The Governor’s Mansion recently hosted the “AgHERculture College Edition” event, bringing together young women interested in agriculture with experienced professionals. Led by Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, this annual gathering focuses on networking, mentorship, and career development for women in the state’s agricultural sector.
Oklahoma farm reports Maci Carter caught up with Secretary Arthur, who explained that the evening is designed to connect college students with female mentors. “This is a fun evening where we have lots of female mentors who work in the ag space here in Oklahoma, who give their time to come and spend time with college students here in Oklahoma,” Arthur stated. The main goals include facilitating networking, sharing career experiences, and offering practical advice. The intention is that these interactions will lead to “internship opportunities, but just looking for some good career development experiences here,” she added.
A Diverse Group of Mentors
The event featured a variety of mentors, providing students with different perspectives on agricultural careers. “We had a lot of college students, kind of from across the state,” Arthur noted, mentioning an activity where students identified their hometowns, showing broad participation.
The mentors represented various segments of the ag industry. Arthur highlighted individuals such as Kylee Deniz, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Pork Council, and Brandy Herndon and Kass Newell, who are involved in the livestock industry with the Oklahoma Youth Expo and Tulsa State Fair. “Our goal is hopefully to have a diverse group of mentors so that these young ladies can find someone that they can identify with,” Arthur said. “Every mentor has a little bit different story and a little bit different path that they’ve pursued in their career, and we hope that that resonates with the young women who join us.”
Program Growth and Future Plans
Now in its fifth year, AgHERculture has continued to expand its reach. Secretary Arthur confirmed that the program will continue, stating, “Well, yes, we will look forward to having AgHERculture in 2026, next year in August.” The initiative originated from the Department of Agriculture’s idea to help college women find mentors and career advice, reflecting similar experiences of the team members.
The success of the event is supported by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) team, who manage the logistics. Hosting the collegiate event at the Governor’s Mansion also allows for “a little AG policy discussion to it as well.” Arthur described the program as “a really fulfilling opportunity for us as well.”
High School Outreach
In addition to the college event, AgHERculture also includes a program for high school students, which involves “several hundred young ladies that join us, freshmen through high school seniors.” This segment of the program is designed to introduce younger students to various career options within agriculture.
“It is really, really focused on exposing them to different career opportunities,” Arthur emphasized, including both traditional agricultural roles and fields like accounting, which are necessary for ag businesses. For this age group, the aim is to “hopefully give them some exposure to what jobs are out there, what’s the pathway for them to pursue those jobs, but then also that networking opportunity to find some hopefully gals that they can connect with and look up to and can kind of help them on that career path.”
Secretary Arthur’s Advice: The Importance of Teamwork
Among the many insights shared, Secretary Arthur’s key advice for college students was to “surround yourself with a great team.” She elaborated on the value of collaboration in achieving goals. “I think so many things in life are a team effort, and so when you’re working around other talented people… just a good team can accomplish almost anything that you set your mind to.” She also mentioned her approach to staffing: “I always try to hire people who are smarter than me, and that makes the days a lot easier.”
The AgHERculture programs highlight Oklahoma’s dedication to supporting young women in agriculture, building a strong network, and contributing to the future of the state’s agricultural industry.
