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center.

Registration was free, and 39 people attended.

The event was advertised for beginning gardeners and gardeners in an urban setting, said Bailey Lockhart, project coordinator for “Oklahoma Gardening.”

“I came for some tips from experts, and I sure got them,” said Dana Bessinger, attendee. “They gave me a lot of great ideas and things to do and how to take care of problems that might come up.”

Researching CHENG DEVOTES HIMSELF TO STUDENTS

A

Compassion

s the primary investigator on a Mycobacterium tuberculosis research project with potential global impacts, Yong Cheng, assistant professor in the Oklahoma State University Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, could define his career with the findings and accomplishments of his research of the bacterial pathogen responsible for tuberculosis, or TB. Instead, Cheng’s work with undergraduate and graduate students defines a different kind of impact.

The experiences gained through Cheng’s lab contribute to the career success of his students, said Charlie Vermeire, who is a double major sophomore in biochemistry and in microbiology/cell and molecular biology.

Vermeire works in Cheng’s lab.

“Dr. Cheng puts such an emphasis on teaching,” Vermeire said. “I have found that to be really rewarding.

“Many times, students do not get teaching experience until they reach graduate school, but Dr. Cheng has more experienced undergraduate students mentoring the less experienced

students,” she added. “My teaching experience, now as a sophomore, will give me an advantage as I move through the rest of my education.”

Research is not the only way Cheng helps students with their career aspirations, Vermeire said.

“Dr. Cheng pushes his students not only toward learning new lab procedures but also toward applying for grants and presenting our work,” Vermeire said. “He pushes us, even when we are not sure we can do what he is asking. He is usually right about what we can accomplish.”

While important, Cheng’s research is just part of a larger impact being made in the department and with students, said John Gustafson, professor and BIMB department head.

“Dr. Cheng set up a biotechnology development and implementation course, which is a first for our department,” Gustafson said. “He did that by collaborating with people from the business school.

“He also ran our biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory where this year he actually brought authentic

research experiences into the classroom,” he continued.

Cheng said he is motivated by the success of his students. His mentors and professors helped him, he added, and now he works to be that same help to his students.

“There are two types of kind people in the world,” said Stephen Kotey, a doctoral student in BIMB. “There are those who wait for you to bring your problem to them, and then they will show their kindness through that.

“Then, there are those who, in showing kindness, will take the initiative,” he continued. “You do not have to ask. They will sit back, think about how you can develop, and bring it to you without even being asked. Both forms are good, but Cheng is the one who takes initiative in being kind.”

Cheng said he intentionally builds relationships with his lab members to learn how best to prepare and assist them with their career goals.

“I have been able to have both graduate students and undergraduate students in my lab,” Cheng said. “I am always thinking about the many

UNDERSTANDING THE RESEARCH Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s most fatal infectious diseases. The causative agent of TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has infected 23% of the world population and will result in 9 million new cases and 1.4 million deaths a year.

However, about 5% to 10% of infected individuals will develop active TB during their lifetime. Scientists still do not understand how mycobacterial infections cause TB or how natural immunity occurs.

Yong Cheng’s research focuses on host-pathogen interactions in an effort to understand the molecular and

cellular mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. With this knowledge, Cheng said he hopes to aid in the development of novel drug treatments and vaccines to combat TB. Developing knowledge about mycobacterial infections and TB could provide knowledge that will help scientists better understand bacteria-associated diseases such as those found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis.

— Information provided by the OSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COWBOY JOURNAL 41

different fellowships they can apply for. I tell students in my lab to let me know if they are interested in any fellowships. I want to help make them a success.”

Cheng keeps students’ career goals in mind and helps them pursue avenues that will allow them to stand apart from others, Vermeire said.

“Knowing that I am interested in a doctoral program, Dr. Cheng is pushing me to work toward publications that will look good on applications for those programs,” Vermeire said. “He most recently has encouraged and assisted me in applying for a Wentz Research Award and the Niblack Research Scholars program.”

Vermeire received a Niblack Research Scholars program scholarship for the 2022-23 academic year.

“I was apprehensive at first because I was not sure I would be able to produce a good application, but he convinced me I could and helped me

to get my application to that caliber,” Vermeire said.

Cheng can help his students because of his relationship with the BIMB department, the Ferguson College of Agriculture and OSU. “When I chose to come to OSU, I chose my ideal university,” Cheng said.

“I was looking for my future home. I needed a place with the right resources and support for my research.

“After interacting with the OSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Ferguson College of Agriculture, I realized they had all the resources I would need for my project,” he added. “They have been so supportive of me, my research, my teaching and my transition to OSU.” Cheng has created a cohesive environment in his lab, which benefits both the students and the research, Vermeire said.

Cheng’s research has the potential to have a global impact, Gustafson

said. Understanding tuberculosis and its interactions within an infected host could help develop a new vaccine or drug therapy, Gustafson said.

At the same time, his individual attention to students shows he cares about them, too, Kotey said. His patience and willingness to teach encourages students to strive for their best levels of success, Kotey added.

“He gives me a lot of encouragement, which is something you do not really get from many principle investigators,” Kotey said. “Most are just concerned with getting data. Not only is Cheng interested in getting the data, but also he has a soft spot for his students’ development. It goes handin-hand for him.”

BRADEN PAYNE

MOUNTAIN VIEW, OKLAHOMA

Yong Cheng (left) has created a cooperative environment in his lab, which benefits both the students like Stephen Kotey and the research.

Photo by Braden Payne.

42 SUMMER/FALL 2022

The NREM department provides hands-on experiences for students with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Colt Holly (left), Abbey Smith and Matt Pallett enjoy a day sampling paddlefish with ODWC. Photo courtesy of Dan Shoup.

Catching a future in

P

icture a career where the outdoors is your office and fishing is your 2 o’clock appointment.

For some alumni of the Oklahoma State University Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, this fantasy is a reality.

With more than 650,000 fishing licenses in Oklahoma, recreational fishing offers students pursuing a degree in natural resource ecology and management with a fisheries and aquatic ecology option an opportunity to pursue a career in the field.

Dan Shoup, NREM associate professor, has helped his students explore the wide world of fisheries for more than 17 years. He has watched students

Fisheries NREM PROVIDES UNIQUE JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE leave the classrooms of OSU to fill vastly different, productive and imperative roles in society and agriculture, he said.

Students interested in fisheries can have a career in the industry, Shoup said, whether they are interested in the preservation of water, instruction of individuals about pond management, sport fishing management, aquaculture, or work at an aquarium or a zoo.

“Students pursuing a fisheries management option for sport fish comprise the biggest group of our students,” Shoup said. “Most people don’t think about the really high number of students who are interested in marine biology after graduation.”

The fisheries and aquatic ecology option at OSU is the reason NREM senior Katy Brennan decided to come to Stillwater, she said.

“As a freshman, I wanted to focus on marine biology, and being from Oklahoma, there weren’t many options in marine biology close to home,” she said. “It was nice that OSU had a fisheries option and opened my eyes to the opportunities of managing and researching freshwater ecosystems.”

As the aquatic industry evolves, more career opportunities become available, Shoup added.

“We also have a good number of students who just have general ecosystem health and conservation interests,”

COWBOY JOURNAL43

Shoup said. “They don’t care whether a They go backpacking and otter trawlfish is prized as a sport fish, a food fish ing as well as participate in other kinds or just something pretty. of hands-on activities.

“There’s a value there, and our The OSU NREM department has aquatic ecosystems produced a large have been stressed number of fishI’M PROUD OF THE for decades because eries staff who of pollution and disrepresent the state STUDENTS THAT turbances,” Shoup of Oklahoma, said said. “These stuKen Cunningham, dents just want to ODWC chief of fishWE’VE PRODUCED do something about eries division. that pressing issue The ODWC fishAND WHAT in our ecosystems.” eries division has To help students 71 staff members THEY’RE ABLE TO thrive in a fisheries of whom 21 have a career, NREM offers bachelor’s degree hands-on courses, from OSU with an ACCOMPLISH. such as Fisheries emphasis in fishDAN SHOUP Techniques. eries and aquatic “This is a fairecology. Twelve ly unique course,” Shoup said. “This have an advanced degree — master’s or course gets students out to learn to use doctorate — from OSU, as well. the different fisheries equipment.”

“The program benefits ODWC, not In the course, students set gill nets, only in training future fisheries staff hoop nets and fyke nets and particbut also in conducting research that ipate in electro fishing from a boat. improves our ability to manage aquatic

ADDING VALUE TO OKLAHOMA.

resources in Oklahoma effectively,” Cunningham said.

Choosing a major in the NREM department can be an opportunity to be involved in a rewarding career with a huge impact, Shoup said.

“As long as we still have fish resources in the United States, I want to see us meet the challenges of managing fish wisely across the board, whether it’s for harvest or whether it’s just ecosystem health,” Shoup said. “I’m proud of the students that we’ve produced and what they’re able to accomplish.

Shoup hopes the OSU fisheries option will continue to help students indefinitely, he said.

“As long as there is a need to manage fish resources, we are going to need to train people to do this task and do it well,” he added.

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SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA

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OSU FRESHMAN DEVELOPS SWEET TREAT

id a children’s book inspire the career path you chose to take? An OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture freshman has a unique approach to how she wants to influence the food industry.

Lauren Fenton, food science freshman, became inspired to pursue the candy industry the same week she decided to study food science, she said. She read her favorite childhood book, “The Candymakers,” to her nephews and realized what she wanted to do — make candy.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue a career in science,” Fenton said. “I also really love food.

“I didn’t realize food science was a route I could take,” she added.

“But, when I learned more about it, I decided that is exactly what I want to do.”

An Olathe, Kansas, native, Fenton is the youngest of five siblings, all of whom attended OSU. Her parents also attended the university.

Fenton accomplished more research in her first college semester than most students will throughout their academic career, said Karen Hickman, director of environmental science and director of undergraduate research for the college.

Fenton said her first experience

Valomilk is a chocolate cup candy with marshmallow filling. Fenton’s version of the candy is black cherry flavored. Photo by Reagan Skow.

COWBOY JOURNAL 45

with the candy industry occurred because of a chance encounter with Dave Swiercinsky, vice president and production manager at Sifers Valomilk Candy Co., located in Merriam, Kansas.

Fenton’s father expressed her interest in the candy industry to Swiercinsky and suggested she shadow him, she added.

“When Lauren came to shadow us, she worked right there with me,” Swiercinsky said. “Not only did she help with making the candy, cooking and filling, but also she actually came back to do it again.”

During Fenton’s first semester, she learned the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center was set to host the David Howard Food Product Innovation Competition, where students were to create a new food or drink product.

Her idea was creating a new flavor of Valomilk, a chocolate and marshmallow candy, she said.

“I went to ask Dave whether or

not he would let me experiment with the new flavor of candy,” Fenton said. “Before I could even deliver the speech I had planned out, he agreed.”

Fenton decided to create a black cherry Valomilk because she felt the flavor is underrepresented in the market and is her father’s favorite, she said.

When Fenton returned home for winter break in December 2021, she set out to create her candy for the upcoming competition.

Using four different brands of black cherry concentrated syrups, she experimented to see which flavor worked the best with the Valomilk, she said.

“I ended up using three of the different black cherry syrups to create my flavor,” Fenton said. “I wanted the flavor to have a full mouth experience, and combining the flavors ensured that the candy hit every part of the tongue.”

One obstacle Fenton overcame was perfecting the flavoring of the

marshmallow because the chocolate overpowered the cherry flavoring, she said. Fenton experimented and recalibrated the flavors to ensure they were balanced, she added.

Fenton returned to the Sifers Valomilk Candy Co. production floor to create her new candy in December 2021, Swiercinsky said.

“I went and worked at the factory for a week to do all of the testing and upscaling of the rations,” Fenton said. “On the second day of production, my parents came and helped hand pipe all of the black cherry filling into the chocolate cups.”

Despite Fenton’s candy not being selected for the Food Product Innovation Competition, she remains passionate about food science.

Outside of candymaking, Fenton has stayed busy on campus as a Freshman Research Scholar.

She is working with Patricia Rayas-Duarte, cereal chemistry professor in FAPC, on a project involving microbiota, which in this

LOCAL global

46 SUMMER/FALL 2022

project is yeast and lactic acid bacteria in bread.

“Essentially, what we’re doing is using sourdough bread as a base to test direct flavor comparisons,” Fenton said. “I am working toward being a trained food panelist to work on this project.”

