Lomega’s Whitney Glazier Competes for American Star in Ag Placement at National FFA Convention

Many Oklahomans are involved in this year’s National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, competing in various events. One of those includes Whitney Glazier of the Lomega FFA Chapter.

Glazier is a finalist in the American Star in Agricultural Placement. I had the chance to catch up with Glazier and talk about the competition, as she will know the final standings on Friday evening.

Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, four FFA members are honored with American Star Awards for outstanding accomplishments in FFA and agricultural education. The American Star in Agricultural Placement is awarded to the FFA member with the top agricultural placement SAE in the nation. 

“When I got started, it was working on the family farm,” Glazier said. “I did that ever since I was little, and it started long before my time in the FFA. It was just natural to keep doing that and to use my work on the family farm to be able to run for proficiency SAEs and eventually the American Star.”

To watch Whitney Glazier talk about her work experiences for the American Star in Ag Placement competition, CLICK HERE.

Our coverage of the National FFA Convention is powered by Oklahoma Farm Bureau- Together- We Are Rural Oklahoma



Dating back to 1891, Stillwater Milling Company has been supplying ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients. Their full line of A & M Feeds can be delivered direct to your farm, found at their Agri-Center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. We appreciate Stillwater Milling Company’s long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.

Brady Sidwell Brings Farm-to-Table in Enid, Oklahoma

At the Grown Tour in Enid, Oklahoma last week, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern, Maci Carter, had the chance to talk with Brady Sidwell about Enid Brewing Company and Chisholm Trail Milling.

Owned by Sidwell, Enid Brewing Company uses local grain wheat for the barley to brew the beers.

“Since that time, we have added a full farm-to-table restaurant where we have our own local beef, and we are working with local poultry producers, the flour from Chisholm Trail Milling that we are sourcing locally is also used in our bread,” Sidwell said. “We are trying to highlight the whole agriculture supply chain and have it here where people can taste the results of the fruits of the labor of farmers in the area.”

For those who may not be familiar with production agriculture, Sidwell said when they are served local products on their plate or in their glass, it all comes together.

“To be able to do that at a scale- that is really what we are focused on as distribution supply chain and being able to connect those local products to manufacture into ingredients…,” Sidwell said.

INHERIT Select By Zoetis Helps Ranchers Make Selection Decisions Sooner to Identify Future Replacements

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back talking with Zoetis Cattle Genetics Specialist, Kevin Milliner, about INHERIT Select.

Zoetis offers a product called INHERIT Select that provides accurate insights on the potential of commercial crossbred replacement heifers in a matter of a few weeks. INHERIT Select is an innovative, multi-breed genomic test and weekly genetic evaluation providing predictions for commercial females, including crosses of eight major breeds.

The test delivers Genomic Expected Progeny Differences (GEPDs) and percentile rankings for 19 traits and five economic indexes, as well as sire and dam parentage verification and breed composition.

Predictions from INHERIT Select provide commercial cow-calf producers with genetic insights to make replacement female selection and breeding decisions.

Milliner says when you start thinking about the various traits you can identify with this product, the potential is outstanding.

It was s busy Wednesday here in Indy and that was especially true for Oklahoma FFA members competing in various contests. Chattanooga's Corbin Robbins ended up competing in three rounds of the National Creed contest by the time the day was over- and now waits to see where we places i the national competition. He advanced in the preliminary round in the morning- won in the national semi finals in the afternoon and then heard his name called to be be a part of the Final Four- speaking reciting the creed again last w=night. We will know how the judges think he did this afternoon when the Creed contest winner will be spotlighted in the second General Session.

Gianna Nichols of Edmond competed in the two opening rounds of the Prepared Public Speech Contest- she will learn this morning in she has been picked to be in the Final Four and give her speech and answer questions one more time this afternoon.

National FFA Vice President for the Central Region Karstyn Cantrell of Skiatook will give her farewell speech this afternoon in that second general session. You can watch that session and all of the rest by clicking here and looking for FFA Live.

Finally- we talked a couple of days ago here in Indy with the current National FFA President Andrew Seibel- click here and check out our conversation with him.

Our coverage of the National FFA Convention is powered by Oklahoma Farm Bureau- Together- We Are Rural Oklahoma

Fiscal Year 2023 Investment Report from State Treasurer Todd Russ

To the People of Oklahoma:

The Office of the State Treasurer is pleased to issue the monthly investment performance report. This report is an important part of my office and commitment to disclose our economic environment and portfolio results.

Portfolio Performance, Diversification, and Strategy

Fiscal year 2023 portfolio yielded 2.55% with a weighted average maturity of 979 days.

Total portfolio market value of $15.4 billion, which increased $2.8 billion from the previous fiscal year.

No losses were realized due to excellent liquidity and because investments were typically held to maturity.

Total portfolio contained 57% in U.S. Treasurys, 17% in U.S. government agencies, 18% in mortgage-backed securities, and 7% cash on June 30, 2023. Diversification was maintained through a mixture of fixed income securities such as U.S. treasuries, government sponsored enterprises and mortgage-backed securities. The comprised balance of funds invested were certificates of deposit, state bond issues and foreign bonds. Cash holdings were diversified through the utilization of several government money market mutual funds.

Registration is Now Open for USDA’s 100th Agricultural Outlook Forum

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the opening of registration for the 100th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. This landmark event, titled “Cultivating the Future,” will be held in person at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va., on February 15-16, 2024. All Forum sessions will also be live-streamed on a virtual platform.

“As we reflect on a century of agricultural progress, we’re not just celebrating our achievements, we’re also preparing for an even better future,” said Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.

“The 2024 Forum underscores USDA’s commitment to fostering innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the sector and serves as a platform for bringing together minds dedicated to advancing America’s agriculture.”

The 2024 Forum program will feature a keynote address by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a presentation on the outlook for agricultural markets and trade by USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer, a plenary panel of distinguished guest speakers, and 30 breakout sessions covering a wide range of timely agricultural, food market, and environmental issues. More than a hundred experts from government, industry, and academia will share insights on topics such as commodity and food price outlooks, U.S. and global agricultural trade developments, agricultural innovations, climate change, and the bioeconomy.