Ross Turner of the Oologah FFA Chapter won the State Star in Agribusiness award at the 98th Oklahoma FFA Convention and Expo on May 8 at the BOK Center.
Turner began his agribusiness, Turner Stockdogs, in 2021, when he trained and sold his first dog. Growing up on a multi-generation cow-calf and rope horse operation, Turner was exposed to working dogs at a young age, which lead to his interest in training and working cow dogs.
Turner Stockdogs focuses primarily on cow dogs of the Border Collie breed. Along with buying and selling, Turner also breeds his own dogs. After a 2022 sale, Turner slowly began training outside dogs too, expanding his kennel capacity to 10 dogs at a time.
“The most important thing is just being able to read the dog,” Turner said.
Turner said he works to teach the dogs to balance and makes sure their shoulder placement is correct. From there, he said, he continues to increase the dogs’ training and pressure as they show him they can handle it.
Turner keeps each dog on a strict diet of 30% protein and 20% fat. To prioritize gut health, each dog receives probiotics three days after arrival, ensuring their transition is as smooth as possible.
Each animal is required to have strict health and vaccination records. In the event a new client does not provide such records, Turner charges $50 to properly vaccinate the dog.
“I take health protocols very seriously,” Turner said. “If one dog has a contagious disease, then every dog in the kennel has been exposed.”
At Turner Stockdogs, obedience training is the first step of the training process. Turner said he likes the dogs to walk on a loose lead and heel, off lead if needed, before introducing the dogs to livestock. Once the dog has mastered physical commands, Turner introduces directional voice commands and whistles.
Turner provides private lessons to clients, incorporating his trained dogs in the lessons to help clients better understand their own dogs.
Turner connects with most of his clients through online marketing by advertising on social media and his website.
“Whether you’re gathering cattle horseback or with a four-wheeler, pushing steers up a roping alley, or just need some extra help when the neighbor’s bull crosses the fence, I hope the first call will be Turner Stockdogs,” Turner said. “I fit the dog to the handler.”
The 18 Area Stars each received a plaque and $500 cash award co-sponsored by the Masonic Charity Foundation, McDonald’s of Oklahoma, The Chickasaw Nation, Blue and Gold Sausage Co., Davis Farms, Sirloin Club of Oklahoma, Noble Research Institute, and Oklahoma Farm Bureau.
As a Star in Agribusiness, Sanders and the other State Stars over Oklahoma will each receive $30,089 in scholarships or capital grant funds through a $3.2 million gift from the Carl C. Anderson Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation. The late Carl C. Anderson, after whom the State Star awards are now named, was born in Naples, Oklahoma, in 1911. One of 10 children, he dropped out of high school to earn money and support his family. From those modest beginnings, the Anderson Corp. grew across the country as well as in Canada and South America.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 29,670 members and 366 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fifth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.
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