On the Horizon: Oklahoma – a Blue State?

Oklahoma republicans proudly proclaim the state as the reddest in the nation. In fact, during the last presidential election, not a single county voted democratic and republicans made a clean sweep of statewide offices. So it may come as a bit of a surprise, that Oklahoma has been a hot bed of socialism.

In this week’s video blog we take a look at a long time Oklahoma Company whose origins go back to its socialists beginnings.

Rob McClendon

On The Horizon: Flying Back in Time

Ever since I was little I always remember looking high in the sky in search of airplanes. They fascinated me. They are so big, yet seem light as a feather. When I got the opportunity to get on an airplane for the first time as a 6 year-old, I was ecstatic. I have flown on countless planes since then and still marvel at their abilities in the air.

As we continue to advance in today’s world it is important to look back and recognize how we got where we are today. In this week’s video blog, we travel to Oolagah, OK, where TV sensation and All-American hero, Will Rogers, was born. We take a look at the 76th Annual Will Rogers Fly-in, an event held in honor of Rogers and Wiley Post – two men responsible for so much in the aviation industry.

Andy Barth

On the Horizon: The Voice of the People—Will Rogers

After working on this story about Will Rogers and Politics and other stories we’ve done on him in the past, I’ve come to the conclusion that I would liked to have known Will Rogers. He was a down to earth kind of guy and was very funny in an off-handed kind of way. Will was very intelligent and extremely well liked. Even when he was making fun of you, you still liked him. Many presidents and political leaders were the subject of his jokes but I think it was something that probably made them better known to people because Will spoke about them.

Many late night television hosts try to be like him with their running commentary on the day’s news but they just don’t hold a candle to Will Rogers. Even when he was being funny, he was still kind about it. Yes…I would liked to have known him and in this week’s video blog, I hope you will get a glimpse of just who Will Rogers was.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Breaking the Mold

More and more women are being seen in positions that are typically performed by men, as opposed to earlier days, when women were to stay at home and take care of the house and children. Women in the work place is very common these days as a duel income between spouses to support a family is almost mandatory in most situations because of the high demand of our society and our nation’s economy.

What isn’t necessarily common is females working in positions that are stereotypically deemed strictly a “mans” job. In this week’s video blog, we get to know four young females who are changing the way we view men’s work; making us realize that if a woman can perform a job then there is no need to worry about gender.

Kela Kelln

On the Horizon: If you build it, they will become it

Every year the Oklahoma Aerospace Alliance puts on a summit to showcase aerospace in Oklahoma. As part of that summit, they have an educator’s day to bring together local educators, industry, and government to create the aerospace workforce of tomorrow. They want to make Oklahoma the global aerospace destination of the world. This year they did things a little differently and I believe it just might work.

They brought the teachers in and gave them hands-on instruction on how to teach students and peak their interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It was definitely a fun-filled day. While there, I saw teachers laughing, crying out in amazement, discussing new ways of teaching, and really enjoying the learning process themselves. Many can’t wait to take what they learned back to their classrooms to see just how much their students will enjoy learning this way too.

I wished I could have had this type of instruction when I was growing up. Who knows, I might have gone into engineering or maybe science (math was definitely out because I simply don’t do very well other than basic math). Technology is as close as I come currently to anything in the STEM fields but I might have given other areas a harder look if I’d know just how much fun they could be.

In this week’s video blog, see how local teachers are spending their Summer break in the hopes of bringing new ways of teaching to the classroom and maybe getting students interested in aerospace once again.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Bring Home the Cattle

The cows are starting to come home in Southwestern Oklahoma. But high prices are slowing down the process. When I traveled to the Southwest corner of the state last year, I found crunchy ground, long trailer lines at the sale yards, and people rationing their water. It was site I prayed I would never have to see again.

As this spring rolled around, the rains poured across North Central Oklahoma where I live. But I wondered what was happening with our friends to the Southwest of us. I was very pleased to find that they had gotten 14 inches of rain by the month of June! Things were definitely turning around for them and I knew I had to get back down there and tell the other half of their story.

In this week’s video blog, we take a look at how the citizens of Caddo County survived the drought and how they are bouncing back and reclaiming their livelihoods.

Andy Barth

On the Horizon: Bring on the Rain

Wheat is one of our most basic commodities. From this crop we get breads, pasta, supplements, animal feed and a wide array of other foods. But last year when a drought threatened the southern plains, wheat and many other crops took a hit and their producers were left collecting insurance settlements.

Luckily, when February rounded the corner, the clouds opened and rain poured from the skies. The water continued for months and the wheat grew thicker and taller. By harvest time, producers were harvesting a bumper crop.

