WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN OSU MASTER CATTLEMAN?
The Oklahoma Master Cattleman (MC)

• Has knowledge of sustainable practices in production, business management, marketing, herd health, and natural resources
• Has successfully completed the curriculum for the Oklahoma Master Cattleman program
• Has demonstrated comprehension as evidenced by passing exams associated with each area.

HOW DO I ENROLL IN THE MASTER CATTLEMAN PROGRAM?
Contact your local Extension Educator to express interest and find out whether the program will be offered locally. The educator may refer you to another county if a program is not being held in that county.

PLEASE EXPLAIN THE MC CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND CURRICULUM.
Becoming a Master Cattleman requires completion of a “core” curriculum plus some elective hours. The core curriculum consists of chapters or topics that MUST be covered within each discipline area to achieve MC certification. In general, 28 hours are required with some flexibility regarding the specific chapters or topics covered. Each topic (chapter) is the equivalent of one MC credit hour. Within each of the six disciplines, between 2 and 4 topics have been identified as part of the “core curriculum”.

WHAT PROGRAMS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MASTER CATTLEMAN (MC) CREDIT?
Local Extension offices may offer sessions that are exclusive to the Master Cattleman program as well as some that are eligible for Master Cattleman credit. Note: Not all Extension meetings offered will be eligible for MC credit. Check with the local Extension Educator – Ag in advance of meetings to confirm whether MC credit is available.

HOW CAN PRODUCERS FIND OUT WHERE MC PROGRAMS ARE BEING OFFERED?
The MC website includes a calendar listing MC courses and MC-eligible sessions. Extension Educators – Ag, area and state specialists are able to submit information for the calendar.

HOW WILL REGISTRATION AND CREDIT TRACKING BE HANDLED?
Extension Educators will update the credits earned by participants on the MC website. Producers with email addresses will be given a password to view their personal status regarding credit hours earned. However, only Extension Educators will be able to modify credit hours.

WILL THE MC PROGRAM VARY IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE?
Educators may choose to offer only stand-alone MC sessions and limit class size, or they may choose to offer MC-qualified programs as part of regular educational program.

HOW LONG DO PRODUCERS HAVE TO COMPLETE THE MC PROGRAM?
Two years from the time participants register.

HOW DOES BQA FIT INTO THE MC PROGRAM?
Beef Quality Assurance is a module in the MC program, which is consistent with national BQA guidelines. In the event that a state BQA certification process is developed, extension personnel will work closely with the Oklahoma Beef Industry Council with the intent of qualifying MC participants. We would expect to work closely with the Beef Industry Council on this issue.

IF I MISS A CORE SESSION, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

• Get the instruction at another location. Check with the local Extension Educator – Agriculture to find out if Master Cattleman programs are being offered nearby and/or check the Master Cattleman website (agecon.okstate.edu/cattleman).

• Wait until the session is offered again in the same region the following year if a second class will be initiated.

• Work with the Extension Educator- Agriculture to develop a substitute activity, exercise, etc. to replace the missed session. For example, a producer can work with IFMAPS to develop a business plan for her or his business for the business planning chapter. On the bull development chapter, a tour of OBI and review of the teaching points in the lesson plan, plus successful completion of the quiz might be approved for a substitute. Projects or events like this may be designed as an alternative to formal slide presentations, but could also work as a make-up if needed. To receive credit, the project or event must be submitted for approval via the web site or a phone call to Dave or Damona. Participants are still required to take and pass the quiz associated with the core session.

• Participants may complete no more than 2 credit hours within a segment on-line or at home using the slides and Manual, then take the quiz individually.

• If sufficient demand exists, a regional day long workshop with concurrent sessions could be scheduled to allow participants to pick up missed classes or add additional credit hours.

CAN PARTICIPATION IN PAST PROGRAMS COUNT TOWARD CREDIT?
No credits may be sought retroactively. To be eligible for MC credit, an event must be approved in advance for that purpose.

