United States Department of Agriculture Oklahoma State Director Kenneth Corn visited Eastern Oklahoma State College on Monday to discuss potential grant opportunities.
The USDA’s Rural Development program offers grants and other services to rural entities in an effort to improve rural communities, including rural community colleges. EOSC officials hope to collaborate with the USDA to better serve southeastern Oklahoma.
“Rural Development is a dynamic program,” said Stephanie Giacomo, grant writer and fundraiser for EOSC. “There are many ways we will be able to work together to accomplish the goals of both Eastern and USDA.”
Corn toured the college’s Wilburton campus and college farm. The tour was highlighted by visits to EOSC’s meat processing facility and nursing teaching lab.
“I am excited to have Kenneth Corn and others from the USDA on campus,” said Dr. Janet Wansick, EOSC president. “It is always a great day when I am able to show off our campus and the programs that make Eastern an incredible place to be.”
Corn began his day with a meeting with Wansick, then toured Miller Hall, a former residence hall the college is considering renovating into a health and wellness center. He then was shown the nursing teaching lab, learning about new technologies being implemented there.
Chris Hall, ranch management specialist and livestock judging coach, then led a tour of the college’s agricultural facilities, including the newly-renovated meat processing facility, the Goddard Livestock Exhibition Building, the EOSC beef barn and the college farm.
“Getting to show off what makes the Eastern agriculture program special is one of the most enjoyable parts of my job,” Hall said. “We truly have a unique operation here for educating our students in a very hands-on way. Getting to share that is always special.”
Conversations between the USDA and EOSC are expected to continue in the near future.