5 minute read
A Passion for Agriculture
HALEY CURTSINGER
Most CU graduates who earn a degree in journalism and media production dream of a satisfying career in television. That’s exactly what Haley Curtsinger had in mind when she elected to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Production.
“Informing the public has always been something intriguing to me, so my original plan was to be a television news anchor or reporter,” Curtsinger says. “Cameron University provided me with a wonderful television/media production program with the most fantastic professors that worked tirelessly to make me and my classmates the best multimedia journalists that we could be."
But her career path took an unexpected turn when she tackled the first assignment for her broadcast television class.
“The first news story I chose was about the Department of Agriculture’s (now known as the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences) new bee program, where they housed, cared for and collected honey from bees. After that story was produced, it was then that I realized not only did I want to inform the public, but I also wanted to inform the public of things I was passionate about, which includes agriculture."
That led to Curtsinger declaring a minor in agriculture – a minor that isn’t very common among journalism majors. It’s no surprise that Curtsinger felt comfortable delving into CU’s agriculture program – she was raised on a ranch east of Lawton, where her family still runs a cow-calf operation.
“My dad learned his knowledge and skill from his grandpa and my mom spent her childhood working on her uncle’s farm, so agriculture runs in my blood," Curtsinger says. “It was no surprise that I wanted to show livestock and be involved in 4-H, and when I was old enough, I joined FFA. During my time in that organization, I was involved in anything I could get my hands on – showing livestock, livestock judging, meat judging, land judging, creed speaking, prepared public speeches, and opening ceremonies contests, to name a few. I earned my State FFA Degree just a couple weeks before graduating high school. The things I learned being involved in FFA are truly unforgettable and extremely valuable to me.”
Her dedication to agriculture paid off well before Curtsinger earned her CU degree in Summer 2018, as she had already been hired as southwest field representative by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, an organization with which she was well acquainted.
“I was raised in the Farm Bureau federation,” Curtsinger says. “My dad has served on the Stephens County board for almost 20 years, so growing up around Farm Bureau for most of my life gave me a vast understanding of what the organization meant to my family and thousands of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. When the position became available for the southwest field representative, I felt I was qualified for the job of building relationships
and informing county members and employees about federation events and state policy changes that could affect them and their families' livelihoods.”
She says that both her journalism and agriculture classes have served her well.
“Because I took classes in agronomy and animal science, I have a better understanding of the position or difficulties that farmers face dealing with issues concerning their crops and animal husbandry. In addition to that, the journalism classes that I took and my experience in media helps me to relate and convey their story to the public.”
It's an important story to tell.
"Agriculture is one of Oklahoma’s leading industries, pumping billions of dollars through our economy through products, services, equipment and job opportunities,” Curtsinger says. "It’s a way of life that we all think is worth protecting. Oklahoma’s family farms and ranches work hard each and every day to grow food, fiber and fuel for fellow Oklahomans and beyond. As a grassroots organization, Oklahoma Farm Bureau provides a voice for our state’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities across all 77 counties.”
That’s where Curtsinger comes in.
“Through our grassroots policy development process that starts at the county Farm Bureau and ends at our state convention, each member has the ability to propose solutions to concerns on the local, county, state and even federal levels,” she says. “OKFB leaders and staff then take those ideas to the hallways of our state Capitol and even all the way to Washington, D.C., to help support and improve our rural way of life. We also provide opportunities for Farm Bureau members to develop leadership skills and network with fellow farmers and ranchers through our various programs, conferences and conventions. In her role, Curtsinger works closely with OKFB’s public policy team to stay up-to-date on the latest legislative issues to ensure members are aware of how their organization is working for them. Information is distributed to the field services department, via newsletter, email and conference calls.
“One issue that I was made aware of this year was that some of our members had difficulties renewing their state agriculture sales tax exemption permit, which is critical to the livelihood of farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma,” Curtsinger says. “During this legislative session, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and a coalition of other state agriculture groups supported legislation to give more options to verify active agriculture production in order to obtain the permit. The bill passed both chambers unanimously, was signed by the Governor, and takes effect on July 1, 2021. Experiences like this have to be my favorite part of my career. I, along with the other Farm Bureau staff, hear of these issues from our members and go straight to work through the legislative process to try to better the livelihoods of our members. It’s a great feeling!”
During her tenure as a CU student, Curtsinger was active in the Aggie Club, participating in ag-related field trips that brought her new insights into the ag industry.
“It was the bonds built and friendships created that made the trips so memorable,” she says. “In 2018, I was also chosen as the Aggie Club’s homecoming queen candidate, where I went on to be selected as a finalist on the homecoming court and then voted as the first runner-up by the campus. But probably the most memorable experience I had during those years was befriending Casey Curtsinger, a fellow student. He once told me, ‘Haley, you need to date a gentleman. I think it’s time for you to meet my brother.’ A few months later, I met his brother Clint. We’ve been married for almost two years and are expecting our first child, a little girl named Hannah. We run our own cow-calf operation and grow wheat and cotton just outside of Chattanooga. So if it weren’t for my involvement in the agriculture program and the Aggie Club, I wouldn’t be living the dream life with my sweetheart! (Thanks, Casey!)”
