Cowpoke Newsletter - Summer 2025

COWPOKE

Department of Animal & Food Sciences

Oklahoma State University

Fall 2025

COWPOKE

Welcome to the Fall 2025 Edition of Cowpoke News! Cowpoke News is published multiple times a year. We strive to keep students, alumni and friends of the department informed about our activities and successes. We hope you enjoy reading about the Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

Contact Us

Editor, Taylor Epperson

Dr. Morgan Pfeiffer

Department of Animal and Food Sciences 101 Animal Science Building Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078

405.744.6062 cowpokenews@okstate.edu www.afs.okstate.edu

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OSU researchers are utilizing artificial intelligence and sensor technology to tackle rising late-stage cattle deaths in feedlots. Read more about the story on page 14. Photo by Taylor Epperson.

Letter from the Department Head

Greetings alumni and friends! It is hard to believe summer is winding down and the Fall semester is about to begin. We are expecting record enrollment again for the department and are looking forward to having students from across the U.S. come to join us in Stillwater.

We continue to be blessed with talented faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the Department Animal and Food Sciences. You will find in this edition of the Cowpoke News an introduction of the new faculty and staff that have recently joined us. You will also see that several from our department and alumni ranks have received a variety of important recognitions and awards. Of special note you will find a nice writeup about Dr. Gerald Horn, emeriti faculty member, who was recently recognized as a Legend of Feedlot Nutrition by the Plains Nutrition Council. Please reach out to those you know and extend your congratulations for their accomplishments.

As always, I hope you will stop by the department anytime you are in Stillwater to say hello and catch up on all that is happening. We always want to hear from our alumni and friends and value your thoughts and ideas on how we can better serve our students and stakeholders. Finally, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if I or the department can ever be of support or service to you.

GO POKES!

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE

Winners from the annual departmental scholarship and awards banquet.

OUR FACULTY

RICHARD COFFEY - Department Head

SABRINA AMORIM - Quantitative Genetics & Genomics, Research & Teaching

PAUL BECK - Beef Cattle Nutrition, Research & Extension

SCOTT CARTER - Swine Nutrition, Waste Management, Teaching & Research

STEVEN COOPER - Equine, Teaching

JUSTIN CROSSWHITE - 4-H Youth Livestock, Extension

MELLISSA CROSSWHITE - Reproductive Physiology, Teaching

UDAYA DESILVA - Molecular Genetics, Teaching & Research, Graduate Coordinator

JERRY FITCH - Sheep, Teaching & Extension, Teaching Coordinator

ANDREW FOOTE - Ruminant Nutrition, Teaching & Research

DARREN HAGEN - Animal Genomics, Teaching & Research

PARKER HENLEY - Teaching & Extension, Livestock Judging

MASON HENSON - Sustainable Livestock Production, Teaching & Research

KRIS HINEY - Equine, Teaching & Extension

KHURSHEED IQBAL - Reproductive Biology, Research & Teaching

RAVI JADEJA - Food Safety, Teaching & Extension

LOGAN JOHNSON - Food Science, Teaching & Research

MARK JOHNSON - Animal Breeding, Teaching & Extension

DAVID LALMAN - Beef Cattle Nutrition, Research & Extension

GRETCHEN MAFI - Meat Science, Teaching & Research, Advising Coordinator

RILEY MESSMAN - Reproductive Physiology, Microbiome, Teaching & Research

MEAGHAN MEYER - Poultry Science, Animal Welfare & Behavior, Teaching

JOAO MORAES - Physiology, Teaching & Research

PETER MURIANA - Food Microbiology, Research, Teaching, & Extension

ADEL PEZESHKI - Monogastric Nutrition, Teaching & Research

MORGAN PFEIFFER - Meat Science, Teaching & Research, Scholarship Coordinator

RANJITH RAMANATHAN - Meat Science, Teaching & Research, Research Coordinator

RYAN REUTER - Range Beef Cattle Nutrition, Teaching & Research

DAN STEIN - Livestock Production, Teaching & Extension

JASON WHITE - Dairy Cattle Science, Teaching

BARRY WHITWORTH - Food and Animal Health, Extension, BQA State Coordinator

BLAKE WILSON - Beef Cattle Nutrition, Teaching & Research

GLENN ZHANG - Animal Molecular Biology, Research & Teaching

EMERITI FACULTY

JOE BERRY - Poultry, Extension

DAVID BUCHANAN - Animal Breeding, Teaching Coordinator

DAVE FREEMAN - Equine, Extension, Extension Coordinator

DON GILL - Beef Cattle Nutrition, Extension

GERALD HORN - Beef Cattle Nutrition, Graduate Coordinator

FREDRIC OWENS - Animal Food Products, Extension

GLENN SELK - Reproductive Physiology, Extension

LEON SPICER - Reproductive Physiology, Research & Teaching

ROBERT TEETER - Poultry Nutrition

DON WAGNER - Department Head

BOB WETTEMANN - Reproductive Physiology

MASON HENSON

NEW HIRES

Assistant Professor, Sustainable Livestock Production, Teaching & Research

LOGAN JOHNSON

Assistant Professor, Food Science, Teaching & Research

LILEE BRINLEE

Dairy Cattle Center Assistant Herd Manager

CHRISTIAN HAMMONS

Swine Center Assistant Herd Manager

JAKE PEARL

Purebred Beef Cattle Center Assistant Herd Manager

Willard Sparks Beef Research Center Program Coordinator

Celebrating Excellence

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARDS BANQUET

The Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences annual scholarship and awards banquet was April 4 at Wes Watkins Center.

During this year’s banquet more than $650,000 of scholarships were given away to undergraduate and graduate students, said Morgan Pfeiffer, an AFS professor and scholarship committee chair.

“The main purpose is to just give away lots of money in terms of scholarships to students,” said Richard Coffey, AFS department head.

The banquet consists not only of scholarship presentations, but also presentations of various awards, including outstanding seniors, graduates of distinction, advanced degree graduates of distinction and distinguished service, Coffey said.

Scholarships are becoming more important to the students in the department as tuition, student fees and the cost of living keeps increasing, Coffey added.

“I think it’s an important part of just helping them make it through college,” Coffey said.

When he was a student in the department more than 40 years ago, Coffey said a $500 scholarship was a “big deal.” However, that is no longer the case, and the scholarship committee works hard to increase scholarship amounts to counter rising costs, Coffey added.

“It’s pretty important for a lot of our students,” Coffey said. “Particularly ones that, probably like me, if they did not have access to those scholarships, they probably couldn’t go.”

The scholarships not only support students financially but also help

“amplify” their college career in multiple ways, Pfeiffer said.

“We really put a lot of emphasis on recognizing the students that are here and being productive citizens of the department,” Pfeiffer said.

Although the students receive monetary support, Pfeiffer said she wants them to realize they are being awarded because they are doing an excellent job within the department.

“It’s very humbling to be rewarded for the hard work that we put in academically and in extracurriculars as students,” said Reese Bassano, an OSU animal science junior who received scholarships at the banquet.

The scholarship and awards banquet, along with the department, has changed significantly since Coffey attended OSU, he said. A banquet was held each year but on a smaller scale, Coffey said.

Around that time, AFS consisted of around 400 students compared to around 1,200 students this year, Coffey said.

Along with the increase in students, the amount of scholarships has grown as well as the number of donors who attend the banquet each year, Coffey said.

