Randy Ratliff graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Cameron University in 1981, followed by a Master of Science in agronomy in 1985 and a Doctor of Philosophy in crop science in 1986 from OSU, under the direction of former faculty member Tom Peeper.

Ratliff recently retired after 38 years with Syngenta, a global agribusiness corporation, where he held numerous positions, including research station manager, research and development regional manager, director of Herbicide Research for North America, director of U.S. Field Biological R&D and head of the Customer Resource Center.

Ratliff returned to the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in the fall 2025 semester to serve as a temporary adjunct instructor, teaching Principles of Weed Science.

Ratliff currently spends most of his time in the equine industry and the American Quarter Horse Association. He is a member of the AQHA Executive Committee, an AQHA life member, has served as an AQHA director since 2011 and was elevated to director-at-large in 2023. He has served as the chairperson of the AQHA Nominations and Credentials Committee and the Affiliate Advisory Board and member of the AQHA Show, Public Policy, Finance, Investment Oversight and AQHA Foundation committees. In addition, he is a trustee for the American Horse Council.

Showing and breeding western pleasure horses, Randy has earned numerous top 10 placings at AQHA World Shows and year-end honor rolls. Ratliff and his wife, Susan, have two adult children and reside in Glencoe, Oklahoma.