News

Officials at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) officially launched their campaign last Friday called, “Building on Tradition,” to fund the renovations of Synar Farm during the annual Agriculture and Livestock Judging Alumni Banquet. Commitments of $120,000 were announced. Local support from First National Bank, Arvest Bank, Welch State Bank and Tulsa Teachers Credit Union were major players in reaching that amount. The goal of the five-year campaign is to raise $500,000. “NEO’s agriculture department and competitive teams have played a major role in the long history of success at the college. These improvements will continue to secure NEO’s place as a national leader in agriculture education,” said Dr. Jeff Hale, NEO president.

The first phase will be renovating the arena. Synar Farm has been a part of NEO’s agriculture program for many years, and has housed many events and competitions. The arena serves as the epicenter of activity on the 200-acre farm. Approximately 250 alumni and supporters attended the banquet for a momentous induction of four former agriculture faculty and staff members, who combined, have more than 100 years of teaching experience. The four men inducted into the Aggie Hall of Fame were Jary Douglas, Lawson Essex, Pete Smith and Roger Fent.

Friday night also served as the official passing of the reins from Dr. Shannon Cunningham to Tyler Dewey. Dewey will officially assume his position as the department chair of agriculture July 1, 2014. Staff members from the agriculture department at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) made four inductions into the Aggie Hall of fame at the annual alumni banquet on Friday, June 13, 2014.  There have not been any inductions into the Ag Hall of Fame since 1988. This year marked the induction of a ‘super class,’ and it was a special induction ceremony to honor four icons of the NEO agriculture department.