In this issue
CASNR helps students Fl
OSU's Rodeo Team ' r the Brand'
CASNR student rece Truman Scholarship
Environmental sciences student survives
OKLAHOMA COUNCIL
Letterfromtheeditors...
In the lifeof a student,somedaysarebetterthan others, andsomepeoplemakea biggerimpression.This issueof the Cowboyjournalis dedicatedto the teachersand peerswho makea differencein our lives.Whether theyarehelpingus coreachourdestinationofsuccessor givingusanotherchance, it becomesobviousratherquicklychat,withoutour mentors, wewould neverbe whowe are today.Fromencouragingus co"rideforthebrand"to upholdingOSUstraditionof"bringing dreamsto life " our mentorsgiveus more than merely someoneto look up to.They giveus assuranceand the confidencein ourselvesto succeed.
The Cowboyjournalgivesus a chanceto showcaseche skillswe havelearnedthroughout our collegecareers.We representthe traditionof excellenceOSU'sagriculcuralcommunicationsprogramstrive to uphold,and wearegrateful to our professors,administratorsand spon ors for the opportunityro makea differencein the lifeof someoneelse.
TheCowboyJournalwouldliketothank:
FredCausley
JonDickey
ToddJohnson
OSUAgriculturalCommunicationsSeroices
BonnieMilby
JeffersonMiller
ElizabethWhitfield
DepartmentofAgriculturalEducation,Communications &4-HYouthDevewpment
MattWright
QuebecorWorld
BradCost DepartmentofEntomology & P/,antPathology
ForinformationaboutO U rodeo cholarshipopportunities, comactDanaCookseyat (405)744-6686.
BUILDING BETTER MEN!!!
• Five top 20 freshmenmen
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• Toysto the Game, 1998-99
• Achievedsevenof nine 1998-99national chapter awards
Staff
Editors • Nikki Coe and SarahCatalano
GraphicsEditor • Skye VarnerMcNiel
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Staff • LindsayWt/Iiams • ColinAutin • MichaelJackson KalebHennigh•AllisonMcKinster• SaraMcGaha
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Oklahoma State University. In compliance with Title VI and Vll or lhe Civil Rights Act or 1964. Executive Order l 1246 as amended. TILie IX of the E:duca1lonal Amendments of 1972. Americans with Dlsab!Uues Act or 1990, and oLhe.r federal laws and regulations. does not dJscl1minate on the basts of race. color. national origin, sex. age. religion. disabitlLy. or stai.us as a veteran in and oflts policies. pracUces or procedures. This Includes but Ls not limited to admissions. employment. nnanclal aid, and educa.Uonal scrv1ccs. 1111spubllcauon is printed and Issued two limes a year by ag.rtcultural co1nmunlcallons seniors In 1.heCollege or Agricul1ural ~---Sciences and Natural Resources
and has been prepared and • distributed at no cost Lo the ~----~ 111.,1,ayersof Oklahoma.
The Fall 2000 Cowboy Journal staff: (front row from left) Erica Cook, Kaleb Hennigh, Sarah Catalano, Kimberly Clark, Colin Autin, (back row) Lindsay Williams, Nikki Coe, Michael Jackson, Yantcy Pinkston, Clay Francis, Allison McKinster; Sara McGaha and Skye Varner McNiel
Networkingforsuccess
By ColinAutin Stillwater,Okla.
Oklahoma rateUniversitystudentswill oon havea new tool t0 help them makemore informedcareerdecisions.The Collegeof Agriculrural ciencesand atural Resourcesstudent careerserviceswillunveilthe Alumni Career ecworkin the 200l fallsemester.
"TheAlumniCareerNerworkisa pilotprogramdesignedcoencourageand facilitatea moreprofessionalway to developrelationshipbetweenCASNRalumniandcurrenragriculruralstudents," aid LouannWaldner,director ofCA NRsrudenrcareerservices.
Waldnersaid the ideafor this networkingprogram developedbecausesrudentswerelookingfora moreformal It'sokaynottoknowwhatto
do withtherest of your !tfej but it's unacceptablenot to attemptto figureIt out.
-Louann Wab'ner,CASNRCareerServi:::es
mer.hodcoapproachalumni who haveestablisheda careerin a particularfield. 'Numni willcompletesome generalpaperworkdescribing their career and job,"
saidWaldner."Wecanthenmatchsrudemswiththealumni who havesimilarcareerinrerests."
Waldnersaid charin the past there was no formal programin placecoprovidesrudemscheopportunitiesco nerworkwith alumni.Studentswouldoftencometo her officeinterestedin connectingwithalumniwhohadgraduatedin theirfield.Withoutpriorconsentfromchealumni, shecouldnoralwaysgiveout theirinformation.
"With chisprogram,wewillhavea morestructured waycoassistsrudentsin theircareerexploration,"Waldner said."Irisal o an effortbyour officeto getalumniinvolved in a differentway."
The AlumniCareer ecworkwillincludea database char providesinformation about the careersof recent CASNRgraduatesaswellasalunmiwhohavebeenworking formanyyears.Studentslookingforsummerjobs,i.ncernshipsor full-rimecareerscanusechisdatabaseto findalumni who are willingto help chemtake rhe necessarystep to explorecareerareas.
Waldnersaid the Alumni Career etworkat O U would be scruccured imilarlyco a program ar Cornell University'sCollegeof Agriculrureand Life ciences.
'LastsummerwhenI visitedCornell,I cameup wich severalideasforthe programwewerestarringup acO " Waldnersaid.
'They havea veryestablishedprogram,and the concept i very imilarto the one we weredevelopinghere;I just borrowedsomeof cheirideas,"shesaid."Forinstance, I likedhowtheyincorporaredit into theisclasses."
Waldnersaid he wouldlikeroseeyoungerstudents,
parcicularlyfreshmenand sophomores,developthe necessarynetworkingskillsin a controlledenvironment.
"Our goal is to pilot it in the fallin an orientation class,"Waldnersaid."] wouldlikeroseethestudentshave an acrualassignmentcocontactthesealumni."
"Thisprogramisjustin thebeginningstages,"Waldner said."The onlylimitingfactorto thisprogramis chatwe needalumnito workwith us to get the programstarred."
In additionto chedatabase,theAlumniCareerNetworkwillfearurea shadowprogram.Srudemswillhaveche chanceto geea firsthandlookat what a typicalday is like fora professionalwith a careercharinterestschem.
"Themostimportantthingaboutchisprogramischar it reallypreparesthe students for chework force," aid CaseyBell,CAS Rgraduaceandunitsupervisorinhuman resourceswichthe FederalReserveBankofKansasCity."le preparesyou becauseyouareacruallyinteractingwichsuch a diversegroupof people."
CAS Rgraduatesal o can providehelpto srudents fromoutsidetheiroffices.Alumnican offerjob searchadvicespecificto theirexpenise.
''Alor of srudents need perspectiveon whar is out rhere,"Beilsaid."I can offersomeadvicetowarda career path becauseI havebeen rhereand mademanyof those samedecisions."
The programalsowillencouragealumnito relatetheir ownexperiencesand observationsto potentialOSU agriculturalstudentsand cheirparents.Alumnican callchese prospectivestudentsor cheirparentsto discusshow their experiencesar O U helpedthem to finda career.
''Alumniaregrearresourcescodescribewhat entryleveljobs are out there and what careerchoicesare our chere,"Waldnersaid.
However,cheAlumnjCareerNetworki norjust for snidenrs.The programcanalsoofferalumniof thecollegea wayro rekindleor maintaincontactwichfellowgraduates.
"That is the basisfor why alumni groupsscickcogecher-we allhavea commonthread,"saidDon Robercs, CA R graduateand agriculturalbusinessmanagement trainingcoordinatorwichAucryTech in Enid,Okla.
"TheO U alumnigroupreally i a smallFamily:'Robertssaid.'There are timeswhenl wonderwhathappened to an old friend.With chiskind of sy rem,ir can be really easyto just pickup the phoneand findhim."
"The programreallyi a win-winsituation.Students benefitfromcheadviceof chealumni,and thealumnibenefitfromtheabilityto rekindlerelationshipswithCAS R and O U "Waldner aid.
CASNRgraduacessearchingfora newjobcanalsouse rhenetworkin chesamemanneras chesrudencswould.
"Righrnowicis noruncommonforpeoplecochange careersrwoor threerimes.Youdon'thaveto be a 21-yearoldsrudentto usea systemlikethisone,"Roberts aid. "lereallycan be a networkingpossibilityforanyone whowanesto useit,"Waldner aid.
Waldner aid rudemshavea tremendousadvantage whensearchingfora jobjust by networkingwichalumni. However,shesaidstudentsshouldnor relysolelyon che AlumniCareer erwork,or CASNRsrudenrcareerseivias.
" rudenrsmustdo chingson chei r own,''saidWaldner. "Theyshouldr earchcompaniesin chelibrary,go to club meetingsor lookat industrymagazines.This programi just anotherpieceof chepuzzle.'
Accordingto careerservices,wherherstudentsu e chisprogramor anochermecl1odofjobsearching,one key coa successfi.djobhunt cansimplybe formingrelationships wichalumni.
"Whenyouarea freshmanor a ophomorein college, you neverknowwhoyouar goingto meetand whatrelationshipsyouwilldevelop,"Bellsaid." bat is whynetworkingisso important.fr'saboutdevelopingrelationship wichpeople,whichwillproveto be positiveforyou."
The AlumniCareer erworkwillhelpchosesrudencs whohavenot previouslyconcentratedon networkingwicli alumnideveloprelationshipscharcanbeadvancageousin cheircareerexploration
'This programisa coolforchesrudencwhomightbe a littlelessnerworked,"Waldnersaid.
Finally,Waldnersaidcharwaitinguntilrheend of rhe students eruoryearto b gin cliecareer earchprocesscan put charpersonat a disadvantage.
"Careerdevelopmentbeginschefirstdaysrudenrswalk on campus,not whenrheyaresenior," Waldnersaid."Jes okaynot to knowwhatto do withrherestof yourlife,but it'sunacceptablenot to attemptto figureir out."
For more information: Louann Waldner or Amy Gazaway CA NR Career ervices
College of Agricultural Sciences and acural Resources 136 Ag Hall, Scillwarer,OK 74078 (405) 744-5395 • Fax: (405) 744-5339
louann@okstate.edu • ajgaz@okstace.edu
Summer Camps
Oklahoma Farmers Union 1st through 12th grades
Youth and Education Department 6200 .W 2nd Sc.
Oklahoma City, OK 73124 (405) 491-1586
College Scholarships for Farmers Union members
JapaneseAgricultureExchange
high school seniors through college Speech Contests 5th through 12th grades
Fromthelabtotheplate
By LindsayWilliams Powell,Wyo.
Benrusheshomefor lunch,fumbleswichhi keyin rhe lock, throw hjs bookson rhe couch, and from rhe livingroomcraneshisneckto lookat the kitchentinieron hisrefrigerator. Fivemoreminutes.
