Lee Holmes
Lee is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Law and has practiced law in Oklahoma City since 1963. His practice primarily involves Elder Law matters, including helping people qualify or stay qualified for Medicaid benefits, and financial planning for the disabled or for disabled beneficiaries.
In 1987, Lee was one of the founders of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and in 1989 was elected to the Board of Directors. There are now over 5,000 NAELA members. Lee was elected as a Fellow of NAELA in 1995 by his fellow members. Lee was one of the first 55 attorneys in the United States to be Certified as an Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation, the only national certification program accredited by the American Bar Association for qualification as a specialist in Elder Law. Lee is the only NAELA member to attend every NAELA regular educational meeting (Symposiums, Institutes, UnPrograms and Joint Conferences of Law and Aging).
Among Lee’s accomplishments are:
More than 30 articles have been published by Lee.
In the last 20 years, Lee has attended over 60 national seminars and meetings (over 600 sessions) outside of Oklahoma that focused on Medicaid and other Elder Law issues and disability issues.
Lee will address: Nursing home care presently costs about $50,000 each year. Can the family farm, ranch or other business be kept in the family if one or both of the parents need nursing home care? This question and related matters will be discussed.
To visit Holmes, Holmes, & Neisent website click here.
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Rodney Holcomb
Dr. Rodney Holcomb is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and the Charles B. Browning Endowed Professor of Food Science at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Holcomb has been with OSU and the Food & Agricultural Products Center (FAPC) since March 1997. His research interests lie in the areas of value-added manufacturing economics and market evaluations. His goals are to identify economically feasible processing alternatives and business structures for adding value to regional agricultural commodities, along with determining the impacts of these activities on local and state economies. He specializes in the economic modeling of processing businesses, consumer demand analysis, and business organization. He is also instructor of AGEC 5423, Agribusiness Management, in which students develop business/marketing plans for Oklahoma companies as their class projects.
The primary technical services he provides are industry analyses, market studies, and venture feasibility assessments. Dr. Holcomb serves as OSU’s representative on the Oklahoma Agricultural Enhancement and Diversification Board and has served on the Lt. Governor’s Small Business Commission. He is a Past-President of the Food Distribution Research Society, an international society of food industry economists. His programs have received awards from commodity and industry groups, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University, and former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating. He has also received the USDA Plow Honor Award for Exceptional Service, the highest award given by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Rodney will address: The food industry’s set of rules and regulations, in addition to the regulations associated with operating any small business. Those wanting to establish a food business need to understand the regulations associated with different types of foods; meats, non-meats, hot-packed sauces, retort canning, ect. Additionally, regulations apply for the use of terms such as “natural” and “organic.” The presentation will provide an overview of the ever-changing regulatory nature of the industry and address some of the hot topics of the times, such as food safety requirements.
To visit the FAPC website click here.
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Lyndon Taylor
R. Lyndon Taylor’s vision for his firm is rather simple. He has one goal – to help people make smarter choices about their finances.
With over 20 years in the financial planning profession, Lyndon has found that the best path to financial freedom is through the clarity that comes with informed decision making. Will Rogers said it best when he said, “It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that ain’t so.” That is why Choice Financial Services has developed a rather unique business model.
The foundation for that model is education. Lyndon and his team have taught over 12,000 people the principles of financial planning in a series of workshops held on university and corporate campuses. These workshops form the knowledge needed to understand the basic fundamentals of the steps needed to take to promote, ensure and maintain financial success.
Commitment is a core value to Lyndon in both his professional and personal life. He has worked with the Hugh O’Brien Foundation, which sponsors programs for teenagers. He has served as past president of the Northwest Kiwanis and maintains an active participation in Oklahoma State University alumni and Foundation events.
Lyndon was raised in western Oklahoma and he received a bachelor’s degree in economics from OSU. Before entering the financial planning profession, Lyndon was part owner of an agri-business sales and service company. He has earned designations as a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC), which is awarded by the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, and as a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF).
