A Brighter Tomorrow

The Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter is a program designed to expand the knowledge of the agricultural industry for today’s young adults. Expansion and extension of the educational component of the Oklahoma Junior Livestock Program through production agriculture, is a major goal of the Oklahoma Youth Expo board of directors and staff. It is only through a stronger concentration on education that future leaders are developed.

The Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter will assist class members in increasing and utilizing their knowledge base and skills to explore opportunities for the Industry of Agriculture which will benefit not only our local communities but our state and nation as well. Students will be introduced and exposed to the legislative process and how it affects the agricultural industry. Students also have the opportunity to join the Oklahoma Youth Expo, as a valuable staff member.

Without further ado, meet this year’s class of OALE students who will help lead Oklahoma to a brighter tomorrow.

ADRIENNE BLAKEY STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA

Adrienne Blakey is a plant and soil sciences and agricultural communications senior at Oklahoma State University. She is actively involved in wheat research through the PASS department, serves as the Big XII Liaison and Conference Coordinator for the Student Government Association and as vice president of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with friends. With her agricultural science background, Adrienne hopes to work in food policy in the years to come.

BREE ELLIOTT CALUMET, OKLAHOMA

Bree Elliott is an agricultural communications senior. Bree grew up on her family’s club lamb operation where she gained an extensive background in sheep reproduction and nutrition where they traveled across the nation showing market lambs.

Last summer, Bree severed as the communications intern for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. After graduation Bree plans to pursue a masters degree in agricultural communications with a focus in marketing and advertising.

CHESLEY COMSTOCK WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA

Chesley Comstock is a senior studying agribusiness and agricultural communications. She grew up on a cattle operation north of Woodward, Oklahoma where she found her passion for agriculture. Chesley serves as a CASNR Ambassador and served as the American Angus Association’s events and education intern this past summer. She hopes to work for a breed association after graduation and eventually return to northwest Oklahoma.

DALTON MILLER AMBER, OKLAHOMA

Dalton Miller spent a great deal of his childhood in the show barn. He began showing steers at the age of twelve and found a love for the beef industry. This led him to in the Amber-Pocasset FFA chapter, which further grew his passion for agriculture. He is currently pursuing a degree in Agribusiness preparing for a career in Agricultural Policy.

EMILIE JAMES BLAIR, OKLAHOMA

Emilie James is a junior at Oklahoma State University, majoring in agricultural communications, with a minor in agribusiness. At OSU, Emilie is involved with Collegiate American Farmers and Ranchers, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Ambassador team. She plans to work with youth in agriculture upon graduation from Oklahoma State. Emilie has a passion for agriculture, and an even larger passion for students. She hopes to be able to give to the younger generation, what this industry has given to her.

KADE KILLOUGH STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA

Kade Killough is a junior at Oklahoma State Univerisity and is studying Agribusiness. While at OSU, Kade has served as an executive for homecoming, been an active member of Collegiate Farm Bureau and the Student Alumni Board.

After graduation, he plans to become a sales representative for an agricultural company.

LILLY HILDEBRAND PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA Lilly Hildebrand grew up raising sheep and cattle with her family in Templeton, California. Lilly is a senior studying animal science and agribusiness. She was on the 2018 National Champion Meat Judging team.

Upon graduation Lilly plans to get her masters in nursing with an end goal of becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner.

MADI BAUGHMAN ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA

Madi Baughman is a senior studying agricultural communications and animal science at OSU. Her roots in agriculture span from her dad’s career in weed science research and grandparents’ cattle operation, which has been in her family for multiple generations. Growing up, Madi exhibited swine and was heavily involved in the Oklahoma FFA.

After graduation, Madi plans to continue her education in animal science to eventually conduct Animal Behavior and Stress Physiology research.

MARISA BURKE BUFFALO, OKLAHOMA

Marisa Burke is a senior studying agricultural economics and accounting. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she plans to obtain her masters in accountancy and sit for the CPA. It was through her high school FFA program and her parents cow calf operation that she found a love for agriculture.

This past summer Marisa interned for Koch Ag and Energy Solutions to support their agronomic services business. Marisa plans to eventually return home to northwest Oklahoma and provide tax services to agriculturalists and rural residents.

MASON BLINSON BULES CREEK, NORTH CAROLINA

Mason Blinson is a senior from North Carolina studying plant and soil sciences and animal science. Mason grew up showing cattle on a third generation Hereford operation promoting herd longevity while focusing on optimal forage utilization.

Her background provided her with a passion that will lead her to further education followed by a career in research and extension in the agriculture industry.

McKENZIE CARVALHO MAXWELL, CALIFORNIA

Mckenzie Carvalho is a senior pursuing a dual degree in agribusiness and agricultural communications. Mckenzie is actively involved on campus with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Ambassador team, the Student Foundation, the Student Alumni Board, and the Mortar Board Honor Society.

She served as a Lloyd Noble Scholar in Agriculture at the Noble Research Institute, as an OSU Legislative Intern in Agriculture among other internships. After graduation, Mckenzie plans to obtain a master of science in agricultural economics and ultimately pursue a career in government relations and lobbying.

SYDNEY CANNON NEWCASTLE, OKLAHOMA

Sydney Cannon is a senior studying biosystems and agricultural engineering. She is president of the Oklahoma Sate Univeristy student branch of her professional society, ASABE, as well as vice president for the Southeastern Region.

Sydney’s agriculture background ranges from chickens and rabbits to dairy cattle and racehorses. She hopes to use her engineering degree as a way to return to the racehorse industry upon graduating from OSU.

VICTORIA CHAPMAN MANNSVILLE, OKLAHOMA

Victoria Chapman grew up on her family’s 4th generation cowcalf and stocker operation. She is senior pursing a degree in agricultural business pre-law. Victoria is currently serving as the executive director of the Student Alumni Association, a member on the CASNR Ambassador team, and serving as CASNR’s student representative of NASDA’s Next Generation Student Program.

Victoria has completed several internships with USDA, Oklahoma Youth Expo and National Livestock Credit Corporation. She currently is employed by National Livestock Commission Association parttime and will begin full-time upon graduation.