“We get a pretty big number of them that want to come back because they want to meet the student that’s getting their scholarship and actually present it,” Coffey said. “The level of alumni

It’s a testament to the dedication and commitment to making our department the best in the country.

engagement and financial support they give back is just unbelievable.”

Through this event, Coffey said he hopes students feel they are supported not only by the faculty of the department but also by the donors who, in many ways, had “no clue” who they were and ultimately recognized the value of an education.

“It’s really encouraging to know that there are so many successful people and alumni of the department that not only enjoyed their time here, but still really support and believe in what the department’s doing here now,” Bassano said.

By taking some of the financial load, students are able to focus more on classes and extracurricular involvement, Bassano said.

Many of the donors were in similar situations while in college and appreciated the financial support given by scholarships, Coffey said. They are now using this opportunity to pay it forward, Coffey added.

“When you’re 20 or 30 years down the road and in a position where you can help pay it forward, do that,” Coffey said. “Also, remember how important that was because the next generation is going to need the same support.”

Pfeiffer said she wants attendees of the banquet to know that all faculty in the department appreciate all the students, donors and family involved.

“It’s a testament to the dedication and commitment to making our department the best in the country,” Pfeiffer said. “We’re fortunate to have all those people that are students that then turn around and become donors and alumni that are very loyal.”

Story by Taylor Epperson

Blake Robbins

Outstanding Senior

Blake Robbins is from Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma where he was exposed to the agricultural industry very early in life on his family’s Angus cow/calf operation as well as his grandparents’ corn and soybean farm in southern Indiana.

Choosing to work at a local butcher shop once again invigorated Blake’s passion for the livestock industry. Combining his strong interest in science and his new experience with the food supply chain, Blake decided to study Food Science at Oklahoma State University.

Once at OSU, Blake joined the Ferguson College of Agriculture Freshmen/ Transfer Council, the Meat Science Association, Food Science Club, FarmHouse Fraternity and began working in the Food and Agricultural Products Center. These experiences led Blake to spend two summers as a Poultry Research and Development Intern at Simmons Foods.

Finding a new passion for research, Blake joined the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. This allowed him to work alongside graduate students while assisting in research and learning many skills necessary for graduate school. Blake also completed several research projects of his own, including a poultry taste panel study in conjunction with Simmons Foods.

Blake competed on the 2023 Oklahoma State Meat Judging Team and has since assisted with the 2024 and 2025 teams. He is a member of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter Class XXII, which allowed him to broaden his knowledge of the agricultural industry in Oklahoma and abroad in Germany this June. Blake also served as a member of the Leaders of Excellence in Animal and Food Sciences, President of the Meat Science Association, Captain of the Meat Science Quiz Bowl Team, and a teaching assistant for several meat science courses.

Upon graduation, Blake will return to Oklahoma State in August to begin a master’s degree in Meat Science under Dr. Morgan Pfeiffer. Blake plans to continue learning and growing his skills in research and teaching to eventually work for a major protein company, creating meat products of the future.

Grace Bryson

Merit Award

Grace Bryson is from Labadie, Missouri, where she grew up showing swine, horses, and dogs through 4-H and FFA alongside her younger sister. A 2021 graduate of Washington High School, Grace followed in the footsteps of her mother, an Oklahoma State alumna, to pursue degrees in animal science and agricultural communications.

At OSU, Grace served as a teaching assistant for Introduction to Animal Science, worked in the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center meat lab, and was named a President’s Distinguished Scholar. She was active in Alpha Delta Pi, serving as head homecoming director, a pledge class representative, and on the executive nominating committee.

Throughout her undergraduate time, Grace completed several internship opportunities in the livestock and meat industries. She was selected as the communications and education intern for the American Meat Science Association (AMSA), marketing intern for Rosman Enterprises, completed work for the Oklahoma State Animal Science Alumni Association and worked with the Oklahoma Youth Expo and Cattlemen’s Congress as a communications intern.

Grace was involved in Leaders of Excellence in Animal and Food Sciences, vice president of the Meat Science Association, a Meat Science Quiz Bowl team member and a member of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. She also attended AMSA events and was part of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter Class XXI, traveling to Switzerland, New Zealand, and Australia to study agriculture.

Grace was a member of the 2023 OSU Meat Judging Team, named High Individual at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Meats Contest, and a First Team All-American member. She also competed on the 2024 Reserve National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team.

After graduation, Grace will begin a master’s degree in Meat Science under Dr. Gretchen Mafi while coaching the OSU Meat Judging Team. She hopes to pursue a career in marketing and communications within the meat industry.

Hailey Spray was born in Georgia and raised in Wyoming, where she was actively involved in agriculture through 4-H and FFA. She showed horses and livestock and competed on judging teams throughout her youth. A 2021 graduate of Lander Valley High School, Hailey chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Food Science at Oklahoma State University.

At OSU, Hailey was a Freshman Research Scholar in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, working in Dr. Gretchen Mafi’s lab through her junior year. She assisted with graduate and faculty research and later completed her honors thesis under Dr. Maria Li Ma, studying microbial decontamination of seeds for sprout production using atmospheric cold plasma.

To gain industry experience, Hailey completed three internships: Operations Intern with Seaboard Foods in Guymon, Oklahoma, Research and Development Intern with Pilgrim’s (JBS) in Colorado and Research and Development Intern at Tyson Foods in Arkansas. These experiences helped shape her career goals in food product development.

Hailey was involved in Leaders of Excellence in Animal and Food Sciences, the OSU Horse Judging Team, the 2023 Meat Judging Team, and the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter Class XXII, where she expanded her understanding of agriculture and traveled to Germany.

Hailey Spray Merit Award

She served as Vice President of the Food Science Club and Secretary of the Meat Science Association, competed in quiz bowl contests with IFT and AMSA, and presented research at the Reciprocal Meat Conference. She was also selected to attend AMSA Student Training and Education Programs, including JBS Global Ingenuity and Tyson Foods Beyond Fresh Meats.

Following graduation in May, Hailey will pursue a PhD in Food Science at Purdue University under Dr. Haley Oliver. She hopes to work in Research and Development within the food industry. Hailey is thankful for the many opportunities she received at OSU and credits her growth to the supportive faculty, mentors, and friends she found in the department.

Kale Campbell

Senior Leadership Award

Kale Campbell is from Jet, Oklahoma, and is the second oldest of six children in the Campbell family. He grew up working on his family’s farm and caring for his cowcalf operation while showing and judging livestock alongside his siblings. Being deeply involved in his local 4-H club, Kale developed a passion for agriculture early on, which led him to judge livestock at the collegiate level.

He began his college journey at Northern Oklahoma College, where he was a member of the 2022 Team of the Year and named a Junior College All-American Livestock Judge. While at NOC, he was active in the Aggie Club and honored as the Agriculture Department’s Flag Bearer.

Kale transferred to Oklahoma State University to study Animal Science and continued his judging career on OSU’s Livestock Judging and Meat Animal Evaluation Teams. He was part of the 2024 Reserve Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team and earned sixth high individual. He also competed on the Champion Livestock Judging Team at the Cattlemen’s Congress, National Western, Dixie National, Tulsa State Fair, and National Barrow Show. At the North American International Livestock Exposition, his team was named Reserve National Champions and Kale was third high individual overall.

