Farm women look ahead to agriculture's future in state
Two women who work in Oklahoma's agriculture industry have no complaints about the agency involved in regulating their activities. Both, however, said Monday they can't wait to see how the Oklahoma's Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry carries out its mission as it's led by Blayne Arthur, who recently was confirmed by Oklahoma's Senate as Oklahoma's Secretary of Agriculture. Jean Lam, who operates her family's cow operation near Pauls Valley, said she thinks Arthur is ideal. “When I first heard Blayne was in the running … I was really excited,” said Lam, who came to know Arthur through serving with her on a certified beef board. “I have interacted with her on a one-on-one level, and I am really impressed with her as a peer in the agriculture industry,” Lam said. “She makes a really great advocate of all aspects of agriculture, be it small or large scale, family or corporate, and rural or urban. She has a really great grasp of what is going on in agriculture in Oklahoma, and I think she is the ideal candidate, regardless of gender.” That said, Lam said she also celebrates having Arthur in the agency's top post for another reason. “I think women have a different perspective on the world when it comes to problem solving and in … creating a certain amount of innovation,” she said. “I am really excited she has broken through that glass ceiling and paved the way for all future leaders, but especially female leaders in what has been traditionally a male-dominated field.” Lam, 28, said she is a fourthgeneration farmer who left Oklahoma to attend college at Stanford University, intent on pursuing a law degree before deciding to return home. “I realized farming and ranching isn't something you necessarily walk away from. It always sticks with you,” she said. But Lam said that experience provided her with insight into how “the other half lives.” “Not a lot of my friends in college knew where meat came from. They didn't know that it just didn't show up in the grocery store.” Kelli Payne, liaison for the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City, offered similar enthusiasm about Arthur's selection as Oklahoma's agriculture secretary. Payne said she remembered Arthur from their childhoods as the two of them, though separated by age, participated in FFA and 4-H programs. Payne, who in addition to her role at the stockyards is a fifthgeneration farmer on a family operation south of Mustang, said she's humbled daily by the opportunities she has to be involved in a farming operation as well as representing the agriculture industry to outsiders, many of whom visit the Oklahoma National Stockyards. Initially, she had gone off to college intending to become a veterinarian, but then she began working for Oklahoma Rep. Wes Watkins before moving on to various Main Street economic development programs. When she returned to the Stockyards to run its Main Street program, it was like returning home, leading her back to the family farm and eventually into a job as a public liaison for the market. “It gives me an opportunity to promote agriculture to Oklahomans and to our international guests, as well,” she said. In addition to knowing one another when they were younger, Payne said she always viewed Arthur's previous work as a deputy commissioner at the agency as “top notch.” “They have got the right person for the job,” she said. “She cares about people, she cares about agriculture, and she is deeply passionate. “It will be a home run for the state of Oklahoma.” Lam agreed. “She understands what it is like to have a family, and what it is like to make those decisions on how to feed her family and communities of people,” Lam said. “I am very, very excited to see what direction she takes the department.” Arthur, 37, also was confirmed as a member of the state agency's board by the Senate.