SUNUP December 22, 2018

 

(upbeat music)

>>> Hello, everyone and welcome to SUNUP.

I'm Lyndall Stout and today the whole team is here.

We have Kurtis Hair, Edd Beran, and Dave Deken,

and we're so happy to welcome you to our year-end special

where we take a look back at some

of our favorite stories of the year.

This year we're also happy to be with you

from the free-stall dairy barn

at the Ferguson Family Dairy Center.

Guys, as we kick things off today,

let's start off by what is always one

of our favorite stories of the year,

of course which is every June, wheat harvest.

>>> This wheat harvest we went to Grant County,

and this year was unique because it rained

almost any opportunity we could get out to go shoot

a wheat harvest story, and in that rain,

it pushed us back rather late in our storytelling,

and one of the cool things about this wheat harvest,

this was actually Edd's first wheat harvest to go out

and climb up on a combine,

and was it everything you thought it'd be?

>>> Everything and more.

It was great to be out there in the field.

I remember it was really windy, but I mean,

it was my first time riding in a combine, too,

but it was a lot of fun to do.

>>> Right now.

Anything under 13.

>>> [Lyndall] With his son Waylon in tow,

Lendal Vanaman says this is his happy place.

>>> [Lendal] That is my home.

There's no place I'd rather be than in a combine.

I've been that way since I was my boy's age.

Since I was three years old

I rode in a combine with my Granddad.

>>> [Lyndall] Lendal knew then he'd be a farmer.

First inspired by his great grandmother.

Her now centennial farm eventually became his.

>>> I guess, my passion and drive for agriculture

comes from is from her.

She did it for so long.

They prospered in what they did.

Along with my father-in-law and his family.

I mean, they've suffered droughts, for years,

and they're still here, they're still going,

so hopefully we'll still be going with my boys.

Up and going.

>>> [Lyndall] That resilient mindset

especially important in years like this.

>>> We're seeing about half the yield

we normally do on a normal year.

Some's been a little less,

and some's been a little more than that,

but I'd say we're probably averaging

about probably 30 bushel

where normally it should be around 60.

The plant's been so stressed out.

It had drought and then it had freeze

and then we had drought and then we had a four-inch monsoon

right before the day we started cutting (laughs)

which didn't really help anything.

We've basically had everything thrown at us

this year that would put us down, you know?

>>> [Lyndall] The growing season

>>> You never know what you're going to get.

>>> [Lyndall] Like riding a roller coaster.

>>> [Lendal] It keeps you on your toes. (laughs)

>>> [Lyndall] A regular wheat canola rotation helps.

>>> [Lendal] We try and do not quite 50/50.

We normally have more wheat acres than we do canola.

It cleans it up.

It gives you more chemical rotation so you can kill rye

and keeps your wheat field close to yield.

The second year after wheat has been phenomenal for us.

>>> [Lyndall] Thank goodness for better prices

right at harvest, not to mention technology.

>>> You can see the yield's climbing

just a little bit in there.

>>> You bumped it up? 

>>> Yeah.

>>> [Lyndall] Lendal's used GPS in his combine

the past two years.

Every row, precision cut.

A monitor reports real-time changes in yield, moisture,

and other data so he can make immediate adjustments.

Waylon, who turns four next month is his number one helper.

>>> It spins around.

>>> He has been in a combine since he was born.

I mean, he's had to ride in one here.

He's rode in one up north.

He has lived in that thing as well as I am

and most of the time he wants to be out here, too.

We're combining and he's combining on the floor.

He's got toys.

There's combines and tractors on the back of the pickup.

There's combines and tractors in the combine. (laughs)

>>> [Lyndall] Important time together for father and son

beginning lessons about farming

and likely something much greater.

>>> If I can farm and I can do my best at doing it,

then hopefully he can learn from me.

And he will do and do his best

and his children will do the same.

And the end result hopefully will just be a better world

that we continue on with through us and through them

and through generations to come

that we can do our best at feeding the world

and give it our best shot.

 

>>> Hey, hello everyone and happy holiday season to you.

We appreciate the opportunity to take a moment

at this time of year to reflect back

on the year that we've had.

It's been a very successful year for us in the division

of agricultural sciences and natural resources

at Oklahoma State.

We've had tremendous group of students

graduate this spring and go off to exciting futures.