The smelJwaftingthrough the crampedapartment pullshim cowardthe oven.He decidescopeekin only to find ouchi pot roastisn'tclosecobeingfinished,and ic probablywon'tbe foranorher45minutes.Somewhardisappoimedin therecipehismomgavehimbeforeleavingfor college,he vowsto scareearliernextrime.
Yeah,righd
AmorerealisticscenariowouldprobablyinvolveBen cookingup omeRamennoodlesor rehearinglasenighe's
pizi.a,becausehe onlyhas 15co20 minutesmdecidewhat cocookand then to makeit. However,Oklahoma race Universitycollege rudencsare nor the only peoplewho wanefur and easymeals.
Recognizingtheconsumers'demandforqwck-fixproduce the acionalGmlemen'sBeefAssociation'sresearch and developmentraffworkscoproduceand inventbeef dishescharwillappealcoboth the appetiresand schedules of"on-che-go"people.
'We cakeproductdevelopmentthroughall phases, srarcingwith rheconceptand brainstorming,all the way throughcomakingprototypes.We'rehelpingcosellbeefin a differentwaythan weare right now,"saidEd Orozco, NCBAcoordinatorof newproducedevelopment.
" CBA'smissionis to createnewbeefproduct char willsubsequentlyincreasebeefdemandin the longrun," aidJake el on, managerof the meatpilotplant in the 0 U FoodandAgriculturalProductsResearchandTechnologyCencer,or FAPC.
CBAisworkingin conjunctionwithO V'sFAPC cotestnewproducesrheyhavecreated.
' Icseemscharwhenpeoplecook,theydon'chaverime co find the beef roast recipein their mom's1958 Beery CrockerCookbook," elsonsaid."Weare testingdishes designedfor familieswho onlyhave30 minutescoeat a mealbeforesoccerpractice."
CBAiscreatinga majorityof me newvalue-added producesfromundervaluedcursof beefsuchas me chuck and theround.
The firstproductrestedwasa bone-inshankroastand the secondwasa Rotiss-a-Roasccomparablecoroti erie chicken.NCBAinventedme productsin meirdevelopment center.To md out if the productsare practicalro produce, CBArestschemin highercapacityplants.''Testing"meanscookingthe di hes in the pilotplanecomimic howprocessorswilleventuallypreparetheseitems.
Aftera successfultest run, a productis marketedro proce or . With the bone-inshank roa r, CBAsent amplescopotenciaJprocessor Tworo threeprocessors aremarketingcberoastin rheClucagoarea Orozcosaid. ByusingOklahoma race, CBAsavesmoneybecauseresearchersmay learn they shouldgo back co the drawingboardbeforecakjngthe producecoexteniveproduction, elsonsajd,
MeatpilotplantmanagerJakeNelson(secvndfrornleft)preparesbeefjerkydudngtheBeefOuality Summit.Nelsonis assisle<fbyRobertMelTifie/d(left),ownerof ThePoloGrtllin wlsa;JohnPabick Lopez(secondfromright),directorofproductdevelopmentforLopezFoodsin OklahomaCity;and BradMorgan(dghl},OSUassodateprolessor.(PhotobyNikkiCoe)
"Sometimeswe find our the produceswe testwon't workforlarge-scaleproductionbecausemeycostcoomuch comakeor cakecoomuchrime,"sajdKendraHenry,animalscienceseniorand meatpilotplantemployee.
CBAchoseto workwithOSUbecauseofcheconveniemlocacion,qualifiedscaffand top-nocchfaciliries, Orozcosaid.
"O Uhas a verycompletemeatslaband a verynice facilicy,"Orozcosaid."Its one of the besrI'veeverseen."
In the meatpilotplanr, elsonemploys11 srudencs to workwirhhim.Theyworkon variousaspecrsof these newproducesalongwithrheirregularwork.
Becauseof chis iruation,0 U sn1dencsand employers have the opportunicyto see, casteand tescproduces beforeanyoneel e in thecountry,saidBradMorgan,animalscienceassociateprofessor.
"Thissituationexposesstudentsto 'realworld'experienceand potentialemployers," el on said.
Henry saidshe like workingin the pilot planr becauseit increasesher knowledgebaseof what' happening in rheindusayandwhatemployerswillexpect.
Projectslikethesealsolend morecredibilityto the insm1ctor , Morgansaid.
"Wetalkabout convenienceand increaing beefdemand in class, Morgansaid."le' not onlyimportantto talkabou ir but colee tudem see cheentire proces of producedevelopmenrand cescing.Theyseewe'renot just readingaboutthe mearindusrryin somemagazine.'
Recognizedasthe largescdepartmenton campus,the animalsciencedepartmentoffer food cienceand food
indusaycurriculumoption More rudencsarechoosing or switchingto theseopcioasbecauseof interestsand employmentopportunities,Morgansaid.
"Srudenr in theirsophomoreand junior year tan our wantingcobe vecerinariansand then cakeChemi try 1215 and decideit' not forrhem," Morgan aid wicha laugh."Seriouslythough,I havemeatindustryemployers callingin October,wantingto knowifwehavestudentsfor chemcohire.'
AmandaJordan,animalsciencesophomore,swirched her optionfromveterinarysciencero foodscience.
' I had wanredcobe a veterinarianeversinceI was four.Then,I rooka biochemisrryspecialproblemsclassand found out 1reallyenjoyedcheresearch but I wanted co workwithfood aficyand development,"Jordansaid.
Havingopportunitiesto workwith projecrslikethe NCBAproducetestingallowsstudentsthechancecofind out if theywouldenjoya careerin thefood cienceor food indusrryfield.Thisisa win-winsicuationforthe CBAand OSUscudencandstaff
Researchand developmentconductedwithinorganizarion like CBAal o makeit po ibleforstudentslike Bencomakeit backcoclasson cime.rnsteadof wondering whatto cook,thendecidingifhe hascherimerocookir,he can pop a completebeefmealin the microwave,maybea Rotis-a-Roast,and beeatingin lessthan 15minutes.CJ
FAGAN LIVESTOCK INC.
Hehassmall-townroots
Inperiodswherethere is no leadership society stands stiff. Progressoccurswhen courageous,sk1/llul leaders seize the opportunitytochange thingstorthebetter.
Sharon \ -HanySliuman
ByMichaelJackson Burlington,Okla.
cillwace/
KentGardner(nght)talkswith his adviser,Joe WIiiiams. (PhotobyNikkiCoe}
Toda;:Truman'swordscomealivethroughtheHarry Truman cholarship,whichrecognizesskillsin communiryservice,educacion,premierleadershipand compericion.In 2000 the recognitionincludedOklahomaScace Universiry'sKemGardner.
Gardner,an agriculcuraleconomicssenior,became OSU'ssixcl1Truman cholarin the past evenyears,and the clurd1ruman cholarfromthe agriculruraleconomicsdepartmenr,followingin chefoorsrepsof I997Truman cholar ShannonFerrelland 1998Truman cholarChris rephens.
"ChrisStephens,Shannon Ferrelland I wereall involvedin FFAand4-H inhighschool,"Gardnersaid.'Those orgaruzationsgaveusa goodworkeclucand a goodbasein communirydevelopment."
Gardnergrewup in haron,a smalltown in western Oklahoma.He hasthreeoldersiscersandoneolderbrother who attendedOklahoma tareUniversiry.Gardner'sparems till livein haron. His facheris a high schoolmath reacherat Sharon-MutualHigh School.
''I havethe best familyin the entireworld,"said che 22-year-old."They'rea bigpart of mysuccess. I givecl1em allof the crerur."
Gardner'sruversificacion in rughsd1oolconrribured to hissuccessin college.Gardnersactivitiesin collegepreparedhim fortheTrumanScholarship.
Afrergraduacion,Gardnerplan to rerurncothe rural areawherehe grewup. He saidhe hasmanyruraldevelopment ideasandwishesto helpfarmers.
"I reallywant to workwith farmersand ranchersasa financialadviser"he said."I thinkfarmersshouldhavethe sameinformationandopportw1iryto achievefinancialsuccessas the nextper on in the businessworld."
When Gardnerbeganhis collegecareerat OSU, che Truman cholarshiphadn'tevencrossedhismind.
"I neverplannedto applyfor theTrumanScholarship. It just happened,"Gardnersaid.
WesHolle;:CollegeofAgriculruralSciencesandNaturalResourcesassisrancdean,approachedGardnerand encouragedhim roparcicipacein the progran1.
"Kemisa well-roU11ded,impressiveindividual"Holley said."His derucacionto publicserviceasa collegestudenr and beforehe came to collegeis very important to the 1ruman cholarshipcommittee."
The O U agriculturaleconomicsdepartmenr'sdorninancehaspiquedcl1einterestof theTruman cholarship comminee.TrumanFoundationExecutiveDireccorLouis Blairvisitedthecampusand saidhe hopesto findout how the departmenti so successfulwitl1cheTrumanScholar-
ship. BlairhonoredO U as a TrumanHonor chool in December.Oklahoma tareisoneof onlyfiveinstirucions in cl1enationreceivingclushonor,includingthe Universiry ofKansas,theUniversityofTexascheUniversiryofMinnesotaand the Un.iversiryof Millamene,Ore.
"Irhasbeen thrillingfor cheagriculturaleconomics departmentcohavesomuchsuccess,"saidRobertGraalman, directorof the O U Officeof cholarDevelopmentand Recognition."[r showsthe talentof tl1esrudenrsand c:he suppon of the ag college.lt isunusualforone department to be so dominantin c:heaward."
The preparationprocessfor rhescholarshipisextensive.CandidateshavecofirstbecomemeTrumancandidate for the university.Afterchatprocess,eachcandidatewrites a publicpolicyanalysis,goesthroughmockinterviewsand fill out the application.
'The applicationprocessisa verylong,extensiveprocess,"Gardner aid."Dr.Graalmanprovidedhelpwithout the pressure.He isverygood achisjob, and he madethe processeasierfor me."
Graalman aid hi officeisde ignedto be in a leadershiproleforeachprestigiousscholarship.The department encouragesallapplicanrscobe well-roundedin schooland communiryserviceand havea broadeducationbase.
"Wehavehadgreatsuccesswithme1luman,"Holley said."Rightnowwe haveyoungpeoplewhoknowwhere theywant and ought cobe in cheircollegiatecareers.We want allof our srudemsro achieveall that ispossible.We want coencourageallof them to followthrough."
EventhoughGardnerwaswell-preparedfor the process,he srillcouldnor believehe receivedthe award.
"I wasin shock!"he said."Jr i awesometl1atO U i beingnationallyrecognizedas a TrumanHonor chool. Each srudencknows c:hisis th best school. ow we're geccingme recognitionwedeserve."
Gardnercommencedon allthe support he received from cheagriculmraleconomicsdeparcmenrand hisacademicadviser,JoeWilliams.
"Everyagriculmraleconomicsprofessor I everhad in classwas in rhe room when it wa announcedc:hatI had receivedthe Truman cholarship,"Gardnersaid. "That showshow muchour professorscareabouroureducation. Ir makesme proud cobe a Cowboy. '
Truman'wordsstillringtrue:"Progressoccurswhen courageous,killfulleadersseizetheopportunitycochange ching for chebercer."With leader likeGardner,Oklahomaand OklahomaStace niver irywillbe at the forefrontof changechroughoutthe2lsrcencury.CJ
By Nikki Coe Hydro,Okla.
o dsthetradition
A friendlyfaceis a welcomesighramong the challengesof collegelife.For25 years,JoeWilliamshasbeena friendlyfaceand helpedOklahoma tareUn.iversirysrudenrsrhroughchallenges.
LasefulltheCollegeofAgriculruralSciencesand acuralResourcesawardedWilliamsthefirsrAcademicMenrorAwardin honorofhiscommim1emcohelpingsrudenrs.
"The ollegeofAghasa crongtraditionof menroring irsstudents,"Williamssaid."f am ex:cremelyhonoredto be amonga groupoffaculryand caffwhocareaboutscudenrs, and it'sveryspecialto be rhefirstrecipient."
Williamssaidhe beLevesmentoringstudentsisa Lfesryle,whichincludesbeinga positiveforcein theenvironmentin which rudentslearn,workand live.He hasbeen theacademicadviserto manyOSUagriculmraleconomics studentssince1975.
He wasthe financialadviserforAlphaGammaRho Frarerniryfor 13yearsandadvisedCASNRStudenrCouncilfortwoyears.He advisedAlphaZecahonoraryagriculturalfrarerniryforeightyears.WilliamsalsoadvisedAggieX club, the 10thand 12th floorsof KerrResidenceHall and cheLarinAmericanSn1dencAssociation.
"Dr.Williamsdoesan excellentjobofgertingto know potentialsrudenrson a per onalleveland thenpresentsche opportunitiesthat will appealcothat particularstudent," a.id hannonFerrellO U agriculturaleconomicsgraduateandTruman cholar.
Kent Gardner agriculruraleconomicssenior and Truman cholar,saidheappreciatesWilliams.
"Dr.Wtlliamsalwayshasbeenverysupportiveofme," Gardnersaid."He'smorelikea parent,becausehes quick to let meknowifl everneedanything,he'llbe there."
WilJiams,a nativeof Roswell, . M., receivedhis bachelor'sand ma rer'sdegreesin agriculruraleconomics from ew Mexico$rareUn.iversiryand then spent rwo yearsin the U. . Army.
He rerumedto ew Mexicocoworkasan agriculturallenderfor his hometownbankfora shorerimeand thenaccepteda researchposicionat MSUwhileh.iswife, Sue,completedhercollegeeducation.
Afterearninghi doctoratein agriculturaleconomics from Iowa careUniversiry,Williamsbeganreachingat 0 U in 1975. ue Williamsisan extensionpecialistfor theCollegeofHumanEnvironmentalciences.
They havetwodaughrers,AnnaLangleyof Oxford, Miss.,and Heather WilliamsofTulsa.Borh daughters graduatedfromOSU in agriculturaleconomics.Williams wasacademicadviserto hisdaughtersand said,whilehe washesitantat first,it wasa wonderfulexperience.
"I wouldnot havechosena differentadviser,"Heather WilLamssaid."Wewerealwaysablecoseparatehomeand school,and I studiedhardestforhisclasses."
Williams'desirerobe a mentorbeganbecauseof che mentor whohelpedhimduringhiscollegeexperience.Hi NMSUacademicmentorJamesGray,allowedhimto work eachswnmeras a researchintern. William wenron ro completehismastersdegreeunderGray'ssupervision. Becauseof Gray'sinfluence,WiUiamsparticipatesin OSU: FreshmanResearch cholarProgram.Agriculmral economicsundergraduarescudenrsworkwitha fuculcymemberin actualreseard1,allowingchemcodevelopeconomic researchskills.
Williamssaidhe learnedit is importantro helpstudent outside rhe realmof academiawhileworkingfor M U UniversiryHousingand FoodServices.Ed Rapp foodservicesdirecror,inspiredWilliamswith the wayhe caredforstudents'welfare.ThisexperienceledWilLamsco believethe universiryexperienceshouldbe a coralpackage charincludesacademicinstruction,srudentorganizations andlivingcenters.
"Dr.Williams'visionforsrudenrsdoesnot end with completionof theiracademicprogram,"Fecrellaid."He keep in do e contactwith graduatesof our department, helpingthemwith careerdevelopmentchallengesfarbeyondgraduation."
JoeWilliams,agriculturaleconomicsprofessor,instrvctshislannandranchmanagementdass. (Photoby loddJohnson)
Williamskeepsup withformer ruden havingmainraineda listof advisees'namesfrom 1971ro present.The chalkboardin hisofficedi playspiauresofagriculturaleconomicsgraduateswith theirchildren,whomhe callshis "grand-advisees."
Williamsalsohas contributedcocheteachingand researchsecrorsof cheagriculturaleconomicsdeparrmem. He isheadof the agriculcuraleconomicsscholarshipcommittee,which under his directionhas rai ed more chan 525 000duringchepast l 0 years.
Williamsadvisedcwoof the threeTruman cholars fromOSU'sCollegeofAgriculturalSciencesand acural Resources.He devdopedand mainrainsa businesscard liscingof allO U agriculcuraleconomicsgraduates,which allowssrudent ro researchvariousjob opporru.nicies.
He reachesa coursein farmand ranchmanagement, asweUasaseminarforagriculcuraleconomicsseniorswhich helpspreparethem for chework force.He also has researchedvariousaspectsof d1eOklahomaswineindustry.
The door coWilliams'officeis alwaysopen ro students,and he saideveryphonecallis importantcohim. Thisopen-doorpoucy,alongwichhisreachingandresearch duties,keepshinl busy.However,he saidseeing rudencs fmd uccessand hearingchanksisrewarding.
Williamsal o hasseenmanyscudent strugglewirh collegelife.Hispersonalgoalsforadviingarecoencourage and providesrudenrsan opporrunirycodevelopcotheir greacesrindividualpotential.
"IadviseCA R srudenrsroserhighgoals,workto achievecho e goals developacademically,identifywhat youwamro do in a career,anddevelopleadershipand socialskill ," Williamsaid.
ext time you are in AgriculturalHall and seeJoe Williams'mile,youcan'thelpburknowhe i chererohelp and chathe caresaboutCA Rstudents. .I
CASNRhonorsmentoringtradition
Joe Williams(center)accepts the AcademicMentorAward fromDeanSamCurl(/eh)and Associate Dean Ed Miller.
OSU'sCollegeofAgricLururalciencesand aruralRe ourcesadminisuation cakesgreatpridecharitsfacultyandstaffarecommittedto helpingsrudencssaidWes Holley,CAS Rassistantdean.
The administrationturnedro cheCAS R scholarshipandawardscommitteeco helpchemdevelopa wayto recognizeannuallya faculcyor staffmemberwhohasgone beyondchecallof ducyto helpscudencs.
"Wewerelookingfor omeonewhoexhibit chewholepackageof clubinvolvement,academicadvisingandindividualmentoring,"Holleysaid.
JoeWilliams,agciculruraleconomicsprofe or, receivedchefirstCA NRacademicmentoraward epc.13at chefallDivisionofAgriculturalciencesand arural Resourcesfacultymeeting.Whenpresentingcheaward,Ed Miller,CASNRassociate dean,saidWilliams"fiecheprorocypeof whothisawardwassuppo ed to honor.'
In chenominationprocessused,appljcancswrorean essayand receivedupport lettersfromsrudenrsfaculryand rheirrespectivedepartmenthead.The scholarship commitreethenreviewedalltheapplicationsandseleccedcheoursrandingmenror.An awardof $1,000and a statuettewillbe givento rherecipienteachyear.
Holleysaidthe recipientdoesnorhaverobe an academicadviserbut shouldbe highlyinvolvedwirhstudentsin omecapaciry.Holleysaidhe wouldliketo seechis becomechecopawardforCAS R faculryandstaff.
{Photoby ToddJohnson)
CASNRfocusesonfreshmanpreparation
Faculcyandadvisersof rheCollegeofAgriculruralSciencesandNaruralResourcestaketremendousprideinensuringsrudenrsuccesses,said Ed Miller,CASNRassociatedean.
"Thismeanswemusthelpto providea successfulrransitionfromhighschoolcocollegelife," Millersaid.
To focuson a srudenr'sfirstyearat OklahomaSraceVniversiry,checollegehas implementedthreedevelopmentalprograms.Agriculruralorientation,FreshmenInTransitionandthe StudentAcademicMentorprogramfamiliarize freshmenwirhon-campusacciviriesand collegiatecoursework to helpstudentssucceedin the collegeenvironment.
AG 1011:getting the right start
"I wantroensureeveryoneofour freshmen studentsissuccessful,"saidWesHolley,CASNR
assistantdean."Wewant a l 00-percenrretencionrateof freshmenrerumingin thespringand evenrualJyreceivingcl1eirdegreesfromOSU."
Tohelpensuresrudencsuccess,thecollege offersagricu.lruralorientation,betterknownas AG 1011. 'J\g orientacion"hasbecomeknown as one of rhe most beneficialclassesto rakeat OSU becauseicisdesignedcointroducefreshmenrocollegiatelifeand allowthemto familiarizethemselveswith thechangesand challenges rheywillfaceascollegestudents.
The coursereachesstudentstheskills,proceduresand servicesusefuland necessaryforan outstandingacademicprogram,thusimproving chancesfora successfolcollegecareer.
Through the class,scudencsgaintoolsallowingthemto improvesrudyhabits,timemanagement skills, attitudes toward collegiate dasswork,andacademicgoalsetting,Holleysaid.
Lookingat thecourseobjectivesand fundamentalpurposeof thisclassdoesn'rdojusticeto theimpactit makeson srudents.Holleybringsa teachingsrylethatcreatesa highlevelof energy andexcitementintheclassroom,encouragingand motivatingfreshmencogetenthusiasticabout lifeat Ol<laliomaState.
'J\sa teacher, f haveto showstudentsI'm trulyconcernedabouttheirgeneralwelfarefrom the momenttheyarrive,"Holleysaid.
Thehighemphasison an upbeatclassroom atmosphereandopen-<loorpolicyarewaysHolley showshecaresforstudents.
Holleysaidhehasfourbasicteachingphilosophieshe implementsin the classroom:responsibility,rimemanagement,note-takingtechniquesandtheimportanceof readingeffectively.
The 6rstisresponsibility.Srudenrslearnche importanceof takingtheircollegiateworkseriouslyandputtingin thetimeandeffortnecessary to succeedin theclassroom.
"Srudentshaveto realizethatrheyaretheir ownpeoplenO\V.Momanddadareat home,soit isup to them cocakean iniciativeand focuson thejoysandchallengesofcollege,"Holleysaid.
Timemanagementskillsarerelayedasa viralcomponentto accomplishinggoalsandestablishingawell-roundedcollegiateexperience.New readingmethodsand nore-takingskillsalsoare introducedto help the adjumnencfromhigh schoolcothe morechallengingand accelerated courseworkof college.
"When 1lookout at the class,I don'tsee studentssittingin a room.I seeopporruniryand thepotentialfor incredibleralenc,"Holleysaid.
Srudenrsagree this classis useful.Ross Hudson,agriculturaleconomicsfreshman,said heenjoyedHolley'sdiversereachingsryle.
"He keepstheclassinterestingbyincorporatinga highlymocivatingteachingsryleanddiscussingissuesimportantto meandmysuccessat OSU," Hudsonsaid."Thisclassisrhe reason
I'moffon cherighcfoot.l'mlookingforwardco severalmoregreacyearshere."
AG l 0 11's courseobjectiveshelpstudents focuson preparingfortheirfuture,whecheriris collegeor theyearsbeyond.
Fittingin at OSU: FreshmenIn 'Transition
AlrhoughAG1011has been around for years,Holleydevelopedthe ideafor FITabout threeyearsago,afterstudyinga similarprogram at the Universityof Missouri.He wanteda programthatwouldrestOSUon itseffectiveness in developingyoungleaders.
Seveney-twostudencsare FIT-tingin at OSU.The newprogramisgivingstudentsche opporrunicycoimprovetheiracademicskills, leadershipabilitiesandsocialskills.
"J wanredcodetermineif we (CASNR) weredoingeverythingwe couldforscudems," Holleysaid."I believethatbyincreasingtheexpectationsof thescudemstheywillstayinschool, graduateandsucceed."
Allcomponentsoftheprogramwereinplace cobegin,exceptthe facilitiesfor the residenrial learningcommunity.WhenOSUdecidedcoexpand campuslivingresidences,Holleysaidhe sawa tremendousopporrunicyfor FIT.
"Thetimingwasright,"Holleysaid."Itwas anopporcunicycofinda placeto provideincomingfreshmenwiththeoptionsoflivingin anagriculrurallythemedcommunity."
Holleypresentedhisideasandgoalstocampus leadersand theOSU Departmentof Residential Life.As a result,the third and fourth floorsofJonesHallwereallonedto agriculrural cl1emeliving.This wasthebeginningof whatis presumablyoneof themostcomprehensiveprogramsof itsnaturein thecountry,Holleysaid. FollowingpermissiongrantedbyResidential Lifeand universicyofficials,no rimewas wastedin informingstudentsaboutFIT.Fliers andlettersweresent to incomingCASNRstudentsto letthemknowaboutthe newprogram.
Our of 132applicationsreceived,72 were randomlyselectedcobeinvolvedin mepilotyear offreshmeninTransition.
TheFITprogrambeganrightaway.The 72 studentsanendedCamp Cowboyat OSU for oneweekinJuly.lewasa weekfilledwithropes courses,spirit sessions,quescion-and-answer sessionswithprofessors,smallgroupactivities JulieCoulter(top},takesabreakfromdasseswith AmyHoyle,JenniferSconyersandZacGivens.
and evenmeetingPistolPete.DerrickDavies, agribusinessfreshman,saidCampCowboywas "reallywherewegot ro bondwith eachotheras FIT students."
Camp Cowboywasa wayforsmdents to meet, so when they movedinto the residence hallstheywerenot completemangers.One of the perksof beinga FIT studentwashavingprioritychoiceof a roomin the newsuite-styleresidentialhall.Eachsuitehasfoursinglebedrooms and cwofullbathroomswhich arejoined by a livingroomand kitchenette.
"Coedlivingisa greatenvironmentto bein. It worksverywellbecauseyou learnto interact with manydifferempeople,"Daviessaid."The commonsarea,on thethirdfloor,isa greatplace to hang out. It feelslike home and makesthe transitioneasier."
One of the goalsof the FITprogramis to challengeeveryaspectof thestudent'sdevelopment.ToensureOSU isdoingeverythingit can to helpstudents,Holleydevelopeda listof expectationsandrequirementsthatencouragedsuccessin collegeand life.
AlisonSexcen,agriculcuraleducationgraduatesrudemand FIT coordinator,saidstudents must cakean activerole in l l differentareas. Activitiesrangefrom communityserviceand becominginvolvedin collegeand university organizationsto mending AlliedArcsevents. Eachof theareashasa minimumlevelof participation.Holleysaidthe programwasdesignedin chiswaycogivestudentssomestructurein their livesaswellas responsibilityand accountability.
Academicsare, of course,a high priority. Studentsare encouragedto maintainat leasea 2.5 gradepointaveragein the falland a 3.0 during the spring.Tutorsa.reprovidedto helpstudents maintainrequiredGPAs.Once a week, studentshaveaccessro tutorsin chemistry,biologyandseverallevelsof math.In additionro che tutors,studentshaveaccesscostudygroupsand facultyassistance.
Sincethisis the pilotyearforFIT,it isbeing monitoredandevaluatedclosely.Sexrenand FIT evaluatorKathleenKelseyatecollectingdataand monitoringstudents'progress.
Researchbeganat CampCowboywhenFIT studentsfilledour pretests.To monitorfurther progress,studentsturninweeklyreporrs.Tocompletethe research,KelseyandSexcenwilladministerpost-rests.When the studentsreturnin fall of 2001,theywillbe interviewedabouttheirexperiencesin the firstyearof the program.Kelsey
OKLAHOMA FARM
Dun'ngAgRoundup,CollegiateFarmBureaumembersZacHarris(left)andJonMarcHoltvis1lwithfreshman studentBlaineSpencer(n'gh!}abouttheadvantagesofdubparticipah'on.
andSex.tensaidtheywaneroknowexactlyhow FIT affectedstudents.
Sexten saidtheirresearchis coveringseveraldifferemareas,includingacademicachievement,howstudentsgetinvolvedincommunity service,howcheydevelopand takeleadership roles,and theirretentionrace.The FIT students arecomparedto non-FIT freshmenwho also rookthe pretestand willrakethe pose-rest.
"Jexpeccwewillfindchestudentswillhave had a greatexperienceat OSU becausethey havebonded ro a socialgroup," Kelseysaid. "Theyshouldbe morefocused,haveaboveaverageGPAs,andhaveenhancedcommunitylivingskills."
Holleysaidhe hopestheFITprogram"will developthestudentsinto excellentcitizenswho willhavewonderfolcareeropporrunities."
Theremaybesomeexpansionmadeto the programin the furnre,but fornow thereisexcitementabouthelpingstudentsFIT inat OSU.
SAMs:studentshelpingstudents
SAMsare a keycomponent in ensuring chatfreshmenFIT in at OSU. A greatsecurity forsrudenrsenrolledin theFITprogramisknowinga SA.J\1livesrighrdownthehall.Theyknow rheyhave a friend codiscussworrieswith or whowillbe a 24-hourruror.
Holleysaidhe believesthe cransicionfrom high schoolcocollegewouldbe easieriffreshmenhad mentors,peopleclosecotheiragewho alreadyhadmaderhetransitionsuccessfully.
Fouryearsago,theStudentAcademicMentor,orSAMprogram,wasintroducedcoCASNR via cheuniversity-wideSAMprogram.SAMs a.restudentswhovolunteertheirtimeto various snrdentdevelopmemprogca.rnssuchasAGIO11 and FIT.
HolleysaidSAMs"leadbyexa.mple."They areoldersrudenrswhohavedisplayedhighacademics,proventhemselves to beleadersthrough involvementon campus,andpossessa desireco help others.SAMsare there nor only to help studentsthroughchetrialsof beingfreshmen, but alsoto helpchemgrowand develop.
SAMshavea tremendousopporcurutyto makepositiveirnpacrson freshmenbyservingas teachers,mentors,friendsand rolemodels.Beingstudentteachersin AG I 01 I, SAMsplaya vitalroleinpreparingfreshmenfora productive collegelife.
EverySAMisassignedabout IOco12students to be in their smallgroups.The groups focuson intenseinteraccionbetweenSAMsand students.The freshmena.regivenopportunities toaskquestionsaboutOSUor visitaboutproblemstheyare havingduringtheirfirsrsemester.
Holleyhelpspreparethe SAMsforgroup sessionsbyconductingweeklymeetingsinwhich SAMsategiventopicsto discusswiththe freshmen.Topicsrangefromtime managementand club and organizationalinvolvementto collegiategoalsettingand adviser/studentrelations.
JamieWalker,agriculcuralcommunications juruorandsecondyearSAM,saidshechinksthe
FITstudentsandSAMsmeeteachweektodiscussclasschallengesandcollegeoppottunities.
FITstudentsJamesWells(topleft),Dus/inVann(boltomright)andJessicaSconyersmeelwtlhWesHolley (boltomleft)beforeclass.
FIT programisa greatwayto helpnewscudems whocomeroO U.
"This is a great wayto help chemlearn about O U," Walkersaid. "I remembermy strugglesduringmytransitionfromhighschool cocollegeand I wanero makesurenewfreshmenhavesomeguidanceduringchistime."
One of chegreatestresponsibilitiesof a AM isdetectingscudentproblems.
" ocicingbehavioralchangesandcatching concernsearly,beforetheybecomemajorissues, helpsin maintaining a positivecollegiateexperienceforthesesrudenrs,"Walkersaid.
Anappropriatebalanceof socialopportunitiesandclassworkisan issuewithwhichSAMs help.KimDavis,animalscienceseniorandchi.rd year AM,saidshewanrsro makesurehersrudencsgetinvolvedin universityactivities,maintainhighacademicstanding,andenjoychepleasuresofestablishingfriendshipswhileat OSU.
"I set up study sessionsfor my scudems whowantrocomeoverandaskquestionsabout classesor homework,"Davissaid."I alsohave cookout to encouragesocialinteractionand allowchefunpartof collegeto be introducedto chemaswell."
JenniferSconyers,agriculturaleducation graduatestudent,saidshe becamea SAMbecauseshewantedcohelpyoungerstudents.
"WhenI wasa freshman, I wasshyandnot involvedon campus.My goalis to helpochers become.involvedearlyin collegesotheycansee whatOSU hascooffer,"Sconyerssaid.
SAMMelissaMajorsagriculcuralcommunicationsand animalsciencesophomore,said he believesthe socialrequiremenrsarea positiveaspectof cheFIT program.
"lewashardforme rogetinvolvedin clubs and organizations,"Majorssaid."The FIT requiremencsimmersethe studentsinto OSU. Theybecomepartof OSU insteadofjustgoing coschoolhere."