Lyndon was very gratified when Successful Money Management Seminars (SMMS) named Choice Financial Services one of the Top 10 Financial Education firms in the country for two consecutive years. He is the co-author of Financial Success in the Year 2000 and Beyond, which was published by St. Lucie Press in 1999.
Lyndon will address: Living Legacy, providing a family legacy through proper financial tax and estate planning. The new IRA rules on beneficiaries, and information the BASIC "need to do" items.
To visit the Choice Financial website click here.
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Shannon Ferrell
Shannon Ferrell is currently an Assistant Professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics, where he specializes in Agricultural Law. He grew up on a cattle and wheat operation in Leedey, Oklahoma, and obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Agricultural Economics from OSU before obtaining his Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. Shannon spent a number of years in private practice, focusing on environmental and corporate law, before joining OSU in the summer of 2007.
While in private practice, Shannon was a founding member of his firm’s Renewable Energy Practice Group, and served as President of the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council for 2006. Since joining OSU, he has made several presentations regarding wind energy issues, and has authored a number of popular press articles on wind energy leasing.
Shannon will address:
I. Leasing Basics
- Surface Damage Act issues
- Seismic Damage Issues
- Decommissioning wells and sites
II. Emerging Wind Energy Lease Issues
- Wind power basics
- Needs of wind energy projects
- Questions you should ask
III. Summary/Conclusions
To visit the OSU website click here.
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Melyn Johnson
Melyn Johnson, who works in travel development for the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, is based out of the Panhandle town of Guymon. For 14 years she worked in city government with the City of Guymon and as part of her job, developed a strong tourism program based on agriculture and the cultural heritage of that region. Through her work with tourism she was awarded the USDA Forest Service Rural Community Assistance Leadership Award in 2002. Her work with youth and different cultures brought her the honor of the 2007 Oklahoma Community Institute Award of Excellence for Community Leadership.
Melyn will address:
A successful tourism program in Guymon, Oklahoma that capitalized on our agriculture heritage. How we organized and implemented it for our area (which is not known as a tourism destination) and how other communities can look at what they have to offer and put a tourism program together to market.
To visit the Oklahoma Tourism website click here.
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Jeff Lockett
The current chairman of Wheatland RC&D is Jeff Lockett who was raised working on a cow calf operation in rural Osage county Oklahoma.
He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. Upon graduation he worked with the Federal Land Bank as a field representative and loan officer. He also worked as a job development coordinator for the State of Oklahoma for 15-years.
Mr. Lockett is currently the Agricultural Business Coordinator for Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City Oklahoma. He states that “it’s the best job he could ever have” because he is able to help people and work with finances which are his two passions. Jeff also serves as a board member for the Oklahoma State Association of RC&D, and board member of the Robert Clark community health center.
Jeff has been married to Shannon Pease for over 25-years and has two sons currently in post secondary education, and four wonderful grandchildren.
Jeff will address:
The use of Business Plan Pro software. We will give an overview of creating a business plan with business plan software that features step by step instructions, integrated financials, research data and more. This software covers over 500 individual businesses with accurate data.
"If we don't think about it now we will wish that we would have thought about it then."
To visit the Pioneer Tech website click here.
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Jim Reese
Jim Reese is the State Executive Director (SED) of the USDA/Farm Service Agency in Oklahoma. He was appointed by the George W. Bush administration on May 22, 2001.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) delivers many of the USDA farm programs to agricultural producers across the state. FSA has approximately 370 employees in 61 county offices in Oklahoma. The offices function under the direction of locally elected County Committees, an appointed State Committee and the State Executive Director. FSA programs include the Direct and Counter Cyclical, Conservation, Price Support, Disaster, and Direct and Guaranteed Loan Programs.
Jim was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1986 and served until May 2001 when he was appointed to his current position. He served as First Assistant Minority Leader for 5 years. He received the Farm Bureau Meritorious Service Award, the Farmers Union Outstanding Service Award, and was a strong advocate for agriculture and rural life. Jim was a member of Class IX of Leadership Oklahoma and served on the Leadership Oklahoma Board of Directors. He received the second ever Good Neighbor Award from Kay Electric Cooperative.
