CCS grad named to ag mentorship program in Oklahoma

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Katelyn Leibhart, a 2019 graduate of Chase County Schools, was recently named one of eight young women to a new ag mentorship program in Oklahoma.
Leibhart, the daughter of Dan and Stacy Leibhart, is a double major in ag business and accounting at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Just before applications were due, one of Leibhart’s ag professors mentioned an opportunity for a mentorship program.
American Farmers and Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) is the oldest farm organization in Oklahoma and is headquartered in Oklahoma City.
The organization supports membership by providing educational, legislative and cooperative programs.
AFR/OFU consists of farmers actively involved in agricultural production and non-farmers.
The Women’s Cooperative section selected eight young professionals to be part of the inaugural AFR/OFU Collegiate Women’s Mentorship Program.
The eight who were selected, including Leibhart, will be mentored by the current councilwomen of the Women’s Cooperative.
The councilwomen assist in the planning and implementation of the AFR/OFU Women’s Cooperative vision.
The initiative for 2020 is called Feed Tomorrow’s Future Fund and focuses on childhood hunger.
This is especially important with the current pandemic, Leibhart said.
Her mentor is councilwoman Pamela Livingston.
Leibhart will also have the opportunity to network with the other seven mentees.
“It’s a great opportunity to grow my networking in the ag community in Oklahoma,” Leibhart said.
Leibhart started her education at OSU with the idea of heading to medical school.
“I changed that rather quickly,” she laughed.
“I’m most passionate about agriculture,” Leibhart said, “and I foresee myself coming back to a small community to work in the ag field.”
Leibhart is most excited to get to know Livingston.
“I’m excited to see what she’s doing through her community and how that could possibly interest me in what I’m going to be moving on and doing in the future,” she said.
Most of the networking for the time being will be done via Zoom.
“It’s a learning process for all of us,” Leibhart said.

 

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