The implementationof thesethree programsprovidefreshmenwithnecessaryskillsto helpfulfilltheirpotential.With helpfromAG 1011,theFIT programand theirSAMs,freshmen willhavefewerproblemsobtainingtheir goalsand reaching"destinationsuccess." J
Storyandphotographsby Skye\&merMcNiel,Bristow,Okla.,and KalebKyleHennigh,Laverne,Okla.
TheOklahoma rareUniversityRodeoTeams much-anticipateddreamofworkingpracticefacilitiesis nowa reality.
Tnan effortro"RideforcheBrand,"theirnew motm,the teammembersare nowofficiallysupportedchroughfundingfromdonorsacrosschesrace.
The teamreceived$200,000cohelpfundrhe facilityand acceptedir asan earnedprivilege.
"ThesestudentathletesareOSU'srealcowboysandcowgirls,"saidTerryHyman,OSUcoordinarorof fi:eshmanprogramsandvolunteerrodeo coach."Theyarereflectiveof rhewesternhericage rharrepresenrsmis univer ity'sfoundingand are certainlydeservingof misopporrunicy."
amCurl,deananddirectorofrheDivisionof AgriculturalSciencesand anualResources,and Don Wagner animalsciencedeparrmenrhead, madeavailable27 acresat the cornerofWesrern and Lakeviewas rhenewsite.
The reamconducteda groundbreakingceremonyMarch3, 2000. Morethan 15 university officials,rodeosupporrer and reamofficer used shovelsto breakground for rhe newfaciliryand kepttheirshovelsas mementos.
"On behalfof rheentireRodeoAs ociarion, I wouldliketo e:,::rendOLlfhighestthanksto you for your beliefin u and what we represent,"said JenniferRobertsCunningham,1999-20000 U RodeoTeampresident.
The OSU RodeoTeam,startedin 1947,has not beena universityscholarship-sponsoredsport. LouWatkins,chairwomanof rheBoardofRegents forOklahomaA&MCollegessaidrodeofacilities wereproposedyearsagoto the universiry,bucno srepshadbeenrakenro completethe efforc.
However in summer 1999, rhedream was broughtbackto life.
ln an attemptcoincreasesupportof cheteam, Cunninghamsaidshetraveledandspokecoseveral prospectivesupporters,includingthe O U and A&MBoardofRegent5,proposingaidinfunding.
Tohelpbeginrheeffort,OSU administrators challengedthe ceamcoraise$I0,000andsaidthey wouldmacchit. The reamheld rwofundraisers:
BeautyandtheBeast,a bullridingandbarrelracing jackpot,and cheRideforrheBrandauction.
The ceam raised $ L6,000 and received $10,000in matchingfunds.
Alongwiththissuccess,Cwminghamseffort helpedconvertan initial9-0Boardof Regentsvoce in favorof the proposal.The WesWatkinsfamily alongwirhCunningham'sfucher,ErnieRoberts, aidedthe teamin irsstruggleforsupport.
Otherregents,OSU faculty,comrnW1itysupporters,rodeoreammembersand BoosterClub membersmecar PeaceableAcres,home of Lou Watkins,coshareinformationaboutrheproposal.
"My familyand l feelpositivethis is a good groupof kid and arewillingro helpthemin any waywecan,"said allyVielma,BoosterOub memberand daughterofWesand LouWatkins.
Roberrsattendedeverymeeringconcerning chi issueand prepareda conceptde.signof rhefacilitieswith severaldraftsmenfromhiscompany. He presentedit ro OSU administrator , and then OSU PhysicalPlaneServicesprepareda blueprint. Students,parentsand RodeoBoosterClub memberscontinuedrodonaretheirtimein helping withrhefacilityconstruction.
"Ir willbe rhe 'sweatequity'of the students
d theircontributionof rimetharwillhelpbring chesefaciliriesto life" aid HarryBirdwell,0 U vicepresidentforbusinessandexternalrelations.
The2000-20010 URodeoTeamPresidenr, JenniferLink,isfollowingCunningham'sseepsin thedub to continuein thissuccessfultime.
"Iamgratefulcohavetheopporrunirycowork withsucha dedicatedclub in chisproject"link ,said."l believe!speakforeveryonewhenI saythat weappreciatechischance."
BradBailey,presidentof the RodeoBoosrer Club, aid he isin contactwith300 formerrodeo reammembersandfeelscertaintheywouldbewilling to providerodeo rock and hay co upporc theprogram.
Inthelast54years,d1eO U RodeoTeamhas maintaineda reputationofgreatnessin intercollegiatecompetition.Competingand rankingamong the best,OSU had threesrudencs,C.R. Bradley, WadeHudspethandRosieCooper,go to meCollegiate ationalFinalsRodeoin Casper,Wyo.,lasr year and rwosrudenrswentmeyearbefore.
Dubbedthe"RoseBowlofcollegerodeo"and broadcaston ESP , theCNFRawardsmorethan 200 000 in cholarship Amongchisreputation of greatnessareformerO U RodeoTeammem-
bers,includingformerU. CongressmanClem McSpadden,formerDallasCowboyWaltCarrion,prominentracehorsetrainerGaryWalker,and lmemacionalProfessionalRodeoAssociationWorld Clumpion addlebroncRiderJerMcCoy.
Wimomfacilities,OSUriskedlosingMcCoy, I 999'spremierrodeorecruitin the nation,as a teammemberalongwithotherssuchasan incomingfreshman.J.R Magdeburg,Cunninghamsaid. Magdeburg,whosaidhewasattractedby me academicopportunitiesacOSU,initiallydebated acceptingrodeoscholarshipsfromfiveocherinstirutions.McCoysaidheconsideredleavingOSU co join a collegerodeoreamin the Panhandlemaris suppliedwitha facilityandscholarshipassets.
AlmoughMagdeburgjoinedmeOSURodeo Team,McCoyleftafteroneyear,just beforerhe fundingfor me facilities.He nowarcendsSouthwestern Oklahoma Scace University in Weatherford,Okla.
" owwiththefacilitiesar OSU,mydecision waseasy,"Magdeburgsaid."I amablecohavemy choiceineducationandrodeoopporrunicy,allin oneschool."
Of the Big12 schools,eighthaveorganized rodeoteams.0 U isamemberofmeCentralPlains
Region.Thisregionincludes22 collegesscreeching throughOklahoma,Kansasand Missouriand has 339rodeomembers.
0 U was,bur no longeris, one of the few schoolslefrwithourworkingfacilitiesand univermy supporc.
Facilitieswillcon isrofa 300 feerby 100feet barn,an arena,chuces,holdingpens,rescrooms, a hard-surfacedroad,electricicyand wacer.The faciliciesareto becompleredbysummer200l.
Asa follow-upcheOSUFoundationhascreatedan endowedscholarshipprogramdesignated forrodeostudents.
A full-cimepaidcoachisa futuregoalof the rodeoream,as Hymanis nor reimbursedfor his rravelingandcoachingexpenes.
Teammembershavesaidtheyfeelgracefulfor OSUs demonsrracion of prideandsupport.
" o longerwillthesededicated,youngamlecesworkco'RidefortheBrand,'wichabsolutely nosupporrfromthe brand,"Robercssaid.
Asaresulroflonghours,dedication,dreams andability,OSU'srodeoachleceswillcominue a winningtraditionasmey"Ridefor meBrand."
Storyandphoto by YantcyJo Pinkston LocustGrove,Okla.
Wetsocks?Geta SPUR
By ClayFrancis Piedmont,Oki.a.
Thosefamiliarwith the OklahomaScare niversicy campusknowwharspringcanbring:lorsof rainanddebris charcan makestreet on campu ankle-deepwith water chatcancarrypollurancsintoscreamsandrivers.That could allchangethankscothreebiosystemandagriculcuralengineeringsrudencs.
The Solutionfor Pollurionfrom UrbanRunoff,or SPUR,wasdesignedand assembledbyJeffAdam , Jay JantzenandDianaLoudenslagerina depamnemalcapstone class.Thesrudemsarespecializinginenvironmentandnaturalresourcesand namedthemselvesEngineers ingReliableErosionControlAlternatives,or EURECA.
UJ1likemostcapstonecmu es, the biosystemsand agriculturalengineeringcoursespanscwosemesters.In the firstsemester,srudencsweregivenseveralpossibleproject.
EURECAchoseurban run-offas its project.Urban run-offpollutionconsistsofsoilsediment,floatingorganic matter,floatingman-madedebris,chemicalsandocherresiduescarriedbywater.
"We pent mostof the 6r csemesterbrainscorming the possibilities"Adamssaid.
Afterthesrudencschoseurbanrun-offastheirproject, theymet with theiradoptedclientGaryShockley,srorm w:i"terqualitymanagerforOklahomaCicy.Shockleybrought theteamup cospeedon theissueof urbanrun-offandwhat wasbeingdoneto resolvetheproblem.
"Afrer hockleyinformedusof the issuesat hand,we believedwecoulddesignan apparatusthatwouldhavethe potentialto bea positiveattributero ociecy;"Adams aid.
The reamknewthepurpo e of a stormwatersystem i to removerun-offfromthe interiorof a ciryasefficiently and effectivelyas possible,Adamssaid.They alsoknew Scillwarer'ssystemconsistedof areainlets,curb inlets,undergroundconduitand openchannels.
However,rhereamrealizedthe problemwastoo big to handlein the rimetheyhad to designan apparatusand completetheirengineeringcurriculum.Theydecidedto concentrateon designingan appararusforcurbinlees.
Afterchoosingchisissue rheteam er irsobjectives.
"Our objective includedremovalof oilsedimenr, floatingdebrisand a limitedamount offloaringresidue beforetheyreachedchesewersystem,"Adamssaid.
Oncethe problemswereaddressedand theobjectives wereset, cherealwork began.The srudenrsrealizedthe devicewouldhaverobesimplesoit couldbe implemented. Ma.imainabilicywa anotherissueto be con idered. Alongwith theseissues,the de ign had cobe compatible wichthosesysremsalready in place.
"Wewancedcodesignan apparacurharcouldbeinraliedquicklyand chatwaseconomicallyandaesthetically appealing,"Jantzensaid."Thefinalandforemostissuewas a successfuldesign."
Whentheymetwith hockley,theydiscused devices and pracricescurrentlyin use.A patentsearchwasnecessaryroavoiddesigninganythingcharhadalreadybeendone.
TeamEURECAdiscoveredtemporarydevicesu ed forconsrruccioniceshad beensomewhatsuccesful,bur the deviceswerenor fea ibleforurban errings.
With the tandardserand the previousdesignsidentified,theyworkedcoachievetl1ebestdesignpossible.
The reamfacedtwobarriersin creacingtheirdesign: the izeofgraceopeningsin curbinlecsand thedepthvariations111sewersyscen1s.