Jim was raised on a wheat and dairy farm in Grant County Oklahoma. He has four children Joanna 22, Drew 20, Lainey 18, and Spencer 16; and is married to his wife of 23 years, Margaret.
To visit the FSA website click here.
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Sandy Bull
Sandy has worked as the Small Business Management Coordinator in the Ponca City area for 7 years and in south central Oklahoma at Mid-America Technology Center for 15 years. She is a trained facilitator in Strategic Planning & the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. She loves ranching and helps her husband on the family cattle ranch west of Davis. Sandy is an OSU graduate, mother of three wonderful sons, 2 beautiful daughter-in-laws, and an “extreme” husband of 34 years.
Sandy will address:
Put First Things First - The Habit of “Personal Management” Weekly “compassing” according to your Personal Mission Time Management Matrix – working in Quadrant II, Very Important, but not Urgent activities. We will be focusing on identifying the most important areas during your week and how to focus on areas so you can be effective in the “long run”, not just for today! We will view Stephen Covey’s video, “Big Rocks”.
To visit the Mid-America Tech website click here.
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Damona Doye
Damona Doye is a Regents Professor and Extension Economist at OSU, working in the area of farm management. She grew up on a farm outside Lawton and earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agricultural Economics at OSU and a Ph.D. at Iowa State. She supervises the Oklahoma IFMAPS (Intensive Financial Management and Planning Support) program, which provides trained personnel to assist farmers and ranchers in developing financial plans, and is co-leader of the OSU Master Cattleman Program as well as Annie’s Project. Damona has been helping teach producers how to use Quicken for farm financial records for many years. In addition, she is involved in analyzing rental rates, custom rates, land values and cost of production for crops and livestock.
Damona will address:
Using Quicken for Farm/Ranch Financial Records by having participants follow along to a introduction to Quicken, a “hands on” session introduces participants to creating reports to summarize data in a sample file and viewing graphs of income and expenses. Then participants learn how to set up their own file, create accounts (checking, savings, and liability) to be used, import a farm income and expense category list, set up new categories and delete unnecessary ones, set up tags so that reports can be developed that separate farm and family expenses (or even farm expenses by enterprise such as wheat or cattle). A few transactions will be entered data using the categories and tags specified. Finally, backing up the file will be demonstrated.
To visit the OSU website click here.
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Francie Tolle
Francie Tolle is the Legislative Policy Analyst for American Farmers & Ranchers. Her position includes working on federal agriculture policy and how it directly impacts working farms and ranches. Francie’s career experience includes Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association, Agricultural Advisor to Congressman Brad Carson, Director of Agritourism for the state of Oklahoma, and Director of Development for the Division of Agriculture at Oklahoma State University. Francie’s personal experience comes from the fact that she grew up on farm in north-central Oklahoma and today continues to farm there with her husband Chuck and two boys; Clint -13 and Cole - 9. One of Francie’s personal goals is to make certain that her boys will have the opportunity to be the sixth generation to farm in Grant County. Her educational experience includes a B.S. in Marketing and a Masters in Business Administration.
Francie will address:
Who Impacts Federal Agriculture Policy – You Do!
Women in agriculture can and should play a vital role in shaping policy that directly impacts production agriculture. The purpose of this session is to give participants an opportunity to:
To visit the American Farmers & Ranchers website click here.
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Andrea Braeutigam
Andrea Braeutigam is the Program Manager at the Institute for Dispute Resolution at Oklahoma State University. Andrea is an Attorney-Mediator. B.A., University of Washington (1998), J.D. cum laude, Oklahoma City University School of Law (2002), LL.M. Dispute Resolution, University of Missouri-Columbia (2005). She is the Program Manager of the Institute for Dispute Resolution and has mediated a variety of civil, commercial, family, agricultural and environmental matters.