In this week’s video blog, we take a look at the difference a year and a little rain can make in the lives of wheat farmers.

Andy Barth

On the Horizon: Wine Destination

Wine production was a significant component of the Oklahoma agricultural economy in the 1920s. The industry was destroyed by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s and the introduction of Prohibition in the United States. But vineyards and wineries are making a come-back.

I have gone on a number of Agritourism bus tours and many of them have included either a vineyard, a winery, or both. Each time it’s evident that the people on the bus enjoy their wine. Now most people think of wine tasting as something you do in California or France, but you can taste wine right here in Oklahoma. And let me tell you, some of it is quite good. Some people even hop in a limo and “tour” the local wineries to get a taste of Oklahoma wines without the problem of who the designated driver is. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Oklahoma currently has about 52 wineries. In this week’s video blog, get a taste of the success Whispering Meadows Winery has as a one stop shop for any wine connoisseur.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Water Wars

Growing up in Washington State, water supply was never an issue. I lived thirty miles from the Columbia River, which supplies much of the state with drinking, irrigation and other water needs. My community is known as one of the most agriculturally productive areas in the world because of irrigation. Without water, it would be a dry desert where the only crop would be sage brush. When I moved to Oklahoma, I was curious to learn about the long-term battle caused by water. I had always assumed that Oklahoma did not really have any water, except on the few occasions when it rained. I was shocked to learn that the water in southeastern Oklahoma could supply the entire state and then some. One of the bodies of water in this battle is the Blue River. It trickles quietly through Johnston County and supplies the city of Durant with much of their water. In today’s video blog, we take a look at two groups that have come together to preserve and promote water quality and conservation. Their hope is to have water for future generations. Andy Barth

On the Horizon: Water Quality

If you are an Oklahoman you would have to be living under a rock to not know just how important water is to our state. Turn on a TV and you can’t avoid being barraged by commercials claiming ownership of our valuable water supplies.

But amidst all the arguing about who owns what, another success story is emerging. Oklahoma can now claim more improvement in our water quality than any state in the nation.

In this week’s On the Horizon video blog, we focus on water quality in Oklahoma and meet some of the people who have made our success stories possible.

Rob

On the Horizon: Searching for Interns

I’ve worked with many interns over the years and most of them have been good students and willing to learn whatever we put in front of them. An internship is designed to help students get real world experience. It definitely gives them an advantage over someone who hasn’t been able to get that experience especially when applying for jobs which in this economy are at a premium.

I know when we hire someone, we are always looking for whatever experience they have to help us know what kind of an employee they will be. Can they get the job done? Do they know what they are doing? At least with an internship, you know they’ve been exposed to the realities of the job and more than likely do have at least some experience in doing the job.

But what about someone who is intellectually or developmentally disabled? Who hires them? Who gives them that real world experience so they can have a job and be able to be independent just like the rest of us? In this week’s video blog, I’ll introduce you to a couple of young men who despite their disabilities, are learning through internships about real life work experience and discovering the satisfaction of a job well done.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Bully pulpit

Over my career I have interviewed presidents, celebrities, and some of our world’s greatest thinkers. But I can tell you, none of those interviews were any more powerful than the one I had this week with Kirk Smalley.

Mr. Smalley is the father of Ty Smalley, the 11-year-old Perkins, Oklahoma boy who committed suicide in response to repeated bullyings at school. One can only imagine how devastating such a tragedy could be, but rather than retreat into the pain and remorse of his son’s death Kirk Smalley started an anti-bullying effort that is growing worldwide.

I can’t imagine a more effective spokesperson on bullying…because he is what he is… a good ole’ country boy from rural Oklahoma, who had his life turned upside down. His story is a tough one to watch, but one I believe every child, parent, grandparent, and teacher should.

Rob McClendon

On the Horizon: One Victim Too Many

Childhood is supposed to be a fun and innocent time in our lives. While danger and fear is an unfortunate part of life, it should not permeate our youth. The schoolyard is meant for playtime and the classroom is a place for the mind to grow and prosper. As we go through the school system, be it private or public school, clicks and groups begin to separate. Kids begin to view others as not being good enough and others see their vulnerability as an excuse to lash out at other students. By the time students enter middle school, a definite pecking order is established and if you are at the wrong end you may find yourself shoved in a locker or falling victim to the all-too-famous “swirly.”

Today’s bullies are not only beating kids up on the playground, that will get them caught too easily, they are resorting to cyberbullying and emotional terror. Today’s victims are not just swallowing it and hoping it goes away either. They are taking matters into their own hands and either harming their attacker or themselves.