CAN THE MC PROGRAM BE COMPLETED AS AN INDEPENDENT STUDY?
Participants are expected to participate in local courses to benefit from discussion and local activities. However, circumstances might prevent participants from being able to physically participate in all segments. In that case, participants are expected to read chapters and work through lesson plans on their own. They must request a quiz and receive a passing score to complete the segment. No more than one-half of credits may be earned through independent study. No producer will be allowed to become a MC without participating in local courses or completing an elective project in cooperation with the local Extension Educator – Ag.

CAN PARTICIPANTS APPLY CREDITS EARNED IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES TOWARD MC CERTIFICATION?
Yes, if the session has been certified in advance as MC – eligible.

WHAT IF A SPOUSE OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBER WANTS TO ATTEND WITH A PAID PARTICIPANT?
Master Cattleman participants may bring one immediate family member (spouse, child, parent) who lives in the same household at no charge. Only one set of materials will be provided per paid registration. Each employee of an operation will be required to register individually.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE PRIOR TO STARTING A MASTER CATTLEMAN COURSE?

• Contact kareta.casey@okstate.edu if you need to create an Online Profile as an educator or don’t remember your login/password.

• Poll producers for interest through organizations such as the local cattlemen’s groups, PACs, etc., include a blurb in newsletters, on social media, ads or news releases in local papers or on radio/TV. Supplies of brochures are available for displays, enclosures in mailings, etc. by contacting Kareta Casey, kareta.casey@okstate.edu or You may want to host a meeting to discuss interest using the MC Intro PPT and perhaps Chapter 1, Beef Industry Overview. The MC Intro- PPT and a sample news release is available at the bottom of the MC Resources page.


• Be aware that participants are expected to pay $175 ($75 comes to campus for manuals and gate signs, you can charge more if you want to cover additional local costs such as refreshments, shirts or caps).


• Contact Dave Lalman plus alert area specialists, Ag Econ and AnSI.


• If you are jointly offering the program with another county, a program name will need to be established on the MC website before events can be entered. Contact Kareta.


• Begin to develop a tentative schedule of sessions and speakers that can be reviewed by David Lalman and assistant, Kareta Casey,Kareta.casey@okstate.edu to be sure that all required chapters/topics are covered and sufficient hours are earned by participants. Use the Curriculum spreadsheet available at the bottom of the Master Cattleman Resources page.


• The venue should be one that is conducive to discussion (so preferably not an auditorium) and appropriate to the class size (preferably more than 10 but probably fewer than 30 if you want to encourage interaction).


• Once the schedule is approved, contact and confirm speakers, then enter events online (Access Your Online Profile and add to the Calendar of Events), or ask Kareta to do so. You may want to have an initial meeting with interested producers to confirm the best days/times for meetings, then finalize the calendar of events.


• Order manuals prior to first class.


• Enter student information online and keep records current on participation, quizzes passed, etc. so that when graduation approaches, gate sign orders can be confirmed. (Access Your Online Profile and under Student Information, click Add New). If you need help entering records (modifying Credit Hours), please contact Kareta. Records must be up-to-date prior to ordering gate signs (more than ˝ of credit hours must have been earned).

WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS INSTRUCTORS OF DIFFERENT MODULES?
Extension Educators – Agriculture with area and state Extension specialists will do most of the instruction. Dr. Giedt or area veterinarians will teach the Heard Health (Chapter 36) and Internal Parasite (Chapter 37) modules. If you need assistance teaching a module (chapter) and plan to schedule one of the resource faculty or area specialists, please make those arrangements before you submit the event for approval on the web site. Company representatives and local veterinarians may be included in an exercise in support of one of the modules or in a project undertaken for extra credit. However, consultants or private individuals with vested interests in sales of commercial products should not serve as primary instructors. The credibility of the MC program depends on delivery of unbiased information through the standardized curriculum.

HOW CAN I GET PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS FOR USE AT LOCAL MEETINGS?
A brief PPT intro to the OSU Master Cattleman program is available on the MC website (agecon.okstate.edu/cattleman) under Manual Resources. Instructors may log on and download files. Electronic files for a brochure, poster and news releases are also available on this site. If you need printed copies, please contact Damona or Dave.