Andrea also has experience in system design and mediation training. She has published two articles on Online Dispute Resolution that focus on the dynamics of computer-mediated communication in the mediation process. In 2007-8, she was instrumental in establishing a Pilot Project for IDR facilitating Resolution Sessions for Special Education disputes.
Lynn Malley
Lynn Malley is the Program Coordinator at the Institute for Dispute Resolution at Oklahoma State University. Lynn joined the Institute for Dispute Resolution in 2007 after teaching Alternative Dispute Resolution courses at SIU School of Law in Carbondale, IL and at the Faculties of Law and Political Science, University of Belgrade, Serbia. Initially trained as a mediator in 1991, she is a founding member and past President of the Association of Missouri Mediators. Lynn has been a Practitioner Member of the Family Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution since 1995. While at SIU, Lynn managed the Illinois Agriculture Mediation Program.
Lynn has mediated hundreds of family, business, community, and court cases, including cases for the Postal Service and Ebay. An attorney since 1984 and a mediator since 1991, Lynn completed an LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2003. She has a continuing interest in cross-cultural and diversity issues.
Andrea Braeutigam and Lynn Malley will address:
Mediation in Oklahoma
To visit the OSU Institute for Dispute Resolution website click here.
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Becky Brewer
Dr. Becky Brewer-Walker was named as Oklahoma’s State Veterinarian in January 2005. She is the first woman appointed to the position. Dr. Brewer came to the state as a staff veterinarian November 2003. She joined the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry after 20 years as owner and practitioner of the Cimarron Veterinary Services, Inc. in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
She is responsible for enforcing all animal health laws, imposing quarantines and restricting animal movement when disease threatens the state’s livestock and poultry interests. Her responsibilities also include endemic, reemerging and foreign animal disease outbreaks, the threat of agroterrorism and emergency preparedness.
Born in Ohio and raised in Texas, Dr. Brewer graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Agriculture and her D.V.M. in 1984. Following graduation she worked as an adjunct instructor in large animal emergency medicine at O.S.U School of Veterinary Medicine for one year before joining her husband, Dr. Jim Walker in their mixed animal practice in Chickasha.
Becky will address:
I. Why ID?
II. National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
III. Locate in 48
To visit the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry website click here.
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Abby Cash
Abby Cash, a native of Beaver, Oklahoma, currently serves as the Director of Oklahoma Agritourism, where she works to increase awareness of agritourism opportunities in the state at the producer and consumer level.
Prior to her present assignment, Cash has served as director of marketing and communications at the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, coordinator of the Made in Oklahoma Coalition at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, and marketing coordinator for the Oklahoma Pork Council.
Cash earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications from Oklahoma State University and is currently completing her Juris Doctorate at Oklahoma City University. Cash’s education and experience in the agricultural field stems from her long-time understanding and passion for Oklahoma agriculture. Cash was born and raised on her family’s more than 100-year cattle ranching operation in the Oklahoma Pandhandle.
Abby will address:
To visit the Oklahoma Agritourism website click here.
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J.C. Hobbs
J.C. Hobbs has been with Oklahoma State University’s Cooperative Extension Service since 1985. He currently holds the position of Assistant Extension Specialist in the OSU Agricultural Economics Department. Prior to this he was an Area Extension Agricultural Economics Specialist for the Northwest Extension District. His special areas of emphasis are farm business management, risk management, farm and ranch record keeping, farm financial management and planning, income tax management, and estate planning. He is also coordinating and teaching the OSU Farm and Business Tax Schools. He received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in agricultural economics and accounting as well as a Master’s of Science degree in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University.
J.C. will address:
To visit the OSU website click here.
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Paula Post
Paula Post is the OSU Extension Educator in Kingfisher County. One of her areas of expertise is teaching the court mandated Co-Parenting classes. This class is for couples with children who are in the divorce process. Parents are taught how to communicate without putting children in the middle. She is currently piloting an in-depth class that uses experiential learning activities to see through the eyes of the child.
