Tag: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
For those with an ag business & those who just like ag.
Central Tech is often associated with students, particularly high school students, but did you know they serve businesses as well? Even more specifically, agricultural businesses?
Whitney Harrison coordinates the Agricultural Business Management Program at Central Tech. They offer various specialized trainings and one-on-one consulting to agri-businesses.
“Being the owner of a farm operation myself, I understand how overwhelming it can all be. As agri-business coordinator, my goal, is to help all agricultural businesses succeed.”
As with any industry, Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are struggling with increasing costs and weather conditions. It’s not as easy as turning on a sprinkler to water our hay ground or pasture grass. Every day producers make decisions that drastically impact their operation’s future. Do we fertilize? How many cows do we sell? Or the harsh question, how much longer can we hang on? These are tough decisions to make, but with help and education, they can be a little easier.
Harrison says, “I am prepared to assist with record keeping practices such as Quicken, financial education including financial statements, hands-on workshops from beekeeping to cattle handling, to production improvements such as reading a bull’s EPD’s and how that impacts calf crop.”
A sneak peek at her October classes revealed that artificial insemination, ag finance, and floral design are coming up.
In addition to agri-business classes, Central Tech offers small business and entrepreneurial workshops.
September Start Dates:
- Deer Processing 9/9
- Business Basics 9/22
- Product Photography 9/26
Stay current on ag and business workshops or request assistance at centraltech.edu/ag.
Ag and Business Classes:
Tag: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
DRUMRIGHT, OK – Central Tech will be hosting a Pond Management class on Friday, July 29 at the Drumright campus from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m for a total cost of $10.
Participants will start class in the Business Development Building, 201 North Settle Drive, but won’t be staying there for long. A tour of three pond sites close to the Drumright campus will happen during this class. “The pond management tour is an opportunity to see ways to improve your pond whether it’s for aesthetics or functionality reasons, that will in turn, increase your property’s value,” said Agribusiness Management Coordinator Whitney Harrison.
The three hour class will give students a working knowledge and checklist to inspect ponds to ensure overall longevity as well as information on tools and resources available through local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices.
“Many people are not aware of the programs NRCS has available, this will give pond owners a chance to learn and ask questions,” said Harrison.
According to her, attendees will have the opportunity to meet experts with information on a variety of topic.
“Our local NRCS conservationists will be on hand to discuss funding and design resources that they have available to our area producers,” she said.
Other experts participants will have the opportunity to receive advice from include:
- OSU Professor of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and Aquaculture Dr. Marley Been
- Cheryl Cheadle from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s Water Quality Blue Thumb Program State Coordinator
- Water Quality Monitoring Specialist with Oklahoma Conservation Commission Wes Shockley.
By DeAnna Maddox, Cushing Citizen
Tag: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
DRUMRIGHT, Okla. – Yesterday, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (CareerTech) and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry announced new educational programs to help curb the workforce shortage in the meat processing industry.
The curriculum was designed to encourage more commodity processing within the state and help address the ever-growing labor shortage within meat processing plants across the state. It also helps to supply a skilled workforce to rural areas and processing plants across the state.
“This is an exciting day for the Oklahoma meat processing sector,” said Blayne Arthur, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture. “I am very proud to be here especially because this solves problems across the board. A lot of times, we just address one piece of something but this provides a solution to both our producers and consumers.”
The Central Technology Center plans to offer multi-level, customizable, online courses to provide students with the certification that aligns with the American Meat Science Association, while still supporting industry need. It will provide workforce development and training within a timely manner.
Dr. Marcie Mack, state director of CareerTech, was in attendance yesterday to announce the new courses. She explained how CareerTech began the process of offering these courses by meeting with an industry panel to determine the specific criteria and credentials they are needing in their workforce.
“Right now, we have the new opportunity for individuals to enroll on our website in three meat certification programs,” said Dr. Mack. “The initial phase will be online to help students get their foot in the door. Eventually, we will move to in-person classes for courses such as carcass harvesting.”
For more information about the curriculum or how to enroll visit the Meat Processing class page here.
Morgan Vance, Public Information Officer
Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry