News

Officials from the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) Agriculture Department will make three inductions into the Aggie Hall of Fame during their Fourth NEO Alumni and Friends Reunion, which will be held Sat., June 23, 2018, at 6:30 p.m., at the NEO Indoor Arena. Seats are still available and can be purchased for $30 per person. The banquet will include dinner, a live and silent auction, and the induction of the three newest members into the Aggie Hall of Fame. Joe Clapp, C.K. Sonny Booth, and Jarold Callahan have all made significant individual contributions to the agriculture community, both in education and business. Mr. Joe Clapp attended NEO from 1963 through 1965; he then graduated from OSU in 1967 with a degree in Agriculture Education, later returning to complete his master’s degree. While at NEO, Clapp was on the livestock judging team and was named the Outstanding Student for the Agriculture Department in spring 1965. Clapp began teaching vocational agriculture in Wheaton, Mo., and Fairland, Okla., positions he held before becoming the High School Principal in Fairland. In 1986, Clapp began an auction business with his brother. Retiring from Fairland in 1996, Clapp continued to auction until June 9, 2018.

Mr. C.K. Sonny Booth is a graduate of Miami High School, NEO, and OSU, where he was a member of the livestock judging team at all three institutions. For half a century, Booth has auctioned cattle, horses, and real estate throughout the U.S. and Canada. Along with serving as the president of the North American Limousin Foundation and sitting as a board member for eight years, Booth has volunteered as an auctioneer for the Ottawa County Auction, Tulsa State Fair Livestock Premium Auctions, and the Miami Arts and Humanities Art Auction. He has been honored with several awards, including the OSU Graduate of Distinction, Oklahoma Limousin Breeders Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and was named as an NEO Outstanding Alumnus for the School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. Booth and his wife Mary have three daughters and three grandchildren.

Mr. Jarold Callahan graduated from NEO before completing his Bachelors of Animal Science Degree at OSU, where he graduated as one of the top 10 seniors for the College of Agriculture. Following his undergraduate education, Callahan served as an instructor at NEO and received his master’s degree from The University of Arkansas. In 1981, he joined the OSU faculty until 1991, when he became the executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattleman’s Association and later joined Express Ranches. He currently serves on the OSU A&M Board of Regents and is the president of Express Ranches. Callahan is active in numerous cattle industry leadership roles including the Oklahoma Beef Council, serving as its Chairman, as well as a board member and past president for the American Angus Association. Callahan and his wife, Jennifer, also own and operate their own cattle operation located in Oklahoma and Craig County Counties as well as Xcel Feedyard in Watonga, Okla.

To reserve seats or for more information, contact McKenzie Conner at 918-540-6998 or McKenzie.Nygren@neo.edu.