Jami Longacre of Kellyville, Oklahoma, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from OSU in 1993. During her senior year, she served as the OSU agricultural legislative intern at the Oklahoma State Capitol, opening the door to a career in public policy and advocacy.

 

Following graduation, Longacre worked for the Oklahoma secretary of agriculture and later became the director of policy and governmental affairs for the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. Longacre then served as the first female executive director of the Oklahoma Beef Council, where she initiated several programs, including the nationally coordinated, state-implemented Beef Quality Assurance program and the first Oklahoma Beef Quality Summit in 1999 in conjunction with OSU, as well as implementing the national “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” campaign.

 

After leaving the Oklahoma Beef Council, Longacre returned to the State Capitol and continued her career as a lobbyist. She launched a full-service legislative consulting firm, Longacre Inc., where she serves as president. While growing her business, she had the honor to work with the late Clem McSpadden and his son, the late Bart McSpadden. 

 

Longacre and her husband, John, are devoted supporters of OSU and the Ferguson College of Agriculture. They have sponsored several scholarships and organizations and donated to the New Frontiers campaign to help build a new home for OSU Agriculture. They live on a ranch in Kellyville with their son, Turner, a current OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture student studying animal science and agribusiness and continuing their family’s OSU legacy.