In this episode of Red Dirt Agronomy, the team sits down with Dr. Jayson Lusk, Vice President and Dean of Agricultural Programs at Oklahoma State University, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of agriculture and leadership in higher education.
Dr. Lusk reflects on his journey from researcher to administrator, the challenges of guiding a land-grant institution, and how he stays grounded in the needs of Oklahoma's producers.
The discussion explores the evolving role of faculty engagement, the value of public communication, and how Extension can remain impactful in an increasingly digital world.

The episode also covers Dr. Lusk's strategic vision for OSU agriculture, including plans to revitalize off-campus facilities, launch a beef center of excellence, and leverage big data and AI to support producer decision-making.
With insights into the delicate balance of university leadership and the importance of staying connected with faculty and stakeholders, this conversation offers practical value for anyone invested in the future of agricultural research and outreach.

Key Takeaways

1. Leadership Through Service: Dr. Lusk's path to administration was driven by a desire to amplify impact, not personal ambition.
2. Extension Still Matters: Public-facing efforts like podcasts and producer engagement remain central to OSU’s land-grant mission.
3. Strategic, Not Micromanaged: Dr. Lusk emphasizes empowering faculty and fostering collaboration over top-down control.
4. From Data to Decisions: OSU aims to invest in tools that help producers turn data into practical, on-farm choices.
5. Modernizing Infrastructure: Upgrading aging research farms and facilities is a top priority to support future ag innovation.
6. Beef and Wheat Focus: Strategic investment is centered on Oklahoma’s two leading ag sectors—cattle and wheat.
7. Funding Realities: OSU’s ag programs benefit from strong state support, offering resilience amid federal funding uncertainty.
8. Collaboration Counts: Lusk believes faculty success drives college success—and that includes interdisciplinary teamwork.
9. Measuring Impact, Not Just Output: Dr. Lusk calls for better ways to reward high-impact work that goes beyond publication metrics.
10. Producers as Stakeholders: Oklahoma taxpayers fund OSU’s ag work, and deserve results they can see in the field.

Timestamps:

00:04 - Welcome and episode intro
03:16 - Dr. Lusk’s path from faculty to administration
07:08 - Strategic decisions in leadership roles
13:33 - Navigating university structure and transitions
18:42 - Measuring impact in research and extension
30:56 - Challenges and strategy behind the new OSU Ag Hall
34:28 - Dr. Lusk’s strategic vision for OSU Agriculture
38:24 - The future of ag data, decision tools, and AI

RedDirtAgronomy.com