Agricultural News
Meet Tanner Stevens of theYukon FFA Chapter, Your 2019 South West Area Star in Agriscience
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 20:15:34 CDT
During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report is spotlighting the twenty Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA that are among the highest achievers in the organization. The stars come from the five areas in four categories- Star in Ag Placement, Star in Agriscience, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Production Agriculture. This week, we spotlight the five area stars in Agriscience for 2019. One Star Finalist featured in the coming days from each of the categories, will be named the State Star Award Winner during the Oklahoma State FFA Convention coming up April 30 - May 1, 2019 in Oklahoma City.
Today, we continue our coverage with this year's South West Area Star, Tanner Stevens of the Yukon FFA Chapter. Tanner is being recognized for his research in the Agriscience Fair and work at the BlueSTEM Research Facility and Grazingland Research Lab. The BlueSTEM AgriLearning Center in El Reno, Oklahoma is a collaborative effort between the USDA Grazingland Research Laboratory (GRL) and Historic Fort Reno, Inc (HFRI). Stevens had the opportunity to work with USDA scientists on a day to day basis. He had the opportunity to work on several projects within the facility including ruminant forgage studies, bee, tree, and many plant studies.
"It has definitely taught me a lot about science and agriculture," said Stevens. "Recently, I got involved in a forage study involving a new type of gamagrass that was really unique and it's something that I'm really looking forward to be released to the public. It's a cross between Eastern and Native gamagrass."
Excited for the study's release, Stevens said this information will be something cattle producers should be very interested in because of its protein content, which rivals that of alfalfa, making it a quality forage feed.
Currently Tanner serves as President of the Yukon FFA Chapter, which he describes as a very close knit family. He's been involved for four years now serving in various leadership roles but his interest in science began at a young age when he was always asking a lot of questions.
"I turned my focus toward agriscience and it allows me to solve problems that I feel like have a use in real life," says Tanner.
After graduation Stevens will attend Eastern Oklahoma State College on a judging scholarship and double major in Animal Science and Stocker Operations. Following juco, Tanner wants to attend OSU and eventually work up to owning his own ranch.
You can hear his entire conversation with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN BAR below.
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