In today’s video blog, we take a look at how bullying affects students and what they are doing to stop it. While the footage they shot is fictional, the issue they go up against is all too real. These students are talented at what they do. They tell a gripping story and will inspire you to stand up and start a movement.

Andy Barth

On the Horizon: One Sweet Career

It all started in Brenham, Texas. Blue Bell Creamery first opened its doors in 1907 and soon became known as “the best ice cream in the world,” but Texans aren’t the only ones enjoying the sweet taste of Blue Bell.

For Marty Kilgore his career at the Blue Bell Creamery Plant in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, began at a very early age. After his high school graduation Marty stopped in for something other than ice cream…a job. Years later, he’s still there heading up the operation that is sure to put a smile on your face.

In this week’s video blog, Marty takes us through the massive Blue Bell plant and shows us just how your favorite flavor gets from the cow to the grocery store.

Courtenay Dehoff

On the Horizon: Play Ball!

From grand slams to strike outs, baseball is known as one of America's favorite pastimes. Fans have always celebrated traditions like cracking peanuts, enjoying the seventh inning stretch or chowing down on a ballpark hotdog.

In this week's video blog, we take a look at the economic impact the Oklahoma City Redhawks have on the community. We also take a sneak peak at some of the new improvements in the concession stands.

Andy Barth

On the Horizon: Pathways to Prosperity

A college education has long been the entry way into the American dream. Yet unemployment of recent college graduates is in the double digits.

In today video blog, we ask the question, are America’s youth getting the education they need, or just what they want. Few would argue that the U.S. will remain a world leader only if we are the best educated nation, with the most productive workforce in the world.

Yet in less than ten years the U.S. has fallen from first to twelfth among nations in the percentage of college age students completing degrees. This has happened at a time when states across the nation have cut education funding, making a public college education less affordable.

As Harvard professor Bill Symonds points out, that is why he believes students need to be more work ready, essentially getting a bigger bang for their educational buck. But I have to believe this is certainly not an either or proposition. While our country certainly should focus more on occupational certifications, I hope they are not at the expense of courses like history and civics, which give us a commonality and a shared story which speaks to the very heart of what it means to be an American.

Rob McClendon

On the Horizon: Ag is Everywhere, Just Ask a Teacher

One hundred years ago nearly every man, woman and child had to be involved in growing the food and fiber he or she needed just to survive. Today only about two percent of the American population grows all we need, leaving the rest of us to grow in other areas - in medical advancement, communication and information technology, space exploration, the arts and much more. Most of us are three or four generations removed from the farm, but all of us depend on agriculture. Tomorrow's leaders must be agriculturally-literate to protect and preserve the advantages we gain from a strong agriculture. Building that essential literacy is the purpose of Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom.

The Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom curriculum features lessons for grades pre-K-8. The lessons use agricultural topics and ag-related activities to reinforce core skills in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts and Music. Most of the lessons are interdisciplinary and teach many of the Oklahoma State Department of Education's Priority Academic Student Skills (P.A.S.S). On top of that, they’re really fun lessons. I kind of wish I would have had Ag in the Classroom when I was going to school. It might have made learning more enjoyable.

Now they even have programs designed for teachers so they can learn how to better teach using the curriculum and also demonstrate agricultural practices to their students. Each teacher has her/his own approach to teaching but some are more creative than others and are able to make learning about agriculture fun and exciting every day for their students.

In this week’s video blog, meet Shirley Lettkeman, this year’s Ag in the Classroom Teach of the Year who you can tell is very dedicated about letting her students know where their food comes from.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Greatest Generation

I was born late in life to my parents, so many of the stories I heard growing up where the same depression era stories my friends grandparents told. Even as a child I was fascinated by the toughness of parents generation; first they struggled through the dustbowl of the 30’s, only to fight a world war in the 40’s. So when I had the chance to sit down with 89 year old Jack Givens I jumped at the chance to talk about his life.

Born outside of Mangum, Givens remembers the black blizzards of the dustbowl that blotted out the sun. His college days at Oklahoma A&M where interrupted by Pearl Harbor. In ROTC, given was off to officer candidate school, only to find himself on the beaches of Normandy in June of 1944. Givens likes to say he walked and crawled across Europe dodging bullets. What he is reluctant to tell you in doing so he earned 3 purple hearts and a bronze star.

After the war Givens found his way back home to run a family farm. His operations grew and so did his success. So much he was inducted into Oklahoma’s Ag Hall of Fame by Governor Fallin.