In addition to this research, Fenton has completed three other research internships, all of which were outside of the food industry.

One of the research internships has resulted in her being a co-author of a scientific paper being peer reviewed for publication.

“While I was in high school, I was in a biotechnology program that facilitated my work,” Fenton said.

“The primary focus was to better understand mutations in proteins when they might cause diseases to aid personal genome interpretation.”

The research paper was written through a program at the University of Kansas medical center.

As for the future, Fenton would like to create a variety box of different Valomilk flavors but first wants more consumer feedback on her current flavor, Fenton said.

Additionally, she would like to learn about other types of candies and how they are created by various companies, she said.

An accomplished researcher with an eagerness to learn, Fenton has done more than just create an impressive résumé for herself. She also has impressed OSU faculty, Hickman said. The candy Fenton created is delicious, she added.

“I have never seen a student who is so passionate about making something,” Hickman said. “She has developed a passion for creating new things, and that is exactly what the Freshman Research Scholars Program is designed for and is illustrated by Lauren’s actions.”

REAGAN SKOW

PALISADE, NEBRASKA

Lauren Fenton originally created her candy as an entry for a food product competition.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Fenton.

COWBOY JOURNAL 47

Extending HINES FLOURISHES THROUGH HER ROLE IN OSU EXTENSION

W

hen registered dietitian LaDonna Hines started her journey as an Oklahoma State University Extension staff member, she had little knowledge of what she was getting herself into.

In 2001, Hines accepted her first position in OSU Extension as the Community Nutrition Education Program area coordinator for the northwest district.

She then served as the Oklahoma County family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development educator until 2009. She currently serves as Oklahoma County director.

“I was not familiar with the extent of OSU Extension when I started,” Hines said. “A friend of mine actually told me about the open position.”

As a youth, Hines heard of OSU Extension at the county level through agricultural agents. Growing up in Wayne, Oklahoma, playing basketball, Hines was not aware OSU Extension was in every county or was connected to 4-H youth development.

Hines also said her two sons grew up without knowledge of OSU Extension. The Hines boys made their hobbies wrestling and baseball.

“Most people hear of 4-H and think OSU Extension, but I guess I was pretty sheltered as I had not heard of any of it,” Hines said.

Now as county director, Hines manages urban agriculture, horticulture, 4-H youth development, and family and consumer sciences programs while working closely with county and city government to obtain funding for OSU Extension programming.

48 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Her H

“Every county is different and has Hines flourishes as county director different needs,” Hines said. “We and she sees the success of her staff as develop our programs based on our her own, Bess said. county’s needs and then deliver them “She sets the tone with her posito the communities.” tive personality and takes time to talk Urban agriculture in Oklahoma to her staff,” Bess said. “She has an County includes backyard gardening, open-door policy, and anyone is always backyard poultry and horticulture, welcome in her office.”

Hines said.

Hines is reThrough her time spected by those working with OSU in her office as IT’S ABOUT THE Extension, Hines well as those in has noticed famFULFILLMENT IN YOUR the community, ily and consumer Bess said. sciences is the least “She works exHEART THAT YOUR recognized branch tremely well with and one of the most other educators CAREER MADE A important, she said. and the OSU “Although urban Extension fiand rural areas are nance staff,” Bess DIFFERENCE. quite different in said. “They have LADONNA HINES population and the a great respect needs, there are still for her because the basic needs of the family no matter she is always on top of things.” where you live,” Hines said.

Since working with Hines, Bess said After working in OSU Extension for he has learned to not allow adversity 20 years, Hines said she most enjoys to bring him down but rather to beat making a difference in the lives of the it head on. He now understands the people in her community. importance of communicating freely “It’s about the fulfillment in your with his staff, he added. heart that your career made a differHines’ efforts as county director ence,” Hines said. have not gone unrecognized, Bess said.

Hines cares about all educators and She has received many awards and staff in Oklahoma County, said Claude was named the 2022 OSU Extension Bess, OSU Extension director of the Distinguished Educator. southeast district. She cares about “I am very pleased to have LaDonna each staff member individually as well as a highly valued member of the as the team, Bess added.

Southeast District Extension team,” “When you get in a position like Bess said.

LaDonna’s, your success becomes the Julia Laughlin, Oklahoma County success of the people you supervise,” horticulture and 4-H educator said she Bess said. looks up to Hines.

r Hand

“I retired from teaching horticulture at OSU-OKC and had started managing a vegetable farm,” Laughlin said. “One of the main reasons I came back to work for OSU was to work with LaDonna. She is an amazing person and an incredible leader.”

Laughlin said within their team of 18, Hines works to treat them all as equals whether a receptionist or an OSU Extension educator.

“She’s a role model for OSU Extension in the counties,” Laughlin said, “especially with being in an urban county where we go in many different directions all of the time.”

Hines is a quick thinker and knows the best way to serve Oklahoma County partners and community members, Laughlin said. She is always contributing to all of our programming ideas with her views, she added.

“Over the last four years we have been securing grants to provide extra programming,” Laughlin said. “We all have worked hard on writing grants along with managing them.”

Laughlin said a director must be driven and aggressive in the work they do and she is proud to work alongside Hines and her team.

“It is a really good work situation because of our leadership with LaDonna,” Laughlin said.

HANNAH MCCOON

MODESTO, CALIFORNIA

LaDonna Hines serves as the OSU Extension county director in Oklahoma County. Photo by Hannah McCoon.

COWBOY JOURNAL 49

IPM OKLAHOMA! manages many pests — from alfalfa snout weevils (top) and red imported fire ants (bottom left) to khapra beetle larvae.

Photos by Adobe Stock Images.

50 SUMMER/FALL 2022

CONQUERING A

Oklahoma’s Pests

IPM HELPS RESIDENTS OVERCOME NUISANCES

mong the plants hide insects, enemies or chemical pesticides can be weeds and diseases. Farmers implemented in IPM OKLAHOMA!, are destined to fight these Giles said. IPM is an approach for problems, but according to Oklahoma long-term, sustainable and safe pest State University Extension, they do management practices, Giles added. not have to handle “Two of the them alone. They can bottom lines for ANYTHING WE CAN turn to an OSU prome are always, gram to spend less and ‘Is it saving a DO TO CUT DOWN ON spray less. producer monKris Giles, Regents ey?’ and ‘Is it SPRAYS IS WHAT WE professor in entomolobenefiting the gy and plant pathology, environment?’”

ARE GOING TO DO AS said integrated pest said Tom Royer, management offers entomology and FAR AS CHEMICALS GO. Oklahomans a helping plant pathology KELLY SEUHS hand in conquering professor and pesky nuisances. coordinator for IPM OKLAHOMA! is an extensive IPM OKLAHOMA! “The practices we strategy of controlling pests using advocate through IPM do both.” different methods for various circumIPM OKLAHOMA! is a free restances, Giles said. source to any Oklahoman looking to “It’s a comprehensive approach to tackle insects, pests or diseases for any managing pests in all different types of circumstance in rural or urban setsituations — agriculture, horticulture, tings, Royer said. household, urban and schools — with Royer said the current IPM program the idea that it’s economically viable, at OSU is deeply rooted in concepts it has some level of sustainability, it discussed in a Hilgardia journal article can persist for a long period of time, written in 1959 by Vernon Stern, Ray and it’s relatively safe in its approach,” Smith, Robert van den Bosch and Giles said.

Kenneth Hagen. The article, “The IPM OKLAHOMA! strategies inintegration of chemical and biological clude multiple approaches to dealing control of the spotted alfalfa aphid: with pests. Anything from sanitizing The integrated control concept,” is living areas to working with natural one of the early published writings

promoting the idea of preventative pest management tactics.

“All of the concepts that we talk about and use today, like economic thresholds, treatment thresholds, and the ecological science behind IPM, were all developed with this journal article, and we have just run with it ever since,” Royer said.

IPM OKLAHOMA! gains most of its financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Crop Protection and Pest Management Program’s Extension Implementation Program.

“Today, it’s a competitive grant program, but originally it was not competitive,” Royer said. “It was just formula funding, where your program would get a specific amount of money each year.”

IPM OKLAHOMA! switched from formula funding to a competitive grant program in 2009. Royer said every three years he must write and submit a proposal to NIFA for program funding.

“It’s been continuously funded here since probably 1976,” Royer said.

As a program, IPM OKLAHOMA! is persistently funded because the need for strategic pest management is unabating, Royer added.

Charles Luper, entomology and plant pathology extension associate, COWBOY JOURNAL 51

As part of IPM OKLAHOMA!, Tom Royer searches for brown wheat mites in a wheat field near Stillwater. Photo by Dalee Barrick.

said IPM OKLAHOMA! helped him take better care of his specialty crops, like peanuts.

“We used to spray our peanuts for leaf spot disease, and that was on a calendar basis every two weeks,” Luper said. “Now, with the Oklahoma Mesonet system — an IPM tool that accounts for weather data — we can base our spraying off of actual scientific data.”

Luper said the Mesonet system was created in 1994 by OSU and the University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Mesonet is a network of environmental monitoring stations with each Oklahoma county having at least one Mesonet station.

Farmers and ranchers can utilize this free IPM tool for better agricultural practices, Luper added.

Kelly Seuhs, OSU Extension associate specialist in entomology and plant pathology, said IPM practices can be as simple as a spring harrowing.

52 SUMMER/FALL 2022

“If there is alfalfa weevil egg deposition in the fall or winter, these eggs are located in plant stems,” Seuhs said.

“Some growers incorporate a light harrowing before spring to dislodge the eggs from the stems.

“This strategy can prolong weevil activity well into the spring, possibly eliminating the need for multiple applications of pesticides,” he added.

IPM OKLAHOMA! is not meant to eliminate the use of insecticides, Seuhs said, but the program can help Oklahomans utilize non-chemical strategies for insect control.

“IPM is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but we do anything we can to cut down on unneeded sprays,” Seuhs said. “Anything we can implement to reduce costs and is economically viable and sustainable, we’re going to do.”

IPM OKLAHOMA! can be customized to a producer’s liking, Giles said, and it often alleviates some farm financial stress.

“The return on investment has been significant as far as unbiased information to producers that they get to make the choices based on data and information from Oklahoma,” he said.

Oklahomans have access not only to data and information but also to the instructors of the program.

“We have fact sheets and conduct face-to-face meetings,” Royer said. “If a person wants to call, I’m always willing to help.”

Oklahomans looking for more information about IPM OKLHOMA! can visit extension.okstate.edu/programs/ integrated-pest-management/ as well as call Royer at 405-744-9406 or email him at tom.royer@okstate.edu.

DALEE BARRICK

WAURIKA, OKLAHOMA

America’s Friendliest College Town!

Where Sisterhood and Agriculture meet.

sigmaalpha.okstate@gmail.com sigmaalpha_okstate

R

COWBOY JOURNAL 53

An Enhanced

Worldview

MIAP STUDENT USES EXPERIENCE TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY

L

ia Mastronardi is passionate about two things — logic and cultures. Three, if you count her cat, TomTom. Mastronardi is a Master of International Agriculture Program student in the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture. She is also a small-business owner, co-founder of a technology startup, retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and former political adviser.

She has more than 20 years of international experience, but MIAP helps her pursue an interest in sustainability.

“I am kind of like the two sides of a brain,” Mastronardi said. “I like people, experiences, culture and languages, but I also like logic.”

MIAP students use existing skillsets to develop international agriculture, said Karl Rich, MIAP director.

“For Lia, I think MIAP is an opportunity to pivot,” Rich said. “She has all this great experience working in the military. She’s got years of experience working with different contractors, managing projects, and so on. MIAP is an opportunity for her to try something else.”

A desire to learn drew Mastronardi into her various careers, she said.

“It is a little weird to look back and ask, ‘Why did I go there?’” Mastronardi said. “It was not necessarily any plan of mine.”

Mastronardi received an Air Force ROTC scholarship while majoring in math at Vanderbilt University. After earning her undergraduate degree and 54 SUMMER/FALL 2022

an Air Force commission in 1988, she said she hoped to travel.

“When I joined the Air Force, I asked to be assigned to either coast,” Mastronardi said. “So, they sent me to Omaha, Nebraska.”

In 1992, Mastronardi caught the attention of her superiors, she said, and was selected to attend Naval Postgraduate School, where she earned a master’s degree in national security affairs. During this time, Mastronardi discovered her affinity for languages, she added.

