After more than seven years serving Oklahoma agriculture as the Deputy Commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, JanLee Rowlett is saying goodbye to ODAFF as she prepares to take on a new role with the Livestock Marketing Association. Speaking with Farm Director KC Sheperd at a farewell gathering, Rowlett reflected on her time working alongside Oklahoma farmers, ranchers, and agricultural organizations, calling it a chapter she will always value.
Her path to Oklahoma began when she moved to Stillwater to attend Oklahoma State University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. While at OSU, her involvement in Class X of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter (OALE) sparked a deep interest in agricultural policy. This path led her to attend Washburn University School of Law in Kansas, where she earned her Juris Doctor.
Rowlett joined ODAFF in February 2019, initially serving as the agency’s Legislative Liaison, where she managed government relations and agricultural policy initiatives. In July 2020, she was promoted to Deputy Commissioner. In her leadership role, she focuses heavily on creating a producer-friendly environment for Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers, managing key legislative priorities such as water management, foreign ownership tracking of agricultural lands, and drought mitigation programs.
Her contributions to the state’s agricultural community earned her recognition as the 2025 Oklahoma Ag Woman of the Year by the Diamond Hats organization, marking the first time an OALE graduate has received the award.
‘A Wonderful Opportunity’ Serving Oklahoma Agriculture
“I have enjoyed a little over seven years here at the Oklahoma Department of Ag, and it truly has been a wonderful opportunity, and just a privilege, really,” Rowlett said. “I sincerely mean this, to work for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers and be a part of our team here.”
Rowlett said the opportunity to serve agriculture in Oklahoma exceeded anything she imagined early in her career. After attending college and later working in other states, she said the chance to return felt like the right fit. “I was ready to come back to Oklahoma and get back to this part of the world, and this opportunity presented itself,” Rowlett said. “I could never have dreamed of having had this opportunity, especially pretty early in my career, but I have just learned so much and have had so many doors open here.”
What Makes Oklahoma Agriculture Different
She credited strong leadership and teamwork with shaping her experience in the department, pointing to Oklahoma agriculture’s close-knit culture as unique. “There are so many things that make Oklahoma so special,” Rowlett said. “The camaraderie, and again, the kind of team effort that working for agriculture in this state is, is not something that I think every other state has, and something that’s really special and unique for Oklahoma.”
Reflecting on memorable moments over the years, Rowlett laughed about experiences at legislative showmanship events, where even unpredictable moments became lasting memories. “There are lots of things that I will never forget,” she said. “Those are some of those moments that, yes, will be with me for a long time.”
A New Chapter with the Livestock Marketing Association
Looking ahead, Rowlett will join the Livestock Marketing Association in the Kansas City area, where she will work on behalf of livestock auction markets nationwide. “I am joining the Livestock Marketing Association, so moving to the Kansas City area, and really excited to join the team there and get to work on behalf of livestock auction markets across the U.S.,” Rowlett said.
The move represents a shift from state-level agriculture policy and communication work to broader national issues affecting livestock producers and markets. “For every new opportunity I think comes with some excitement, a little bit of nerves,” Rowlett said. “I’ll get to work more on some federal issues, so switch gears a little bit from a lot of the state work that we’ve done here, but a lot of the same issues.”
‘I Will Be Back’ to Oklahoma
Despite the move, Rowlett emphasized that Oklahoma will remain close to her heart and promised she will continue returning to work with producers and industry friends across the state. “Luckily, there are lots of auction markets in Oklahoma,” she said. “I could never take a job that didn’t allow me the chance to get back here and continue to work with the crew here in Oklahoma that I now have called friends for a long time, and would even consider family.”
Closing out the conversation, Rowlett expressed gratitude for the relationships she built during her time in Oklahoma’s agriculture industry. “Thank you, truly,” she said. “It has been a pleasure to work with you all and everybody else here that is part of our ag family in Oklahoma.”