And then we began the fall semester

with a whole new group of students coming in,

and we're very excited about the kinds of things

that they're showing interest in,

the kinds of opportunities that they're already pursuing.

It's a great honor for us to be able to work

with each of you, in your communities,

on your farms, with your families,

to really be of assistance to you,

and to fulfill our land grant mission,

of bringing the knowledge of this resource out to you,

where you can put it to work in your everyday lives.

So at this time of the year, we again appreciate

that opportunity to work with you.

We thank you for being a part of our family,

and we look forward to a bountiful year ahead

for you and for all.

(country music)

 

>>> The initial shock has been pretty tough.

A lot of these guys that work and drive through

some of these areas, these guys have lost

half to three-fourths of their cow herds.

And I know that's pretty tough.

And being one of them myself,

that experienced being hit by the fire,

and some losses that I've experienced,

I feel a little bit of their pain,

but for the most part, though, everybody's pitched in

and now that the initial shock's over ...

(cows mooing)

>>> We're spread out, run a mile and a half back west,

two miles back east.

Then we've got 407 acres two miles north,

and it got all of it.

Everything's black.

And it's gonna be at least 45, 60 days

before we can turn back out on these pastures.

I lost 40 pairs.

This here's what's left of them.

We may have to put some more down yet,

'cause to feed all them, it's undescribable.

>>> [Voiceover] With no standing forage, Roger and his brother

have found a way to hold their surviving calves together

until the Dewey County pastures return.

>>> South (drowned out by cows),

some graze on wheat with this cattle,

and that's where they're going,

and the trucks will be here this afternoon.

>>> To say that the landscape of Dewey County

and Western Oklahoma has changed

over the past week would be an understatement.

But with the fire, has come help by the truckload.

>>> Oklahoma standards is

a neighbor taking care of a neighbor.

(trucks blowing horns)

Quite frankly, most everybody here in the area

that wasn't affected, they're trying

to figure out ways to help their neighbors.

Rather than just standing by and saying,

I'm glad I wasn't affected, they're trying to

actually run to it and say,

Okay, we were okay, you're not,

what can we do to be able to help alongside of you?

>>> No server phone calls,

they may see the neighbor in need,

and they'll call and say,

hey, we're gonna come and help you.

And that's the type of people we're dealing with here,

and you see them really band together in times like this.

They're in it for the long haul.

They're gonna be tough.

>>> [Voiceover] Much of the early help came from neighbors

down the county road, and now, help is starting

to pour in from hundreds of miles away,

from people they've never met.

(trucks blowing horn)

Two ranchers made the two and a half hour trip

from Englewood, Kansas, loaded with hay

to drop off at one of Roger's neighbors,

because they knew what it was like

to lose nearly everything.

>>> I feel like we owe it to that community.

March 6 last year, the Starbuck hit us head-on,

we lost about 15 000 acres, lost 155 cows,

so we know what these guys are going through.

And the first thing that you need is hay to feed your cows.

>>> And knowing that it takes those things

for these people to maintain life

for the next, whether it's 5 or 6 months, or the next year,

to survive, to get into the next calving season,

get into the next cropping season.

And so if it wasn't for people sending

all these donations from all over the state

or all over the United States,

it'd be really tough for these people to survive.

>>> I don't know how we'll ever repay them.

They've been gracious.

>>> Some say that we're paying it forward,

but technically, we're paying it back.

>>> [Voiceover] As we shot this story

on Friday, April 20th, the skies were getting dark.

Not because of smoke or blowing ash, actually because

rain was moving in from the Texas panhandle.

Since then, you can see much of the area

has seen over an inch of rain,

which has not only helped raise forage,

but also raised spirits.

>>> It's really hard to hear from people

who've lost pretty much everything, but my goodness,

that Oklahoma standard is amazing to witness.

>>> Yeah, it's just another example of how

the extension family can come together

and help out those in need.

>>> Yeah, and it was really great to see

all those semis coming with all the hay donations.

It really helped build the community back

with all their donations.

>>> And one of the interesting things about that

whenever we shot the follow up story on that,

as we were leaving Dewey County, there were

storm clouds coming in, and it was great for the land,

but I think it was also great for the people

of Dewey County and that part of the state

because it hadn't rained a substantial amount

in quite a long time, so to go through a disaster like that

and to have that relief, it was recharging for the land

but it was also recharging for the people.

