Beyond the Boots

As the times have changed in the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture, so has the typical agriculture student.

People come from all walks of life to share their love and passion for the industry, said Deb VanOverbeke, assistant dean of academic programs.

“Not that long ago, a typical student in agriculture would come from a production agriculture experience,” VanOverbeke said. “But today, a student does not have to come from an agricultural background to be successful within the college.”

Now, students come to the college from traditional agriculture as well as from urban and suburban areas, regardless of their academic majors, VanOverbeke said.

Logan Simunek, agricultural communications senior, said she has discovered much diversity within the college. A pitcher on the OSU softball team, Simunek grew up in Piedmont, Oklahoma, and did not have a background in agriculture, she said.

“I didn’t have any interest in farming, but the diversity in this college is very broad,” Simunek said. “This college makes someone who has a non-agricultural background feel completely comfortable.”

Simunek wanted to find a college and degree program to fit her busy schedule and where professors could help her grow professionally, she said.

Brooke Dondero, a student in the Master of International Agriculture Program, grew up with a background in cherry and walnut production in California’s Central Valley.

“Coming into Oklahoma State, I had no background in cattle or wheat,” Dondero said. “My knowledge was in tree crops, something few students at OSU knew about.”

Dondero, who earned a bachelor’s degree at California State University, Chico, said she came to OSU for her advanced degree because she wanted the chance to learn about other types of agriculture to broaden her knowledge base and career path.

“I never thought about attending graduate school,” Dondero said. “This quickly changed when I realized all of the opportunities I would get to pursue through OSU.”

Coming from China, agribusiness senior Shuyi Wang became an OSU student through the joint program between OSU and China Agricultural University. Although she had no agricultural background, she was always interested in attending OSU, she said.

“In China, we learned more of the consumer side of agriculture,” Wang said. “The OSU classes are more about the producers.”

Wang said OSU has given her different experiences, especially through its diversity and student activities.

Dondero said her OSU experience has been unique and the best choice she could have made.

“OSU stands out as a place to get an agriculture and natural resources degree, regardless of a student’s background,” VanOverbeke said.

AERIAL HANNA

Story by Aerial Hanna of Tulsa County Oklahoma