Oklahoma State University honored an exceptional group of individuals who have brought distinction to the Ferguson College of Agriculture and demonstrated a continuous commitment to agricultural sciences and natural resources. OSU Agriculture, comprised of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies – OSU Extension and OSU Ag Research – held an Honors ceremony on Oct. 3 to recognize the recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni and Champion for OSU Agriculture awards.
In the past 25 years, OSU Ag Research’s wheat breeding program has kept stripe rust and leaf rust at bay in wheat crops with varieties like Gallagher, Smith’s Gold, Green Hammer, OK Corral and Paradox; created durable dual-purpose wheat with varieties like Endurance, Duster, Gallagher and Doublestop CL+; released varieties that offer tolerance to the grassy weed herbicide Imazamox (Doublestop CL+ and Orange Blossom CL+); and discovered an altered version of what is now one of the most important disease-resistant wheat genes in breeding programs across the world. OSU’s wheat team hasn’t stopped there.
OSU Agriculture is celebrating a transformative year inside its new home, Agricultural Hall, embracing the expanded opportunities the space has brought to teaching, research and Extension.
OSU Agriculture is celebrating 75 years of the Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks, the nonprofit organization that serves as a bridge between OSU plant breeders and certified seed growers.
Oklahoma State University annually conducts wheat variety trials across the state to show how different varieties respond to local growing conditions. Information from each unique site provides farmers with detailed information to make sound planting decisions for their operations. The 2025 trial results are in progress, and the latest wheat harvest results can be found online.
Sophia Darrow, an OSU horticulture graduate student, is conducting surveys centered around the barriers grocery stores face with the goal of connecting the fields of horticulture, nutrition and business together to create awareness for people in the food industry and adjacent fields.
Flour from the OSU varieties Paradox, Breadbox and Firebox (dubbed the OX varieties) appears to provide an uncommonly high level of dough strength while maintaining varying levels of extensibility. OSU has partnered with Oklahoma-based Shawnee Milling Company and Farm Strategy, a food supply chain consultant, to research the potential of these three wheat varieties as a natural flour-based alternative to wheat gluten additives, such as vital wheat gluten
Oklahoma State University will honor five individuals who have brought distinctive credit to the university’s Ferguson College of Agriculture and contributed significantly to society. Shannon Angle, Bill Clymer, Robert Hodgen, M. John Kane and N. Malone Mitchell Jr. are recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. The honorees will be officially recognized during the OSU Agriculture Honors ceremony on Oct. 3.
Oklahoma State University will honor two individuals this fall who have demonstrated a commitment to agricultural sciences and natural resources. Thomas and Rhonda Coon are the 2025 Champion for OSU Agriculture Award recipients. They will be recognized during the OSU Agriculture Honors ceremony on Oct. 3.
