Hydro-Eakly FFA members attend the 50th annual second session of the OKFFA Alumni Camp last week. This year’s theme was Leadership and all four days were split into different sub-themes; personal, service, teamwork, and future. FFA members learned valuable information about being a leader, an FFA member, and a friend. With the general sessions, small group meetings, water Olympics, dodgeball tournaments, ropes course, and so much more, this group of kids made memories that will without a doubt last a lifetime. Pictured, front row from left, are Tabrey Lierle, Brooklyn Bailey, Skylar Sturgeon and Paige Morris. Back row are Ryder Klaassen, Korbin Smith, Brax Meacham and Gage Slagell. Provided
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State University Extension hosted its first-ever Oklahoma State University Cattlewomen’s Boot Camp in June. The three-day event, reserved exclusively for women, provided hands-on demonstrations for managing a cattle operation.
“It’s important that we recognize the role women have on the ranch,” Donna Patterson, Oklahoma State University Extension director and ag educator for Rogers County said. “A lot of the time, women will say their husbands do a lot of the work, but they are vital to the operation. We need to empower women in the ranching business.”
Fifty women of all ages from across the state attended the boot camp in Chickasha to learn what is required of ranchers throughout the year to achieve a profitable and successful cattle operation. Women walked through hands-on activities, such as vaccinations, ear tagging and parasite control as well as body condition scoring, vaccine handling and implanting. Other sessions included information and tutorials on reproduction, forage and forage management, record keeping and estate planning.
“There are more women working in different sectors of agriculture these days, and this camp gives them an extra chance to work on some of their skills,” Dana Zook, northwest area livestock specialist for Oklahoma State University Extension said. “Women sometimes work alone in their particular part of the industry, and it’s good to know other people are out there doing the same thing.”
Chelsey Hollie of Amber, Oklahoma, said she appreciated how the camp gave her and her peers an opportunity to build upon the cattle skills and knowledge many of them acquired at an early age.
“Our farm has been mostly run be men since I was a kid. My grandpa, dad and husband did most of the work, and I wanted to do more,” Hollie said. “I like the confidence the camp gives you to ask questions and feel like you’re in a like-minded group.”
A registered veterinary technician, Hollie is interested in quality assurance and navigating the financial aspects of an operation. The information she received at Oklahoma State University’s camp is current, comprehensive and related directly to current market trends that will help her family meet its business goals.
“My husband and I run a small farm and are partners in all things,” she said. “The more I can help him, the more we work together as a team.”