J. Connor Ferguson (second from left) was honored as a 2022 Early Career Achievement Award winner. He is pictured with Cynda Clary (left), associate dean of the Ferguson College of Agriculture, Rick Reimer, president of the Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Society Board, and Thomas G. Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. (Photo by Genesee Photo Systems)

Ferguson selected as Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Early Career Achievement Award winner

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Media Contact: Jami Mattox | Agricultural Communications Services | 405-744-8061 | jami.mattox@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Society has selected J. Connor Ferguson of Yukon, Oklahoma, as a 2022 Early Career Achievement Award winner.

The award winners are selected annually by the college’s alumni society for their outstanding achievements in the early years of their careers.

“Dr. Ferguson is recognized as one of the premier up-and-coming scientists in his field,” said Rick Reimer, president of the Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Society Board. “We’re pleased to be able to recognize his dedication to research and to nurturing the next generation of agronomists.”

Ferguson received his bachelor’s degree in plant and soil sciences with a minor in agribusiness from OSU in 2011. While at OSU he was named an OSU Outstanding Senior, a Top 10 Senior in the Ferguson College of Agriculture and the Sitlington Outstanding Student in Plant and Soil Science. He also served as president of the OSU Agronomy Club and was a member of Alpha Zeta agricultural honors fraternity.

“My time at Oklahoma State University was vital in developing me as an agronomist and a critical thinker to address complex situations found in agricultural production,” Ferguson says. “The courses I took and professors I had were instrumental in deepening my knowledge and hunger to address issues impacting crop production in the US and globally.”

In his current role as a weed scientist and technical agronomist for Sesaco Corporation, Ferguson develops pest management research to increase the number of registered pesticides for use in sesame nationwide. This includes conducting research trials on farms across Oklahoma and Texas. Ferguson also works with OSU and other universities to conduct research that helps with these product registrations.

“Without OSU, I would not be half the agronomist I am today and would not have wanted to give back as I do, given the investment and guidance OSU and its people have given me as a student and now alumnus,” Ferguson said.

In 2017, Ferguson established the James C. “Jim” Ferguson Memorial Scholarship in memory of his father, who passed away in 2015. He established the scholarship to give back to OSU and to the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, two entities that invested heavily in him during his collegiate years. Ferguson says he also wants to show students that alumni care and support them in their future careers.

“I hope every student who receives the scholarship in honor of my late father goes on to do great things and knows that my family and I care about them and want to see them succeed wherever their agricultural career and life take them,” he said.