Before coming to this position, Paula did contract training/motivational speaking for schools, colleges, businesses and keynote speaking for various conferences and workshops.
Paula lives in Kingfisher with her husband David and has two daughters.
Paula grew up in Okarche Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma State University. She has taught at Yukon, Dover, and Okarche High School. At Chisholm Trail Technology Center she started the TANF Program-(Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), coordinated Ag Business Management, Business Industry Services, Public Relations and Public Information Officer. Her True Colors program lead into various training opportunities.
Paula will address:
Who Moved My Cheese? An a-mazing way to deal with change at work and in Life "Cheese is a symbol for whatever is important to you-the way you do your job, relationships with other people, health, or spiritual peace of mind, etc. The maze is where you look for Cheese-your job, community or family. This program shows you how to enjoy less stress and more success by learning to deal with the change.
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Rob Gragg
Rob Gragg is the Rural Development Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and is responsible for the development and implementation of the Rural Action Partnership Program (RAPP). As a practicing community/economic developer, Rob has over 20 years of direct project experience working with rural Oklahoma communities on the local, regional, and state levels. His career in economic development began in 1988 at the Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG), where he directed economic development programs for an 8 county sub-state region. In 1996 he accepted a position with the University of Oklahoma’s EDA University Center to create, develop and implement economic development projects on a statewide basis. His expertise includes work in the areas of regional economic development, business retention and expansion initiatives, tourism development, technology transfer, workforce development, and entrepreneurial programs.
Rob holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban/Economic Geography from the University of Oklahoma, with graduate work in Regional & City Planning. He is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI), and is certified as a Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), through the National Development Council (NDC). Additionally, Rob is a Certified Master Consultant (CMC) through Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI), and holds certifications in Economic Development Finance & Packaging. He is a member of the American Planning Association (APA), American Association of Geographers (AAG), Community Development Society (CDS), and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
Rob and his wife, Kathy, have been married for 28 years and reside in Norman.
To visit the Oklahoma Department of Commerce website click here.
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Connie Hankins
I am a native of Western Oklahoma, received an Accounting and Economics Degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and have been involved in Crop Insurance for the past twelve years and Credit Life Insurance for five years. I work for Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma with offices in Alva, Clinton, Elk City, Guymon, and Woodward.
Connie will address:
Thursday- Marketing with a Revenue Policy: A revenue policy provides guaranteed revenue to use when forward contracting grain.
Friday- Basics of Crop Insurance: The Importance of Insuring for Breakeven; What is it; how do I figure it; why is it important?
To visit the Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma website click here.
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Lisa Appeddu
Dr. Lisa A. Appeddu is currently an Assistant Professor at SWOSU in Weatherford, OK. She earned her B.S. and M.S. at the University of Kentucky, and Ph. D. from New Mexico State University, specializing in Animal Nutrition and Physiology. After spending a year as the FASS Congressional Fellow in Washington, D.C., Lisa spent two years as an Animal Research Scientist at the USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Lab in El Reno, OK, working in the areas of forage digestibility and grazing animal nutrition. She entered the university setting in Fall 2002, teaching first in the Department of Biology and currently in the School of Allied Health Sciences. In 2006, Lisa earned the Faculty Member of the Year Award in Teaching, an honor selected by students. While Lisa’s teaching focus is in the areas of human health and microbiology, she continues to conduct research in the areas of forage utilization and grazing animal health in cooperation with USDA. She also actively mentors student researchers in animal-based research. In spring 2007, she graduated her first master’s student and had another student chosen to represent SWOSU at the Oklahoma Research Day at the Capitol.
Lisa will address:
Forage Management, Quality, & Nutrition
To visit the SWOSU website click here.
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Barbara Pritchard
Barbara is a Senior Stakeholder Liaison in the Communications Liaison and Disclosure (CLD) function of the IRS. CLD is a new division of the IRS, established to develop and deliver educational products to meet the needs of the small business/self employed taxpayers.