At OSU, Kale developed strong interests in animal reproduction, breeding, and health. He served as a teaching assistant for Dr. Dan Stein and Dr. Mark Johnson, which allowed him to deepen his understanding and help fellow students succeed. He was selected as an American Royal Scholar, gaining experience with leaders in animal health, production agriculture, and education. He also worked in sales and service for All Dry of Oklahoma City and completed a banking internship with ACB Bank in Cherokee.

After graduating in May, Kale plans to pursue a career in the animal reproduction sector. He is also excited to marry his fiancée Nancy and return to Northwest Oklahoma, where he looks forward to continuing his work in production agriculture.

Liberty Carson Senior Leadership Award

For Liberty Carson, agriculture has never just been an interest—it’s been a way of life. Raised in Yukon, Oklahoma, Liberty and her younger sisters grew up as 6th generation agriculturalists with deep appreciation for the industry and its influence on all communities. Her passion for the field led her to Oklahoma State University, where she is pursuing dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Agribusiness coupled with a Minor in Marketing.

At OSU, Liberty has been committed to making a lasting impact. She serves as a curator for the Breeds of Livestock website, enhancing educational resources in livestock genetics, and is an active member of the Leaders of Excellence in Animal and Food Sciences, helping connect prospective students to the department

Liberty’s college experience has been defined by her involvement in agricultural policy and advocacy. She served as a public policy intern for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and later as a Congressional Agriculture Intern for Representative Frank D. Lucas, where she attended hearings and contributed to legislation impacting American agriculture. Currently, she is interning for Oklahoma Senator Casey Murdock, assisting with agriculture-focused legislation at the state level. Liberty also contributed to youth livestock development as a swine committee intern for the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

Her leadership extends across campus as well. Liberty serves as President of the Order of Omega Honors Society and has held key roles in Kappa Alpha Theta and the OSU Alumni Association. As Head Homecoming Director and Class Programming Chair, she helped lead one of the university’s most cherished traditions. Recognized for her service and leadership, Liberty has been named an OSU Top 10 Freshman, a Women for OSU Scholar, and is an American FFA Degree recipient. Through every role, her mission has remained clear: to bridge the gap between producers and consumers and strengthen public understanding of livestock production.

Set to graduate in May 2025, Liberty plans to continue at OSU to pursue her Master of Business Administration, where she hopes to further unite policy, industry, and education to ensure a strong future for agriculture.

Lauren Chaney

Senior Leadership Award

Lauren Chaney was raised on a 600-acre ranch in Bluejacket alongside her siblings where she gained firsthand experience in production agriculture from an early age. At 14, she and her siblings took out their first loan to purchase a small commercial cow-calf herd. This early endeavor taught Lauren invaluable lessons on financial responsibility, animal welfare, hard work and ultimately helped shape her career aspirations to become a veterinarian.

Lauren’s passion for agriculture grew even more during her involvement in her local FFA chapter in Grove, Oklahoma. She participated in exhibiting livestock, livestock judging, speech contests, ag mechanics, and agriscience fair. These handson experiences led her to pursue a degree in Animal Science at Oklahoma State University.

Early in Lauren’s undergraduate journey, she was accepted into OSU’s Early Admissions Program for Veterinary Medicine. She has been deeply involved in several organizations including the Oklahoma Pork Industry Group, Pre-Vet Club, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Ferguson Student Council FTC program. Lauren also served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for animal nutrition with Dr. Pezeshki and Dr. Carter.

Research has been a significant part of Lauren’s academic experience. She earned the Wentz Research Scholar distinction for her work in Dr. Hagen’s Animal Genetics Laboratory, where she investigated the impact of bacterial noncoding RNAs on gene expression. She also worked as a research assistant on a cutting-edge nutrition project at the OSU Swine Center. Lauren worked as a veterinary technician at Grant Veterinary Clinic for three years and interned with the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. She also completed bovine AI training through Flying Cow Genetics.

Lauren is set to graduate with honors in Animal Science and will attend Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Fall 2025. Her long-term goal is to return to rural Oklahoma and serve her community by providing high-quality veterinary care to livestock producers.

Jordan Taylor (JT) Danielecki was born in Norwalk, Connecticut. Although she did not grow up in a traditional agricultural background, JT’s passion for the equine industry began during high school, where she spent time learning from local horse trainers and gaining hands-on experience in horse showing. That early exposure ignited her curiosity and laid the foundation for a future in agriculture. As a firstgeneration college student, JT chose to pursue a degree in Animal Science and Agribusiness at Oklahoma State University.

During her time at OSU, JT was a member of the 2022 AQHA Third High Overall Equine Judging Team and was recognized as an Academic All-American. She also contributed to the Division II Third Overall Team for the Ranch Horse team at the NIRSHA collegiate show and was named the National 2022 Outstanding Freshman for the National Intercollegiate Ranch and Stock Horse Association.

In addition to competing on these teams, JT served as president of the OSU Ranch Horse Team and she worked to increase the team’s visibility, led members to competitions across Texas, and actively networked with industry professionals. These experiences allowed her to develop a deeper understanding of team management, student government, and organizational leadership.

JT Danielecki

Senior Leadership Award

JT has worked alongside OSU alumnus Dr. Jeff Pollock as a veterinary drug technician at the American Quarter Horse Youth World Show, and served as a performance intern with the American Paint Horse Association. In the summer of 2025, she plans to travel with National Roping Supply to represent leading global brands at events across the country, and will return to APHA to continue contributing to event operations.

After graduating in December 2025, JT plans to return to Texas to pursue a career in the equine industry with organizations like the American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, or the National Reined Cow Horse Association. In 2026, she intends to begin graduate studies toward a Master of Business Administration at either Texas Tech University or Texas A&M University to further expand her career potential in agricultural business and leadership.

Erika Grum

Senior Leadership Award

Erika Grum grew up on a cow-calf operation in Thornville, Ohio, where she and her three older siblings maintained and showed steers year-round, along with other livestock at county and state fairs. Her early involvement in 4-H and FFA led to national trips, leadership development events, and judging contests, which helped solidify her desire to work with beef cattle and dual major in Animal Science and Agribusiness.

During her freshman year at Oklahoma State University, Erika participated in the Freshmen in Transition Program through Ferguson. The following summer, she served as the Beef Industry Relations Intern for the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio Beef Council.

Last June, Erika began working as an undergraduate research assistant in the ruminant nutrition lab under Dr. Foote. Her research focuses on analyzing purine derivatives in urine samples of beef steers. She has gained extensive lab experience, partly from assisting with trials examining insulin response and gut peptides following ruminal propionate infusion. Her more recent work has involved using x-ray fluorescence to analyze indigestible markers for supplemental nitrogen in fecal samples.

Erika was a member of the 2024 OSU Meat Judging Team and is involved in the Meat Science Association which sparked her interest in the meat industry and helped shape her career goal of working in feedlot nutrition. She is also a member of the American Society of Animal Science. This summer, Erika is interning with Tyson Foods in Joslin, Illinois, as a cattle procurement intern. The role will provide firsthand experience with the beef supply chain and cattle sourcing.

Currently, Erika is exploring graduate programs and plans to pursue a master’s degree in Feedlot Nutrition upon graduation in December. She hopes to work in the industry alongside producers to help them optimize their operations through effective nutrition strategies.

Amy Hoffmann Senior Leadership Award

Originally from West Bend, Wisconsin, Amy grew up surrounded by the agriculture industry. She was raised on the Hoffmann family homestead alongside her four siblings. Amy was largely involved in her local 4-H community, specifically the horse and pony project. In addition to being a member of these teams, Amy also had the opportunity to gain experience coaching alongside her mom. This early involvement helped to foster a passion for teaching and coaching.

