As posted on the High Plains Journal Web site, July 7, 2008.

A group of faculty, staff and students from Oklahoma State University, as well as others involved in the agricultural industry, recently got a first-hand look at the agricultural diversity the state has to offer.

Originated in 2004, the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Access Tour is a two-day trek around the state with a number of agricultural-related stops along the way.

Brent Kisling, state director for USDA Rural Development and member of the Ag Alumni Board at OSU, said the tour was organized with the purpose of strengthening the connection between OSU faculty and staff and the rural residents of the state.

"I believe that through our diversity of stops each year we are accomplishing this and showing even more of the state each time we do the tour," Kisling said.

The stops are selected by a committee of individuals including Ag Alumni Association board members, leadership from agricultural organizations in the state, as well as representatives from the office of Robert E. Whitson, vice president, dean and director, DASNR.

"We try to visit a different area of the state each year and try to diversify our type of stops as well," Kisling said. "If there is a partnership with OSU present, we highlight it. This tour impacts agriculture by allowing the folks in Stillwater to see first hand what is making rural Oklahoma tick and how they can adjust their curriculum or research to enhance successes or address changes. One of the professors on this year's tour said he saw a number of real world applications of what he was teaching that he can now use as examples in the classroom."

"This tour around the state is an excellent opportunity for faculty and staff who are new to Oklahoma to experience agriculture and to visit the grassroots operations that are so important to this state," Whitson said.

The first day of this year's trip included stops at Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, Oklahoma City; Express Ranches, Yukon; Braum's Dairy Farm, Tuttle; and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore. The second day of the tour included stops at Landgraf Pecans, Madill; Inslee Fish Farm, Inc., Connerville; and the Pontotoc County Career and Technology Center, Ada, which included an incubator business called Pure Prairie Creamery that specializes in goat cheese.

Eric Rebek, assistant professor and OSU Cooperative Extension Service entomology specialist, said that being new to Oklahoma, the Access Tour was a great learning opportunity.

"I wanted to broaden my knowledge about Oklahoma agriculture," he said. "This also was an opportunity to expand my network within OSU and around the state. I learned how innovative agriculture is in Oklahoma and how potentially lucrative it can be for rural Oklahomans."

A native of Wisconsin, Rebek said he is used to people from outside the Dairy State assuming incorrectly that Wisconsin revolves solely around milk and cheese.

"I didn't have any preconceived notions about Oklahoma agriculture and wasn't all that surprised at the diversity of agricultural enterprises in the state," he said.

OSU student Karolyn Bolay said she enjoyed the tour because it gave her an opportunity to visit with professors outside of the classroom and see staff outside of the workplace.

"On the tour I learned about the many different aspects of agriculture in Oklahoma," Bolay said. "I always knew that Oklahoma agriculture had a lot to offer, but I didn't know there were so many unique and different areas. From dairies to fish farms; Oklahoma has it."

Bolay said she believes the Access Tour is important for DASNR because it keeps people informed on the agricultural enterprises in which Oklahomans are involved.

"The tour also allows the industry professionals the opportunity to voice concerns to or just inform the Division about their form of agriculture. Making the connections between the Division and the industry professionals is a great way to keep the people at the university and in the industry informed of the changes going on in agriculture," Bolay said.

"I really enjoyed the Access Tour. It's a great opportunity for networking," said Dana Bessinger, Ag in the Classroom coordinator. "It was a chance to bring the head, heart and hands of agriculture together in a relaxing, fun atmosphere. I appreciate the chance to develop relationships that hopefully will continue in our work for the agricultural industry here in Oklahoma."

The Access Tour is sponsored by the OSU Agriculture Alumni Association, the Oklahoma Agriculture Experiment Station, American Farmers and Ranchers Association, Chisholm Trail Farm Credit, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Farm Service Agency, USDA Rural Development, Express Ranches, Noble Foundation and Pontotoc Career Technology Center.

This article appeared on High Plains Journal, www.hpj.com, on July 7, 2008.