Road to Rural Prosperity

In today's conversation, Host Ron Hays talks with Matt Waits, the President of the Ag Solutions Division for Proagrica. Matt is based in Stillwater and worked with his Dad, David Waits, as he founded SST Software back in the 1990s. SST was a pioneer in Precision Ag and today, Proagrica continues down that road as a major player in the Precision Ag space. Today's Road to Rural Prosperity is sponsored by BancFirst, Loyal to Oklahoma and to You.

The name for the Ag School on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater is changing- with the approval of the Regents, it will be the OSU Ferguson College of Ag. Host Ron Hays explores with Dean Dr. Tom Coon how the Ferguson Family, the OSU Administration and OSU Foundation put this deal together- and how the $50 Million will be used to advance the Land Grant mission at Oklahoma State University. Today's Road to Rural Prosperity is powered by OSPRC- the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center.

Guest Host AJ Griffin is on the Road to Rural Prosperity with the CEO of the Grand Lake Mental Health Center based in Vinita, Oklahoma- Grand Lake provides mental health services in 13 counties in northeast and northcentral Oklahoma- Danley has been instrumental in delivering innovative mental health services as Grand Lake serves as a model with agencies all across rural America. Today's Road Podcast is Powered by the Oklahoma Rural Water Association.

Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays sits down with Matt Pinnell and talks about his journey to become the 17th Lt. Governor of Oklahoma- and his efforts as a part of Governor Kevin Stitt's Cabinet to promote small business and tourism in the state- he offers an update on the efforts to build a brand for Oklahoma- and he and Ron talk Agritourism as well. Today's Episode is powered by Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

In our final episode for 2019, Host Ron Hays talks with State lawmaker John Pfeiffer of Orlando, who represents District 38- one of the more rural districts in Oklahoma- as Pfeiffer describes it- parts of 5 counties from northern Logan county up I-35 to the Kansas State Line- with a total of 10 stoplights and more cows than people. Today's Road Podcast is powered by BancFirst, Loyal to Oklahoma and You. Rep Pfeiffer talks about his time in the Marines, his running to replace the term limited Dale Dewitt and he offers a grade of the state legislative session in 2019 and what he sees coming in 2020.

Today's Episode features three members of the Faculty from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University. Our Podcast spotlights Oklahoma State University scientists who are teaming up with peer researchers at Kansas State University and USDA-Agricultural Research Service in El Reno to enhance cropping systems in the southern Great Plains.

Host Ron Hays talks with Dr. Tyson Ochsner, Dr. Brian Arnall and Dr. Beatrix Haggard about this multi million dollar research effort that focuses on improving southern plains agriculture in rainfed farm situations.

Our thanks to the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma for sponsoring today's conversation.

Episode 12 of the Road to Rural Prosperity features host AJ Griffin talking with Carter Kimble, who is the deputy secretary of health and mental health for the Kevin Stitt Administration. They discuss the state of healthcare in rural Oklahoma and the efforts being made to improve the delivery of healthcare- especially in more rural areas of the state. Carter also offers his concerns about State Question 802, which likely will be on the ballot next November in Oklahoma.

Today's Road to Rural Prosperity is powered by the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center.

Host Ron Hays sat down at the recent Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention with two of the finest Ag Producers you can find anywhere- Monte Tucker of Sweetwater and Brent Bolen of Idabel- and we talked about their farm and ranch operations- their passion for the business and where they see production agriculture fitting into the quest for Oklahoma excellence. Today's Podcast is powered by the Oklahoma Rural Water Association.

Episode Ten of the Road to Rural Prosperity Features a conversation with JD Strong who is the Director for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Strong tells host Ron Hays that this position is his dream job and they talk about the Agency, hunting prospects in the coming months in Oklahoma, the economic impact of hunting and fishing in rural Oklahoma and more.

The Podcast goes on the road to Indianapolis and the 2019 National FFA Convention where Host Ron Hays talks with three high achievers from Oklahoma participating in this national gathering of young people interested in agriculture.

Ron talks with National FFA Officer Ridge Hughbanks of Alva, National Prepared Public Speech Contest Participant Bree Kisling of Chisholm and National Finalist in the Star in Agribusiness Contest Blake Kennedy of Tecumseh.