>>> Definitely was.

Another story that really touched our heart this year

was the special clovers piece, and Dave you were really,

you were really there for that one.

>>> It was a great story to tell about some

Oklahoma 4H-ers with special needs.

They got the opportunity to have an

overnight camp and make some new friends.

>>> This is our second 4-H special clovers,

and it is a camp for 4-H members that we have

clover buddies, we had 45 4-H members from across the state

apply to be a 4-H clover buddy, and they just serve

as a mentor, friend and buddy to their camper.

This year we have nine campers that are joining us,

and they're 4-H members from across the state.

>>> Is this your first or second year to do this?

>>> Your second.

>>> They might participate in a day camp,

but for many of the campers, being away from home

for two, three, four nights is difficult.

But this camp allows them the opportunity to come and

maybe their parent is going to stay with them,

maybe it's for some of them the very first time

that they've ever been away from home without their parent.

>>> This is Matt.

>>> Hi.

>>> Hi Matt.

His favorite color is orange.

He likes OSU.

>>> I show sheep, and livestock, and I love my family.

>>> The clover buddies come from all over the state,

and they're not necessarily young people

that we see at every 4-H event we do.

>>> I think it's a great opportunity for people to come

and help, and for them to learn about other people

and how we're all different, but

we all want to reach the same goals.

>>> [Cathy] To me the elite group of Oklahoma 4-H-ers to come

and hang out with some really special kids

with some really just cool teenagers.

>>> And just to see them come together the first day

there's no eye contact, the camper's not really sure,

they have not gained that trust, and by the time

they're ready to go home, it's hard to leave

that clover buddy who's been that buddy pal

and just your confidant here throughout the camp.

So it is, it's really a magical thing

just to see those relationships grow.

>>> Special clover's camp is just one of the many

opportunities that 4-H brings and I think everybody

should have the option and opportunity to be here,

whether it's from my point of view, or Matt's.

>>> We've always had the motto to make the best better in 4-H.

And that's really what we're doing here for these campers.

(upbeat music)

 

>>> One of the great mysteries for children

all over the world and for those of us that are

children at heart, has been how do Santa's reindeer

actually get this huge job done every Christmas Eve?

How do they make it all the way around the world

delivering toys to all the good little boys and girls?

Well, we have looked up some facts about reindeer

that have helped me better understand how this can happen.

First of all, we know that they're ruminants,

and that means they're just like cattle in the fact that

they have four compartments to their stomach.

As in the case of cattle, they

can digest and utilize forages.

Now the fact that they can consume forages is important

because we know that ruminants digest forages more slowly

than they would digest something like corn or milo.

That's a key thing here in this particular situation

because we know Santa Claus is going to make sure

that those reindeer get lots of hay the night before

he takes them out on this long trip.

Since forage digests more slowly, that's kind of like,

you know what your mom says, when she wants you to

eat oatmeal for breakfast, she wants something

that'll stick to your ribs, well it's that same

concept as far as the reindeer having a lot of

forages that will digest slowly and give them the energy

that they need to fly all the way around the world.

Remember that reindeer are different than the kind

of deer that we have here in Oklahoma.

They have very, very long large antlers.

In fact, the adult male reindeer

will have an antler that's about four feet in length.

Certainly each reindeer has two antlers.

And so that means that

each one of Santa's eight reindeer

will have eight feet of antler span.

There's eight of Santa's reindeer

times the eight feet for each one of those reindeer.

That means that on any Christmas Eve,

there will be 64 feet of antler span

that can help get that sleigh airborne

and flying around the world.

Now compare that 64

with a typical Cessna.

It will have a wingspan of only 36 feet.

So Santa Claus is working with 64 feet of antler span

and he's got twice as much, almost,

span as does that small airplane.

So I think there's a chance that that would certainly work.

Well, we thought all of this information about reindeer

would help us get a better understanding

that Santa Claus is going to make that trip again this year

and if we're good, we're going to have an opportunity

to see the results of all of this effort that he

and his reindeer go into to deliver the presents

to good little boys and girls.

(upbeat country music)

 

>>> [Kurtis] Like a lot of students

at Oklahoma State University,

Steven Vekony and Kevin Osborn are full-speeding

into the routine grind of college life.

Wake up, go to class, study,

worry about grades, sleep, repeat.

Kevin is a senior majoring in agricultural education

while Steven is working on his master's in business.

Two ordinary students.

Except for the tiny fact that they're

the biggest men on campus.

(OSU fight song)

>>> I didn't know Pete was actually a college student.

You know, it's kinda funny, we always talk about

how many picture frames we're in

in people's houses that we don't even know.

>>> [Kurtis] If you didn't know,

there are two Pete's working a football game.

Each quarter, they switch.

One works the eastern zone, the other works the west.

Kevin is up first.

>>> Really, like, it comes down to basically

entertaining yourself because, I mean,

if you're on the sidelines, yeah, you're watching the game,

but also you're gonna walk over and, you know,

say hi to the kids or steal somebody's camera

and take a bunch of pictures.

>>> You can kind of tell which one of us is in

the suit based on how we're acting in that moment.

I'm pretty ornery,

and Kevin likes to move his hips a lot.

>>> I was not conscious that I move my hips

that much and I'll be conscious of that now.

(audience cheering)

>>> [Kurtis] Being Pete is not just a weekend role.

It's a full-time commitment.

>>> Kevin and I split about 700 appearances a year with Pete

and then we go and we're full-time college students.

>>> [Kurtis] Football games, basketball games,

soccer games, weddings, anniversaries,

birthday parties, holiday parties,

even gender reveals are on the list of appearances.

>>> You have to love the university.

It's not one of those deals like

oh, I wanna do it just because.

Like you have to eat, breathe,

and sleep Oklahoma State University 'cause

it's a year-long commitment of your life.

>>> Most universities have mascots,

but it's different here at OSU.

It's like Pete is the university

and the university is Pete.

And this year marks an important milestone.

It's been 60 years since the legendary

Frank Eaton was immortalized as OSU's mascot.

>>> Pistol Pete is really the symbol of OSU,

probably the most visible symbol we have.

He's certainly one of the most beloved mascots

of any university in the country.

But he has become, over these 60 years,

an integral part of the image of Oklahoma State University.

>>> [Kurtis] Steven is the 88th Pete and Kevin is the 89th.

89 Pete's may sound like a lot,

but over 60 years, it's a relatively small club.

>>> Being able to share something

with a few select number of guys

that have done this over the years.

You go to other schools, like at OU for example,

they have 14 people every year so it's kind of

that tradition and kinda brotherhood.

>>> The students that portray Pistol Pete are always

some of the most outstanding students we have.

And this year, they're both from

the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources.

And they do a tremendous amount

of work and they're kinda everywhere.

That's why you need two of them.

We probably need four of them, really.

>>> Imagine what it's like when it's on.

90 degrees.

>>> [Kevin] Not any different than a hay field.

>>> [Narrator] While the role Steven and Kevin

play is different play is a fixture

for the university.

>>> [Steve] I'll take them both.

>>> [Narrator] They're also part of another

OSU tradition, agriculture.

>>> [Kevin] My dad raises wheat, cotton, and alfalfa,

(undecipherable)

and raise cows and then my brother and I started

our own farm a couple years ago where we

grow the same commodities in the marketplace.

>>> [Narrator] Kevin's grandfather was an agricultural

professor at OSU and growing up in Tuttle

Kevin's dream was to one day be Pistol Pete.

>>> [Kevin] I was always up here on the weekends with

my grandpa, I'd always see Pistol Pete

plastered everywhere in pictures, posters,

everywhere.

>>> [Narrator] Growing up in Ada, Steven never thought

he'd want to leave Pontotoc County until he

took a trip up to the university with his FFA chapter.

After getting his undergrad in agricultural

education he met a former Pete and went for it.

>>> [Steve] What's cool about Kevin and I is that neither

one of us are in Greek life ah neither one of

us are in different colleges.

We were bough brought up in CASNR

>>> [Narrator] Kevin hopes to be Pete again

next year.

This is Steven's second and final run

an experience that will continue to change.

>>> [Steve] Just being able to say one day

you know I might bring my family back here

my kids might come to their first game

at OSU one day and I'll be able to say

that guy on the field, I used to do that.

It's pretty cool.

>>> [Narrator] From Pete's stomping grounds in

Boone Pickens Stadium I'm Kurtis Hair

 

>>> So this story was a lot of fun to shoot.