HOW WILL QUIZZES BE ADMINISTERED?
Quizzes may be administered as pre- and post- tests, post- tests only or take-home assignments. If quizzes are administered as part of the meeting, sufficient time must be built into the agenda (approximately 15-20 minutes each). A strategy that works well is to provide a take-home quiz when a segment is presented. Participants then have the opportunity to listen to the presentation without feeling stress to absorb everything. They can later review notes, read the appropriate chapter in the manual and complete the quiz at their leisure, taking as much time as they want. At the beginning of the following session, participants return the quiz and the session begins with a brief review of the previous session and answers to the quiz led by the Extension Educator.

Another option is to have the quiz taken the same night as the presentation. However, some educational research suggests that students retain less than 15% of what is heard in a lecture, up to about 25% if visuals are used. Sessions may be long if the chapter presentation is followed by quiz and quiz review.

A third option is to offer both pre- and post- tests which alerts students to the points that are being stressed. Educators have the flexibility to manage the course in the way that best fits their delivery plan.

A passing score (60% or more correct responses) is required on quizzes to earn credit for course segments. The intent of the MC program is not to fail anyone--we want people to succeed! The goal is to help people improve their skills in a variety of areas, some of which are unfamiliar prior to the MC program. Our job as educators is to "coach" people to master the material covered. If instructors do a good job presenting material, most participants should do well on the associated quiz. If many people do not pass a quiz, the instruction must be reevaluated. Quizzes should address key concepts and closely match what is in the chapter as well as in the PowerPoint slide show. If this is not the case, please notify authors directly or Damona and Dave so that modifications can be made. Quizzes may be taken as many times as necessary for the participant to pass the quiz.

Extension Educators may grade quizzes and record the grades on the website for local MC participants. Or, they may be sent to campus (Dave or Damona) for grading and recording.

HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS IN MATERIALS?
If you discover something that needs to be corrected, changed, improved etc. in the MC educational materials, quizzes and (or) in the Beef Cattle Manual, please clearly indicate your discovery in writing and provide suggested improvements. Email to both Damona and Dave. For example, if you discover a way to more clearly present a concept compared to what is currently available in the PowerPoint slides, please make the changes to the slides and forward them so that we can make the improvements or corrections available to everyone. If everyone will make a commitment to do this, our program will get better and better over time. Damona and Dave will try to make sure that the latest version of all materials is posted on the web site. Similarly, please provide suggested improvements to the web site to Damona and Dave.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE PRIOR TO SCHEDULING GRADUATION?
The following checklist is provided to ensure that class requirements are met. Notify Kareta at least 6 weeks in advance of expected graduation event. All student information on the website must be up-to-date and show that 2/3 of credits have been earned. Sufficient events must be posted on the Master Cattleman Calendar of Events to ensure that students will reach the required 28 hours.

1. Check student credit hours on-line to ensure that all core requirements have been met (logon to your profile, click on Student Name under Credit Hours, click on Modify, Program Summary in green text). Total credit hour requirements are spelled out in the curriculum table (http://www.agecon.okstate.edu/cattleman/files/summary.doc). Quizzes must have been passed within a segment for credit to be earned.

The name that will appear on the farm gate sign is the Organization/Business listed on the Student Profile, for example, Last Chance Ranch, unless a written request is submitted with the 6 weeks advance notification.

2. Program Evaluation. Graduation night is an opportunity to formally collect some feedback about the program as well as gather anecdotal information. An evaluation form is posted on the Master Cattleman Resources page. Please try to get a photograph or digital image of your class with their farm gate signs and forward this to Dave or Damona We can also use miscellaneous photos of your class activities. These could be used in newsletter articles and posted on the web site.

Graduation packets will not be distributed until the above items have been addressed. Graduation packets include:

• Certificate
• MC notebook
• Farm gate sign