“I took a language test, and I walked out of there with my head hung low,” Mastronardi said. “I really thought I failed the thing.”

Instead, she had the second-highest score on the exam.

The next summer, Mastronardi earned a language proficiency in Ukrainian through Harvard University and the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. That fall, she was assigned to Europe.

“Lia always wanted to be overseas,” said Paul DeSisto, retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and one of Mastronardi’s cousins. “She did extremely well as a junior officer, and that is why they sent her.”

While serving as a political adviser at Aviano Air Base in Italy, Mastronardi became friends with then-Capt. Maria Carl, the public affairs director.

“One of the things that brought Lia and I together was this desire for lifelong learning,” said Carl, who retired

Lia Mastronardi’s desire to learn led her to studying international sustainability at OSU. Photo by Wade Yoder.

COWBOY JOURNAL 55

as a colonel. “The military, especially the Air Force, really cultivates this in its officers.”

After retiring from the military in 2008, Mastronardi continued to travel, managing oilfield logistics in Oklahoma, co-founding a canvassing company in Austin, Texas, and starting a veteran-run consulting business.

“It is not uncommon for a lot of retired military to do a number of different things,” Carl said. “We retire at a pretty young age. There is still quite a bit of runway to do other things.”

Mastronardi capitalizes on her love of logic and cultures by developing sustainability, she said.

“I have always liked sustainability and the focus on the environment,” Mastronardi said. “I learned some while I was in the military. Wars were being fought in Africa, and a lot of it was over water and food.”

Agriculture is one of the best areas for international impact, Rich said.

“If you are working overseas doing international work, agriculture is a fantastic touch point,” Rich said. “That is where the development challenges really are.”

Experiencing different cultures is essential for international development, said DeSisto, who earned a master’s degree in international affairs from OSU while at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.

“Somebody like Lia is very much unique in her background,” DeSisto said. “It is not just what she has done.

It is where she has been, the types of people she dealt with and the places she lived.”

Sustainability is protecting, preserving, and replenishing natural resources in an economically beneficial way, Mastronardi said.

“My focus in MIAP is international, sustainable business,” Mastronardi said. “I would like to do consulting that has to do with policy implementation.”

Mastronardi, like astronaut Thomas Pesquet, thinks of Earth as a capsule, she said.

“I like to see things from a stratospheric level,” Mastronardi said.

56 SUMMER/FALL 2022

“There is a way of being symbiotic with nature. There are ways of using resources that encourage maintenance and preservation.”

The flexibility of MIAP and the option to customize the degree drew Mastronardi to the program, she said, and was the reason Carl recommended MIAP to her.

“They really let you curate your own degree,” said Carl, 2020 MIAP alumnus. “That appealed to Lia, and I know she has been very happy with that.”

Mastronardi, like Carl, is completing the program remotely and will finish in the fall of 2022.

“What I really loved about the MIAP program was the faculty and the fact that you got so much hands-on experience, particularly when you are a distance learner,” Carl said. “I really appreciated how much individual attention they gave us.”

Mastronardi is not in MIAP to build her résumé, Carl said. Rather, she is in the program to learn.

“For someone who is older, like Lia and me, we are already established,” Carl said. “We truly are looking at this as an opportunity to give us insight and education.”

Mastronardi seeks to use her policy background to help agriculturists in other cultures be more sustainable.

“During my time in the military, I worked with a lot of other countries’ governments,” Mastronardi said. “That skillset I already have can lend itself to working in international agriculture.”

Mastronardi’s care for others is not limited to humans. While working oilfield logistics, she rescued her cat, TomTom. Now, they reside in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

In Mastronardi’s myriad of experiences, her intelligence and heart for service led her to improve the lives of those around her, Carl said.

“Lia is a great representative of a student who is truly a lifelong learner,” Carl said. “She is not only there to learn for herself, but I really do believe that she can contribute so much to her fellow students and to the faculty. She has such a wealth of experience.”

WADE YODER

KARVAL, COLORADO

Lia Mastronardi rescued her cat TomTom during her time working in oilfield logistics. Photo

by Wade Yoder.

Bottles for Ransom

I

BRINGING THE HEAT FROM THE HOMESTEAD

n December 2020, Terence W. Ransom found himself walking through the doors of the Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center looking to get assistance in product development for his business.

Ransom went to FAPC, which helps Oklahoma’s small processors and entrepreneurs with the scale-up and reformulation of products, to help grow his brand, he said.

As owner of Ransom’s BBQ in Yukon, Oklahoma, he wanted to reach all consumers so he rebranded his products as all natural, he said.

Now, in his second year of business, Ransom is growing his franchise, he said. His sauces can be found in 20plus stores across Oklahoma.

Ransom has two sauces — original and spicy — which led him to using “your everything sauce” as his slogan, he said. Both can be used as a sauce,

marinade, dip or salad dressing as well as a base for pasta sauce.

Once inside FAPC’s doors, Ransom met Andrea Graves, business planning and marketing specialist, who worked with Ransom to decide pricing and assist in making his labels compliant with food labeling laws.

Ransom had most of his business up and going, but lacked the final steps to get his product in the hands of consumers, he said.

Terence Ransom received help through FAPC for Ransom’s BBQ Sauce before the sauce became available in stores. Photo by Bailey Lewis.

COWBOY JOURNAL 57

“The startup of a new business is challenging,” Graves said. “I typically work with clients from start to finish, and he came in the middle of the process. I have such respect for people who start a business endeavor.”

The potential challenges for Ransom’s business include producing enough of his product on a larger scale with his family operation, not having enough help, and finding time to be able to attend store demonstrations, he said.

“Over the next few years, I see myself being on a national level and in several states in restaurants and on

tables,” Ransom said. “My goal is to be the talk of the town and Oklahoma’s preferred barbecue sauce as I expand into more stores and bigger markets.”

The growth of Ransom’s business has changed his family’s dynamic and daily schedule, he said.

“Terence puts 110% into anything he does,” said Karen Ransom, Terence Ransom’s wife and the business’s administrator. “We have to make time.

Saturdays were days where we would spend a lot of family time, and since the business took off, he usually does markets on Saturdays, so we have had to change the way we do things.”

Terence Ransom uses FAPC resources to expand the reach of Ransom’s BBQ sauce. Photo

by Bailey Lewis.

58 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Throughout Terence Ransom’s workdays, he balances calls, develops drawings and infographics, works on info sheets, media management and marketing materials, and much more.

However, he still takes opportunities to call Graves to check in with her or to ask questions.

“She is like a sister to me,” Terence Ransom said. “We hit it off the first time we met and started this process.

I admire Andrea’s honesty and respect her for giving me the choice of making all the decisions.”

Graves said in the mentorship they have built, Terence Ransom has trusted her, telling her the numbers and challenges he faces in the advancement of his business.

“He shares his wins and losses,” Graves said. “I really like that, and I am more willing to help him because of how hard he works on a daily basis to make his business successful.”

Terence Ransom said patience is critical as is sticking to your goals when starting up a new business.

Staying on course in tough situations is key when faced with obstacles in product development, he added.

“The quote ‘Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed’ by Booker T. Washington is a quote I keep in mind during the hard spots,” Terence Ransom said. “You are going to have ups and downs, but once you start, keep plugging at it.”

The Ransoms have enjoyed watching the brand come to life, and what started in the family kitchen is now available online and in stores across Oklahoma, Karen Ransom said.

“I’m most proud of the success,” Karen Ransom said. “I didn’t expect the business to take off this fast, and for him it still isn’t fast enough.”

BAILEY LEWIS

STRONG CITY, KANSAS

To Make Better Men.

ALPHA GAMMA RHO OSUAGRS.COM

GRAFTING A Better Tomato H

OSU GRADUATE STUDENTS GROW GRAFTED TOMATOES IN AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS

ow do you like your tomatoes?

Oklahoma State University horticulture master’s students prefer their tomatoes flavorful, abundant and grown without soil.

“We are using plant materials from different varieties of tomatoes and combining their tissues to promote beneficial traits such as yield and quality,” said Che Deer, graduate research assistant and master’s student in the OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

“The project has two components,” he said. “The propagation component will allow us to see if the plants survive in both spring and fall.

“The production component will allow us to see to see if grafting has an effect compounded with the soilless system,” he continued.

Deer grafted the seedling plants by hand-cutting sections from Cherokee Purple tomato plants and connecting them to Maxifort tomato rootstocks to achieve select traits, said Bruce Dunn, horticulture and landscape architecture professor.

“The heirloom varieties of tomatoes do not produce a lot of fruit, however, have good taste,”Dunn said. “You can graft one of those heirlooms onto a vigorous plant to see if it will produce more fruit than a normal plant.”

60 SUMMER/FALL 2022

When grafting plants, the genetics must match the needed improvement to get the best possible outcome, Dunn said. This innovative research is the first project growing grafted plants in an aquaponics system in Oklahoma, Deer said.

Aquaponics is a small ecosystem where fish, plants and bacteria live together in a symbiotic relationship.

The fish produce nutrients for the plants, and in turn, the plants contribute to the water cleaning cycle for fish health, Deer said.

Symbiotic Aquaponic donated three identical systems to contribute to Deer’s grafted vegetable propagation and production in aquaponics research after he interned with the company, he said. The systems are housed at the OSU Greenhouse Learning Center.

“When using grafted plants with aquaponics, we found tomatoes were successful in terms of size and health of the plants,” Deer said. “However, the effect of grafting itself had an effect on increasing yield.”

After finding a hearty plant, the project needed a complementary fish species. The researchers chose Coppernose Bluegill. They are an easy-to-manage, durable breed and maintain nitrates to help with tomato growth, Deer said.

These three systems have only been at OSU for a year and a half.

“As the systems mature, they become more productive because of biofilter establishment,” Deer said.

The grafted tomatoes benefit the fish by maintaining a comfortable balance of nitrogen, Deer said.

Nutrient-rich fish waste in the water cycles through the system to the tomatoes. The plants absorb the nutrients and clean water returns to the fish.

“We are taking a sustainable practice and combining it with all of these other components,” Deer said. “The recirculation of water, fish waste being used as a nutrient source, and healthier plants are just part of the benefits of using aquaponics.”

In addition to the sustainable assets, aquaponics also can provide commercial benefits.

“Another idea behind aquaponics is the two or more products that could potentially be sold — the fish waste, the fish themselves, or the plants being grown,” Dunn said.

Another advantage of aquaponics is the ability to use alternatives to fertilizer, Deer said.

Fertilizers like rock phosphorus are directly correlated to the fossil fuel industry, so whenever fossil fuels are no longer an option, most fertilizers

More than 198 million tons of tomatoes are produced globally every year. Photo by Blair Cupps.

COWBOY JOURNAL 61

The three aquaponic systems growing grafted tomatoes at OSU were donated by Symbiotic Aquaponic. Photo by Che Deer.

will become unavailable, Deer said.

Instead, with aquaponics, fish bacteria and nitrogen are used as nutrients for the tomatoes, he added.

“Practicing aquaponics is the future,” Deer said. “In 20 to 50 years, we do not know what finite resources we will have left.”

Using aquaponics gives students unique experiences for the future to benefit not only themselves but also the horticulture community by creating a knowledge base to use when nonrenewable resources run out, said Holly Dobbs, director of greenhouse operations for the Greenhouse Learning Center.

“To be one of the few colleges that is up to date on the new technology being used is a great selling point for our school,” Dobbs said. “We have hardworking, intelligent students who are interested in the future.”

By using this soilless system, the students have created knowledge for 62 SUMMER/FALL 2022

themselves and their futures, while also giving future graduate students the opportunity to explore new ways of growing grafted plants, Dobbs said.

“Aquaponics with grafted plants is just now coming into the spotlight of finding more organic ways to grow produce,” Dobbs said. “It’s fascinating that our aquaponics system is so self-sustained.”

Both grafted plants and aquaponics offer new research opportunities and open doors for other ideas, Dobbs said.

“As our system here at OSU matures, I am excited to see what brilliant students will achieve next with it,” Dobbs said. “I truly see a soilless system with grafted plants as the future and know the best is yet to come with this program.”

BLAIR CUPPS

BURLINGTON, KENTUCKY

Maxifort tomato rootstocks are powerful and ideal for tomato varieties with less stamina. Photo by Che Deer.