At 89 his mind is sharp and health remarkable. While we were shooting our story with him, I had to ask to ask him to slow down when we were doing our “walking” shots because he kept speeding out of frame.

In this week’s video blog I want to give you just a glimpse into a life I believe is well lived.

On the Horizon: They’re Just Like Us

On my recent trip to Ireland with the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program (OALP), we visited many farms around this small island nation. What we discovered was, they’re not all that different than farms back home in Oklahoma. They have many of the same concerns we have, government mandates, subsidies, production values, etc., only in some cases, they deal with much more than we do. I overheard one of my classmates saying, after coming here, I won’t complain about the mandates we have to deal with, they’re much, much less stringent than in Europe.

We were also able to see a lot of diversification from dairy farming to vegetable farming to sheep farming and also some of the problems that they have been dealing with for years. In this week’s video blog, travel to Ireland with OALP and see what we saw and learned when it comes to Irish farming.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: 40 Shades of Green

I recently went with the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program on their international trip to Scotland and Ireland. Oh how beautiful it was. In Ireland, when they say forty shades of green, they mean it. It’s green everywhere! And like Oklahoma, Spring arrived early just in time for our visit.

While there, we not only visited farms and ranches to see how agriculture is done outside the U.S., we also had opportunities to see some of the sites. In this week’s video blog, we take you to Ireland to see how these Oklahoman’s had a little bit of fun in the Emerald Isle.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: What an Experience!

I’ve been a member of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program for the past eighteen months. We have gone all over Oklahoma and experienced all types of agriculture from cotton in the Southwest to Mushrooms in the Northeast. Agriculture is still big business here even though only about two percent of the population actually works in the agriculture industry.

At the end of the program, there is an international trip taken to show Oklahomans how agriculture is done outside of the U.S. It’s held in a different location each time and this year we had the opportunity to go to Scotland and Ireland. I have to say, I was really excited when I found out where we were going. I have always wanted to visit both countries.

I wasn’t disappointed. Both countries are absolutely beautiful! I was afraid that when we went in the later part of February, it would be gray and dreary and not very pretty kind of like it is here in Oklahoma in the Winter. Boy was I mistaken! While it was cold, it wasn’t gray and dreary (okay the weather was a lot of the time but not the scenery). It was quite green. Scotland not as much as Ireland, but green enough.

In this week’s video blog, see what Scotland was like for twenty-five Oklahomans including myself.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: You Gotta Believe

I am reminded of the story of Peter Pan when I write this week’s blog. In the tale the only children that could fly where those that truly believed they could. There is an interesting debate going on at the state capitol over cutting the state income tax, that some believe will help our economy soar, while other predict it will spiral us downward into a third rate economically uncompetitive state.

I wish the debate was just a political one but I fear the outcome could affect Oklahoma’s economic success for generations.  At stake is not just how we pay for state services like schools and roads, but whether we as taxpayers want to pay for them at all. Oklahoma is essentially run on our income tax, where other states like Texas fund their state government with a taxing formula more heavily dependent on property taxes.

You can’t throw a rock down a hallway on North Lincoln and not hit a politician that made campaign promises to lower taxes. It is a common refrain while running for office, but a difficult policy to carry out because all those taxes fund services that many people enjoy.  So those in favor of cutting taxes are fond of saying that, in fact, we will not have to cut services at all, because of the increased economic activity lower taxes will promote. Problem is, every economist I have talked to says there is no historical proof this works. In fact, it first grew in popularity in the Reagan years when supply side economics was the fad, and our national debt bloomed into the billions.

But with the hopes that I can have my ice cream and eat it too, I visited with economic development specialists and business leaders, to see if lower taxes are the driving force behind economic growth.  In this week’s video blog, I talk to the experts to see what they think.  I am curious to hear your opinion too and remember; all you need is trust and a little bit of pixie dust!

Rob McClendon

On the Horizon: Thinking Green

There is so much new technology out there when it comes to building your house.  A lot of it has to do with keeping the environment green.  If I was going to build a house nowadays, I think I would seriously look at these new technologies and see how much of a savings I could get by building green.  I know what my energy bill is now and I definitely wish I had green technology in my current house to bring that bill way down.

In this week’s video blog, we tell you why one man decided to build green even though it was a little more expensive to do so.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Simulation Medicine

For many nursing students, just finding time to do their clinicals at a local hospital can be tricky.  They have to find time around their busy schedules of being a student, working, and possibly being a parent.  It’s not always easy.  And then there’s the fear of “what if I screw up?”  I know that would be one that would really freak me out…the possibility I could hurt someone before I was even licensed to practice any form of medicine.  But there is now a solution that takes care of all of the issues.

