The Oklahoma State University Extension Leadership Academy hosted a one-day training session on April 9 in Wewoka for program graduates to reconnect and follow up on project objectives.

The event focused on promoting OSU Extension at the county level through impact stories and mission- driven marketing strategies that share how Extension improves the lives of Oklahomans. Participants, who are OSU Extension educators with three to 15 years of experience, discussed strategies for overcoming challenges in their local areas.

“This training was a valuable opportunity to bring our current class together with the previous cohort to explore innovative ways to engage with our communities and exchange ideas on how we’re working to enhance public interaction with OSU Extension,” said Lauren Minyard, county Extension director and agriculture/4-H educator in Love County.

The workshop also featured Scott Peters, a professor in the Department of Global Development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. Peters, an expert researcher on how land-grant universities impact communities, led a guided storytelling activity to demonstrate the power of information sharing to connect with others, find common ground and resolve community issues.

Audrey King, assistant professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership, also presented information on how to create an effective elevator speech for individuals or groups to promote Extension opportunities.

The OSU Extension Leadership Academy will begin recruiting this fall for Class No. 3, which will begin in 2026. The program aims to build leadership capacity and encourage educators to consider career advancement within the OSU Extension system. Training sessions are designed to strengthen leadership skills, knowledge and confidence in participants’ current Extension roles.

Leadership academy graduates who attended the training were Jean Bailey, Dewey County; Bradley Bain, McCurtain County; Joshua Campbell, state office; Jan Dawson, Tulsa County; Pam Dennis, Pottawatomie County; Lori Goodbary, Oklahoma County; LaDonna Hines, Oklahoma County; Courtney Keck, Canadian County; Liana Jones, LeFlore County; Justin McDaniel, McClain County; Megan Monteith, west district; Lauren Minyard, Love County; Randi Myers-Hill, Creek County; Lisa Nicholson, Mayes County; Laura Payne, Payne County; Donna Patterson, Rogers County; Jennifer Patterson, Payne County; Ruth Pratt, 4-H state office; Kelsey Ratcliff, southeast district in Coal County; Becky Walker, Pontotoc County.

OSU Extension uses research-based information to help all Oklahomans solve local issues and concerns, promote leadership and manage resources wisely throughout the state’s 77 counties. Most information is available at little to no cost.