State Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur: Leadership, Resilience, and the Road Ahead for Oklahoma Agriculture
Blayne Arthur has never been just a bystander in Oklahoma’s agriculture scene. Since becoming Oklahoma’s Secretary of Agriculture in December 2018—making her the first woman in the state’s history to hold the post—Arthur has woven together policy expertise, practical experience, and a deep connection to rural living, earning praise from both ends of the political spectrum. Senior Farm and Ranch broadcaster Ron Hays sat down just before Christmas to talk with Secretary Arthur- and she spoke of her longevity within the Kevin Stitt Administration- her journey is not just a story about her but also about the unique resilience and collaborative spirit of Oklahoma agriculture.
To call 2025 a challenging year for Oklahoma agriculture would be an understatement. Producers began the year facing the growing threat of the New World Screw Worm—a pest that posed significant economic and animal health risks. Though, as of late 2025, no active cases were confirmed within the state, preparedness remained a top priority. State officials, led by Oklahoma’s State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall and in close coordination with the USDA under Secretary Brooke Rollins, adopted a proactive stance, closing borders and increasing surveillance (OSU Extension, USDA).
A Collaborative, Nonpartisan Approach
If there’s a secret sauce to Oklahoma’s agricultural resilience, it might be the collaborative, nonpartisan nature of the work. Arthur’s career has spanned transitions through both Democratic and Republican administrations. While political winds have shifted, she’s found that practical agricultural policy rarely fits neatly into a partisan box. “Most farmers and ranchers just want to make a living and have the government stay out of their way,” she’s often said—a maxim her husband helps keep top of mind.
Arthur gives much credit to both Governor Stitt and the state legislature for their hands-on, bipartisan approach to agricultural issues. The Governor has stood with producers through contentious issues—especially where state and federal interests clash, as with recent poultry industry litigation and environmental regulations. Time and again, Arthur and her team have emphasized the importance of “thoughtful conversations” with lawmakers and keeping open lines with commodity groups like Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and others (Oklahoma Farm Bureau).
Preparing for What’s Next
As Governor Stitt’s term approaches its end, Arthur is focused on ensuring a seamless transition for whoever leads next, both in the legislature and within the Department of Agriculture itself. That means bolstering strong leadership teams, shoring up forward-thinking ag policies, and making sure regulatory decisions are always made with a producer’s reality in mind.
If you ask Arthur whether she foresaw all these responsibilities when she took the job—running an agency, leading the Board of Agriculture, sitting on higher education boards and state land commissions—the answer comes with a laugh and an honest “No.” Still, she sees all those “extra hats” as a way to serve the people who, like her, head down a gravel road each night to the real work of feeding the state and the nation.
For Blayne Arthur and the community she represents, the story of Oklahoma agriculture is one of resilience, collaboration, and hope—come drought, disease, or whatever else the next season brings.