In this week’s video blog, we show you the latest technology that is helping students practice their medical clinicals in the classroom, on their own time, and without the worry of injuring someone.  He’s called SimMan.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Temporary Ag Labor is NOT stealing U.S. Jobs

I heard a lady complain the other day on a website to President Obama about how her husband couldn’t find work but that we were providing employment to people from outside the United States and that it was unfair.  It is true about hiring foreign labor but what she didn’t realize or point out is this:  the employment is for agriculture work.  It’s usually backbreaking and in areas where agriculture is.  It’s also seasonal which means it’s not permanent.   And it’s only given to foreign workers when no one else will do the work.   It’s called H-2A.


An H-2A visa allows a foreign national entry into the U.S. for temporary or seasonal agricultural work. There are several requirements of the employer in regards to this visa. The H-2A temporary agricultural program establishes a means for agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature.  Currently in the United States there are about 30,000 temporary agricultural workers under this visa program. All of these workers are supposed to be covered by U.S. wage laws, workers' compensation and other standards.

Employers anticipating a shortage of agricultural workers and in need must apply at least 45 days before certification is necessary. This includes a requirement of an active effort, including newspaper and radio advertising, to recruit U.S. workers in areas of expected labor supply. Such recruitment must be at least equivalent to that conducted by non-H-2A agricultural employers in the same or similar crops and area. The employer must agree to give preference and engage in active recruitment of U.S. workers. The H-2A certification is valid for up to 364 days. As temporary or seasonal agricultural employment, the work is performed during certain seasons of the year or for a limited time period of less than one year when the employer can show that the need for the foreign worker is truly temporary.

I don’t think the woman’s husband would really have applied for any of these jobs especially since he probably would have had to relocate and it wouldn’t be a professional job.  And that’s the problem, U.S. citizens evidently think they are too good to work on a farm.  It’s very hard work and most of us prefer cushier jobs indoors where we won’t perspire or break a nail.  But we don’t have a problem complaining that these foreign workers are “stealing” U.S. jobs.  WRONG!  As we’ll see in this week’s video blog, they are leaving their loved ones thousands of miles away and taking the jobs that no one is applying for and then sending their hard earned money back home to their families AND they go back home when the work is done…they don’t stay but they might return the next growing season to do a job that most U.S. citizens just won’t do.

Alisa Hines

On the Horizon: Give Our Vets a Fighting Chance

Too often you hear stories of our war veterans coming home to simply be forgotten. We welcome them with open -arms when they return, but often times we forget that these heroes may have trouble stepping back into civilian life.

A courageous program at Oklahoma State University, one of the few of its kind, is changing all that. The veteran entrepreneurship program brings disabled veterans from across the country together for eight intense days of training.

In this week’s video blog we meet program participants both new and old and learn how they are changing their businesses and lives for the better.
Courtenay DeHoff

On the Horizon: Battle Lines Are Drawn

As a person I believe we all should be respectful of one another. I know my beliefs do not align with everyone else’s, and that is alright. I have friends who have different religious backgrounds or political affiliations than I do. But we realize we have differing opinions, we can appreciate and respect others' opinions, without fear of retaliation and that is what makes our country great.

What I have an issue with is when people with differing opinions have no respect for others or their views. What is worse is when those people or groups slander others, and their facts are skewed, made up or are simply false due to lack of knowledge.  As a journalist we are constantly under pressure to fact check to get the story right. I feel if someone is going to “report” on something they should be held to the same standard.

The attack on Oklahoma hog producers by the Humane Society of the United States is a perfect example of this. They conducted one of their “undercover” missions to gather footage and information and claimed Seaboard, and other large hog operations, were conducting inhumane production practices. Their target was the use of gestation crates. In their gruesome video, HSUS claimed the sows are kept in the crates their whole lives. They went on to say that crates threaten the lives of the hogs.

Any person who has been around the livestock industry, especially hogs, will know how false these accusations are. The crates are used to protect sows from fighting. If you have been around sows you know they will fight for blood. Additionally, sows that farrow outside of crates are more likely to step on and lay on their pigs, resulting in severe injuries and death of piglets. To me that is much more inhumane.

The bottom line is if you do not know about production agriculture it is time to stop telling those who have been doing it all of their lives the “right way” to do things. Producers are tasked with the enormous responsibility with feeding and clothing the world. That responsibility will not be accomplished if everyone keeps sticking their nose in and offering their “expertise” when they are not aware of the whole situation. Are there bad apples in agriculture? Absolutely! But let’s not punish those who are doing it right.

Andy Barth