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10/13/21 11:27 AM

From Crossroads

to Careers

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS FACULTY PATHS LEAD TO OSU

I

n the semi-arid, windy Hetao Plains of Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of Northern China, a young Lixia Lambert established her roots in the Chinese agricultural industry.

On the other side of the globe, Dayton Lambert stepped into his education in Ohio. After living and learning all across the world, their paths unexpectedly crossed in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The Lamberts met while earning their doctorates in agricultural economics, said Lixia Lambert, assistant professor in agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University.

Now, both are faculty members in the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics, but their early journeys were far different.

Dayton Lambert, professor and Willard Sparks Chair in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and began his post-secondary studies in anthropology at Miami University of Ohio.

After he completed his undergraduate degree, he earned a master’s degree in cultural anthropology from Rutgers University. After Rutgers, Dayton became a Peace Corps volunteer.

“I met Dayton on April 10, 1993, at an airport on our way to volunteer for the Peace Corps in Africa,” said

64 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Michael Wilcox, Purdue University programs in Gabon and Zambia, where Extension assistant director and he trained new volunteers to construct lifelong friend. “We were in North earthen ponds and raise fish.

Carolina for a 12-week aquaculture “The Peace Corps is where my training before we were sent overseas interest in agricultural economics to serve the people of West Africa.” and international development really Dayton was sent to Burundi, East began,” Dayton Lambert said. “I really Africa. There, he worked as an exwanted to step back and understand tension agent with the Ministry this more completely from the perof Environment, Agriculture and spective of markets, prices, risk Livestock, teaching aversion, and smallholder farmtechnology adopTHE STUDENTS SEE ers how to grow tion. Agricultural Tilapia in earthen economics was a ponds and how to natural discipline HOW IT IS POSSIBLE integrate aquafor me.” culture into other In 2000, TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS farm operations.

Dayton Lambert In 1993, Burundi was accepted to INDIVIDUALS AND AS experienced civil Purdue’s docunrest, which eventoral program tually culminated in agricultural PARTNERS. in the 1994 Rwanda economics, which CHERYL DEVUYST genocide. Dayton is where the Lambert was couple’s paths evacuated from Burundi and re-postcrossed, thanks to their mutual friend ed in Gabon, Central Africa, where he Michael Wilcox. finished his volunteer service.

Wilcox and Lixia Lambert started After his service in Gabon, he entheir friendship early in their studies rolled in Auburn University’s graduate at Purdue University. program in fisheries and allied aqua“While I was at Purdue as a strugculture, where he received a master’s gling doctoral student, I met this young degree in 1998. woman named Lixia in my econometThe rare opportunity arose again rics class,” Wilcox said. “I enjoyed her to consult the Peace Corps fisheries to absolutely the end of the earth.

Lixia Lambert (left) and Dayton Lambert joined the OSU agricultural economics department in 2018. Photo by Maddie Neuschwander.

COWBOY JOURNAL 65

“I did not really know anything on campus with other faculty families, about China,” Wilcox said. “Lixia was Lixia Lambert added. infinitely patient with me because “As a youth, I had the chance to I had a million meet farm families questions about with village leadIT IS AN HONOR her culture, and I ers, city mayors thought she was and university TO INSTRUCT just really cool.” faculty members Lixia from different Lambert’s famdisciplines with my OKLAHOMA’S NEXT ily was involved father in the field,” in agriculture, she said. “I was able GENERATION OF which is where to hear how their her love for agriknowledge can be AGRICULTURAL culture started, transferred back she said. Her to the agricultural grandparents and production system.

ENTREPRENEURS uncles produced That process stuck DAYTON LAMBERT wheat, sunflower with me.” seeds, turnips, After high corn, sorghum, sugar beet, watermelschool, Lixia Lambert wanted to beon, sheep and goats. come an agricultural economist like In 1982, her father began teachher father, she said. When her national ing college courses in agricultural entry examination scores were not economics at Huazhong Agricultural high enough, officials placed her into University, which meant the family fermentation engineering for her unhad to move to Wuhan, China, and live dergraduate study, she added.

“After graduation, I was employed for more than two years at a food distribution center in Wuhan,” Lixia Lambert said. “Because it was the early 1990s, China had a planned economy where families could only buy so much food based on the number of people, gender and age of the people in the household. This situation sparked my interest in food supply and the economics behind it.”

Lixia Lambert applied and retook the national entry exams for graduate school in 1995. She then completed her master’s in agricultural economics and management at Huazhong Agricultural University in 1998.

“One day I was walking on campus and saw a poster on a tree announcing a seminar on growing corn given by a researcher from Purdue University,” Lixia Lambert said. “I didn’t go to the seminar. Instead, I went home and did some research on Purdue University and its agricultural economics program and applied to Purdue.”

She began her doctoral program

ALUMNI A S S O C I AT I O N

66 SUMMER/FALL 2022

in agricultural economics at Purdue University in Indiana in 2000.

After having classes together but never actually talking, Wilcox, their mutual friend, connected them at a graduate student dinner in 2003.

After graduating from Purdue in 2004, Dayton Lambert moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as a research economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service.

Lixia Lambert worked for the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Water Research at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.

They married in 2006, and both began working for the University of Tennessee where they remained for 12 years. They moved to Stillwater in 2018 after accepting agricultural economics faculty positions at OSU. “Our students need to be able to see couples working in professional situations,” said Cheryl DeVuyst, department head of agricultural economics. “The students see how it is

possible to be successful as individuals and as partners.”

Both as researchers and as faculty members, some projects demanded their work paths cross, placing them on the same project, Dayton Lambert said. They worked on separate parts of the project, so their personal and professional lives could stay separate, he added.

“The great thing about Dayton is he’s very collegial, but he’s also very demanding and expects the best of everyone,” Wilcox said.

“Lixia has always been a hard worker,” Wilcox said. “It is so difficult to be a female in the agricultural industry.

“Lixia and Dayton are living out their dreams as highly productive faculty members, world-renowned faculty members,” Wilcox added.

At OSU, Dayton Lambert teaches graduate students and assists with research projects.

Lixia Lambert teaches the Environmental Economics and Resource Development course and

the Food Marketing to a Diverse Population course.

Lixia Lambert said she has a heavy research appointment but has learned she is passionate about teaching undergraduates and serving as an academic adviser.

“I enjoy spending time connecting with students and providing them guidance to meet their career objectives,” she added.

Dayton Lambert said he enjoys getting to work with graduate students and studying problems concerning the agricultural industry.

“It is an honor to instruct Oklahoma’s next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs and to address issues faced by Oklahoma’s agricultural producers and rural communities,” Dayton Lambert said. “We are proud to be part of the Cowboy family.”

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CARL JUNCTION, MISSOURI

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seaboardfoods.com COWBOY JOURNAL 67

Irrigation Education F OSU FACULTY FACILITATE MASTER IRRIGATOR PROGRAM

orty percent of water in Oklahoma is used for irrigation.

To incentivize water conservation through irrigation education, Oklahoma State University faculty launched the Master Irrigator Program in 2021.

“This intensive education program elevates the knowledge of producers who irrigate so they can increase their efficiency and productivity,” said Jason Warren, professor in the OSU plant and soil sciences department.

The first Master Irrigator Program started in Texas. OSU faculty members learned of the program at a conference in 2018 and began to plan a similar program for Oklahoma, Warren said.

Center-pivot irrigation is one of the systems discussed in the Master Irrigator Program. Photo by Reagan Calk.

68 SUMMER/FALL 2022

OSU started its first program in Goodwell in 2021. The 2022 program occurred in Altus, and in 2023, the program will return to Goodwell.

The program leaders plan to expand the program to other areas of Oklahoma, Warren said.

The program registration fee is $100. Producers attend one day a week for four weeks and can attend field days for hands-on learning in the fall.

The curriculum includes basic soil and water concepts, irrigation management, and other topics requested by an advisory panel, which includes local producers, said Sumit Sharma, assistant extension specialist in the plant and soil sciences department.

“These farmers are from places facing water scarcity,” said Saleh Taghvaeian, associate professor in the biosystems and agricultural engineering department. “We are talking about how they can better manage limited resources so they can leave this valuable resource for future generations.”

Attending the program lets producers discuss irrigation techniques they use, problems they face and management techniques they are curious about, Warren said.

Sharma said the producers come from counties around the program location, so they often face similar problems. Producers can share methods they used to overcome those

COWBOY JOURNAL 69

problems, Sharma added. This program offers a platform to facilitate peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge, he said.

“You get a group of people together having a discussion about management considerations,” Warren said. “The beautiful thing is they are all learning from one another in trying to improve the overall irrigation in the region.”

Sharma brings in speakers from surrounding areas to provide different expertise for producers. He said he looks for speakers who are familiar with the area and can bring current information about technology, irrigation, water and soil. Producers are consulted before the program begins to ensure their specific problems will be addressed, he added.

“We get people together from different farms and different experiences,” Taghvaeian said. “We want them to get engaged in dialogue so it is not just a one-way transfer of information but a multi-way interaction where everyone learns from each other.”

Program facilitators learn from the producers, as well, Sharma said. The producers are working with land, water and irrigation systems every day, so their practical knowledge is valuable, he added.

Talking with producers also guides research at OSU, allowing researchers to find solutions that will be valuable to Oklahoma and deliver a demand-driven extension program, Taghvaeian said.

“We are enhancing producers’ knowledge of irrigation technologies,” said Kevin Wagner, director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Center.

“We also are able to help them overcome the financial burden of adopting these technologies.”

Master Irrigator Program graduates are eligible for benefits to improve their irrigation systems, Wagner said.

Wagner works with eight other state and federal agencies to provide funding and opportunities.

Graduates can receive up to $2,000 to purchase irrigation technology, like soil moisture sensors or irrigation 70 SUMMER/FALL 2022

schedulers, Warren said. Producers also can receive additional points on their Environmental Quality Incentives Program applications. The applications are for financial assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Graduates also can request free irrigation audits, which are conducted using the OSU Mobile Irrigation Lab, Taghvaeian said.

Taghvaeian conducts two types of irrigation audits: energy and water.

Energy audits measure how much energy the irrigation system uses in daily operations.

“We go out to the farm and estimate the efficiency at which their pumps are using energy,” Taghvaeian said. “Then, we tell the farmer how much they can save if they improve the efficiency.”

Water audits measure the efficiency of the irrigation system in regard to water usage. Farmers often use this resource to tune up their irrigation systems before the irrigation season begins, Taghvaeian said.

“We have advanced sensors and instruments we attach to different pieces of the irrigation system,” Taghvaeian said. “We can find leaks in the pipeline, assess the uniformity of irrigation application, and tell if the system needs tuning or not.”

Conducting audits allows the Master Irrigator Program facilitators

to connect with producers after they graduate from the program, Sharma said. Sharma also checks with producers to learn what technology they have adopted, how their irrigation season is going, and what curriculum they suggest for future programs.

Facilitators value feedback from producers, which can guide the program to fit with the interests of producers in the area, Sharma said.

“The program is going to evolve over time,” Sharma said. “As we go forward, the focus will remain on what producers are interested in.”

Thirty-seven producers graduated from the first two programs combined.

The ideal number of producers per session is 25, Taghvaeian said.

As the program grows, the focus will be to continue to provide value to producers and consumers alike, Wagner said. Efficient water and energy use can save producers money, he added.

Conserving water — a precious natural resource — benefits Oklahomans across the state, Wagner said.

“Any water you can save today is water you can use in the future,” Warren said, “and that future return has value.”

HALEY FAIR

KERRVILLE, TEXAS

The Master Irrigator Program teaches irrigation technology such as schedulers and soil moisture sensors. Photo by Reagan Calk.

Caitlyn Wileman (left) and fellow participants at the Science Communication Academy engage in activities such as designing social media content and giving mock interviews about their research to Lyndall Stout, “SUNUP” host and Agricultural Communications Services director.

Photo by Kristin Knight.

SCIENCE MEETS SOCIETY

S

FERGUSON MASTER’S STUDENTS LEARN TO TRANSLATE RESEARCH

cience and research are constantly developing as needs arise around the world. With constant development comes a need for translation of scientific findings.

Science communication is the variety of practices used to transmit scientific ideas, methods, knowledge and research to common audiences in an understandable and useful way.

“I started working with personnel across Oklahoma State University to develop the Science Communication Academy to teach graduate students how to communicate effectively about their research,” said Quisto

Settle, assistant professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership.

