Staff Changes
Randy Taylor is the new director of the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project. Taylor has been an extension agricultural engineer specializing in agricultural machinery for nearly 20 years. Taylor is excited to work with the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project because it will be a new challenge and opportunity to apply his skills.
He joined the biosystems and agricultural engineering faculty at Oklahoma State University in August 2005 as an Extension engineer. He is now an associate professor. Taylor earned his Ph.D. in agricultural engineering in 1996 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in agricultural engineering from OSU in 1989 and 1985, respectively.
Taylor’s Extension programming efforts are focused on precision agriculture and tillage systems. He initiated research and extension projects in no-till cropping systems, strip tillage and sensor applications for in-season management of corn, wheat and cotton. Prior to joining the faculty at OSU, Taylor spent almost 16 years as an Extension machinery specialist at Kansas State University. He started working in the area of precision agriculture in 1996. Recently he has been involved in research regarding static and dynamic GPS accuracy.
In 2000, he facilitated the formation of the Kansas Agricultural Research Association, which is an organization of crop producers and agribusinesses interested in furthering the practical use of precision agriculture technology through coordination of on-farm research projects. Taylor has played a major role in the coordination of many precision agricultural conferences and field days in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri during the last 12 years. Taylor replaces Ray Huhnke.
Amanda Erichsen is the new Extension assistant for the AgrAbility Project. She recently completed her master’s degree in agricultural communications at OSU. Erichsen’s thesis research was focused on the perceived needs of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service educators regarding their communications and marketing resources and training. In 2004, she earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and journalism at KSU with minors in agronomy and animal sciences and industry.
Erichsen worked for Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity in Kansas City, Mo. from 2004 to 2006 as communications coordinator. She also worked with the AgrAbility program as a student at Kansas State University. She grew up on a small farm near Junction City, Kan., actively involved in 4-H and FFA. Erichsen is excited to continue her involvement with Extension by working with AgrAbility and OSU. She replaces Blayr Beougher and Traci Naile.
Sandra Stevenson has accepted the position of Program Manager for the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project. Ms. Stevenson is transferring from Oklahoma ABLE Tech/Assistive Technology Act Program where she served as an Assistive Technology Specialist.
Sandra received her B.S. in Special Education from Oklahoma State University. She has extensive experience working with families and teams, both as a DDSD Case Manager with the State of Oklahoma and Director of a non-profit provider agency, with a primary focus in residential and vocational services. Ms. Stevenson will assume her duties with the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project March 1, 2009.
Submitted by: Amanda Erichsen