Amy later attended Black Hawk College and received an associate of science degree in the spring of 2023. Beyond her core course load, Amy took advantage of the college’s unique competitive teams and equine courses. She was a member of the undefeated 2022 horse judging team in addition to the decorated western and hunt seat IHSA riding teams. Amy then transferred to Oklahoma State University to continue her studies and judging career.

At OSU, Amy majored in animal science and competed on the 2023 horse judging team. The four-man team finished second at the APHA and AQHA World Show contests and won the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. Amy now serves as an assistant coach, helping students develop their evaluation and oral reasons skills. She also works at the Charles and Linda Cline Equine Teaching Center, gaining hands-on experience in breeding and foaling.

Upon graduation from OSU, Amy plans to remain in Stillwater to pursue her master’s degree in animal science under the guidance of Dr. Cooper. While continuing her education, Amy will remain involved as an assistant coach for the horse judging team and at the equine center. Ultimately, Amy aspires to find a career that blends her passions for teaching and agriculture. She finds great purpose and fulfillment in pursuing a career that satisfies these aspirations. The mentors who have played a hand in shaping Amy’s life path have inspired her to want to do the same for others, inside and outside of the classroom.

Ashlyn O’Brien

Senior Leadership Award

Ashlyn O’Brien grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio, where she was actively involved in sports, FFA, and livestock exhibition at the state and national levels. Her time in 4-H and FFA ultimately sparked her passion for agriculture and led her to pursue livestock evaluation at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. While at Butler, she served as Vice President of Collegiate Kansas Farm Bureau, was active in Agriculture Ambassadors and Aggies for Christ, and earned multiple national honors in livestock judging. She graduated as a Graduate of Honor and was a finalist for the Hubbard Academic Excellence Scholarship.

Ashlyn transferred to Oklahoma State University to complete her bachelor’s degree in animal science. She was a key member of both the 2024 Reserve National Champion Livestock Judging Team and the Reserve National Champion MeatAnimal Evaluation Team. Her involvement in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences began even before classes started, assisting with freshman enrollment and youth livestock activities. During her time on campus, she helped organize contests through OSU’s Stockman Group, was involved in Block and Bridle, ROTC, and is a member of Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Encounter, Class XXII. In 2024, she was honored with the Ferguson College of Agriculture Transfer Student Excellence Award.

Ashlyn has gained valuable hands-on experience through internships with Magnum Feed Yard, OSU’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences, and Cargill Inc., where she served as a Retail Pricing Intern. She’s also worked for Hobbs Show Lambs, Church Livestock, and Next Level Images during the school year.

After graduation, Ashlyn will move to Kansas City to begin her career with Cargill as part of the business management associate program, where she will train to become a pricing analyst in the animal nutrition sector. She credits her time at OSU for equipping her with the skills and work ethic to succeed and is proud to be part of the Cowboy family.

Whiteman Research Award Winners

Samuel Talley, Alexis Main and Gabriela Murphy presented their research at the 2025 Whiteman Award Competition and received first, second and third, respectively. They were each recognized at the 2025 Animal and Food Sciences Banquet.

The Whiteman Award for outstanding graduate student presentations was established after the retirement of Dr. Joe Whiteman (1983) to “encourage clarity and excellence in the manner of reporting results of thesis research.”

First Place

Samuel Talley

The linear relationship of forage intake, residual feed intake, and greenhouse gas emissions between lactation and gestation in beef cows.

Second Place

Alexis Main

Damage and growth trait differentially affect the immune phenotype and stress responsiveness of weaned beef calves.

Third Place

Gabriela Murphy

Alterations in miRNA and tRNA-derived fragment expression during bovine conceptus elongation.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Meets

OSU TEAM USES AI TO TACKLE RISING DEATH LOSS IN CATTLE

An Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences research team is working to develop strategies that will reduce overall cost in beef production.

Currently, a challenge in the beef cattle industry is the rise in health problems in the post-weaning phase, said David Lalman, OSU animal science professor. Specifically, cattle that die during the last half of their feeding period in a feedlot, which is known as late feed yard death loss, Lalman said.

The beef cattle industry has been on a “never-ending arms race for growth,” Lalman said. There is speculation that this may be the fundamental principle

or a contributing factor to late feed yard death, Lalman said.

The late feed yard death loss appears to be a combination of late bovine respiratory disease and congestive heart failure, Lalman said.

Bovine congestive heart failure is the last stage of damage or dysfunction to the circulatory system, resulting in fluid buildup in multiple areas of the body,

With

according to the Beef Quality Assurance website.

Under a grant through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding, the research team developed a study called “Artificial Intelligence Driven Stress Detection and Monitoring Model,” said Mariana Garcia, an OSU postdoctoral fellow with a focus in ruminant nutrition.

the rise of artificial intelligence, the rise of big data and how to manage big data, and how much data we can collect with these sensors, there’s a whole new world.

MARIANA GARCIA

INTELLIGENCE Meets the Feedlot

The basis of the study is to understand the relationship between things like stress, growth, phenotype, yearling weight, carcass weight, and the incidents of bovine congestive heart failure, Garcia said. This disease has been increasing in recent years, especially in the feedlot, she said.

“So, as you can imagine, you finally put your animal in the feedlot, you think everything is going fine and then this animal dies,” Garcia said. “Per animal, the economic losses are around $2,500, so it’s a multimillion-dollar loss for the industry.”

Lalman said, “When you have animals die late in the production stage, it’s very

costly, and so, of course, that increases the cost to produce beef and increases the price of meat to consumers.”

The major problem is there is no way to identify which animals are going to be prone to bovine congestive heart failure, Garcia said.

A possible correlation is the robustness of the cattle and how they handle stress, Lalman said.

“There are a lot of things that are connected,” Garcia said. “The main problem is if we don’t identify these animals and we just keep on selecting for hot carcass weight, we are not doing anything to manage this problem and it’s going to just keep on increasing.”

The team uses sensors to measure heart rate and arterial blood pressure to monitor stress in these cattle, Garcia said. Sensors are already being used in commercial feedlots to help identify sick animals more easily, she added.

“Right now, with the rise of artificial intelligence, the rise of big data and how to manage big data, and how much data we can collect with these sensors, there’s a whole new world,” Garcia said.

Because of this technology, producers in the beef industry will be able to make decisions quicker and identify things more easily, Garcia said.

Story by Taylor Epperson

LAUNCHING A New Tradition

AFS HOSTS INAUGURAL GRADUATE RESEARCH DAY

This spring, the Department of Animal and Food Sciences hosted its annual Graduate Research Day—a one-day event designed to highlight the research efforts of our graduate students and give them valuable experience presenting their work in a professional setting.

Organized by Dr. Sabrina Amorim and Dr. Riley Messman, the event brought together students, faculty, and staff for a full day of scientific discussion, networking, and support for agricultural research.

Students had the option to participate in one of two categories: delivering a 12-minute oral presentation or

presenting a research poster.

The morning featured 11 student speakers who presented on a wide range of topics, including livestock health, meat science, reproductive physiology, microbiology, and animal nutrition.

These talks mirrored what students would experience at regional or national scientific conferences and provided a platform to communicate complex ideas to a broader audience.

Following a break for lunch, the event shifted to an afternoon poster session where 17 additional students showcased their research.

