May receives Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Early Career Achievement Award
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Media Contact: Jami Mattox | Digital Manager | 405-744-1884 | jami.mattox@okstate.edu
Jerry May, two-time Ferguson College of Agriculture alumnus, received the Early Career Achievement award at the Ferguson College’s Scholarship and Awards Banquet in March.
Early Career Achievement winners are selected annually by the college’s alumni society for their outstanding achievements in the early years of their careers.
May earned a bachelor’s degree in plant and soil sciences with a minor in agronomy in 2007 and a master’s degree in plant and soil sciences in 2010.
He began his career as an agronomist and agriculture management solutions specialist before founding May Precision Ag LLC, a grid soil sampling business, in 2012. The enterprise has grown into a full-scale agronomy company with sales in precision agriculture, seed, chemical and fertilizer.
May has also been instrumental in developing Ninja Ag and Stateline Precision Ag, companies that specialize in farm consulting, soil sampling, custom seed planting and nitrogen application maps.
“Jerry’s commendable work in precision management represents the high level of commitment our young alumni have for not only growing the state’s agriculture industry, but also advocating for their alma mater,” said Rick Reimer, president of the Ferguson College of Agriculture Alumni Society Board.
May said the award proves anyone is capable of accomplishing great things if they devote time, effort, skills and sacrifice.
“If you have a passion for something, don’t wait for it to magically appear,” he said. “Jump out there and do it. I’ve always been involved in production agriculture, and it has always been a dream of mine to work in the industry. I’ve built a business and career out of my passion to help other people in production agriculture.”
An education in the Ferguson College of Agriculture set him up for success through unbreakable friendships, wise mentorship and compassionate faculty. The late professor Bill Raun encouraged May to apply for graduate school and connect with professionals across different sectors of the agriculture industry.
“He inspired me every day with his knowledge and leadership,” May said. “I owe everything I have to him.”
May resides in Kiowa, Kansas, with his wife, Kate May. He is a loyal advocate for the Ferguson College of Agriculture and its plant and soil sciences department, regularly visiting campus to present guest lectures and demo precision ag equipment.
“The agronomy knowledge I gained from Ferguson College has helped me reach further and wider than I could’ve imagined,” May said. “Everywhere I go, I run into someone I have either met personally or through a friend while attending Ferguson, and those connections would’ve never been made if I had not gone to college.”