Settle said he developed the idea of a Science Communication Academy during the past several years.

“We are not communicating clearly about the information we know and how we find that information,” Settle said. “People have begun to lose trust in scientific institutions.”

A majority of the members in the scientific community rely on public support, he said.

However, the scientific community could be more proactive of ensuring

research reaches the people who can use it, Settle added.

“If we don’t have the public’s support, we cannot continue to conduct research,” Settle said. “If the public does not use our research, there is no point to doing it at all.”

The program included two sessions — the first to help participants develop a general understanding of science communication and the second to improve their social media use and online presence. The free six-hour sessions were March 23 and April 20.

“The first session focused on concepts like pitching ideas, being COWBOY JOURNAL 71

interviewed, and interacting with communicators,” Settle said. “The second session focused on do-it-yourself content creation so participants could communicate research concepts quickly and easily.”

The idea of working on the communication gap is not new and is something being worked on across the nation, Settle said.

The biggest goal of the first Science Communication Academy was to provide participants with practical, hands-on experience and help them become more comfortable communicating their research, Settle said.

Participants learned from professionals experienced in practicing scientific communication, such as staff from the OSU Agricultural Communications Services, OSU Brand Management, Edmond Low Library, OSU Graduate College and KOSU radio, he said.

Fourteen participants from the Ferguson College of Agriculture graduate programs attended the academy.

The selection criteria was to be a master’s student with a research project to use as a reference point for activities.

“In academia, researchers speak at a certain level and expect their audience to comprehend,” said Caitlyn Wileman, academy participant and master’s student in the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “I have always been passionate about simplifying it into a common language that is easier for consumers to understand.”

The main goal of research is to publish results to be used, Wileman said.

The Science Communication Academy allowed participants to learn how to translate their research into accessible information, she added.

“Science without being communicated to the public is not useful,” said Daniel Carrera Lopez, academy participant and master’s student in the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “As scientists, we must have the ability to communicate to others and transmit correct information.”

Participants benefitted from

learning techniques to improve research communication and reach more people, Carrera Lopez said.

“My biggest takeaway was learning to alter how I describe my research,” Wileman said. “When I tell someone about what I’m studying, I have to understand the audience’s background knowledge on the topic and explain the bigger picture behind why the research matters.”

The scientific community needs more people to communicate more effectively, Settle said.

“I want participants to become more effective science communicators, regardless of what avenues they take,” Settle said. “Whether it’s an academic career or an industry career, I hope to make their careers a little bit better, and hopefully, the world gets to be a little bit better, too.”

EMILY GERSTENKORN WACO, TEXAS

Committed to Financing Young, Beginning and Small Producers

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72 SUMMER/FALL 2022

EQUAL HOUSING

LENDER

ABNORMAL W

hen a cow has trouble calving, she needs help to bring a live calf into the world.

Someone needs to provide that help, especially in abnormal deliveries, but often the expertise is unavailable, said Dr. Barry Whitworth, DVM and Oklahoma State University Extension area food and animal quality health specialist for eastern Oklahoma.

Whitworth now offers a program to prepare producers, future veterinarians and youth to be the experts before labor begins.

“I’ve taught the calving time management chapter for the Master Cattleman Program,” Whitworth said.

“I would tell people how to properly put on obstetric chains and how to use a calf puller, but then there was no hands-on practice, which got me to build the calving simulator because I wanted people to be able to have hands-on experience.”

After 25 years as a practicing veterinarian, Whitworth said he decided to design his own simulator from 55-gallon plastic barrels.

“I took the pelvis of a cow and put it in the barrel, and I used rubber tubing to make the simulator as realistic as possible,” Whitworth said.

Whitworth traveled around Oklahoma with his homemade simulator, presenting his heifer calving 74 SUMMER/FALL 2022

EDUCATION

OSU EXTENSION SPECIALIST EDUCATES WITH CALVING SIMULATOR management program to teach producers the basics of calving and to give participants the opportunity to practice pulling calves.

However, this homemade simulator required him to obtain a calf cadaver for the hands-on activity, which had several limitations, Whitworth said.

This led him to search for an alternative, he added.

“I got online and started researching calving simulators,” Whitworth said. “I found the Hereford Dystocia Simulator made by Veterinary Simulator Industries, but we didn’t have the money to buy it because it’s $30,000-plus.”

Instead of letting the daunting price tag hinder the development of his program, Whitworth began searching for grants, he said.

The simulator was purchased with supplemental funds for OSU Agriculture appropriated through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, said Randy Taylor, OSU Extension assistant director.

“These funds are to allow OSU Extension and OSU Ag Research to work in new and innovative ways,” Taylor said. “The calving simulator fits that definition by allowing Dr. Whitworth to demonstrate real-life situations in an educational setting.”

The Oklahoma Master Cattleman

program and the annual OSU Extension Cow/Calf Boot Camp both offer places to showcase the simulator, Whitworth said. He also uses it for 4-H programs and at the birthing centers during the two Oklahoma state fairs.

In addition, the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine uses the simulator for two weeks to let students practice pulling calves.

Fall 2021 was the first time the veterinary students had the opportunity to use the calving simulator.

“I offered this elective for about 26 third-year veterinary students who were interested in cattle reproduction to get hands-on experience,” said Lionel Dawson, OSU-CVM professor.

“A calf coming forward and upright with two feet and a head between them is considered normal,” he added.

“Since a full-size calf fits inside the simulator, we showed the students a normal presentation.”

The student can put a hand in the simulator to feel if the calf is coming normally, and if not, they can develop a plan to safely deliver the calf, Dawson said. He uses the simulator to teach his students how to best deliver the calf to protect it and the cow, he added.

“During the calving season, producers need to recognize calving difficulties or dystocia in cattle,” Dawson said. “Early recognition of

difficulty or abnormal presentation of the calf can save the life of the calf and the mother.”

Students determine how far into labor a cow is and if the calf is alive before they consider pulling the calf, Dawson said.

A benefit to the simulator is students can wear their regular clothes to class and then put on an OB sleeve and not get dirty, rather than wearing coveralls to avoid getting soiled, he said.

“I can’t simulate the cow kicking and the compression she’s going to put on an arm when you’re going into her vaginally, examining her and pulling a calf,” Whitworth said. “But, it’s still pretty realistic.”

The majority of participants in Whitworth’s programs are new to the cattle industry and can experience for the first time what pulling a calf is like, he said.

However, some people, like Stacey Dawson, attend the program to expand their knowledge.

Stacey Dawson’s family always had cattle, and as they moved to Oklahoma and grew their ranch, she began thinking about the future, she said.

“I started to come to the realization I’m going to take over the ranch someday, and I need to start learning the ins and outs of the cattle industry other than the basic feeding and care,” said

Veterinary Simulator Industries in Canada manufactures calving simulators like the one purchased by Dr. Barry Whitworth in 2020. Photo by Maddie Neuschwander.

COWBOY JOURNAL 75

Lexie Cart (right) demonstrates to OSU-CVM classmates Courtney Knox (left), Taylor Gilbert, Braden Foley and Morgan Dunker how to use the calving simulator during their bovine theriogenology lab. Photo by Kaylie Wehr.

Stacey Dawson, a cattle producer and Osage County Extension 4-H educator.

“I’ve seen dad pull calves before, but I’ve never actually done it.

“When I saw the simulator, I thought ‘first of all, this looks really cool, and I want to use it,’” she added. “‘Second of all, this is something I need to learn how to do.’”

Since pulling calves is not something Stacey Dawson does often, she is open to attending Whitworth’s program again to hone her skills, she said.

In the future, with enough practice, Stacey Dawson can see herself showing someone else how to deliver a calf, she said.

“When I was in the class, there were guys who have been helping cows calve for years who were absolutely fascinated with the calving simulator because 76 SUMMER/FALL 2022

it brings a whole new approach,” Stacey Dawson said. “Not only did Whitworth simulate a natural birth, but also he could walk you through different abnormal presentations.”

Whitworth talks about most of the different positions a calf could get in during his presentation, he said.

When he puts the calf in a true breech position, participants begin to swarm around to watch.

It depends on how much fun the participants want to have as far as how challenging he makes the simulator, Whitworth added.

Whitworth estimates he has taught more than 500 people with the calving simulator. He said 15 participants is the “golden” number of people per class to get everyone excited to participate in the hands-on activities.

“The calving simulator is a really valuable tool that can be used beyond regular, everyday farmers, producers and ranchers,” Stacey Dawson said. “I work with 4-H kids, and this would be something great for them because it helps solidify the calving process.

“There are many misconceptions about the cattle industry, but going through this program helps people start to understand the idea of when cattle producers help a cow deliver her calf they are doing it in the best interest of the cow,” Stacey Dawson said. “They are doing everything they can to protect and take care of her.”

SYDNEY TRAINOR

SHELBYVILLE, ILLINOIS

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mark

MAKING HIS

P

FAMILY MAN RECEIVES LIVESTOCK JUDGING COACH OF THE YEAR HONOR

arker Henley’s grandfather Norman Henley instilled a passion for agriculture in the lives of his family. A legacy of family and agriculture is something Oklahoma State University and Parker Henley have in common.

“Parker’s Grandpa Norman is his idol,” said Christy Henley, Parker Henley’s wife.“His grandpa always prioritized family and how important it is to always take care of family.”

Parker Henley grew up on a century-old family farm in the fescue hills of Eugene, Missouri, where his family still raises Charolais, Angus and commercial cattle.

As a youth, he exhibited cattle, sheep, and swine and judged livestock.

“We spent a lot of time with Grandpa Norman growing up, and he taught us the general principles of managing the livestock and the ground,” Parker Henley said. “Things seemed to be second nature to him.

He was a natural teacher, and that is where a lot of my passion for agriculture has come from.”

Parker Henley is extremely close to his family, who all work on the farm, his wife said. The family enjoys attending games, livestock shows, graduations and other events together, she added.

But, the Henley family grew when the couple moved to Stillwater in 2020

78 SUMMER/FALL 2022

for him to coach the OSU Livestock Judging Team.

“The team is really an extension of our family,” Christy Henley said.

“Before we had our son, Norman, our livestock judging students were our kids. They are our family.”

The Henleys said they enjoy hosting the team for dinner. Parker Henley also tries to include his wife and their son in everything he can, he said.

“It takes a supportive family to make it all work,” Parker Henley said.

“I’m very lucky here at Oklahoma State. We have a lot of things really close, and so it allows me to balance my work and family life pretty well.”

Christy Henley said she does not think of their lives as a balancing act because they care about their students so much. Her husband loves to coach and wants to help prepare his students for life, she added.

Parker Henley uncovered his passion and success in livestock judging during his time at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, he said.

While a student at Butler and then at Kansas State University, Parker Henley competed on both livestock judging teams.

After earning his bachelor’s degree at KSU, he then attended the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign for his master’s degree in animal science and doctorate in

animal science while serving as the livestock judging head coach at UIUC. “He loves teaching so much,” Christy Henley said. “That’s definitely something he learned about himself at the University of Illinois — how much he enjoys seeing a young person learn a new skill.”

Henley is a competitive person and instills in his students the desire to compete, but that comes second to his passion to teach and to mentor young people, said Dan Shike, UIUC animal science associate professor and former livestock judging coach.

“I am confident that whether the next team is the national champion or not, those students still will have benefited from everything that Henley taught them and from all the personal development and career preparation gained through livestock judging,” Shike said.

Expectations at OSU are high, Shike said. Not only did Parker Henley step right into that, but also he didn’t let it intimidate him and had success right out of the gate.

Livestock judging is an OSU legacy, said Mark Johnson, OSU animal and food sciences professor and former livestock judging coach. Coaching Cowboys is no easy task, but Parker Henley does it with ease, Johnson added. Due to his hard work, Parker Henley received 2021 Coach of the

Parker (left), Norman and Christy Henley moved to Oklahoma when Parker accepted a job at OSU. Photo by Maddie Neuschwander.

COWBOY JOURNAL 79

Part of livestock judging is handling market cattle to determine degree of finish. Parker Henley demonstrates handling market cattle to student Caden Arnold at an OSU livestock judging practice. Photo by Maddie Neuschwander.

Year through the National Collegiate Livestock Coaches’ Association this past year, he added.

“My definition of a successful team would be that we develop loyal, productive and successful alumni,” Parker Henley said. “You don’t evaluate the success of the team immediately after the year, but how they go into the industry and perform. That’s the sign of a good judging team.”