Barbara started her career with the Service over 34 years ago in the Collection Area of the Compliance Division. She has held various positions including Revenue Officer and Revenue Officer Group Manager. She also worked in both the Special Procedures and Appeals functions. During her career Barbara has worked on numerous special assignments at the Headquarters level.
Barbara changed hats in October 2001, moving from enforcement to service activities. She became a Tax Specialist where she was responsible for numerous outreach programs. Barbara recently received the prestigious IRS Commissioner Award for her work on the IRS National Phone Forums.
Barbara will address:
To visit the IRS website click here.
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James "JJ" Jones
James Jones known as “JJ” is the Area Agricultural Economics Specialist for the Southeast District of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service housed in the Pontotoc County Extension office in Ada, OK.
JJ was raised on a small cattle and hog farm in southwest Oklahoma. JJ went to Oklahoma State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. After graduation he started his career working for the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service as an Area Farm Management Specialist. After ten years working in Tennessee, JJ returned to Oklahoma to work for OSU.
JJ is responsible for the planning, implementing and support of the agricultural economics programs for the nineteen county Southeast district. Program areas include farm management, budgeting, market outlook, record keeping, farm business planning, estate planning, marketing, and any other topic that the county educators request help with.
In 2006 JJ along with several other county educators and area specialist formed a group to develop meat goat education programs for producers. One project from that group was to create a basic meat goat production manual. The manual completed in 2007 has become a good reference tool for goat producers in Oklahoma as well as other states. JJ was the editor of the manual and also authored or co-authored several of the chapters in the manual. JJ also helped the group acquire grant funding from the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center to help fund workshops using the manual as the core curriculum. JJ is also involved on the committee that plans and conducts the Oklahoma Meat Goat Boot Camp. A three day intensive program that combines hands-on demonstrations with classroom exercises.
JJ now lives in Roff, OK with his wife and three kids. They operate a small 35 doe Boer goat operation.
JJ will address:
These Are Not Your Father’s Goats, A Look at the Past, Present and Future of the Meat Goat Industry in the U.S.
The meat goat industry has gone through some drastic changes over the last 10 years. Before the introduction of imported meat goats from South Africa goat production was not widely consider a viable agricultural enterprise, but since then meat goat numbers have continued to increase. Why the sudden change? Where is all of the meat from these goats going? Is this just a fad like the ostrich fiasco or can the meat goat industry sustain itself into the future? All of these questions and several more will be discussed during this presentation.
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Shelli Todd
Shelli Todd is the Director of the 2nd Century Entrepreneurship Center, which is part of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Todd’s responsibilities include working with the statewide network of entrepreneurship programs and services, helping build capacity for technology-based entrepreneurs, and advocating for entrepreneurship education.
“Oklahoma’s entrepreneurs make a huge impact on the state’s economic well-being,” says Todd. “I have been self employed and involved with start up companies, so I understand the challenges of growing a small business.”
Todd comes to Commerce with a diverse background in manufacturing, healthcare and aerospace.
“I have been self employed and involved with start-up companies, so I understand the challenges of growing a small business,” said Todd.
OKStartUp.com is a virtual center that provides a central point of access for entrepreneurs to access resources they need for their new or expanding business, through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The website allows entrepreneurs to find vital permits, licenses, and resources they need to build and sustain a business in Oklahoma.
Shelli will address:
Challenges that new or growing businesses face and why entrepreneurship is important to Oklahoma.
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Chris Kirby
Chris Kirby loves Oklahoma agriculture! Chris is the Coordinator for the Farm to School Program at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry. Chris has been involved in specialty crop marketing, production and local food advocacy for over 12 years. Chris’ career experience includes founding and directing the OSU-Oklahoma City Farmers Market growing sales to over $400,000 annually and was the first & largest year-round 100% Oklahoma grown market in the state. Chris was also the Director of the Urban Harvest Program at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma with a focus of providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables to Oklahomans dealing with hunger through on-site production, teaching people how to grow, support to a community garden network and crop gleaning with local growers.