Afterreviewingthepreviousdesignsand barriers,the teamsecourcodesignSPUR.Theycameupwitha seriesof prototypes.The parameter led coa rectangulardevice, whichservesmultiplepurpo es,includingremovingpoUutancs,lengtheningthe flowpath,reducingre-supensionof materialalreadytrappedand allowingan overflowpathfor high-flowcondicions.
AfrerchereamrestedtheSP R designand madeadjustments,theyconstructeda two-piecestructurewith a bottomportionthatcouldvaryin depthto controlpollutantsfromenteringthe water ysrem.
ln May2000, ch teamenteredthe designin the annualAmericanSocietyofAgriculturalEnginee~designcompetitionheld in Milwwkee.The PURplaced econdat cl1ecompetitionponsoredbyAGCOCorp.
'The experiencewith teamworkI gainedfrom che competitionand theclasswasinvaluable,"Adamssaid.
The SPURdesignparenthasbeenfiledwith O U' OfficeofimellecrualPropertyandTechnologyransfer.
The team aid the projectcmJd neverhavebeenatrainedwithoutsupportfromthe biosystemsand agriculturalengineeringdepartment,especiallyfromcapstone coursein truccor,RonaldElliott.The reamalsoreceived assiraneefromKercyRobinson,researchhydraulicsengineerforthe DepartmentofAgriculrurehydraulicslab in Stillwater.
"TheSPURistrulyan oucsrandinginventionwithan excitingfurureaheadofic,'Elliott aid. on thenexrrainydayin yourcommunity,whenthe streersaredrainingfreelyduringa heavydownpour,youcan thankthreeO U rudentsforkeepingyour ocksdryand your creamsclean.CJ
EQUALHOUSING OPPORTUNITY
or 73 years at OkJahoma tat niv r ily. w h v maintain ct a proud tradition of awards nd a l1i v m nts. w ha a longstanding tradition of winning th Dean Trox I Award for th outstanding frat rnity on campu . w h v maintain d th highest GPA among tll frat rniti s for 71 ears. ur pl dg la e ha start d th ir own tradition of winning th Jr. Iron Man Award for the outstanding pl dg cl s In I 9, w wer n m d th National Outstanding FarmHous Chapr r.
tJesse(!eh),ShannonandBn'gi!teElledgeenjoyasunsetatBoomerLake.
July
27, 1999, beganas a normalday for ShannonElledge.Hewemrhroughhisnormal rourineor workand waslookingforwardcoa softballgamechatnight.That evening,however, Elledge'slife-his wife,hisnewbabygirl,hisjob andfurtheringhiseducacionar OklahomaScare Universiry-waspuronhold.
Mondaynighr'ssoftballgamebeganasany ocher;irwastheSpareTiresversuscheSimons. In chethirdinning,Elledgeshirlandedhimon firsr.EUedgewaitedforhisceammacecosendhim cosecond,norknowingwhatwasin score.
AI;the barterhiero cl1eshorestop,Elledge rookoffforsecondbase.The secondbaseman receivedmeballfromtheshorrstop,couchedcl,e bagand wentto rum a doubleplay,bur as he threwroftrsr,the ballwasslightlyofftargetand hieElledgeon therightsideorthehead.Whenhe washirwicl,cheball,hewasonlyaboutfivefeet fromsecondbase.
"Hewasknockeddowninscamly,"saidTim Ruckman,coachof rheSpareTires."Shannon screamed,yelledand rolledon rhegroundwhile holdinghishead.
"Ircookabourmreecofourminuresforthe playerson the orherream,whohappenedto be emergencymedicaltechnicians,cocalmShannon andgeehimcorelax,"Ruckmansaid.
WhenElledgefinallyscoodup, he asked, "Amlsafe?"
Whenhe wasroldhe wasout, he walked offmefieldandsarin cl,edugour.Afteracouple ofinnings,heinformedCoachRuckmanbewas readyto playagain.The coachsuggestedhesir out the restof rhegan1e,becausehe srillhad a headad1e.
Laterchatevening,Elledge'sheadscillhurr sohe decidedrogo come hospital.Becausehe showednosignsofaseriousheadinjury,medocrorsserupan appoinanemwithan earspecialist in caseofdamagecocheeardrum.Elledgewas senthomewithsomepainmedication.Around 2:30 a.m. he beganvomitingand stumbling aroundmehouse.He knewhe hadrogerrorhe hospital.He trieddialing911 bur realizedhe hadlosehissensesandcouldnordialcl,ephone.
"Mybrainwasnotcomrnunicacingwid1 my body,"Elledgesaid.
Hesaidhefeltasifhe wasstandingon me edgeofacliffandfalling.
His wife,Brigirre,calledKen Bosma,a friend,to comeandrakeElledgeto cl1ehospital. BosmasaidElledgewassirringin cl1ekitchen incoherentand unresponsivewhenhearrived.
Bosmacarriedhim our cohispickupand drovehimrorhehospital.Onceat thehospital,
BosmabegandescribingElledge'ssymptomsro cliedocror,whoimmediatelybeganr.reatinghim.
AfterElledgewasstabilized,he wastransportedby medi-flighrcoSr.FrancisHospicalin Tulsawhereheunderwentimmediatesurgeryfor a blooddot on hisbrain.Thebloodclot,which wasonehalf-inchchickandchesizeofa softball, wascompressinghisbrain.
Afrersurgery,Elledgesbrainrerumedconormalalmostimmediately,however,he did not wakeup. Doctorsinformedfamilyand friends rhatElledgewasin a coma,and cl1eywerenot sureofclieomcome.Hewasin clieintensivecare unit fora week.Whilehewasin criticalcondition,doctorsinformedElledge'sfamilyclmthe outcomecouldgoeitherway.Allcharwasleftro do waswairand pray.
"OneofthehardestthingsabourShannon's accidenrwasnot knowingwharroexpectfrom hisrecoveryand no onebeingablerocellmefor sure,"saidBrigirreElledge,whoar the timeof rheaccidentwasa new morher.Forsixweeks Elledgehadbeencaringforbothhiswifeand6week-olddaughter,Jesse.
BrigirreEUedgehadalwaysbeenthekindof personwhodidnorrelyon ocliers.Althoughshe srilldid notwanecodependon others,sherealizedcharwirhherhusbandin a comashehadno ocherd1oice.Oneofcliechin&5shesaidshelearned afterrheaccidentwasrharshehascobe ablero m,srin Godand in herself.
"Sadly,you havero chinkaheadro whar wouldhappenifyouloseyourspouse,"shesaid. "Everydayisprecious,and youhavero crearir likeit'syourlasr."
Elledgewasin a comaforabourrwoweeks, parcly&om~ andparclyfromclieinjury.Doctorshad cokeephimon coma-inducingdrugs becausehe wasgerringupsetcryingrowakeup and respondwhenpeoplewouldralkrohim. Slowlydleybroughthimoffmemedication,bur he didn'trespondascheyhadhoped.Hesrayed in a comaa fewmoredaysafterrhemedication wasdisconcinued.
Onceawake,Elledge'sleftsidewasunresponsive,and he had lirderono controlof his armor leg.He spenrtwomonthsin rehabilitationcryingto get hislefrsiderowork.
"Oneof thehardestrnin&5aboutwhathappenedwasd1arI losrovera mond1withJesse," Elledgesaid."Shewassixweeksoldwhenchis happened,so I missedoutonsomedevelopmenr."
Formonthsaftertheaccidenr,Elledgewas scillnorableroholdhisdaughter.
"Jwasn'tconfidenrcharI couldholdher, burevenruallytheyintegratedholdingJesseinro myrehab,"Elledgesaid.
Duringrehabiliracion,Elledgesaidchescheduleworehimour.
"I had aggressivetherapists.They really pushedme ro do thingsI wasnor capableof doing,"hesaid.
Noronlydidhehaveto overcomeayingto usehisleftsideagain,burhe alsohad to lethis bodyhealsohecouldearsolidfoodandralk.He hada weaklarynxbecausedocrorshad rogive hima tracheotomyto helphimbreathe.
OneofEUedge'sgoalsisto gerhisphysical abilityback.While in rhe coma, he lost 34 pounds.Asa lieutenantin rheArmyNational Guard,he hasa physicallydemandingjob,and hewanescogetbackcohisformerlevelofperformanceandfinishhismilitarycareer.
Luckily,becausetheaccidentoccurredduringthesummer,Elledgedidnormissanydasses.
He saidhe isthankfulthache did norlose anygroundwhilerryingcoearnhis master'sdegreein environmenralscience.
Elledgesaidsincehe hadalreadyinvested cwosemestersofworkintotheprogram,itwould begoodto finish.Inaddition, a mastersdegreeis
morebeneficialforthefieldinwhichElledgeplans rowork.
"One thingchar!learnedfromchisaccidentisd1atpeopleshouldwearhelmetsinsports," Elledgesaid."I learnedmoreaboutmyspirirual selfand charI hadpatience I didn'tknowI had. Thebiggestthingischevalueofpeople.Werake chemforgranted.Youlearnthevalueofa friend, and friendsbecomemoreimportant."
Manypeopleshowedhowtheycaredand helpedElledgewhilehewasin thehospital.
'There wasso muchcommunityinvolvement,"Bosmasaid."In coral,rheyweregiven $6,400fromfriendsand familyro helpwitha hotelroomforBrigitte,foodandhospitalbills."
The church Elledgeattends, Stillwater ChurchofChrist,raised$6,000coassistthefamily,whichallowedBrigitteElledgerostayin1i.usa closecoherhusband.
The NationalGuardunir raised$400 to helptheElledges'withexpenses.
"TheguardalsowaspatientasShannonrecuperated,and cheylethimsethisownrecovery rime,"saidBosma, a fellowguardmember.'The generalof Oklahoma'sguardevenwroteShannona letter.
"lt'samazingthenumberofpeoplewhopull
togetherand cryto helpout whena Life-chreareningsiruationoccurs,"Bosmasaid.
Today,ElledgesciUdoesnothaveI00 percent functionof his leftside. However,he is workingcogetbackhisfullfunction.
Thisfallhescarredbackcoschoolcofinish hisdegreeandsaidhehopesto graduaceby2002.
"Moseof rherimeI feellikeI'mluckybecauseI chinkit couldhavegonetheocherway, so I feelveryforcunare,"Elledgesaid.CJ
By EricaCook,Newkirk,Okla.
ShannonElledgelakesno/esdun'ng a dass.
Wheatstudyaddsvalue
By KimberlyClnrk Hume,Mo.
In only45 day , PacriciaRayasandan Oklahoma care Universiryresearchteamcompiledd taileddata neverbforeavailableto klahomawheatbuyer and sellers.
Rayasis checerealchemi t for rh OklahomaFood andAgriculruralProducesResearchandTechnologyCenter.The upporrof cheFAP and the klahomaWheat mm· ionmadethispublishedsurveyreportpo ible.