Since he began coaching, Parker Henley has prioritized students being taught the right way, he said. Setting students up to be successful in life is the main priority, he added.

“Winning judging contests is a result of students being in a great mindset, being confident, and having been trained the right way,” Parker Henley said. “That’s my biggest focus.”

Livestock judging is beneficial for developing career skills such as decision making, public speaking and time management, Parker Henley said. Being part of a judging team 80 SUMMER/FALL 2022

tremendously helped develop him in his personal life and professional career, he said.

“I had followed Parker’s career as he went through graduate programs at the University of Illinois,” Johnson said.

“When our position came open here a few years ago, he was at the top of the list for people we wanted to recruit to apply for this position.”

Johnson said Parker Henley had distinguished himself as an individual in the livestock industry, not only as a livestock evaluator but also as a mentor, stockman and leader.

OSU has won more collegiate livestock judging national championships than any other four-year school.

When Henley accepted the position at OSU, he had a legacy to continue, Johnson said.

“There are a lot of responsibilities and roles you play when you’re coaching a livestock judging team at OSU,” Johnson said. “There is an expectation that you go out and do a good job of

judging shows while also recruiting the great livestock judging students from around the country.”

A coach educates and mentors students and serves as a role model while helping them develop their skills as animal evaluators and communicators, Johnson added. A coach also helps them prepare for the competitions and life beyond a college degree, he added.

Parker Henley lays the foundation of wanting to develop students into better young people, livestock evaluators and communicators, Shike added.

He wants to help them to achieve success in their future endeavors.

“Parker was the right guy for the right job at the right time, and he’s doing an outstanding job in his role here at OSU,” Johnson said. “We are fortunate to have him.”

MADDIE NEUSCHWANDER SHEDD, OREGON

When I think of Oklahoma State, I think of it as an agricultural school. The better

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.

the facility, the more that’s going to entice kids to come here and major in agriculture. The better teaching facility is going to be a win-win for the students and the professors.”

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Jessie Payne plans to continue lab research on food products as her career. Photo by Brandy DeVous.

82 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Progress Probiotics

with

Y

GRADUATE STUDENT PIONEERS FOOD RESEARCH

ogurt, kombucha and sauerkraut — these products may seem very different, but they have something in common — they contain probiotics.

In recent years, the use of probiotics has increased in the United States as consumers choose it for health and beauty reasons, said Jessie Payne, food science doctoral student at Oklahoma State University.

Payne is conducting research that may lead to probiotics being in a more diverse range of food products in the future, she said.

“I wanted to learn a little bit of everything,” she said. “That’s how I knew this research was going to be great for me because it consists of multiple studies all within one big project.”

The research tests the water activity and baking conditions of probiotics as well as the effectiveness of probiotics against Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat hummus. Payne’s two project advisers applied for a grant for the project to gain more funding for the studies, Payne said.

“We are hoping to learn that when you use probiotic spores, the benefit associated with them could be extended to help protect food from food-borne pathogens,” said Ravi Jadeja, animal and food science associate professor and food safety specialist who is one of the project’s three faculty directors. “Overall, we hope to learn if adding spores into food

products will be able to provide any “Utilizing probiotics in baked safety benefits.” goods allows consumers to diversify The project, titled “Evaluation of the way they manage their gut health Stability and Increased Functionality with an expansion in product options,” of Several Bacillus Strains with said Corrine Burrus, undergraduate Probiotic Properties,” began in research assistant and food science September 2021 with testing the senior. “This now goes beyond your water activity and baking condition typical yogurt and probiotic drinks.” of Bacillus subtilis, one of the chosen Challenges during the first part of probiotics for this project, Payne said. this project arose while plating the “Step one is determining if this probiotics to gather results. Activation strain of proof the probiotic biotics can first via heat shock I WANTED TO LEARN survive in was the best way different baking to continue in the A LITTLE BIT OF conditions and plating process, said whether they Danielle Bellmer, are affected by professor in the EVERYTHING. water activity,” OSU Department JESSIE PAYNE Payne said. “We of Biosystems took 0.091 grams and Agricultural of the probiotic and baked them to Engineering and adviser for Payne.

450°F along with testing the probi“One main struggle we have faced otic in different water activity levels so far was figuring out how to get the and compared them to their controls, probiotic to grow on a plate,” Payne which were unmodified.” said. “The probiotics can be very finnBy testing these conditions on the icky because they are in spore form, Bacillus subtilis probiotic, the reand spores have to have a very specific searchers discovered this probiotic environment in order to germinate.” can withstand temperatures up to Payne discovered the pour plate 450°F as well as various levels of water method worked best, she said. This method consists of placing the probiactivity. These results were surprising otic solution on the plate then mixing because most probiotics cannot withit with tryptic soy agar to solidify it. stand such high temperatures.

In contrast, the common spread With these results, the American plate method involves spreading the food industry may be able to create solution on top of the already gelled baked goods with a probiotic additive, media, Payne said.

Payne said.

COWBOY JOURNAL 83

The first part of this project provided positive results and the second part of the project started in February, Payne said.

In the second part of this project, being able to see probiotics inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat dips could be huge for food safety in refrigerated products, Bellmer said.

“The current study consists of testing the probiotic mixed with Listeria in ready-to-eat hummus to determine if the probiotics will inhibit the Listeria growth,” Payne said.

The importance of this research is to impact people’s lives, Jadeja said.

This project provides multiple avenues for expansion in food safety and the production of more foods with the health benefits of probiotics, he added.

“This is definitely going to be welcomed news if this research goes in the direction we intend,” Jadeja said. “Food safety is a big concern for everyone. In the U.S. alone, 48 million people get sick with a food-borne illness yearly, and about 3,000 die.

Any reduction of these illnesses would benefit society.”

The research on the effect of probiotics on Listeria may take months, but hope exists for a brighter future for food safety, Payne said.

“Using probiotics to help combat Listeria can give Americans confidence to consume a safer product with a clean label,” Burrus said. “If these probiotics will be able to be used in baked goods, consumers have an additional option to introduce beneficial bacteria into their bodies.

Consumers and food production businesses gain from this research.”

BRANDY DEVOUS

MUSTANG, OKLAHOMA

The spread plate method requires Jessie Payne to use a glass tool called a cell spreader to prepare the probiotics. Photo by Brandy DeVous.

84 SUMMER/FALL 2022

PRACTICE NOW. LE

AD

TOMORR

OW

.

@OKFFA

Dana Zook (left), Josh Bushong and Trent Milacek started the Extension Experience podcast in 2020. Photo by Erick Moreau.

86 SUMMER/FALL 2022

BEHIND THE

AUDIO

OSU EXTENSION CREATES PODCAST TO REACH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND BEYOND

A

microphone plugs in, a recording light comes on, and a group of people begin to talk.

This is typically how a podcast might begin, right?

Production of the “Extension Experience” podcast is similar to these concepts, but to understand this podcast, one must start with an in-depth look from the beginning.

In 2014, Trent Milacek, area agricultural economics specialist in Oklahoma State University Extension, received questions about possible programming about agricultural topics that clientele could listen to from their phones rather than traveling to a conference. A podcast came to mind, Milacek said.

“We had an understanding that successful podcasts had good quality, so we all knew we could easily get cheap microphones or even just use our smartphones to put the audio together to make a podcast,” said Josh Bushong, OSU Extension area specialist in agronomy. “But, we knew if we were going to do it, we were going to do it right.”

Milacek, Bushong and Dana Zook, area livestock specialist for OSU Extension, worked on the programming concept and finding funding for the equipment for the podcast, Milacek

said. Support from OSU Extension the time of year and what things are administration aided in initial funding happing in agriculture, Bushong said. for equipment, such as microphones, In the spring, it may be about winter to start the podcast, Bushong said. wheat varieties, for example.

When purchasing the equipment, Each host has a different specialty, the total cost was $1,855.76 for the rebut depending on the season, each may cording deck, cables, be responsible stands and mics. for researching WE TRY TO KEEP IT TO Equipment was other areas, he purchased so four said. Events or people could be on WHERE SOMEONE WHO time-sensitive the podcast at once, topics can push he added. other subjects HAS NO EXPERIENCE The concept of to a later date, the podcast was to Bushong added.

WITH WHAT WE ARE have something othGetting the er than traditional facts behind a TALKING ABOUT CAN programming, Zook topic and keepsaid. This medium ing it relevant was another way to is crucial, Zook ENJOY IT. reach people rather said. Creating JOSH BUSHONG than through workan outline about shops, she said. what they plan to Podcast episodes are 15 to 30 talk about helps the flow of the podminutes in length to keep the listener cast, Zook added, but the recordings engaged in the episode, Milacek said. are not scripted.

Topics span from general agricultural “A lot of what they do in the issues to event opportunities for pro‘Extension Experience’ podcast is a reducers, he added. al-time thing,” said Karen Eifert Jones, “Some of the first podcasts that we podcast listener. “For me, it’s like lisdid were just very general topics,” Zook tening to a newscast, a little timelier at said. “After a while, we figured out we presenting what we should be thinking could be more specific.” about as producers.”

The topics vary depending on Much of the podcast content comes COWBOY JOURNAL 87

from fact sheets. That information will ask questions and bring it up to an helps the group prepare to discuss the industry leader or extension educator, topic, Zook said.

Bushong said.

One of the The main audigoals of the podence of the podcast cast is to start has been producers THERE IS A LOT OF a conversation as well as chemical between those or seed company emVALUE IN MAKING who want to ployees who share learn and those the podcast, THE RESEARCH OF with the inforBushong said. Even mation to teach, some people who are Bushong said. not involved in the OSU ACCESSIBLE TO Being able agricultural industo keep things try have found and FARMERS WHERE brief, the group listen to the podcast, can talk about Bushong said.

WE ARE, INSTEAD OF issues but still “We try to keep it make it easier to where someone to talk to one who has no experiMAKING US COME TO another and ence with what we provide a steady are talking about can THEM. flow the audienjoy it,” he said.

KAREN EIFERT JONES ence can follow, A lot of work goes he added. into producing the By getting the podcast, Milacek conversation started, hopefully people said. The three-person team does the

recording, editing and publishing, but the recording location often changes, he added.

OSU Agricultural Communications Services helped the podcast have a home on the OSU website by creating a landing page, logo for the podcast and a place for all episodes from the first episode in 2020 to the present, Milacek said.

“I hope Josh, Dana and Trent continue to produce the podcast,” Jones said. “There is a lot of value in making the research of OSU accessible to farmers where we are, instead of making us come to them.”

Listeners can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other streaming platforms.

“The sky is the limit as far as where we would like to go with the podcast,” Zook said.

ERICK MOREAU

OLUSTEE, OKLAHOMA

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.

88 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Students use the new NEO A&M greenhouse facility for research projects and hands-on learning activities. Photo by Halle Roper.

Growing NEW BEGINNINGS

OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS CREATE A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS

A

collaboration between Oklahoma State University and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College sparked a new opportunity for Native American students to attend both schools.

Established during the pandemic, PATHS to PROVIDE is a scholarship

program for Native American students funded by two U.S. Department of Agriculture grants. Program participants learn the skills necessary to contribute to tribal food sustainability and food sovereignty, said Brian Arnall, plant and soil sciences professor at OSU.

“The need for this program tied heavily back to the sovereign nations’ capability to be self-sufficient in food production,” Arnall said. “Not only can they produce for themselves as far as food goes but also make the students more marketable.”

Arnall said one of the main goals COWBOY JOURNAL 89

to make Brian and my mom happy. when the grants were written was to have more indigenous people complete As soon as I came to NEO, I realized I loved the campus and the people. I undergraduate programs. Ensuring thought to myself, ‘Let’s do this.’” students received the resources to Crosthwait said she enjoys being make it from freshman to senior year part of a small cohort because these with a zero dropout rate was importstudents will be with her throughout ant, he added. her college career.

Each student in the program re“One of the things I’ve learned is ceives $30,000 in scholarships. They the importance of a team experience,” spend the first two years at NEO to Crosthwait said. “Another thing I’ve complete an Associate of Science in learned in my agronomy. They first semester is finish at OSU with SOME OF THESE this program is Bachelor of Science going to teach me degrees in entomolSTUDENTS HAVE about different ogy and in plant and sides of agrisoil sciences. culture I knew When students NEVER BEEN IN existed but never complete the proreally dug into.” gram, they graduate THE AGRICULTURAL Upon acwith three degrees ceptance into and more than 25 INDUSTRY. THEY ARE the program, career pathway opCrosthwait retions, Arnall said.