Chris’ love for fruit and vegetable farming came at a young age when she would spend endless hours with her grandparents growing large gardens and getting to eat the fruits of her labor. Chris wants students to be able to get back to knowing where their food comes from and giving them access to eat wonderful vine-ripened garden fresh food. Nutrition and health is a direct link to the process while also providing many economic opportunities for Oklahoma farmers. Chris is on the board of the Kerr Center, OSU-OKC Horticulture Center, OK Vegetable Association and very active in many other groups that promote local agriculture, nutrition and health. Chris graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Marketing, an associate degree in Horticulture from OSU-OKC and a graduate of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program. Chris has a daughter that attends Oklahoma State University and a son that is a junior in high school.
Chris will address:
Demand for locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables is at an all time high. Chris will share information on how to market them through farm to school, farmers markets and many other avenues. Chris will also share information about the resources that the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry has to offer.
To visit the Farm-to-School website click here.
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Lori Broyles
As Coordinator for the Women’s Business Center in Oklahoma City, Lori Broyles assists women entrepreneurs by providing counseling services, training and educational workshops, and networking opportunities in the metro and western portion of OK. Training workshops of the WBC are targeted to both the beginner and advanced business owner and cover topics such as developing a business and marketing plan, fundamentals of financial statements, diverse workforce issues, business taxes and other related subjects. Lori assists REI’s team of economic development professionals in coordinating activities which economically impact the state of Oklahoma. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Lori has over 15 years of experience assisting Oklahoma businesses.
Lori will address:
Brief descriptions of REI’s Business Development Programs including the Business Incubator/Equipment Leasing Program, Market Rate Housing, and Minority Business assistance. She will discuss the services of the Women’s Business Centers and provide information on upcoming workshops and events.
Andrea Bendele
Andrea Bendele currently serves as a Loan Officer for Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. She assists small businesses in obtaining financing for their business ventures. Andrea was previously employed with USDA Rural Development. At USDA, Andrea worked in both the Single Family Housing Section and Business & Community Programs Sections. She assisted in various aspects of economic development in rural Oklahoma. Andrea is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.
Andrea will address:
Financing options provided by Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. She will explain the collaboration that exists between banks, the Small Business Administration, USDA Rural Development and REI, which enables small businesses to acquire funds for their business.
To visit the REI website click here.
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Anita Poole
Anita Poole is the Assistant to the President/Legal Counsel for the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Inc. located in Poteau, Oklahoma. Poole attended the University Of Arkansas School Of Law where she received both her J.D. and an LL.M. in Agricultural Law. Poole worked for the National Center for Agriculture Research and Information as a Research Attorney where she was responsible for co-authoring 8 books on environmental laws affecting agriculture in various states. Poole also co-authored and edited a treatise on food safety laws for the FDA, and an article for a major food science magazine. Poole practiced law in Northwest Arkansas prior to joining the Kerr Center, where she has worked on various projects including the development of the Oklahoma Food Policy Council, rural development initiatives, water quality initiatives, the development of the Institute for Issue Management and Alternative Dispute Resolution, and water and energy development along with the Oklahoma Academy.
Anita will address:
Focusing on developing assertiveness skills in female agricultural producers. Skills include research, expectations, and inter-personal skills in a professional setting.
To visit the Kerr Center website click here
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Rob Talbot
Rob Talbot has been an Internet Marketing Specialist since 2000. Talbot Services has been in business since 1996. We currently have over 120 clients. Our specialty is helping businesses incorporate the Internet into their company’s marketing campaign.
Rob will address:
Marketing on the Internet. Discuss website content, website analytics, Google marketing including local and Geo targeting.
To visit the Talbot Services website click here
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Jim Horne
While growing up on a farm in southwestern Oklahoma, Jim Horne experienced the satisfaction of helping with many successful harvests, and the devastation of knowing some were lost to hailstorms and droughts. Influenced by a close-knit community of farmers, FFA experiences, and a Vo-Ag instructor who was both teacher and mentor, he knew his life work would be in agriculture.
