Ferguson College of Agriculture

 

Two professors in the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership received outstanding industry honors and achievements in summer 2024.

 

Shelly Legg, professor of agricultural communications, and Robert Terry Jr., professor of agricultural education, began their service to department decades ago — Legg in 1992 and Terry in 2004.

 

“We are incredibly proud of Drs. Legg and Terry for their well-deserved achievements” said Shane Robinson, AECL department head. “The recent recognitions they both have received are incredible testaments to their dedication to and lifelong pursuit of educational excellence.”

 

Their respectively roles, backgrounds and passions include assisting with various FFA activities, and in May 2024, the pair were named Oklahoma FFA VIP recipients during the State FFA Convention. This award, started in 1980, is given to those individuals who have gone above and beyond in their support to the Oklahoma FFA, Legg said.

 

“Behind the influence of faith and family, FFA is probably about third in line,” Terry said.

 

Both Legg and Terry were influenced at young age by family members who were high school agricultural educators.

 

“[It means] more than I can put into words because I bleed blue and gold,” Legg said. “The award means really more to me than anything else FFA could have done.”

 

Along with Legg’s FFA award, she also received two other honors during the summer. The Livestock Publications Council inducted Legg into the LPC Hall of Fame in August.

 

This award is given to leaders in the livestock publishing industry. Legg served on the LPC Board of Directors and on multiple committees during her time at OSU.

 

In addition to LPC Hall of Fame induction, Legg received the Distinguished Educator Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture at the 70th annual NACTA Conference in June 2024. This award recognizes individuals who have exceeded expectations in their service to the NACTA organization.

 

“All three of them are just so humbling,” Legg said. “To be thought of in that way when you feel like you are just doing your job and to know you’ve earned the respect of your peers is really the highest honor anyone can give you.”

 

Throughout Terry’s time at OSU, he has served as a professor as well as the AECL department head. In addition to his Oklahoma FFA VIP award, Terry received with the National Association of Agricultural Educators Lifetime Achievement Award in early December at the NAAE Convention.

 

“I am very grateful there are people who thought I was worthy of this,” Terry said.

 

This award honors agricultural educators who have made significant contributions to the agricultural education profession.

 

“The Hall of Fame honor for Dr. Legg and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Dr. Terry exemplify the exceptional contributions they have made to advancing their knowledge in their respective fields and shaping the careers and lives of countless students, colleagues, and alumni,” Robinson said. “Their impact is far reaching, and we are grateful for the contributions they have made over their distinguished careers.”

 

Learn more about the OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership.