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Ken Starks honored as OSU Distinguished Ag AlumnusOklahoma Ken Starks, longtime Stillwater resident and regional executive vice president for BancFirst, has been named a 2009 Distinguished Agriculture Alumnus by Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Starks, who was born in Prague but moved with his parents to Stillwater and graduated from C.E. Donart High School in 1972, earned both his bachelor of science and master of science degrees in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University in 1976 and 1978, respectively. "His leadership has provided many positive benefits over the years for farms, ranches, small businesses and communities throughout the state, and he has long been a strong supporter of our undergraduate and graduate teaching programs," said Robert E. Whitson, DASNR dean and director and vice president of agricultural programs at OSU. Starks has served as a bank president, a commercial lender, an agricultural loan officer, a trust officer and more during his near 30-year banking career. He is currently responsible for the supervision of nine BancFirst branch locations throughout northeastern Oklahoma. "He has been a positive presence in local FFA and 4-H programs, helping many youth get started in swine production through his own swine enterprise," said Mike Woods, head of OSU's department of agricultural economics. "He has also mentored many OSU students interested in finance and banking through internships and employment opportunities." His longstanding record of community service includes leadership roles with the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and Stillwater Education Foundation, among others. Starks has served OSU in many capacities throughout the years. He has been an active member of the Foundation Board of Governors and Athletic Council, and has served on the DASNR Dean's Advisory Council since 1997. He is a former member of the division's Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, where he served as an OSU Cooperative Extension area farm management specialist from 1978 and 1979. "Ken currently is serving as an instructor for OSU's agricultural finance class," Woods said. "He brings a wealth of experience into the classroom, providing a unique perspective grounded in real-world concerns for our students." The Cowboy alumnus and his wife, Kathy, have three children, all of whom also attended or currently attend OSU: Kendra, Loren and Jared.
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