A BLANK SLATE, AND ceived a $2,000 “We get all of scholarship their general edTHEY LEARN TO ASK to purchase ucation and core technology in agriculture classes addition to the out of the way,” said THOSE CRITICAL tuition waiver.

Alisen Anderson, “The scholNEO agricultural THINKING QUESTIONS. arship is a very instructor. “Some ALISEN ANDERSON big blessing,” of these students Crosthwait said. have never been in “Having this scholarship to help me get the agricultural industry. They are a through my education means I don’t blank slate, and they learn to ask those have to stress about having to pay back critical thinking questions.”

On the other hand, some students in student loans when I graduate.”

The project is funded by grants the program have deep roots in the industry and are eager to expand on their from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of knowledge, Anderson added.

Food and Agriculture. The PATHS Teegin Crosthwait, a PATHS to — Partnerships for Agrosecurity PROVIDE scholar, said she was inTraining, Health and Science — grant volved in many agriscience projects throughout her time in high school and comes from the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program. was drawn to this program specifically PROVIDE — Plant Resistance because it focused on plant science Of Vectors, Insects and Disease research opportunities.

Education — came through the New “Brian Arnall told me I needed to Beginnings for Tribal Students. check out this program,” Crosthwait Thus, the name PATHS to said. “I was set in stone about coming to OSU in the fall and only toured NEO PROVIDE was developed.

90 SUMMER/FALL 2022

“There’s actually a little bit of history here,” Arnall said. “Dr. Wyatt Hoback recently had a cohort of five Native American students and brought them through the entire entomology program. This sparked the idea to create a similar program.”

Arnall said he was looking for opportunities for collaboration between Oklahoma schools.

“NEO A&M has a large proportion of students who are Native American,” said Wyatt Hoback, OSU entomology and plant pathology associate professor. “The OSU Stillwater campus has about 10% of students who are of Native American heritage.

“NEO has students who have Native American affiliation, and NEO is closer to home for them,” he added.

The thought process behind the collaboration was to allow students from small towns to attend a junior college to limit the shock of attending a four-year institution, Arnall said.

The concept was to move these students as a cohort to give them a diverse industry background, so they could help their tribes and communities, Arnall added.

Building upon Hoback’s Native American student project, Arnall and Hoback submitted two grant applications to the USDA, Arnall said.

“It takes six to eight months to hear anything while applications are under review,” Arnall said. “We submitted PROVIDE, and then we came back and submitted PATHS, hoping to get one, and we got both.”

The program officially launched in Fall 2021 with six students, Anderson said. Students want to challenge how a traditional producer thinks, she added.

“The kids are in my office daily,” Anderson said. “They are incredible.

We offer a important opportunity for Native American students to help their tribes and turn it into an education and into a lifestyle and an occupation.”

Between semesters at NEO, students participate in paid internships

BE A PATHS TO PROVIDE SCHOLAR High school seniors with Native American heritage who are interested in becoming a PATHS to PROVIDE scholar can visit the PATHS to PROVIDE website.

The Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Oklahoma State University have complementary agricultural programs allowing them to collaborate and deliver an affordable education and unique student experience.

PATHS to PROVIDE allows students to get hands-on experience, scholarship and career path opportunities and three degrees.

The application can be downloaded through the site. It consists of general questions as well as two essay responses. Once completed, the application can be mailed or emailed to the addresses provided.

— pathstoprovide.com Teegin Crosthwait (left) works closely with Alisen Anderson regarding her degree plan, job opportunities and other life advice. Photo by Halle Roper.

working on agricultural and horticultural research. At OSU, they will have a paid internship their junior year and research projects during the summer.

“The students select projects to investigate the effects of plant insect interaction, plant nutrition on animal feed, or how plants in a greenhouse respond to hydroponics,” Hoback said.

“They’ll get to design experiments and then collect data. We will help them interpret the data to help them do experimental design.”

Completing both entomology and plant and soil sciences degrees gives the students a more complete picture of the industry, Hoback said. This makes them better prepared to make

decisions on the farm because they understand the agroecosystem, instead of just the plant side or the insect side, he added.

Each grant lasts four years, but this program will serve as a launching point for programs of the same nature, Arnall said.

“I have no doubt this will go somewhere else,” Arnall said. “In fact, we’ve been talking with other faculty who are looking at doing similar programs with other colleges.”

When a grant proposal is submitted, the authors promise knowledge will be gained from the proposal, Hoback said.

Across the U.S., a strong desire exists to create a pipeline of students earning

associate degrees and transitioning into universities to earn a bachelor’s degree, he added.

“What we hope is we learn, and the students help us improve the process,” Hoback said. “Down the road, maybe Oklahoma State could create cooperative agreements with other community colleges so the transition is seamless and the coursework doesn’t overlap but is complementary. Then, we can take these ideas outside Oklahoma.”

EMILY GARRETT

KINGFISHER, OKLAHOMA

COWBOY JOURNAL 91

LEARNING A

AGLE ALUMNA COMPLETES BACHELOR’S DEGREE ONLINE

promise to her late father brought Kristin Weaver back to Oklahoma State University in 2017 to finish her degree in the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

Weaver began her educational experience studying agribusiness in 1999 but did not graduate. Instead, after six semesters, she left school and cultivated a career in industrial sales.

Ten years later, Weaver married and then returned to her hometown of Bristow, Oklahoma.

“There was always something missing, like unfinished business, nagging at me that I needed to get a degree,” Weaver said. “But at that point, I was married with a family, working, and helping my dad with the ranch. My dad was aging and encouraged me to finish my degree.”

In a Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association magazine, she saw a small article written by Bill Weeks about a new OSU Agricultural Leadership Online Degree Completion Program. The article caught her attention because she knew if she wanted to finish her degree it had to be through an online program, Weaver said.

“I knew I wanted my degree to come from OSU,” Weaver said. “I wanted a degree in agriculture, and I knew I 92 SUMMER/FALL 2022

Without Leaving H

couldn’t leave my life in Bristow. I contacted Weeks, and next thing I knew I was enrolled in the program.”

Weaver started in the AGLE program in the Fall 2017 semester. She said her dad was excited she was back in school — especially at OSU where he earned his degree in business with a minor in agriculture in 1954.

Through the challenges, Weaver upheld her promise, even after her father died.

“The online agricultural leadership degree completion program is designed for people who want to finish a degree but physically can’t come to campus,” said Lauren Cline, OSU agricultural leadership assistant professor.

“There are students from all over the country pursuing a degree in agricultural leadership.”

Weaver was part of the first group of 12 students who enrolled in the program in 2017, Cline said.

The current group has 36 students with varied backgrounds actively participating in the program, she said.

“I was able to choose the classes I wanted to take and take them on my own time while still feeling like I was on campus,” Weaver said.

“Even though the program was online, I knew the other students,” she

added. “We worked together on different projects.”

Through the program, Weaver made valuable connections, allowing her to have an internship at Land Scout as a working student, she said. This led her to her current job as the southwest region industrial representative for Washington Mills, a fused minerals manufacturing, she added.

In addition to her work, Weaver manages two of her family’s ranches and stays involved in the community, she said.

She also serves as the president of the Bristow Rotary Club, is a member of the Creek County Cattlemen’s Association, and assists with the Bristow Retail Merchants Association.

She also volunteers with several rural economic development programs in her community.

Using her AGLE training, Weaver is better able to serve her community, said Matt Smith, Bristow Rotary Club secretary. The skills she learned in the program allow her to implement leadership practices in her various roles.

“The Rotary Club is near and dear to my heart,” Weaver said. “We strive to uphold the values and beliefs put forth

by Rotary International.”

As a Rotarian, Weaver volunteers

G

g Home with food banks and toy drives, and helps her community in many facets.

The last initiative she worked on was planting a variety of wildflowers around the Bristow City Park and Lake, Weaver said. A sign by the wildflowers will serve as an educational reference for the Bristow community to visit and learn, she added.

“The motto for the Rotary Club is ‘Service Above Self,’” Smith said.

“Kristin upholds the motto in everything she does, especially when she is involved in her community.”

Weaver said she uses what she learned through OSU to educate others about leadership roles and to advocate for the agricultural industry. She also likes being “like the rest of her family,” all of whom earned degrees at OSU. “Being able to say I went back to finish my degree makes me proud,” Weaver said. “I now have a degree in agricultural leadership, and I wouldn’t want my degree to come from anywhere else except OSU.”

LILY GISCLAIR

LONGVILLE, LOUISIANA

Kristin Weaver manages her family’s centennial Angus ranch in Bristow, Oklahoma. Photo

by Lily Gisclair.

COWBOY JOURNAL 93

The Pi Chapter of the AGR fraternity has raised more than $217,000 for the New Frontiers campaign. Photo by Maddie Neuschwander.

A

s the construction crew places gravel and creates the foundation for the Oklahoma State University New Frontiers Agricultural Hall, alumni and members of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity have helped prepare for what is to come.

AGR members have been connected to OSU Agriculture since 1921.

Multiple student leaders from the fraternity have represented the college in various ways and continue to do so, said Heidi Williams, associate vice president of constituent development for the OSU Foundation.

In the fall of 2021, AGR alumni and current members learned about an opportunity to solidify the connection between the chapter and the college by donating to the New Frontiers campaign to sponsor a study room named after AGR, said Bobby Marchy, AGR member and agricultural communications senior.

94 SUMMER/FALL 2022

A Legacy of B

“I shared the information because my hope was to help the chapter and alumni see AGR’s values of service and agriculture at OSU,” Marchy said.

The named space can remind students of the AGR alumni who came before them and who desire to see future students succeed, Marchy said.

“I contacted all of the alumni members and told them about the project,” said Dale Elsener, AGR adviser. “I am sure some were aware, but they weren’t aware the undergraduates were willing to participate and help.”

Elsener called Jerry White, 1971 AGR alumnus. White took it from there and began contacting other alumni to start gathering donations.

“Directing our gift toward the room for AGR was a way to benefit two worthy entities,” White said. “Not only are we helping the Ferguson College of Agriculture New Frontiers, but also we are helping the AGR members have

a place in the new facility with their name on it.”

The AGR room will be the thirdfloor student club and study room, approximately 837 square feet. Any student can use the AGR study room, White said.

The naming opportunity level for the room was $200,000, but the gifts topped $217,000. Donors contributing $25,000 or more will be recognized on a plaque inside the AGR room.

“When you look at the floor plan of the building as it’s visualized, what a dramatic improvement the facility will be over the way things are now,” said Gary Clark, 1969 AGR alumnus and contributor to the AGR room.

New Frontiers Agricultural Hall will feature multiple spaces for the college’s 60-plus student clubs and organizations, said Christy Henley, constituent relations associate for the OSU Foundation.

f Brotherhood “It will be a good place where AGRs and other students can gather between classes, spend time there to have a separate meeting place, or study between classes,” White said.

Those who enter the room will be reminded of the fraternity that has been at OSU for a century, he said.

“To have a study room named after the AGR fraternity is an honor,” said Seth Jackson, 2021-2022 OSU AGR president. “It isn’t every day that you can have an opportunity like this.”

Jackson is grateful to have been part of the project and hopes to bring his future family to see it someday, he said.

“The main idea behind the fundraising was to support the Ferguson College of Agriculture,” Elsener said.

“That’s our whole reason for being — to promote agriculture and develop leaders in agriculture.”

The AGR room will help in recruiting prospective students, Elsener said.

ALPHA GAMMA RHO ALUMNI GIVE BACK TO STUDENTS

This will help them see AGR is a supporter of academics and agriculture, he said.

Everyone can understand AGR members are willing to do their part for any endeavor, he added.

White said this contribution is a cumulative effort of people getting together to accomplish a worthy goal.

“We’ve been blessed in many ways over the past few years,” White said.

“We like to give to worthwhile causes, and we certainly feel like it’s a worthwhile cause.”

Jackson said he hopes the AGR men can gain a comfortable and reliable place to go study within the college.

“Having a study room in the new building leads me to believe that we can become more successful in the classroom,” Jackson said.

Another goal of the room is for the AGRs and agricultural students to meet other young people who are

preparing to go into the professional world, Clark said.

“This room has the potential to introduce students to others who are extremely sharp with great futures,” Clark said. “Having that opportunity is something we want to encourage.”