The derailed urveyreporron the qualityof wheat esrablihe a way cohelp markerrhe valueof wheat. Ir becameavailableJuly24 in a publicationfor buyer and Hersof Oklahomawheat.Elevatormanageral o mayuse thesUiveyreportasa Hingcoolro letdomesLicand internationalbuyersknowearlychequalityof chi year' hard redwinterwheatcrop.
"Pr miurnsand discoumsareesrablishedby rhemarket,and chi reportwillbe usedasa markecingcoolcorap the potentialpremiumsand discount of chisyear'scrop," Rayassaid."Also,whena buyerhasmoreinformarionon howthewheatwillperformin themillandbakery. a crustis establishedwiththeelevatoranda salemayb made.When buyershaveto gues, they'renaturallymorecall[ious.' ther tat relyon the WheatAssociates'quality reporcchatcontain compositeaveragesof allwheat producing cares.The .S.WheatAssociatesreportisdirriburedin October, ix month into the crop year.The Oklahomahardredwinterwheatsurveycontainsinformationon individualampiesand averagesbyregionand the whole race.Thi particularreportismuchmorederailed and timely,Rayasaid.
''FAPChasthemissionofaddingvalueto agricultural producesin klahorna. hi reportaidedin illusrraringthe valueof the hard redwinrerwheatcrop,"Rayasaid. Rayassaidshe isexcitedabourthe availabiliryof rhis informacionand e peciallyaboutthe reactionit willbring fromwheat uyer he saidchi willbe a positivechange not only forOklahoma' wheatindu try,but al o for the nationasa whole.
evenO U individual madeup the researchream. Rayaswascl1eprimaryinvestigator.MauriceBrannan,1eld collaborator,collectedthe ampiesthat wereu ed to conduct the report.XiaowuLiangwaschewhearresearchpeciali rat FAP Graduate rudenrsChri rina Francisco, Boonyeam obnobandJan UriyapongsonandundergraduateCarlo ilvaalsohelpedwith cheresting.
Brannanand Rayascookcompo iresamples,I4 ro 15 poundseach,fromcl1efivemostscariscicallyimporranrwheat producingareasasdeemedby the OklahomaAgriculmral catitics ervie. amplesweretakentwiceduringharvest Coll tion beganMay30, whenabourone-rhirdof the harve r wascompleted,and then againat the end of harv r.The ollecrionprocessconcinueduntilJune26. The firstsampleswererakenfromtruckloadsas they deliveredwheatto electedcountyelevatorswithina twodayto four-daypan,Raya aid.
Whearsampleswerethenpouredintobuckecs,mixed, baggedand deliveredto the EnidGrainInspectionOffice for grading.From Enid, the ample went to FAPCfor analysis.The processwasrepeatedforsecondsamplings.
"The gradingproc s i importantbecauseit determinesif chewl1earisgradeI through5, wicl1 l beingbest," Rayas aid. "Thi. is one of the specificationschatdeterminescl1epriceof wheat."
Aft r mulingthe whear,researchertestedrheflour, determiningtheash,proteinand moi cureconrenr.Then theresearchersmeasuredthemixingandextenionpropertiesof thedough.
"Mixingandextenionpropertiesareimporramcools to predictfunctionality,or howthedoughi goingto performduringtheprocessingrageofbaking,andrhequaliry of thefinalproduct-bread," Rayasa.id.
Forbakingce t , individualamplesweremeasured usingequalweightsaLthreerangesof protein:high,great r than 12.5percent;medium,11.5co12.5percent;andlow, lessthan 11.5percent.Thesampleswerebakedforevaluationofphysicalcharacteristicsuch crwnbcexrure,color, grain,volumeando herproperties.
Wheatand gradedata werecollected,and flour re·earchwasperformedon rhesampl s. Allmethod were completedwithofficialU.. Depamnentof Agriculture proceduresandofficialU. . candardfor rain.
Aftercompleringd1eresearch,Rayastraveledm conferencemeetingsin Lawton,EnidandArdmoreto meet wichmiller he pre enredme Oklahomacrop reportas an effecrivemarkeringroolof thegrowrhof value-added foodandagriculturalproducesin Oklahoma.
'The audienceslearnedaboutthe methodsand craregiesusedro analyzerhe qualiryof whearand what chi
qualitydata mean ro eller and buye aswellas ro baker ," Rayasaid.
Colombianwhearbuyerrepr ncaciv visitedFAP chi ummerandheardresul ofthequalit-yurvey.
TI1evi irwasparrof a hardredwinterwheatgrowing arearourho redbythe . . Wheat A ociace and funded by rhe Oklahoma WheacCommiion.lrgav thevi icingbuyersa gUmpse
Thisreportaidedin 11/ustratingthe valueof thehardred winterwheatcrop.
-PatriciaRayas,cerealchemist at howthe klahomawheatlookedand wharch y mighr expecrfromproduccionroqualityro hipmenc.
n pr. 26, the fir r actual ale and hipmenrof wheatfromOklahomaco olombiawasconfirmed,said ary ilben, klahomaWheat mmissiondirector.
Gilberrsaidthe reportis a tepforward.not ju t becauseit addr chara reri ti of thewhear,but because ofirsrimelin . ThroughtheefforrsofRayasandtheOklahoma\'{lhear ommi ion,finalreporrswerediscriburedrograincompani aao the niced rac and roexportcustomers.
Wichconcinuedupporcofthewheatindustryprofisional, GilbertandRayassaidtheyanr.icipacethiscobean annualpublicationavailablerosupportand improv the Oklahomawheatindustry. :J
'Wink{er !farms
19202 E. Co. Rd. 1500 N. Charleston, IL • 217/345-1188 mobile 217/549-7118
We specialize in boar semen, show pigs, and breeding stock.
Studentlearnsfirsthand
Learningdoesnorjust involvea classroomand the library.Theopportunitycobepartofa r earch tudygives a LUdenrthe abilityto havethe hand -on learningrhat moststriveforon thecollegiatelevel.
AnimalciencegraduatestudentsarOklahoma rare Universityareableto organizeandconductresearchsrudi thatwillaffccrrheequineindu cry.
DonnaPatteron camecoO knowinghewanted morethana bachelor'of iencein animal cience.Her choicesforadvancededucationwereveterinarymedicine or equinenutrition. he aid he decidedon equinenutritionbecauseof her interestin theequineindustryand che widevarieryofemploymenropporruniti
Aspartofhergraduateresearchforherthesi, th 23year-oldis rudyingPhyraseupplemenration.
Manufaruredby BA F.Phycaseisa pho phoru enzymethataidsin thedigestibilityofcalciumandpho phorus.The enzymeal o hasa po itiveeffe ton crudeprotein digestibility,accordingcoB E
"l calledB Ebecauseweknewchattheyproduced Phyrase,andoneof thememberson ther earchcommittee had a conraccwithin checompany,"Parteron aid. 'The resultwasthedonationof Phycasein theamount J neededcoconductmyr rch."
The next rep in erringup the studywasdeciding whatto r earchaboutPhycase.
"l decidedcocolle t researh forchepurpo e offinding the re L~rof calciumto pho phoru dig tibiliryin hor ," he aid."Thi i becaLe the e arerherwomajor mineralcharareresponiblefornormalbonegrowthand developmentofyounghorses."
reven ooper, a istantprofe or, i rhe lead advi r on Patteron' graduater earch ommircee.
"I havebeenconductingrudi on thecalciumand pho phorus ubjeccmy elf,and chi i ju r anotherpo ibilitychatneedsto be mdied," ooper aid.
Cooper,alongwithParrerson, d cidedwhatcocollect andhowcocolle ric.Theyal od cidedchenumberand kindof hors that houldbe usedin cl1cmdy.Theymen developeda feedrationcharm r the ationalRe earch Councilrequirmen forme pecifictypeofhor used.
FourQuarterHorsegeldingsberweenfiveand even year ofagewereusedin the rudy.
Pattersonmonicoredmehorseson fourdifferenccrearmentsof Phycase:zero(rhecontrolgroup) 300,600and 900ITU/kg.
The reasonforthedifferenca.mountsof Phycaseisco eewharlevel i mosrbeneficial,Pattersonsaid.
F.achgeldingreceived a differentuearmenrduringeach of the fourrotarion. Aseachrotationchanged,o did the amounrof Phyeae in eachhor e' diet.Ar theendof each rotation,urineandfece werecollectedfromthehor for the next72 hours.
Duringea h of the four epararerorarion, Parteron pentcl1reeconsecutivedaysaccl1e hor e barn cooping up fecesand collectingurine in herown homemade urinecollectionharness.
lr didn'tmacrerif ir wasfreezingor I 00 degree ouride,Patter on had to be rherecocolle t data and record the rimesrhat eachgeldingurinated. he rudjedin the barn, I pr in rhebarn,ate in rhebarn,playedcardsin the barnand,when hegorreallybored, hesweptrhebarn.
"Thi i norrhemo r glamoroujob,"Parrersonaid. 'Bur 1want the educationand experience.This i what I havecodo roger ir. '
Afterevery24hour ofcollectingdata,Patteron garnered each hor e' manure,rook ampiesour of rhe ea.ch individual'collecrivepile,andplacedthesmallersamplein a plascicbagin chefreezer.
TheurinecoUeaed,ascombinedforallchreeday in mailerduplicar ample and frozenfor restingat a lacerdare.
"Thercseard1don on che e macure Quarter Hor e gelding ,viiigiveu the chancero look ar the nzymeicself,oncethefinding are known,"Cooper aid." romh rewecango on co rudie in growing hors roseeif cl1ereareany ·ignificanrourcom' ooper aidhe plan ro haveadditionalequine nutritioncudenrscontinue Parrerson'r earch.
"This one rudy i n't goingcochangetheindustry,"Pattersonaid."H pefuUyfromrhispoint,more researchwill be done on Phyraseupplemenracion co determinewhetheror nor ir i beneficialcorheequinc indLJSrry."
ByAlliso11McKinster ti/Lwater,Okla.
AnimalsciencegraduatestudentDonnaPa/tersonmeasures equineudneCK.JlpJ/duniyherresea!U7.(PhotobyAl!iscnMcKinster)
Workingwithmarbling
By arn McG11hr1 Tecumseh,Okbz.
Consumerswaneto beoverwhelmedwhentheybite into a juicy teak.To get char en arion, the steakmu c haveadequatemarbling,and researchers ac klahoma rare Universicyareworkingco"meat"consumerdemand
Threefa ulcym mber and three rudenc·areuing generi el cionand managemencin art! coaddr the developmenrof marblingin rhecarrleindustry.
Theirr~ h programiscalled"Identifyingthe ~oes of MarblingDevelopmentin BeefCaccle."1n1991,Kirby hild tarredchi projecta pareof the re earchfor hi mascer'rhesis. hilds,no\ a doctoralsrudencat olorado tate niver icy,beganstudyingthe gene of cacdein an effonrospeedup rhcmarblingprocess.