This portion allowed for more

casual, one-on-one conversations and gave students the chance to answer questions, discuss methodology, and connect with faculty and fellow students.

All students who participated received a travel award to help cover costs for attending a future conference or professional development opportunity.

Winners received between $500 and $1,000, and all other participants received $400. These awards are meant to support students as they take the next step in their academic or professional careers.

Of course, the event wouldn’t have

been possible without help from faculty who served as judges and moderators, and staff who made sure the day ran smoothly—including providing coffee, donuts, and a great lunch for everyone.

Beyond just a presentation exercise, this event offers our students real-world experience in research communication and professional development.

Many of the projects presented have direct ties to the livestock and food industries, addressing issues like feed efficiency, meat quality, disease

resistance, and reproductive success.

It’s a reminder that the work happening in our department has practical implications for producers, processors, and consumers alike.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Graduate Research Day a success. We look forward to continuing this tradition of supporting the next generation of researcher leaders in animal and food science.

Written by Dr. Riley Messman

We were proud to recognize several outstanding presenters this year:

ORAL PRESENTATION WINNERS

1st – Isabel Tobin

2nd – Matthew Gorton

3rd – Makenna McKendrick

POSTER PRESENTATION WINNERS:

1st – Matthew Gorton

2nd – Greeshma Sreejesh

3rd – Kavya Gavai

A LEGEND

in Feedlot Nutrition

In recognition of a lifetime of innovation, leadership and dedication to the beef industry, Dr. Gerald W. Horn has been named a 2025 inductee into the Legends of Feedlot Nutrition. This prestigious honor, established by the Plains Nutrition Council in 2016, celebrates individuals whose contributions have left a lasting impact on the feedlot sector through research, service, education and industry advancement.

Dr. Gerald W. Horn grew up in West Texas and earned his B.S. degree (1966) from Texas Tech University and M. S. (1968) and Ph. D. (1971) degrees from Purdue University. He was a member of the faculty at the University of Georgia for 4 years before joining the Department of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in January 1975. He taught 3 courses to veterinary students at the UGA and conducted research on the role of gastrointestinal hormones in the pathophysiology of ruminal lactic acid acidosis, and endotoxemia and the “sudden death syndrome” of feedlot cattle.

Soon after joining OSU, he recognized the unique and economically important

role of wheat pasture for growing cattle in the southern Great Plains. He provided vision and leadership for developing a first-of-its-kind facility in the U.S. that was transformational for developing a multidisciplinary research and education program focused on dual purpose wheat. He devoted much of his career toward increasing the biological efficiency and profitability of these cattle. Finishing performance and carcass characteristics were measured when possible. Collectively, this research undergirds most modern nutrition and management practices for growing cattle on wheat and other small grains pasture in the U.S.

With the excellent collaboration of Drs. Clint Krehbiel, Phillip Lancaster and David Lalman, the focus of this research shifted in 2000 to a series of “system” studies of the predominant stocker/ grower programs in the southern Great Plains. Traditional feedlot performance and carcass data were collected and concomitant fundamental studies focused on marbling development and understanding the physiological bases for differences in finishing performance were conducted.

Dr. Horn taught 6 different courses

(2408 students) to undergraduate, graduate or veterinary students during his tenure at the OSU. His flagship courses were Advanced Ruminant Nutrition for graduate students taught from 1975-2015 and Stocker and Feedlot Cattle Management which he developed as a new course in 1992 and taught it every spring through 2016. He served as coordinator of the Animal Science Graduate Program for 16 years, and as major advisor of 38 graduate students and member of the graduate committees of 67 additional graduate students.

Dr. Horn has authored or co-authored 117 refereed journal articles, 203 abstracts at scientific meetings, 196 research reports of the Oklahoma Agriculture Experiment Station, and 85 papers in conference proceedings. He has been a member of the ASAS since 1971, ARPAS since 1975 and the PNC circa 1985. Dr. Horn received the ASAS Animal Management Award (1998), ASAS “Fellow” Award (2008) and the ASAS Southern Section Distinguished Service Award in 2016.

Dr. Horn is a leader by example and models professionalism and excellence in all his endeavors. He views the students he mentored as his most rewarding and signal legacy to the beef cattle industry. Many of them are in leadership positions in the feedlot and allied industries, academia or farm/ ranch enterprises in the U.S., Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay.

Gerald and his wife, Chris, reside in Stillwater, Oklahoma and will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary this coming August. They have 2 grown daughters and 2 grandsons.

Biography written by Dr. Casey Maxwell of Cactus Feeders and Dr. Kristin Hales of Texas Tech University.

OUTSTANDING Master’s Student

Sam Talley was raised on a beef cattle operation near Central, South Carolina. Sam attended Clemson University where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Veterinary Science with a concentration in Animal Agribusiness with minors in Crop and Soil Sciences and Business Administration.

As part of his degree program, Sam was one of the first students to obtain a Beef Cow-Calf Management Certificate. He gained experience in beef cattle management as a student employee at Clemson’s Beef Cattle Farm and serving as an intern to the Clemson Extension

Livestock and Forages Team.

He also interned at Silver Spur Ranches in Encampment, Wyoming and with Talon Ranch, an Angus operation near Sumner, Nebraska.

After graduation, Sam worked on a commercial cow/calf operation near Douglas Wyoming before joining the OSU Animal and Food Sciences Department in 2023 to pursue a master’s degree in beef cattle nutrition and management working with Dr. Lalman.

Sam’s research program has been focused on forage efficiency in lactating and gestating beef cows. He has also

led a group in a project to determine differences in the rumen microbiome associated with forage intake, forage utilization efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions.

During his time as a graduate student at OSU, Sam has been honored with a Roy A. Wallace Beef Improvement Federation Scholarship, selected for the Certified Angus Beef Youth Beef Leaders Institute, an International Livestock Congress Student Fellowship, and awarded a Heritage Ranch Scholarship.

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

Originally, one award was presented to a graduate student in Animal Science, usually in the final year of the graduate degree program. Beginning in 1987, the award was expanded to select two students, one from the group of students working on their M.S. degree and one from the Ph.D. candidates. In either case the selection in based on academic and professional accomplishments in the graduate program in animal science and food science. The awards are presented at the annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet each April.

OUTSTANDING PhD Student

Matthew W. Gorton is a Doctoral candidate in the lab of Dr. Adel Pezeshki in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University

Matthew began his Ph.D. program in 2021 and is expected to graduate in 2025. Matthew earned his B.Sc. in Animal Science from OSU as a first generation college student and is the first member of his family to begin a doctoral program.

Matthew was awarded first place in the Whiteman Award for outstanding graduate student presentations. He has also received several scholarships including the Dr. Bill Luce Graduate Scholarship, the Rob & Mary (Kalka) Shuey Animal and Food Sciences Graduate Fellowship, and the Williams Distinguished Graduate Fellowship from OSU in 2023 and 2024.

Furthermore, Matthew was selected for the Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Finalist award and awarded 2nd place in the Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Poster Competition in Experimental Animal Nutrition during the 2023 American Society of Nutrition in Boston.

Matthew’s research focuses on understanding the role of branched chain amino acids restriction on glycemic control and insulin sensitivity using both cell culture and animal models.

Matthew has been instrumental in adopting multiple new research techniques into Dr. Pezeshki’s lab such as genetic editing in both cell culture and mice models. Further, he was responsible for training lab members, and collaborating with other laboratories to develop these techniques.