Even though current members of AGR may not get to experience classes in the new building, the hope for this project is the future men of AGR will see the importance of supporting the local community, Marchy added.

“Our chapter members, both alumni and undergraduates, know the value of giving back to those who invested in their futures,” Marchy said.

JAYLINN PFEIFER ELLIS, KANSAS

COWBOY JOURNAL 95

A SUCCESSFUL

Balancing A

COLLEGE NAMES 2022 OUTSTANDING SENIOR

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s many high-achieving individuals will tell you, few successes come without personal sacrifice.

In the fall of 2020, this held true for the 2022 Ferguson College of Agriculture Louis and Betty Gardner Outstanding Senior, Leslie Smith, of Mutual, Oklahoma.

“My grandma reached a point in her health where 24-hour care was a necessity,” said Smith, an agribusiness and animal science senior. “I decided to move home for the semester and take care of her full time while attending most of my classes virtually.”

Through the relationships built within the Ferguson College of Agriculture, she created a plan with each of her professors to allow her to finish the semester online while giving her grandma the care she needed, Smith said.

“Leslie stayed involved in not only one but two departments and held jobs in both departments, as well, through all of this,” said Cynda Clary, associate dean for the Ferguson College of Agriculture. “This shows true passion and resilience.”

Smith did everything within her power to stay involved on campus 96 SUMMER/FALL 2022

through the trials life was throwing her way, Clary said.

“I commuted to Stillwater every Friday evening after my mom had finished her work week, worked the weekend in Stillwater, and attended an in-person lab on Mondays,” Smith said.

“I drove back each Monday evening to stay with my grandma until Friday.”

“This was by far the hardest season of my life and the biggest challenge I have ever faced,” she added.

Even when trials arise, support stands steady, Smith said.

Through the Ferguson College of Agriculture, she developed countless friendships she knows will last a lifetime and more mentors than she probably deserves, she added.

“My professors and bosses within the college were absolute saints during this time,” Smith said. “I in no way could have overcome this challenge without the willingness of my professors and the support from this college.”

The Ferguson College of Agriculture changed her professionally, personally and academically in ways she never deemed possible, she said.

“Through the relationships that have been built, the leadership and philanthropic opportunities I have

been given, and the knowledge I have gained, I have zero doubt in believing I will accomplish everything I wish,” Smith said.

The Louis and Betty Gardner Outstanding Senior award is presented annually to students who are involved, committed, and strive for academic excellence — Leslie Smith is exactly that, said Eric DeVuyst, agricultural economics professor and Smith’s academic adviser.

“I have served in more leadership positions at OSU than I would have ever deemed myself capable of,” Smith said. “I credit OSU for everything I am today and all I have accomplished.”

Coming from a single-parent home, where she was raised primarily by her grandparents, she was no stranger to added responsibility, she said.

“I have always had lots of responsibility,” Smith said. “After my grandpa endured a farming accident in 2007, helping run our family’s farming and ranching operation became one of those responsibilities.”

Throughout her time at OSU, Smith served to showcase her abilities through multiple professional organizations, such as Block and Bridle, Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen, the

g Act OSU Spirit Rider team, the OSU Horse Judging Team, and the Oklahoma AgCredit Student Board of Directors.

Smith was determined to be involved in both departments, Clary said.

“Applying to graduate with two Bachelor of Science degrees, a minor and a certification through the Ferguson College of Agriculture as a first-generation college student is one of my most significant accomplishments,” Smith said.

Learning about an industry she is passionate about while being able to travel the country and win a national title as a member of the OSU Horse Judging Team was a pivotal point, Smith said.

The past four years have been full of astronomical growth, she added.

“We as educators can always see it,” DeVuyst said. “Since the first time we met during her freshman year, I knew she was going places. She is responsible and determined, and those two qualities alone will take her so far.”

KELSEY VEJRASKA OMAK, WASHINGTON

Leslie Smith’s relationships with her family and Ferguson Family along with her drive for success led to her recognition as the 2022 Ferguson College of Agriculture Outstanding Senior. Photo by Kelsey Vejraska.

COWBOY JOURNAL 97

2022 SENIORS OF DISTINCTION

D E A N ’ S AWA R D O F

Excellence

Phoebe Austerman Oklahoma City HORT Dalee Barrick Waurika, Oklahoma AGCM/AGBU Kaylyn Branen Collinsville, Oklahoma ANSI/AGCM Kinzie Burtrum Stillwater, Oklahoma ANSI Jade Edwards Hamilton, Kansas ANSI Hailey Freeman Bixby, Oklahoma NREM Emily Gerstenkorn Waco, Texas ANSI/AGCM Devin Griffith Williams, California AGCM

CAMERON CATRETT

Luverne, Alabama | FDSC/ANSI Originally from Luverne, Alabama, Cameron Catrett grew up on her family’s farm as a fourth-generation cattlewoman. She remains involved in the beef industry.

After graduation, Catrett plans to attend the University of Georgia to obtain her master’s in meat science and muscle biology.

ASHLEY GIN

Oklahoma City | BIMB As the youngest of six siblings and OSU graduates, Ashley Gin grew up with her Cowboy roots running deep.

While at OSU, she served as the first mental health director for the Student Government Association and helped found the International Genetically Engineered Machine Team.

Bobby Marchy Ceres, California AGCM Audrey Ochsner Stillwater, Oklahoma AGCM Jack Palla Clovis, New Mexico ANSI/AGBU Halle Roper Asbury, Missouri AGBU/AGCM Claire Sheppard Biggs, California PASS Bree Taylor Kingfisher, Oklahoma AGBU Xin Mei Teng Puchong, Malaysia FDSC

98 SUMMER/FALL 2022

AMARIE GRIFFETH

Cushing, Oklahoma | AGCM/AGBU Raised on a cow-calf operation in Cushing, Oklahoma, Amarie Griffeth grew a passion for the beef industry.

During her time at OSU, Griffeth served as the first Student Government Association director of food insecurity.

Griffeth has accepted a position at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.

MADELYN SCOTT

Lawton, Oklahoma | FDSC From showing livestock to being a member of the 2020 Reserve National Champion Meat Judging Team, Madelyn Scott has submersed herself in the agricultural industry.

Upon graduation, Scott plans to stay at OSU to pursue her master’s degree in meat science under the guidance of Morgan Pfeiffer.

The 2022 Ferguson College of Agriculture Seniors of Distinction were recognized at the college’s annual banquet: Cynda Clary (front left), associate dean of the OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture; Xin Mei Teng; Madelyn Scott; Dalee Barrick; Claire Sheppard; Amarie Griffeth; Kinzie Burtrum; Audrey Ochsner; Jade Edwards; Ashley Gin; Halle Roper; Bobby Marchy (back left); Phoebe Austerman; Bree Taylor; Cameron Catrett; Emily Gerstenkorn; Jack Palla; Leslie Smith; Devin Griffith; Hailey Freeman; Kaylyn Branen; and Thomas Coon, vice president and dean of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

2022 FACULTY AWARDS Excellence in Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Dwayne Cartmell AGCM

2022 FRESHMAN EXCELLENCE AWARDS

CHARLES AND MAGDA BROWNING

OUTSTANDING

Freshman

Caleb Snodgrass Owasso, Oklahoma PASS/BIMB

Excellence in Undergraduate Student Advising and Mentoring Sue Fairbanks NREM

Georgia Eastham Davis, California PASS

Excellence in Teaching Rodney Jones AGEC

Elizabeth Pribil Hennessey, Oklahoma FDSC

Early Career Award for Excellence in Teaching Adel Pezeshki ANSI

Faith Baxter Dripping Springs, Oklahoma AGCM/FDSC

ANDRE ABIT

Stillwater, Oklahoma | BIMB From research to leadership, Andre Abit has taken advantage of the opportunities available to students through the Ferguson College of Agriculture.

As a Freshman Research Scholar, Abit received grants from both the Niblack Research Scholar program and the Wentz Research Scholar program.

COWBOY JOURNAL 99

FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS ALUMNI EARLY CAREER

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

J. CONNOR FERGUSON

J. Connor Ferguson serves as a weed scientist and technical agronomist for Sesaco Corp.

Ferguson received his bachelor’s degree in plant and soil sciences with a minor in agribusiness from Oklahoma State University in 2011.

While at OSU, he was named an OSU Outstanding Senior, a Top 10 Senior in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, and the Sitlington Outstanding Student in Plant and Soil Sciences. He also served as president of the OSU Agronomy Club and was a member of Alpha Zeta agricultural honors fraternity.

Ferguson received his master’s degree in agronomy with a weed science specialization from the University of Nebraska in 2013 and his doctorate

in agricultural weed science from the University of Queensland in 2016. He previously worked as an assistant professor of weed science at Mississippi State University and a plant protection specialist and assistant professor at Northwest Missouri State University.

Ferguson’s work has been featured in publications including Agronomy, Weed Technology and Crop Protection.

He has served in leadership positions in several organizations, including the Weed Society of America, American Peanut Research and Education Society, and Mid-South Association of Wheat and Feed Grain Scientists.

In 2017, Ferguson established the James C. “Jim” Ferguson Memorial Scholarship in Plant and Soil Sciences in memory of his late father.

Emily Shuping serves as the agricultural marketing coordinator for the Made in Oklahoma Coalition, a public-private partnership that is part of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

Shuping received her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness in 2015 and her master’s degree in international agriculture in 2019 from the Ferguson College of Agriculture. While at OSU, Shuping was vice president of the Student Organization for International Agriculture. She also was a member of the Alpha Beta Chi service sorority.

Shuping works closely with coalition members and the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center to assist Oklahoma food and beverage companies in bringing new products to market. She helps members

understand their markets and develop strategic marketing plans. Shuping connects companies to resources across the globe and develops creative solutions for Oklahoma companies to fill gaps and pivot their processes to keep the food supply chain moving.

In addition to her career, Shuping is co-owner of EJL Cattle Co., a stocker cattle operation located in northwest Oklahoma. She was honored as a 2021 Woman of Influence in the Food Industry by the Shelby-Griffin Report and serves as an inaugural class member of the Oklahoma Grocers NextGen Leadership Program.

She is a member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce.

EMILY SHUPING

100 SUMMER/FALL 2022

FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ALUMNI SOCIETY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rick Reimer

President Claremore, Oklahoma Northeast District

Travis Jones

Secretary/Treasurer Roff, Oklahoma At-large Member

Justin Anderson

Stillwater, Oklahoma At-large Member

FERGUSON COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

HOMECOMING CELEBRATION Please join fellow alumni and friends at the Ferguson College of Agriculture Homecoming Celebration, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Refreshments, giveaways, activities and more for the whole family to enjoy will be provided.

The Ferguson College of Agriculture Homecoming Celebration will be held at the Charles and Linda Cline Equine Teaching Facility, which is located at 2601 W. McElroy Road, just east of the Totusek Arena.

WELCOMING

Parking will be available at the Totusek Arena.

At 3:30 p.m., the 50-, 25- and 10year graduates of the college will be recognized and will receive a pin.

Following the graduate recognition, the Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Society Board will host a brief annual meeting, including the election of new board members and acknowledgment of the retiring members.

For more information, visit agriculture.okstate.edu/alumni.

NEW BOARD MEMBER

JUSTIN ANDERSON STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA Justin Anderson is a two-time graduate of the Ferguson College of Agriculture. He received a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness in 2004 and a master’s degree in agricultural economics in 2014.

He serves as the site manager for P&K Equipment Inc. in Stillwater.

Prior to this, he was a regional manager and global accounts manager for Ditch Witch.

Anderson said he looks forward to giving back to the Ferguson College of Agriculture as a member of the Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Society Board.

Phillip Cowley

Morrison, Oklahoma At-large Member

Matt Gard

Fairview, Oklahoma Northwest District

Mechelle Hampton Tulsa, Oklahoma Northeast District

Jon Marc Holt

Sharon, Oklahoma Northwest District

Charles Rohla

Roff, Oklahoma Southeast District

Meg Stangl

Okarche, Oklahoma At-large Member

Becky Walker Chandler Stratford, Oklahoma Southeast District

COWBOY JOURNAL 101

Oklahoma Made.

Family owned and operated in Jones, Oklahoma, since 1970, Blue and Gold Sausage Co. helps more than 1,000 groups raise money for trips, community projects, equipment and anything else you can imagine. www.blueandgoldsausage.com

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