After completing high school at Roosevelt, Oklahoma in 1965, his continued studies took him to Cameron State Agricultural College, where he graduated in 1967. While at Cameron he received awards including “Most Outstanding Freshman” and “Outstanding Graduating Agriculture Student.” He was also president of the student body and served on the livestock judging team. He then entered Oklahoma State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education in 1969. Tow years later, he obtained a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. He also received a commission in the Army and obtained the rank of captain. In 1972, Horne began his career with the Kerr Foundation as a consulting agricultural economist. Ten years later he was named Vice-President for Agriculture. During this time, he authored numerous publications designed both for scientific and farmer audiences.
Today, Horne serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kerr Center. He has guided the organization in developing a program of sustainable agriculture research and demonstrations. This program is based on concepts that ensure a viable agriculture without degradation of natural resources. These concepts, demonstrations, and applied research are in use at the Kerr Center’s 4,000 acre stewardship ranch near Poteau, Oklahoma. The other major programs of the Center include a farmer grant program, and a public policy analysis program.
In addition to his responsibilities at the Kerr Center, Horne has served as chairman of the Southern Region Council for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program; as a member of the Scoping Task Force on Sustainable Agriculture for the President’s Council on Sustainable Development; and as chairman of the U.S.D.A.’s National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council. Also, he gave initial testimony regarding the establishment of the now SARE program to congressional subcommittees. He is active in many local, state, national and international agricultural groups.
A book written by Horn, and co-authored by Maura McDermott, was released by Haworth Press, Inc., in 2001. The Next Green Revolution: Essential Steps to a Healthy, Sustainable Agriculture describes Horne’s experiences while growing up in a sharecropper family in Oklahoma, running his own ranch, and consulting with farmers as an agricultural economist. He shares what he learned as the Kerr Center experimented with new ”sustainable” approaches to old problems on the Center’s ranch/farm, and his experiences working with the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. It gives practical suggestions for increasing profits and reducing risks while regenerating the soil, protecting the environment, and being a good neighbor.
Doug Walton
Doug helps coordinate the Kerr Center’s Community Food projects. His work involves assessing and developing efforts to improve local food systems in Oklahoma, such as through Farm-to-School and farmers’ markets. Since the early 90’s, he has advocated for sustainable family farms and local food systems while living in Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma.
During the mid-90’s, Doug was an intern and then research assistant on the Sunshine Farm Project at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. He also worked as a farm apprentice at The Wild Onion farm in Lawrence, KS, before moving to Oklahoma to start his own market farm near Muskogee, in 1997. Doug helped establish the Oklahoma Farmers’ Market Alliance in 2000 and serves as the president of the Muskogee Farmers’ Market, where he and his family sold organic produce for 3 years.
He lives with his wife and two children on their 8 acre farm, where they raise a big garden and a small flock of chickens. In his spare time, when not renovating the farmhouse, Doug enjoys canoeing, camping and playing Frisbee.
Jim & Doug will address:
The Kerr Center administers the Oklahoma Franchise of “Buy Fresh, Buy Local.” Learn about his locally grown foods marketing campaign currently growing in Oklahoma.
To visit the Kerr Center website click here.
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Angie Albers
Angie is the Project Coordinator and Graduate Assistant for the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative at the University of Oklahoma. As the project coordinator she is in charge of public and education outreach, the anemometer loan program, and research. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from OU and is now pursuing a Masters Degree program in atmospheric and renewable energy sciences. Her research focus is in the area of wind resource assessment. Originally Angie is from Hoxie, Kansas where her family farms and raises cattle.
Angie will address:
The current state of wind power on a global, national and state scale. Attendees will also be able to listen about how they can take advantage of wind opportunities and will receive information on what is expected to happen in the future for wind power in Oklahoma.
To visit the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative website click here.