During Agriculture Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, Farm Director KC Sheperd had the chance to visit with Ag Youth Council member Cooper Kline of Chandler, Oklahoma about the program hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
The Ag Youth Council was created in 2019 by Sec. Blayne Arthur to develop future agricultural leaders by teaching professional skills, exposing members to diverse agricultural operations, and offering short-term job experience in agriculture fields.
Council members meet once a month during their year-long term, and sessions include visits to Oklahoma agricultural companies and organizations, opportunities to learn about the legislative process, and job shadows with industry professionals.
“Being able to be part of it is such an honor alongside some of my best friends,” Kline said.
Kline described the process to become a member of the Ag Youth Council, which starts with an application.
“There is an application process, then they will select the top 50, and we will all interview for the final spots,” Kline said. “We end up with 15 kids from across the state of Oklahoma. We have kids from border to border. It is extremely interesting to be able to see how we are all different in our production ag ways, and we get to go to so many different areas of agriculture in our state.”
As a swine and sheep producer, Kline said it was eye-opening to have the chance to visit different agricultural institutions across the state to diversify his knowledge of the industry.
“There are so many things within this council that opens your new horizons to agriculture as a whole,” Kline said.
Through his time with the Ag Youth Council, Kline said he is grateful for the connections he has made with ODAFF members, his peers, and industry professionals from across the state.
“I don’t think there has been a meeting where we haven’t gotten one, if not multiple notecards and business cards from different people just saying, ‘call us if you need anything,’” Kline said. “I have been able to utilize some of those resources already senior year and it is something that is definitely going to help alongside my college career.”
For more information on the Agriculture Youth Council, visit https://ag.ok.gov/agriculture-youth-council/.
