Hometown: Oologah, Ok.
County: Rogers County Grew up in El Dorado Springs Mo.
Family Members: Husband, Earl Ward
Sons: Cash and Case
In Town: I am a partner in a consulting firm, Allied Food Safety. I assist food manufactures across the United States with a range of food safety and quality topics. From troubleshooting food safety issues, assisting with government inspections, writing HACCP Plans, to helping companies achieve and maintain certification to the Global Food Safety Initiative.
In the Country: I grew up on a farm in El Dorado Springs, Mo. and enjoyed showing cattle and being an active member of 4-H and FFA. The love of agriculture was instilled in me by my parents, Tony and Becky Koger at a young age. I received my bachelor’s degree in animal science from Missouri State University and my master’s degree in Meat Science from South Dakota State University.
I now live on a small farm outside of Oologah, Ok. with my husband, Earl, who works for Oklahoma State University as the Northeast District Livestock Specialist. We have two sons, Cash (senior in high school), and Case (8th grade).
Our sons exhibit livestock through 4-H and FFA at the local and state levels, showing market steers and market lambs, most recently at the Rogers County Fair in Claremore and the Tulsa State Fair.
We feed out eight steers each year and market the beef to family and friends who prefer to purchase local, custom beef.
What do you enjoy most about being a farmer/rancher?
Earl and I enjoy sharing our industry knowledge with local youth. We are active supporters of 4-H and FFA which brings opportunities to share what we have learned in the food and animal sectors of agriculture. Although our farm may be small, we think that inviting and encouraging youth to learn about and experience the highs and lows of agriculture will instill in them a love for the industry.
What I enjoy most about our small farm, is that my husband and I have been able to provide an environment in which our sons have the responsibilities of raising quality livestock. This knowledge is something they will carry with them to their adult lives and will help meet the demands of the future of agriculture.
