Associate Farm Editor Carli Davenport spoke with Dr. Jerry Dunn from Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), who shared insights into their relatively new agriculture business degree. “Southwestern does have a business in agriculture degree. It kind of surprises people, because we have not had one in the past, nor do we have a history of agricultural programs per se,” he explained. The program was approved in 2019 and is housed in the College of Business rather than a College of Agriculture, which SWOSU does not have. “When we were designed, we were a regional institution primarily for education, pharmacy and business,” Dunn added, noting that the ag business program has grown in popularity and student numbers despite setbacks from COVID.
The curriculum is built on a business core with an agricultural specialization. “Students primarily take a business core for their class schedules — the accounting, the management, the marketing, etc. —. And then we put a agricultural specialty with it,” Dr. Dunn said. Some of the unique classes offered include “economics in agriculture,” “financial issues in agriculture,” and agricultural sales and marketing courses taught by Dr. Amanda Everett, as well as Ag Law taught by Dr. Raygan Chain.
Dr. Dunn also highlighted a wonderful hands-on class he introduced: Beef Cattle Management. “Being in western Oklahoma, being in Oklahoma period, cattle is a huge industry, so I wanted to try to bring that aspect to students that maybe already know about cattle, maybe some that don’t,” he said. The course covers a wide range of topics from calving and artificial insemination to genetics and breed selection. “It was a very fun class,” Dunn said, emphasizing its practical nature. Last semester, students toured a variety of cattle producers’ ranches and other agricultural businesses like Express Ranch, Davis Angus, and Keith’s Butcher Shop. Students also earned their BQA ( beef quality assurance) certificate and a master of Beef Advocacy certificate.
Looking ahead, Dr. Dunn shared plans to expand access through online offerings. “This year, we are starting a little bit of a rotation with my courses into online,” he said, citing the number of transfer students who work full-time while finishing their degrees. However, the beef cattle management class will remain in-person. “That would be very difficult to have that sort of experience, that hands-on experience, in an online setting,” he explained.
In addition to academics, SWOSU ag students can get involved through the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter on campus. “We’ll be doing all sorts of activities. We bring in speakers, we go on field trips,” Dr. Dunn said. The group is open to the entire student body and “we kind of look at it as an extension of an FFA. When you want to be an advocate for agriculture, it’s a great student organization to have,” he noted.
For those interested in the program, Dr. Dunn encouraged direct outreach. “You can contact Southwestern directly… or you can, of course, contact myself or Dr. Everett,” he said. Despite teaching economics in the Department of Social Sciences, Dr. Dunn advises most ag business majors and coordinates closely with the College of Business. “I can give them any information that they like on that,” he assured.
