Country Lifestyle

Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur

Published

6 years ago

May 9, 2019

On January 14, 2019, Blayne Arthur was sworn in as the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture. While many women have made careers in agriculture, Secretary Arthur’s position holds a special distinction – she’s the first female to hold the title in Oklahoma.

“It is certainly humbling to have the opportunity to serve in this capacity. There are many women in agriculture that have done great things, and I feel they paved the way for the rest of us,” Secretary Arthur noted.

She added, “Traditionally in Oklahoma agriculture, leadership positions have been a little more male dominated, so I am excited for the opportunity. I think women can bring a unique voice and perspective to the conversation when we discuss ag issues and the impact on farmers and ranchers.”

Secretary Arthur acts as Governor Stitt’s chief advisor on policy development and implementation related to agriculture, food and forestry. She also holds the titles of Oklahoma Commissioner of Agriculture and the President of the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture, but she isn’t a career politician.

She grew up near Verden, a small town outside of Chickasha, Okla., in Grady County, on her grandfather’s land. Her family raised soybeans, wheat, cattle and horses. Heavily involved in 4H as a child, she transitioned to the FFA program while there. “Mike and Shirley Stevens were a husband and wife ag teacher team at Chickasha. Thinking back now I probably spent more time with them than I did at home because I showed a lot of cattle, but also did public speaking and judging contests across Oklahoma. They certainly had an influence in my career path,” she said. “Grady County was a great place to grow up because we’ve got some great producers with a long history of ag production, as well as many fine educators and ag activists.”

Living on the farm taught Secretary Arthur the value of hard work, but also many lessons in some of the challenges Oklahoma producers see in the livestock and crop sectors. As an example, her family’s homeplace is close to the Washita River, so when it rains the river can flood onto their wheat pastures. “It was an early exposure to the lesson that mother nature can surely make it rough being in production ag, even when you do all the right things. I saw a lot of that as a youth,” she said.

After high school, Secretary Arthur attended Oklahoma State University, where she majored in Agriculture Economics. Her high school sweetheart, Jerrod, also went to OSU. The two married in 2006, making their home just outside of Stillwater with their 10-year-old son Kelton and six-year-old daughter Kennedy.

Jerrod raises and sells show cattle specifically for 4H and FFA members. Having worked for many show cattle producers, Jerrod found his niche helping kids and teaching them about daily care, grooming, feeding and nutrition. “It’s hard to make a living in the cattle business, period, but we thought the show cattle would be something good for us to target,” Arthur explained.

The Arthurs hold a cattle camp every summer with the youth that have purchased cattle. “We want to ensure they have a very good, global perspective on the beef industry. They need to know that you can have the cow you need to, but if you don’t do everything else that you need, it won’t work,” she said.

The work has been rewarding. “We take a lot of pride in raising animals that are successful in the show pen, but ultimately what we want is for that young exhibitor to find value in that experience. Everyone wants to win, but really the things they learn from showing the livestock is why it has been such a great thing for us and our family,” she said.

Career Path

Arthur credits Dr. Joe Williams, her advisor at Oklahoma State, for much of her success. “He was wonderful and helped me get my first job out of school. I love OSU, and I think the College of Ag is the best on campus. The staff there really takes an interest in the students that come through college. They truly want them to be successful in their careers,” she said.

Arthur’s first job was as a loan officer, which involved traveling Oklahoma finding loan packages for small businesses. “It was a great chance for me to see a lot of rural Oklahoma and the challenges that exist there from a rural economic development perspective,” she said.

While the work was enjoyable, Arthur desired a job more closely aligned with agriculture. That’s when Dr. Becky Brewer, the State Veterinarian at the Department of Agriculture, passed word that Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach was looking for an assistant. Although she had no political experience, the job was intriguing.

“The Secretary was kind enough to extend me an interview. I had certainly gone in with the feeling that it was just a courtesy, but I talked to him about my background and my interest in agriculture. He called me on the way home and asked when I could come to work,” she said. “I worked for him a couple years, and he gave me many chances to work with our commodity groups here in Oklahoma. I was also able to learn about policy and how it interacts with our agency and our producers. A lot of what I’ve had opportunities to do is because of him.”

Secretary Peach had been appointed by Governor Brad Henry, a democrat, and when Governor Mary Fallin, a republican, was elected, she appointed Jim Reese to the position. “I didn’t know Secretary Reese previously. I spoke with him and he let me stay and asked if I would like to do all the legislative work over at the Capitol. Although I had some exposure, I did not have a lot of experience, but I said, ‘Ok, great!’ anyways,” she recalled with a laugh. “It as a steep learning curve. I had a lot of support and guidance from our commodity folks who guided me along the way. I worked there for more than six years, and I certainly loved my job as the Deputy Commissioner at the department.”

A new opportunity appeared in 2016 when the 4H Foundation, located in Stillwater, was looking for a new Executive Director. “4H is personal and special to me, plus I had two small kids so the chance to work closer to home was a great fit. I learned a lot during my time at the 4H Foundation, because the non-profit world is certainly different from the state government. It was also housed on campus, so I got to learn more about academia and higher education from an administrative perspective,” she said. “I got to meet so many wonderful people, including 4H educators across the state, members, volunteers, and donors. I was there until the Governor called and asked me to come talk about agriculture.”

