At the Washington Watch in D.C., Farm Director KC Sheperd welcomed a conversation with a fellow Oklahoman when she met up with Senator James Lankford and accompanied him and other members of the media on an evening tour of the Capitol. 

“It’s good to see a friendly face here, too,” he said. “I don’t get to see Oklahomans in town all the time, so it is good to have some Oklahoma family here.”

Lankford has only been home in Oklahoma for three weeks of 2025, and it is now the fifth month of the year, but it’s all been for a good cause. “We’ve done a record number of confirmations; more than any Senate in the last forty years,” he said. “We also have a lot of tax policy to do. We’ve got a farm bill. We’ve got twelve appropriation bills. We’ve got the national defense authorization. There is still a lot to do.”

The Stars Over Oklahoma FFA shone brightly yesterday afternoon at the 99th Convention of Oklahoma FFA, and we are proud to present all four of them. The video thumbnail each below represents more than thirty years that our senior Farm and Ranch broadcaster Ron Hays has been a part of the introduction of the Stars to the Convention attendees- Be sure and check out the story of each star on our website linked below- it includes the audio interview that KC Sheperd had with the Star after they faced the judges a few weeks back. Our parent company, Hilliary Communications, is proud to sponsor our coverage of the 2025 State FFA Convention- see all of our stories at the Blue Green Gazette on our website!

Addyson Schneberger of the Hydro-Eakly FFA Chapter earned the title of State Star in Agricultural Production during the fifth session of the 99th State FFA Convention and Expo May 7 at the BOK Center.

Schneberger, a Senior this year, feels very diversified in her FFA involvement because she has her proficiency in goat production, shows goats, gives speeches, and judges livestock. Last year, she won the National Goat Production Proficiency Award, and this year, at OYE, she won the 2025 Premier Exhibitor Award.

Hunter Brashears of the Sentinel FFA Chapter earned the title of State Star in Agribusiness during the fifth session of the 99th State FFA Convention and Expo May 7 at the BOK Center.

Brashears’s Star SAE project began when he hauled some hay for “an older gentleman in the community” and then grew to a full-scale hay-hauling business for small square bales. “Over the years, I decided to go into fall and autumn décor, then somewhere in between there, I had the bright idea to start a little hair sheep operation,” he shared. “It was great because I didn’t really have to do much because I had someone do a lot for me.”

Congratulations to FFA Stars Kyriana Beard - Ag Placement and Callen Veit - Agriscience

Kyriana Beard of the Stillwater FFA Chapter earned the title of State Star in Ag Placement during the fifth session of the 99th State FFA Convention and Expo May 7 at the BOK Center.

Beginning in eighth grade, Beard took an unpaid volunteer position to learn about swine management at Dowdy Livestock, owned by Paige Dowdy, which raises Iberico hogs, a niche breed from Portugal. Dowdy also owned Scissortail Steading, a commercial Iberico breeding operation. At the time,Beard was also working at Noble Road Equestrian Center for her performance horse trainer, Nancy Burba. This led to her Total Equine Services Placement, owned by Holly Huffaker, during which she began riding five to eight horses per day. Her final ag placement is at Rocking E Boarding and Veterinary Services, where her boarding and equine husbandry tasks have continued.

Callen Veit of the Morrison FFA Chapter earned the title of State Star in Agriscience during the fifth session of the 99th State FFA Convention and Expo May 7 at the BOK Center.

Veit started his project in eighth grade and has continued it for five years of research at the Oklahoma State University Animal and Food Science. His five research projects focus on improving beef quality and reducing beef waste through the use of natural antioxidants.

Cooper Kline(front center), member of the North Rock Creek FFA Chapter, will lead the more than 29,500 members of the Oklahoma FFA Association for 2025-2026.

Members elected the 19-year-old to his presidential position during the 99th Oklahoma FFA Convention on May 7. An agricultural education major at Oklahoma State University, Kline previously served as the 2024-2025 Oklahoma FFA Secretary.

Seven additional FFA members will join Kline on the 2025-2026 Oklahoma FFA Association officer team: Coy Davidson (front left), Elgin FFA, secretary; Darla Fesmire, Oklahoma Union FFA, reporter(front right); LeAundre Delonia (back left), Okmulgee FFA, northeast area vice president; Heath Laubach, Mooreland FFA, northwest area vice president; Hudson Andrews, Purcell FFA, central area vice president; Isabella Whitlock, Silo FFA, southeast area vice president; and Bonham Eslick, Elgin FFA, southwest area vice president.

Dr. Randall Spare Encourages Using Genomic Testing in Commercial Cow Herds

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, had the chance to speak with the operator of the Ashland Veterinary Center, Dr. Randall Spare, at the recent Hemphill County Beef Conference in Canadian, Texas. In Tuesday’s BeefBuzz, they discussed the importance of maintaining a high-quality product for beef consumers. Yesterday, in line with Dr. Randall’s presentation at the event titled “The Value of Artificial Insemination to a Commercial Cowherd,” they discussed factors to consider when choosing a bull.

According to Dr. Spare, the right bull depends on the environment in which he and his calves will live. He said that a producer must consider his or her goals, how the cattle will be marketed and to whom, and what their purpose is.

“The right bull is the one that meets their needs to meet their goals,” he summarized. “My job, then, is to move their goals to something that they can create more value with.”

He emphasized the benefits of genomic testing on the cowherd to better understand their needs for choosing the right bull. “If we understand that genomic testing is involved in seedstock production, and those seedstock producers can genomically test and enhance their EPDs, why can’t we do that with commercial cattle? We can.”

Exports of U.S. beef, pork and lamb trended higher year-over-year in March, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef export value was the highest since June, while Latin American markets again fueled pork export growth. March exports of lamb muscle cuts were the largest in more than five years.

March beef exports totaled 109,330 metric tons (mt), up 1% from a year ago, while export value reached $922 million – up 4% and the highest since June. First-quarter exports were slightly below last year’s pace at 310,368 mt, but increased 2% in value to $2.53 billion.

“Despite a great deal of uncertainty, global demand for U.S. beef remains robust and resilient,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “The March export results confirm this, with demand trending higher in Taiwan and Mexico, reaching record levels in Central America and holding up well in Japan and Korea. Although we anticipate that China’s retaliatory tariffs and expired plant registrations will have a more drastic impact on April and May exports, the U.S.

industry’s efforts to diversify markets and broaden U.S. beef’s global footprint are definitely paying dividends.”

March pork exports increased 3% year-over-year to 269,344 mt, valued at $769.7 million (up 4%). First-quarter exports were slightly above last year’s record value pace at $2.11 billion, but slightly lower in volume (754,488 mt).

Farmer Sentiment Improves as Long-Term Optimism Outweighs Tariff Concerns

A breakdown on the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer April results can be viewed at https://purdue.ag/barometervideo. Find the audio podcast discussion for insight on this month’s sentiment at https://purdue.ag/agcast.

Farmer sentiment improved in April as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed 8 points to a reading of 148. The improvement in farmers’ sentiment was bolstered by increases in both the Index of Current Conditions, which rose 9 points to 141, and the Index of Future Expectations, which rose 8 points to 152. Somewhat surprisingly, this month’s improvement in farmer sentiment occurred despite ongoing trade disputes with many of U.S. agriculture’s largest trading partners, including Mexico, Canada and China. However, producers responding to the April survey overwhelmingly reported that they expect the increased use of tariffs by the U.S. to prove beneficial to the U.S. agricultural economy in the long run, which was reflected in the Future Expectations Index‘s strengthening. The April barometer survey took place from April 14-21, 2025.

The Farm Capital Investment Index at 61 was 7 points higher in April than in March, reaching the highest investment index reading since May 2021. There was a marked shift in the investment index following the November 2024 election. From May through October 2024, the investment index averaged a reading of 36, while from November 2024 through April 2025, the average index value was 54 — 50% higher than during the preceding six months. This month, one out of four respondents said it was a good time to make large investments, nearly double the percentage of respondents who said it was a good time to invest when surveyed from May through October of last year.