He has been coauthored in one peer-reviewed journal, Metabolites, and published 9 abstracts as author or coauthor in several journals such as Current Developments in Nutrition, Journal of Animal Science, and the NACTA Journal. Matthew has presented his research fundings as poster or oral at local and national scientific conferences.

Matthew has worked diligently and tirelessly to help expand his knowledge in the field of nutritional physiology while learning from and assisting other students in the department at both

graduate and undergraduate levels.

Matthew has served as a graduate mentor to 12 undergraduate researchers, teaching them in vivo and in vitro techniques such as diet formulation, tissue and blood collection, cell culture, qPCR, western blotting, and bacterial plating and culture. Matthew has also served as a graduate teaching assistant for two courses, including Principles of Animal Nutrition and Basic Nutrition for Pets.

In addition to Matthew’s research and teaching duties, Matthew has served as the Graduate and Professional Student Government Association representative for the Animal Science Graduate Student Association from 2022 to 2023. Matthew also serves as a delegate at large for the American Society of Nutrition Experimental Animal Nutrition Leadership team. He has also served as a feedback provider for the OSU Undergraduate Research Symposium annually. Matthew has further served as an ad-hoc reviewer for several journals such as the Macedonian Veterinary Review and Tropical Animal Health and Production.

ANNUAL ALUMNI & SERVICE AWARDS

Each year the Department of Animal and Food Sciences recognizes alumni and supporters for contributions they have made in their careers positively affecting animal agriculture, the food industry and the department. Awards are presented at the annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet each April.

This award, presented annually since 1949, honors graduates who received undergraduate degrees from the Department of Animal and Food Sciences and have achieved distinguished records of service and accomplishment, particularly in animal agriculture and food sciences. GRADUATE OF DISTINCTION

ADVANCED DEGREE GRADUATE OF DISTINCTION

First presented at the 1984 Animal Science Banquet, this award honors M.S. and Ph.D. graduates from the Department of Animal and Food Sciences who have achieved distinguished records of service and accomplishment, particularly in animal agriculture and food sciences.

GRADUATE OF Distinction

MARK SHAW

Mark Shaw is an investor, entrepreneur, CEO of IGNITE Veterinary Solutions and IGNITE Studios, as well as Chairman of Meseta Capital Management, LLC.

He is the former President of Cencora’s global animal health business, MWI Animal Health.

Mark was responsible for MWI Animal Health, Micro Technologies, Securos Surgical, MWI-UK, AllyDVM, Vets West, St. Francis Group, and Vetspace. Prior to that Mark served as an owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Micro Technologies, the beef and dairy industries leading technology innovator, until MWI’s acquisition in 2011.

Mark began his career with The Upjohn Company serving in animal health sales and sales management capacities.

Mark has organized and led numerous industry initiatives ranging from technology start-ups, animal traceability, executive leadership development, and served on numerous industry boards such as Vetsource, Animalytix, Feeders Advantage, AgStrata, National Cattlemen’s

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Established in 1978, this award honors individuals who did not receive degrees from the Department of Animal and Food Sciences but have accumulated a distinguished record of service and achievement in animal agriculture and/or food sciences.

member of the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.

Mark is from Canyon, Texas, earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and was inducted into Oklahoma State’s inaugural Cowboy 100 and Blazing 15, acknowledging alumni business,

achievements.

A member of the 1984 Oklahoma State livestock judging team, Mark is a 5th generation cattle producer and operates ranches and commercial real estate investments with his family in Randall County and Wheeler County, Texas.

GRADUATE OF Distinction

JASON K. APPLE

Raised on land homesteaded by his great grandfather in 1902, Jason was active in sports as well as raising market swine and Angus-cross cattle.

After one year at Cameron University, Jason transferred to Oklahoma State University, where he earned his B.S. in Animal Science in 1987. He was active in Block and Bridle Club and was a member of the 1986 Meat Judging Team.

Working in the Meats Laboratory on Dr. Steve May’s thesis project was instrumental in Jason receiving one of American Meat Science Association’s Outstanding Undergraduate Student Travel Awards in 1987.

He continued his education at Kansas State University, receiving his M.S. and Ph.D. in 1989 and 1994, respectively. During his graduate training, Jason coached three Meat Judging Teams, including the 1990 International Champions, and co-coached the 1989 AK-SAR-BEN live animal and meats evaluation team.

In 1993, Jason began his academic career as a lecturer in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

After two years at UMASS, he accepted an Assistant Professor of Meat Science position in the new, stand-alone Department of Animal Science at the University of Arkansas and rose through the ranks to Associate Professor and Professor in 2001 and 2007, respectively.

Over his career at the University of Arkansas, Jason published 90 peerreviewed journal articles, 178 abstracts, and six book chapters, and amassed over $1.5 million in research funding. Moreover, Jason taught 2,672 students in 59 classes, and mentored one Ph.D., 15 M.S.-thesis, eight M.S. non-thesis, and 17 undergraduate researchers.

Science Midwest Section

President and on the AMSA Board of Directors, as well as Animal Products/ Meat Science Section Editor and Animal Production Associate Editor for the Journal of Animal Science.

Jason was also honored with the Southern Section ASAS Outstanding Young Scientist in Research, AMSA Achievement Award, National Pork Board Innovation in Swine Research Award, and ASAS Meat Research Award, as well as the Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Research Award, Bumper’s College Outstanding Honors Faculty Mentor Award, and, his most prized honor, Northwest Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Man of the Year.

In 2019, Jason took a leadership role at Texas A&M University-Kingsville as the Chair of the newly formed Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Technology. Since his arrival, he has overseen a 35% growth in undergraduate student numbers – from 379 to 513 – and a 100% increase in

faculty positions. Moreover, ASVT faculty have received well over $36 million in federal funding, including two of the largest awarded grants in TAMUK history. He is also Co-PD on four USDA grants totaling $4.1 million and has published five peer-reviewed manuscripts and two book chapters. Since fall 2019, Jason has taught over 1,200 students in 23 courses, and mentors five non-thesis MS students and serves on the committees of one dissertation and five thesis committees.

In 2022, he received the AMSA Signal Service Award for his contributions to the organization and meat science.

Jason and his wife Allison (OSU Class of 1990) live in Corpus Christi, Texas, and have three children – Hanna (and husband Jeremy) Miller, Hadley Apple (OSU Class of 2015), and Zane Apple (current OSU Animal Science major) –and two grandsons (Luke Henry and Archie Miller).

GRADUATE OF Distinction

DON HENNEKE

Anative of Enid, OK, Dr. Henneke graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1975 with a Bachelor’s in Animal Science.

He went on to Louisiana State University and earned a Master’s Degree in 1977 focusing on equine reproductive physiology. He later received his Doctorate in Animal Science in 1981 from Texas A&M University.

Most notably, he developed the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System as part of his doctoral research at Texas A&M.

Dr. Henneke joined the faculty at Tarleton State University in 1985 as an assistant professor in the Department of Agriculture, leaving in 1993 to pursue a consulting career in the equine industry.

In 2000, Dr. Henneke returned to Tarleton and a year later assumed directorship of Tarleton’s Equine Center.

In 2007, he was awarded tenure and named associate professor, and in September 2012, the Texas A&M University System’s board of regents granted Dr. Henneke full professorship.

Dr. Henneke was the driving force in the development of one of the premier equine management programs in the nation. He also managed the equine breeding farm, coached the Stock Horse Team and served on the faculty council.

