All for Agriculture

Tennessee native sets roots in Oklahoma, navigating the legislative world all to benefit agriculture.

In 2010, 621 miles from her hometown, a young woman found her way to Oklahoma State University. Fast forward 10 years, a couple of moves and many life experiences along the way, and she’s back in the Sooner State where she has planted her roots.

This is the story of JanLee Rowlett, Deputy Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Originally from Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, Rowlett was born and raised as the fourth generation on her family’s farm and cattle operation. Alongside her twin sister and two brothers, Rowlett grew up raising and showing Angus cattle and was actively involved in both 4-H and FFA from a young age.

“I kind of had the perfect farm kid life,” Rowlett said through a grin. “Having the privilege of living on the same piece of land that’s been in my family since the 1930s was a great way to grow up as a kid because it instilled a sense of responsibility in my siblings and I, and it later opened doors that I didn’t even realize at the time.”

Most of her younger life was spent in the show barn with some of her most prominent memories at the National Junior Angus Association’s annual show held each summer, Rowlett said.

“Growing up attending several Angus events throughout the years, I cultivated a special fondness for meeting new people and grew to look up to the junior board members,” Rowlett said. “I realized what a special chance it would be to lead in that way, should the opportunity present itself to wear the green jacket,” Rowlett added.

And that it did. Rowlett was elected to the National Junior Angus Board in 2011, and served as a board member until 2013. Rowlett said it was one of the greatest opportunities of her life because she got to impact others while being impacted herself.

JanLee served on the National Junior Angus Board.

Prior to her service with the NJAA, Rowlett had to make a decision about where she would attend college.

“As a student in high school, I remember thinking college was so far in the distance, until it wasn’t,” Rowlett said. “When it came time to make a decision, Oklahoma State University ended up being the only place I applied to, because I knew I wanted to go somewhere with like-minded people who were agriculture and livestock focused.”

So, she packed her bags and made the cross-country trip to Stillwater, where she found exactly what she was looking for, Rowlett said.

“Choosing OSU was the best thing I ever did for myself,” Rowlett said.

“I know I wouldn’t be sitting right here, right now, if I hadn’t made that decision those years ago. I truly do not regret a thing,” Rowlett said intentionally.

JanLee and her siblings celebrate a win!

During her time at OSU, Rowlett majored in animal science. However, her heart and interest always drew her to agricultural policy, which is what later spurred her decision to attend law school in Kansas after receiving her bachelor’s degree from OSU, Rowlett said.

One organization played a particularly large part in helping her pursue her passion: the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter.

In 2012, Rowlett was selected to join Class X of OALE, a program designed to expand individuals’ knowledge of Oklahoma’s agricultural industry for OSU juniors and seniors.

Her interest, she said, was sparked by the classes who had gone before her and from hearing repeatedly the overwhelming positive experience so many had while in the OALE program. Additionally, Rowlett said she witnessed the close friendships, job opportunities, and deep dive into Oklahoma agriculture and related policy that came as a result from OALE membership.

OALE Class X

“Coming to Oklahoma from a different state can be challenging, but it also presents a really cool opportunity to start fresh and look for new opportunities,” Rowlett said. “Oklahoma is unique in that everybody knows everybody in the ag world.

“As an out-of-state student, I didn’t really have that advantage. While I had the chance to build that on my own, it certainly took a lot of work. Without having some of the opportunities I previously had beforehand, I can only attribute the experiences I had throughout college and beyond to OSU and OALE being at the top of the list,” Rowlett said.

Her next opportunity after law school moved her north from Kansas to Iowa where Rowlett took a job at the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Rowlett said she spent a few years there working directly with and on behalf of local producers across the state.

“While living and working in Iowa, I had the chance to work on behalf of 10,000 local cattlemen and accomplish my goal of protecting the way of life I had the privilege to grow up in,” Rowlett said. “I always thought if an opportunity arose to move back to Oklahoma, I would – I just always felt so at home in Oklahoma and had such strong relationships there,” she added.

In 2019, the very opportunity to return to her ‘home away from home’ came.

Just a few months prior, Blayne Arthur was named Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture under Governor Kevin Stitt. With a strong interest for working in both the agricultural and governmental sectors, Rowlett said she reached out to Arthur about any opportunities there might be for joining her staff and working for the State.

Rowlett flew down to Oklahoma for an interview and was later offered a position at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

“Ever since I came back to Oklahoma, I’ve learned a great deal and enjoyed everything I have had the chance to do,” Rowlett said. “Our agency is in a unique position because we get to bring a realworld agricultural perspective to the topics of regulation, legislation and protection of both consumers and producers.”

Rowlett said she and Arthur work diligently to get out in rural Oklahoma, put their boots on the ground, and have face-to-face discussions with producers so they can rest assured there are people out there fighting for them and their livelihoods.

“Each day as I walk through the doors of the office, I am not sure what is going to meet me on the other side,” Rowlett said. “There is a lot of variety in the work I get to do, and with that, some really rewarding conversations. I think there is a chance in this job to make a positive impact each day, and that is what it’s all about – it’s the goal I have had since the beginning.”

JanLee and Secretary Arthur truly believe in 4-H, FFA and Junior Breed Associations.

Today, Rowlett is still writing her story with even greater hopes and aspirations than when she started this expedition those years ago. While she is unsure of what exactly the future holds, she said she knows one thing for certain: it all comes back to agriculture.

“The common theme of my life truly is agriculture,” Rowlett said. “I can’t imagine working in a different industry or finding one that is more rewarding than the people who care about their family, livestock and way of life. I hope I will always continue to work in agriculture on behalf of farmers and ranchers who do important, life-changing work every day.”

– Written by Emile Mittelstaedt

Learn more about JanLee and her journey to Oklahoma.