"Re earch beganabour rwo year ago," aid Rod Gei err,0 U animal cienceprofe or."Wearecryingto understandhowmarbling a ruallyoccur."
The re earchersare tryingro determinewhy ome canlemarblefasterthanother Marblingi the lase rage of fardevelopmentin rhemu de.
"If we couldunder rand howthe proces (of mar-
bling)works,thenwecouldmanipulateit and chatsour long-termgoal,"Gei errsaid.
The program i fundedbythe klahomaBeeflndusrry ouncilchroughrhecheckoffprogram.Acon iderable needexistsforproduce to developnewwa roraisehigherqualityanimal to m ec on umer 'd mand , aid Brad organ,0 U animal cienceass iaceprofc or.
Eachyear,produccionineffiienci in ch beefindutryaccounrfora lossofapproximacely7.4billion,accordingro hild 'research cudy.
Accordingrorhe 1995 acionalBeef!ndustryCouncil ualicyAudie,chebeefindu crylo t nearly 280 for everyfedanimalmarketedin l 991.Mostof the lo was causedbyexc far,lackof marblingand otherdefectsin thecattlecarca
HowevertheO U project i tryingto manipulacthe gene of cattleto aveproducer rimeand money.
"Thi projectcouldbeextremelybeneficial,"Morgan said."Thepeoplewhowillbeaffeccedmostaretheproducer whofeed cockerteer or heifer. Icwillhelpcl1eemire indu tryin cl1elongrun.'
Whether producer raisecockersor howcarcle, cl1isprogramwillhelpthem by developingthe typeof card the industryneed Morgansaid.
Marbling,however, i not the onlya peerthe reearch programexplor . Al o includdare th g n as o iared with fe d effiiencyandcalving e.
" ome health-related problemhavegenesassociated with them,"Morgan said."If wecouldrumcl1em on, tum themoffand regular thing , it wouldmake u moreeffi ienra ab f cattleindustf), ' Thi program is designedto idencifythegen that are as ociaredwicha pecificproblemandto dis-
JerryMa/ayer,associateprofessorofphysiologicalscience(center),discussesthelatestcattlemarblingresultsw,lhtworesearch assistants,ZachStevenson(!eh)andKalynBrown.(PhotobySaraMcGaha) coverway to regulatechem ma p mvemanner.
'Rightnow,58 percentof peoplein the United cares a.recookingbeefmediumwellor well,' Morgan aid. "If youcooka productto a highdegreeofdoneness,onething youdo i increasecoughn ." everalcudieson the importanceof marblingand i impacton rendernesa.reunderwayaroundcheworld.
"Marblingin beef erves omewhata an in urance policy,"Morganaid.''Youcancookit cohigherdegreesof <lonenesswhile rillmaimainingaverytenderproduct."
Topleae cu romersand improvethequalicyof beef, producershouldrealizeproblemsassociatedwiththelack ofqualicymarbhng,Morgansaid.
" ometimesyouget a sceakrhar' just nor goodand nobodyknow \ hy,"saidJerryMalayer, U a ociare professorof physiologicalscience.
Ifthebeefindustry i goingto urvive,checon umeri goingto haveto becomethe mosrimporranrthing. he indu crymustrealizethe catclebusinessin klahomai a majoreconomiccomponenrin thescare,Geisercsaid.
"Youhaveto meetwhat consumerswant," Gei err said."Theywanta uniformproduct,o chatwhentheybuy a teak,theyknowit' goingto begood."
Understandingchebiologyof marblingcouldleadcoa
uerunder randingof tendern in beefandbertermanag mencpracticeof carcleduringchefeedlott'lg "ff we ouldprodu e ca.rcas highin qualityfroma marblingtandpoinr,it wouldmakebeefa locmorecompetitiveagainstocl1ertypesof proceinsourcesin the marketplace," Morgan aid.
"Wecould geethe best of bornworlds:efficiencyIi-om a growthsrandpoincand,afterweharvesttheanimal,a high-qualityproduce.
Marblingin beef serves somewhatas an insurancepolicy.
-BradMotgan,asuanima/sdenceprofessor
"The beefindu crymu cfindway tO put animal in cl1efeedlotandgetcl1emto ma.rblfaster"Morgansaid."If theprogramwillgercarclecomarblefusrer,thenicwillsave producermoneybycurringmenumberofday on feed.'
As marblingdevelopsooner,factor suchas breed type,qualitygrades,po r-monemagingandgeographical ourceofcaccleca.ninfluencecon umer 'overallcasteand palatabilityof theb ef,Morgan aid.
"Allbreedshaveindividualcharwork,"Morgansaid. "Wejusthavem identifyrheindividualsthatacruallywill concriburesomethingpo icivero checarclemix."
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The way tillwater connects to the purchasing power of more than 25,000 OklahomaState Universit) student faculty and taff.
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OSUplants a newvariety
By arah Catalano Ada, Okla.
Thi yearsall-femalevariecyofOklahoma raceUniver icycropjudg i currentlyowingthe dsofanother nar1onalranking.
To competear nationallevel, member of the crop judgingteamhaveto pracricear regulartimes,be ableto identifymore than 300 eed and plantsand complete weeklyassignments,however,theyreceiveno cholarships or das credit.
Bochdie J999and20000 nacionalcompecition cropjudgingreamsconsistedoffourwomen,saidJonathan haver,planeand oil ienc assirancprofi or and new ceamcoach.
"Of thi year' practi ing participant fiveour of twelvearefemale," haver aid.
Crop judgingat U tarted in 1923,and for49 years,Oklahoma rarehasbeendominantin bothnational competitions,one takingplacein Kan asCicy,Kan.,and tlieotlierin hicago.
"We'retliemosrconsistentteam,' haversaid."We've gone ro morecontest than anyocherteamand participatedmoreyear Overhalftl1eyears,wevebeenin chetop tlireeream in cl1enation."
hisyear,KerryO' eill heila ro , KylieVincem andDeenaBu hongplacedecondin tlieregionalcomperirionar Manhattan,Kan.,0 r. 28. They comp red in national ov.14in Kansas iC)~Kan. andplacedfourth.
by Sarah Cata/am)
Althoughcropjudgingis cricclyan ex:rracurricular activicy,all the crop judger agreethat beinga pan of a reamisrewarding.
"Ir'shardgercingeverybodycogetlierto pracciceand be respon ible.Burits worth it,"saidO'Neill,planeand oil cienc eniorwima cropscienceoption. haver aid beinga teammemberin manycasesrequiresmoreacademic kill and moreeffortthan some classes.Additionally,teammembersmustlearnself-disciplineandspecificknowledge r lativeto tlieirfield.
ropsteammember competingat national must firstprepareforthreedifferentevencs.
The fir cparr involve identifyingeed and plane fromacrossthe United races.The cropsand eeds rhe n1dentsmusridentifyincludegraincrop foragecrop and weeds.
"Ir' veryusefi.Jto thestudentsto be expoed conew plan and eed mataregrownin ocherpartsof me country," haversaid.
The srudent are requiredco orrecclyidentify200 differentplanr and eedswithrheircorrectspellingin 90 minutes, haversaid.
"Ir a learningOlympics" haver aid."Notonlydo you havecobe ableto identify omeming,you haveto be ablecorecalltli nam . Ir tak a pecial kill."
Additionally,tlie rudentslearnand identify"hi torically-imporcantvarieties"of crop plane uch as wheat, barleyand oac For ex:amplemeyare reqwr d ro know whatplantcharacteristicsseparatedifferentvarieciesof hard redwinterwheatfromoneanother,Shaversaid.
Fortliefir t yearon checropjudgingream,srudenrs primarilylearnto identifypl. nts and seed , becau e the e d informationa cudentlearn i usedin the other two partsof thecontest, haver aid.
"Planeidencificarionisgood ruffto knowbecauseirs thing I'll be dealingwith when I'm in a 'realworld'job siruarion,"saidCros , plantand soilscienceseniorwitha crop c1enceoption.
Competirorsgerdownanddinyinseedanalysi , where tliecropjudgephy icallyexaminesthe eed ampleand identifiescontaminantsuchasothercropseedsandweeds. If weedseed are in me sample,rhe cudencdetermines whemercheweedsarecommonweeds,prohibiredweed or resrritedweed
eedanalysigivesthe tudenrsexperiencewitliwhat i done in a commercial rringwhenme puriryof a eed samplei analyzed.
"Jn cheseedcercificacionindu rry,whenyouwantro
ella loadofcowpeasor wheatthat' certified,chat ample i acruallyanalyredforconraminanrs,"haversaid.
O' eillsaid eedidentification i au efulactivity.
"Ltcakesa locof time,bucir' goodcoknowcheplanes and weedsrhacI see,and whetheror nocche/rerestricted or noxiou weed . Ltreallyhelpedme as an intern chi ummer," ' eillsaid.
cudencsarerequiredcogradegrainsampl basedon restweights,moisrurecontent and informationgivenco chemin chechird part of rhecontest.
Thesrudenr learncouseFederalGrainIn pecrion tandardsforgraingradingcodeterminerhequaliryof che samplestheyaregiven.
"The cudent must be familiarwirhrhe proces of grainhandling.Theyhavecounderstandhowa amplei handledwhenit' broughtin coanelevator,howasampleis raken,and wharprocesseschar pecimengo through," haversaid.
Judgesareallowedto usea ummarizedworkbookfor thi partof rhecontestcomake uregrainsamplesareof a particularquality.
"Thegraingradingpartof thecontestisreallycomplicated," ' eillsaid."Youhavecopracticeall cherimeco gergood.Everycropisdifferenr,o here' alottoknow."
While rudyingforcompetitionrake a lorof rime and ffore,ir'sa goodoutlet for rudenr 'creariviryand competitiveimpulses haversaid.
"Many rudencswhoparticipateare implydoing o becausetheyenjoycompetition,"haversaid."Wehavea very tronghi roryofcropjudgingand winningin crop judgingat klahoma race.1wanrrhatcobea morivacor for sruden , bur mo clyI wanethem codo the be t they po iblycan.''
Whiletheyaregainingvaluableexperiencewithteam piricandperformingunderpr ure,cropjudgesalsohave rheaddedbenefirofimpressingpropecciveemployewhen theyinterviewforjob or intern hip .
"Therearea lot of companyofficialour therewho knowwhatbeinga memberofa cropjudgingreammeans. They knowwhatlevelofdi ciplin it rakesrocompeteac nationallevels,"haversaid.
Icrak disciplinecoparciciparein a crop reamlike Oklahoma rate's bur the prideofbeingon a winning reamal o i a motivatorforrhe rudem haver aid.
The reammembersagree.
"Ir' hardbur ir' alsou eful,"O' eill aid. "I know charasmud1rimeasI pend rudyingplanesand eed I'll neverforgerchem." '.)
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Dive into OSU's : International Study Abroad . Programs...
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