Learn more about Secretary Arthur in the May 2019 issue of Oklahoma Farm & Ranch.

Country Lifestyle

Riding for the Brand

Published

4 days ago

June 12, 2025

bowienews

By: Christopher Dysinger

According to the Code of the West a man who has integrity is one who rides for the brand. If you are unfamiliar with cowboy parlance this phrase is used to describe being loyal to the outfit you work for. Cowboys were, “intensely loyal to the outfit they were working for and would fight to the death for it. They would follow their wagon boss through hell and never complain.” -Teddy Blue Abbot. Riding for the brand means being loyal and when I consider what it means to be loyal I am reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” To me, to take up the cross and follow the Lord is the epitome of what it means to ride for the brand.

When you place your trust in the Lord Jesus you are signing on to His outfit, to speak the language of the West. When you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus by faith, He saved you and from this point you are riding for His brand. In taking up your cross and following Him you have pledged to be loyal, and this means you face any hardship or trial like a cowboy on the trail moving the herd. Any complaint must be swallowed in the same way you would swallow a cup of coffee. When I hear our faith and loyalty to the Lord Jesus put into these terms it stirs something within me that moves me to keep right on riding for the brand.

Louis L’amour wrote, “Riding for the brand was an expression of loyalty to a man’s employer or the particular outfit he rode for. It was considered a compliment of the highest order in an almost feudal society. If a man didn’t like a ranch or the way they conducted their affairs he was free to quit, and many did; but if he stayed, he gave loyalty and expected it. A man was rarely judged by his past only by his actions. Many a man who came west left things behind him he would rather forget, so it was not the custom to ask questions. Much was forgiven if a man had courage and integrity and if he did his job. If a man gave less than his best, somebody always had to pick up the slack, and he was not admired.” It is the same when a person gives his or her heart to Jesus.

When you come to the Lord Jesus you are not judged by your past. When you come to the Lord Jesus, repenting of sin and seeking forgiveness, everything from your past is left behind. All will be forgiven. 1 John 1:9 reads, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you place your faith in the Lord Jesus you are promising to be loyal and in return you will receive the same. He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. When you walk with the Lord Jesus through life you are indeed, “riding for the brand.”

“Riding for the brand” is not just an expression of loyalty nor is it just an expression of pride, it is also an expression of love. When a cowboy claims to be riding for the brand, he is telling any other outfit who may seek his loyalty, that he cannot give it, because he has given his word to another. It is the same when we pledge our faith and loyalty to the Lord Jesus. If any would call us away from Christ we cannot go, because we are riding for the brand.

The End

This article is an excerpt from the book, The Bible and the Code of the West by Dr. Christopher Dysinger.

Country Lifestyle

Farm Dogs & Table Scraps

Published

3 weeks ago

May 27, 2025

bowienews

What’s Safe and What’s Not?

Growing up on a farm, our dogs were tough. They roamed the pastures, slept under the barn, and ate just about anything they could get their paws on—whether we meant for them to or not. I’ll admit, I never thought twice when one of our old cow dogs snatched a biscuit off the table or licked up a spill from the barn floor. I’ve even seen a dog steal a whole rib bone off a plate and trot off like he’d won the lottery. And somehow, they always seemed fine.

But here’s the thing—just because they survived doesn’t mean it was safe. For every farm dog that lucked out, there’s another that wasn’t so fortunate. Some human foods can be downright toxic to dogs, and a little bit of bad luck (or a smaller, more sensitive dog) can turn a harmless snack into an emergency.

Common toxic foods lying around the farmhouse

If you’ve got a farm dog—or any dog, really—you need to be aware of the dangers lurking in everyday foods. Some of the biggest culprits include:

Chocolate – The darker it is, the worse it is. Even a little can cause vomiting, seizures, or worse.

Grapes & Raisins – No one’s exactly sure why, but they can cause kidney failure fast.

Onions & Garlic – In large enough amounts, these can destroy red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Xylitol (Found in Sugar-Free Gum & Candy) – This artificial sweetener can send a dog’s blood sugar crashing and cause liver failure.

Alcohol – Even small amounts can be deadly to dogs, affecting their nervous system much more than it does ours.

Bones from Cooked Meat – While not necessarily toxic, they can splinter and cause serious internal injuries.

Macadamia Nuts – These can lead to weakness, vomiting, and even paralysis in dogs.

What to do if your dog eats something toxic

First, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either. If you know your dog ate something dangerous, call your vet immediately. They can tell you whether to induce vomiting or if it’s something that requires urgent care. If it’s after hours, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).

Prevention is always the best medicine, so keep toxic foods out of reach. That might mean keeping the trash can secured, making sure kids don’t slip the dog a treat under the table, or just being more mindful of what’s left on the counter.

Our farm dogs might have been lucky, but luck isn’t a great strategy when it comes to their health. A little awareness goes a long way in making sure they stay happy, healthy, and ready for the next day’s work.

For more information
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Pet Poison Helpline: www.petpoisonhelpline.com

Visit www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/foods-your-dog-should-never-eat