A master teacher, he educated hundreds of students and horse owners in equine management.

Dr. Henneke was one of the original members of the National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics (NAEAA), a non-profit organization that advocates for equine academic programs.

Dr. Henneke passed away in November of 2012 after a battle with cancer. In 2013, the NAEAA honored Dr. Henneke when they created the Henneke Educational Impact Award to

sustained, industry wide, national and/or international impact on education or educational practices within the equine industry.

Dr. Henneke brought distinction to OSU as the principal investigator in developing the body conditioning scoring system for horses. He created

taking it to new heights with a system still widely used today worldwide.

Dr. Henneke’s legacy and dedication to students continues through the Netherton-Henneke Family Endowed Scholarship to support undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in equine.

ADVANCED DEGREE

GRADUATE OF Distinction

MEGAN HOBBS

Megan McMichael Hobbs, originally from Scottsburg, Indiana, earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Oklahoma State in 2004.

Megan was a member of the 2002 National Champion Meat Judging Team and in 2004 was recognized with the Senior Leadership Award. Megan earned her M.S. in meat science from OSU in December of 2005.

After OSU, Megan transitioned to industry research and development as a food technologist at Tyson Foods before moving to Cargill as a senior food scientist in late 2007.

For the past 18 years, she has been an integral part of Cargill, a global leader in the food and agriculture industry.

From 2012 to 2014, Megan was the Business Manager of Cargill’s finely textured beef business. In 2014, Megan was promoted to Director of Beef & Case Ready Research & Development also being appointed to Cargill Beef’s Leadership Team and then in 2017 the Director of R&D Innovation, and again promoted in 2019 to Group R&D Leader for Cargill Protein North America.

During her tenure as Director of R&D Innovation and Group R&D Leader, Megan played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of creating customer focused innovative solutions for Cargill’s protein division, showcasing her strategic vision and leadership.

Megan’s ascent within Cargill reflects her commitment to excellence and her ability to drive impactful change.

In her current role (since February 2022) as Vice President, Group R&D Leader for Cargill Aqua Nutrition, Megan leads the global Aqua Nutrition and Health R&D team, spearheading research initiatives that contribute to the advancement of sustainable nutrition and health feed solutions for the world’s largest salmon and shrimp

research locations in Norway, Chile, Ecuador and Thailand.

She has served as a Tech Stars Farm to Fork Accelerator advisor providing advice to startups in the agricultural community. Megan also serves on Cargill’s Global Research and Development Leadership Team and the Animal Nutrition and Health Strategic Marketing Leadership team.

Megan and her husband Joe operate Hobbs Show Lambs in Newton, Kansas. Their genetics have excelled in the showring and in flocks across the country, but more importantly they give back to many youth and collegiate students by hosting numerous judging teams at their farm, they created a sought after internship program and other opportunities to enable youth to grow and succeed in the industry.

In 2021, along with 6 other breeders started The Show Reno, an event in Nevada that has become the largest jackpot show in the nation with youth from 16 states and over $250,000

a $2500 scholarship annually for a member of the OSU Meat Judging Team with a background in the sheep industry and interest in meat science.

Megan currently serves as secretary for the Kansas Junior Livestock Show, recently she served on the AMSA Board of Directors and the North American Meat Institute Research Foundation, was a member of the Kansas Agricultural Rural Leadership Class XVI and is currently serving as a mentor for KARL Class XVII.

Megan also served as a board member for the OSU Animal Science Alumni Association, securing many valuable donations and raising funds for many scholarship recipients. Megan and Joe are tremendous supporters of OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

Her industry leadership, support for education, and passion for youth are unmatched.

GRADUATE OF Distinction ADVANCED DEGREE

BEN HOLLAND

Dr. Ben P. Holland is Vice President of Margin Management at Cactus Feeders in Amarillo, Texas. He oversees Risk Management, Grain and Commodity Procurement, the company’s commercial research, Cactus Research, and the Nutrition and Veterinary Technical Services Team. Working at the intersection of biology and economics, he influences all aspects of production for approximately 600,000 cattle on feed.

Dr. Holland grew up in Texline, Texas, where after school and in the summer, he worked alongside his dad in a backgrounding yard and stocker cattle operation. Those long hours might have been meant to steer him away from the cattle business. They pushed him into the science of cattle instead.

He attended Texas Tech University, where he was the 42nd Masked Rider, graduating with a B.S. in Animal Science in 2004. He earned his M.S. in Animal Science (2006) and Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition (2009) from Oklahoma State University, advised by Dr. Clint Krehbiel, working in cattle health and feedyard production.

After OSU, Dr. Holland became Assistant Professor–Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist at South Dakota State University with extension, research, and teaching duties focused on feedlot management and housing systems for the northern plains. He was involved in the inaugural BeefSD team, which has since educated dozens of young and beginning beef producing families in SD.

From 2012 to 2015, Dr. Holland was Technical Services Manager for Merck Animal Health, visiting feedyards from Delaware to California and the Rio Grande Valley to Alberta. In 2015, he returned to Texas to join Cactus Feeders.

Over the last 10 years, he has held roles in research, business

an MBA from West Texas A&M University in 2019.

Through Cactus Research, he has led over 75 commercial-scale feeding experiments using 150,000+ cattle. Trials have covered grain processing, animal health, feedstuff evaluation, feed additive use, and carcass growth. Projects are often conducted with allied industry, university, and USDA stakeholders. Results support decisions impacting one million cattle marketed annually by Cactus and extend beyond the company.

Working with new products and start-ups connected Dr. Holland to Builders VC, where he serves as an Industry Advisor for agriculturefocused investments.

He has co-authored 36 peer-reviewed publications (including 14 trials at Cactus) and served on four Ph.D. and three M.S. Committees at SDSU, TTU, and WTAMU.

He remains active in scientific

Science, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists) and has been President of the Plains Nutrition Council, Chair of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association Research Committee, Executive Committee Member of the International Consortium of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture, past member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Davis College of Agriculture at Texas Tech, and a current Trustee of the ASAS Foundation.

At Cactus, he has educated elected officials, regulators, industry executives, and student groups on cattle production during feedyard tours.

In his spare time, Ben enjoys travel with his wife Jenise (34 states, 10 countries, and counting!) and playing with his daughters, Adelaide and Madeleine. A special time for their family is working with children at the Euro-American Christian Retreat in Germany each November.

DISTINGUISHED Service

KAYLEEN FERGUSON

Kayleen, the daughter of Oklahoma A&M graduates, was raised in Arkansas and enrolled at OSU in 1974.

Kayleen met her husband, Larry, when they were students in the OSU dairy program in 1975. Before the end of the year, they were married and lived 1,000 miles away as Larry began his career as a Production Supervisor at Schreiber Foods, Inc.

In 1978 Kayleen received her degree in secondary education from Utah State University.

Larry and Kayleen Ferguson’s impact on the Department of Animal and Food sciences started in 2000 when they established the Larry and Kay Ferguson Dairy Foods Annual Scholarship. Since then, over $55,000 of scholarship support has been awarded.

In December 2014, the couple announced a lead gift through the Ferguson Family Foundation to revitalize and name the state of-theart Ferguson Family Dairy Center at OSU. They pledged future matching funds totaling $6 million to upgrade and improve the infrastructure of dairy center.

The gift empowered the program to attract the brightest students and enhanced the research-based education offered at the facility, including the freestall barn which opened in 2017.

The Fergusons were also instrumental in the creation of Helms Hall, the on-site student housing for students who work at the center. Its name pays honor to Kayleen’s parents, who also met at Oklahoma State and

education from the university.

Kayleen volunteers her time in many ways at OSU, including serving on the Women for OSU Advisory Council.

Kayleen is a member of a group of visionary women who share a passion for inspiring leadership and financial support to OSU.

She inspires others to positively shape the future of the university through philanthropy and engagement.

Larry and Kayleen were inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame in February 2022 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to OSU and their dedication to the mission of helping to feed the hungry throughout the world.

There are not many alumni at OSU

We’re just very thankful, and we want to pass on that legacy of education in agriculture.

KAYLEEN FERGUSON

their mark on an

Larry Ferguson has on the dairy industry across the globe, nor a family as dedicated to alleviating world hunger than Larry and Kayleen.

From their first scholarship, lead gift and matching gifts at the Ferguson Family Dairy Center to the transformational gift launching the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall campaign.

The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents renamed the college Ferguson College of Agriculture in recognition of the historic gift.

The Fergusons continue to inspire fellow alumni to invest in OSU Agriculture to help feed the world.

Kayleen says, “It’s about our legacy. My parents met, married and got their master’s degrees all from Oklahoma State in dairy science and agriculture. Larry and I met and married here. He started his career here at Oklahoma State all because of the education that he received. We’re just very thankful, and we want to pass on that legacy of education in agriculture.”

TYLERAward

DAVID LALMAN

Dr. David Lalman obtained his B.S. degree in Animal Science and Business from Kansas State University in 1988, his M.S. in Animal Science (Ruminant Nutrition) from Montana State University in 1991, and his Ph.D. in Animal Science (Ruminant Nutrition) from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1996.

He joined the Department of Animal and Food Sciences in 1996 and is currently a professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist. He holds the Howard M. and Adene R. Harrington Endowed Chair, serves as Animal Science Extension Program Coordinator, and is faculty supervisor of the North Range Cow Research Center.

As an Extension Beef Specialist, Dr. Lalman’s goal has been to develop tools and programs that improve the profitability and sustainability of those in the beef industry.

His work has focused on the cowcalf and stocker segments, and his leadership has led to numerous impactful Extension programs. Examples include the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network, Oklahoma Master Cattleman program, Oklahoma Beef Cattle Manual, Ranchers’ Thursday Lunchtime Series, and Cowculator ration evaluation software, which is used in 40 states and 52 countries. He is a regular guest on OSU’s SUNUP television program and a sought-after speaker at national and international beef conferences.

His research centers on nutritiongenetic interactions in beef systems. Objectives include characterizing forage utilization efficiency in the cow herd,

exploring how nutrition-genetic factors influence profitability, carbon footprint, and product quality.

He has given 117 invited national and international presentations and 841 for extension clientele in Oklahoma.

Dr. Lalman and colleagues have published 75 peer-reviewed manuscripts with over 2,700 citations (Google Scholar). His program has produced 157 educational videos.

He is author, co-author, editor, or coeditor of 15 software products and 277 extension publications and has received over $6.5 million in funding.

He served five years as an officer and board member in the American Society of Animal Science, Southern Section. He also served the National Cattlemen’s

NCR-87 Beef Cow/Calf Nutrition and Management Committee.

Dr. Lalman has received numerous awards. In the past ten years, he earned the Southern Region Individual Excellence in Extension Award from the Association of Public Land Grant Universities, the ASAS National Extension Award (Southern Section), and the ASAS Distinguished Service Award.

His ability to build productive crossdisciplinary partnerships has earned multiple awards, including Extension Program honors for the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network and the Master Cattleman program from regional and national professional associations.

This award recognizes professional achievement in research, teaching or public service by faculty members of the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences. It has been made possible by a gift by the late Don M. Tyler of Bartlesville of 186 Angus cattle to establish an endowment.

2024 COMPETITIVE TEAM RESULTS

Livestock Judging Team

RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS TEAM MEMBERS: Clay Brillhart, Kale Campbell, Hailey Coggins, Emma Eldridge, Emma Farmer (Academic AllAmerican), Parker Fleming, Anna Hannon (Academic AllAmerican), Ryan Hegland, Delaney Hemann, Doug Hewitt, McKenzie Layton, Shaylee Maddox, Ashlyn O’Brien, Jed Sidwell, and Braylon Spears.

COACH: Dr. Parker Henley

ASSISTANT COACHES: Ty Drach & Pace Mittelstaedt

SPRING RESULTS:

Cattlemen’s Congress – Champion Team

National Western Stock Show – Champion Team

Fort Worth Stock Show – 3rd High Team

Dixie National – Champion Team

San Antonio Livestock Exposition – Reserve Champion Team

Houston Livestock Show – 4th High Team

FALL RESULTS:

National Barrow Show – Champion Team

Flint Hills – Reserve Champion Team

Tulsa State Fair – Champion Team

American Royal – 3rd High Team

NAILE – Reserve Champion Team

Meat Judging Team

TEAM MEMBERS: Kate Donaldson, Erika Grum, Allison McNamara, Eric Quisenberry, Laney Stephens, KayLea Taylor and Kristian Thralls.

COACHES: Gretchen Mafi & Grace Harris

SPRING RESULTS:

National Western – 5th High Team Overall

Southwestern – 7th High Team Overall

South Plains – 2nd High Team Overall

Houston – 7th & 11th Overall

FALL RESULTS:

Eastern National – 5th Overall

American Royal – 6th Overall

High Plains – 5th Overall

International – 4th High Team Overall

Horse Judging Team

Ranch Horse Team

DIVISION II WORLD CHAMPIONS

TEAM MEMBERS: Grace Strief, Cheyenne Hawley, Delaney Sheridan, Lindsey Scherer, Kelci Gingrich, Tarah Hilt, Taylor Tiberg, Kennedy Wright and Sienna Mahaffy.

COACHES: Dr. Steven Cooper, Amy Hoffmann and Megan Newlon

RESULTS:

APHA – 4th High Team

All-American Quarter Horse Congress – Champion Team

AQHA World Show – 5th High Team

TEAM MEMBERS: Megan Newlon, Sydney Van Pelt, Abby Steffee, Mia Merciez, Lillian Sloan, Ashlyn Igo, Allison Sharp, Stephanie Gripp and Eden Manuel.

COACH: Marissa Chapa

RESULTS:

JPH Collegiate Horse Show – D2 Collegiate Champions

Stock Horse of Texas World Show – D2 Collegiate Champions

MAKING HISTORY

In just a few short years, OSU's Ranch Horse Team has gone from a brand-new program to world champions.

At the 2024 Stock Horse of Texas World Show, held in Abilene, the team captured their first-ever Division II World Championship. This milestone places this young team among the top collegiate programs in the country.

The Stock Horse of Texas World Show is a multi-day event that tests both horse and rider across four events: reining, ranch trail, ranch riding and working cow horse.

The Ranch Horse Team was founded only a few years ago, in 2020. The team competes at the D II level and riders provide their own horses. The Ranch Horse Team strives to promote the versatile ranch horse and preserve western culture. The team seeks to equip its members with leadership in order to lead the equine industry of tomorrow.

Thank You!

To the following sponsors of the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences

Oklahoma State University

101 Animal Science Stillwater, OK 74078-6065