I got to meet some ah - like two really great

students and I got to see what their daily

lives are and you know how much it takes

to be Pete.

Because being Pistol Pete I don't think a lot

of people realize what goes into that.

For me personally this story was awesome

because I'm a life long OSU fan and I got to

be out on the field.

I got to be behind the huddles, and be on

the benches and hear what those guys are saying.

It was just a really amazing experience

to be a part of and I think I'll show that

video for the rest of my life.

>>> Well people really love watching it.

It really resonated with alumni and lots of

supporters of the university.

Obviously with SUNUP viewers but a really

wide audience as well so thank you

for doing that.

 

That'll pretty much do it for us this week as we

wind down we certainly want to thank you

for joining us for a look back at our favorite

stories of the year.

We hope you enjoyed looking at them too and

as always our gift to you for the holidays

a look at the best set of SUNUP outtakes

of the year so as we say goodbye.

So from all of us at SUNUP as we send it off

we want to wish you and your family

a very happy holidays and a happy new year.

Thanks so much for joining us.

All: Happy Holidays!

 

>>> Today we want to leave you with our piece

from 2018 (laughter) this like going

off the rails fast.

>>> Alright thanks Daryl, Daryl Peel livestock

marketing - oh I'm sorry.

(laughter.)

 

>>> Alrighty, thanks Chris

>>> Sure.

>>> If you'd like eating more info - (laughter)

 

>>> I have been on vacation two weeks so

I'm gonna be a little rusty if I get through.

>>> You couldn't be rusty

>>> Okay (laughter)

>>> USDahh, sorry.

 

>>> Those pretty yellow flowers are grow-ahh.

Lets do that one more time.

>>> Let's roll it again.

 

>>> Yeah.

>>> We're always hearin' about exports and

what that means for the US and so Darryl

who exactly do we export to?

>>> Well in terms of beef exports we -

I'm sorry I'm supposed to be looking at you.

>>> I was wonderin'.

 

>>> They've lost their market in ah Asian countries

and ah and ah ah in Indonesia (laughter)

 

>>> And ahhh ahhh... there's Afghanistan...

 

I don't know, who else?

>>> Pretty low key right now compared to what

you might see in other years.

>>> Oh we're going to.

>>> Yeah we can start over.

 

>>> Yeah I wasn't exactly sure.

>>> It is crawling on my arm, whoa!

Ahhh alright I'm done.

>>> A layman's issue ... (laughter) Go!

 

>>> A burst of several that we're thinkin' bout.

 

>>> I have the sun reflecting off all the time

so I'm used to it.

>>> That's so great, your mom always

called you Sonny?

(undecipherable.)

 

>>> So I was having a discussion actually with... oh!

>>> Are you okay?

>>> Okay.

 

>>> For link to that go to our website SUNUP dot

ok state dot edu

 

and this is where I'm gonna

say thank you David! (laughter.)

 

>>> It is that time of year where we get those

timely rains and those timely bumps in the

price of wheat, Kim we had one of those

is that good?

>>> Really?

 

>>> We're going to have a fencing demonstration.

>>> So the fencing is when you use the swords

and all that, no?

>>> No not that kind of fencing

electric fencing.

>>> Oh wow boy now there's an Olympic sport.

(airplane flying sound and drop.)

 

>>> Wheat prices, you know we ah shoot. Okay.

 

>>> Take two.

(watching ringing.)

>>> Do you need to get that?

>>> Hello. (laughter)

 

>>> With all the rain... I had it... as soon

as I get it going.

 

>>> We need to be doing this in this pasture.

>>> Okay.

You gotta let me ask you questions.

>>> Oh I'm sorry, this is not a class.

 

>>> Soon enough planters will be mooo...

 

>>> You're gettin' some noise here I guess

it's your jacket their Brian.

>>> I want to go home and have some hot dish.

 

>>> Ask some questions I'll give you my answers.

>>> We'll see what happens.

>>> It'll make us look good.

(music underscoring to the end of video)

>>> If anybody asks I point to that guy.

 

>>> Either way, thanks a lot Annie.

 

>>> One, two, we're still a couple of months out

from - I almost said cotton there. (laughter)

 

>>> Oh it's there!

 

>>> It's all over my -

 

Oh my God.

 

>>> I'm doing an arabesque. (laughter)

 

Yeah I wanna know, I do not know, you tell me.

 

(music)