Ferguson College of Agriculture

 

In March 2025, the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership lost a friend, advocate and agriculturalist. Congressman Wes Watkins was a two-time graduate of the OSU agricultural education program.  

 

Both Watkins and his wife, Lou Watkins, cared about doing things for the right reasons, said Robert Terry Jr., OSU agricultural education professor and a longtime friend of the Watkins family. 

 

“He was a true servant in every sense of the word, and he was in politics for all the right reasons. He was a great example of the last line of the FFA motto that says, ‘Living to serve,” Terry said. 

 

Wes Watkins grew up in the FFA and was a lifelong supporter of the blue and gold. Not only did he appreciate the FFA, but agricultural education as well, Terry said. Terry recalled his first experience meeting Wes Watkins through the Washington Leadership Conference. At the time, Terry was an FFA member and got to travel to the nation's capital and spend the day with Wes Watkins, who was serving as a U.S. congressman representing Oklahoma. Throughout the time shared together, Terry said Wes Watkins treated the FFA members like royalty. 

 

“He has always bled blue and gold, you know. He was the state FFA president and has always believed in what FFA does in the way of developing leaders, especially leaders in agriculture and rural development,” Terry said.  

 

A lifelong supporter of OSU and the AECL department, Wes Watkins kept up with the department long after he attended school. Terry said he would often call to check in on projects or pitch ideas to continue in his efforts of improving Oklahoma agriculture. 

 

“He was always very interested in what we did across the board in the department, but especially with teacher development,” Terry said, “recognizing ag teachers play such a prominent role in the development of young people, especially in small rural communities.” 

 

Wes Watkins achieved many great things throughout his lifetime, and many of these accomplishments still impact people today and will continue to impact people in the future. One of these accomplishments is the Making Things Better scholarship, which is awarded to FFA and college students annually.  

 

Terry said Wes Watkins will be missed by many. 

 

“He was a character and a man of character,” Terry said. 

 

To learn more about the agricultural education program or OSU AECL, please visit the website.