During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report are spotlighting the 18 Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA, who are among the highest achievers in the organization.
The stars come from the five areas in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness, and Star in Agricultural Production.
This week, we spotlight the three area stars in Agribusiness in 2024.
One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories will be named the State Star Award Winner during the 98th Oklahoma State FFA Convention, which will take place on May 7th and 8th in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This week, our coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Agribusiness competitor Laney McAlester of the Wilburton FFA chapter representing the Southeast Area.
McAlester’s project, a testament to her passion and hard work, involves stocker cattle management and operation. She purchases cattle weighing around 500 pounds and feeds them until they are ready for the next segment of the industry, the feedlot.
The operation is a family operation, McAlister said, and through her time, she has learned that some of the most important factors for success include a good vaccine protocol, a processing protocol, and keeping the cattle healthy in a stress-free environment.
McAlister said one of the practices she is passionate about within the operation is keeping the cattle in their natural environment to ensure they are stress-free. An example she discussed is worming the cattle when they are out on feed.
“There is no sense in bringing them back up and worming them through the chute line,” McAlister said. “Really just keeping them in their natural environment as much as possible and not having to get them up into the working facilities and pens. They are going to stay healthier and less stressed keeping them in that environment as long as possible.”
Looking ahead, McAlister plans to continue to be an integral part of her family’s stocker cattle operation. After graduating high school, McAlister aims to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University to pursue a major in pre-pharmacy, with the goal of specializing in veterinary pharmacy.
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For more information about the 98th Oklahoma State FFA Convention, click here.
