At Meridian Technology Center in Guthrie, Oklahoma, a group of 50 county-elected officials and deputies laugh as they engage in a question-based competition to test their ability to retain the basics of county government.

This session is an accurate depiction of what it looks like to attend a course taught by employees of the Oklahoma County Government Training Program, an Oklahoma State University Extension program.

During training courses, a variety of activities keep county officials and deputies engaged and eager to bring home knowledge to their counties.

Program employees spend multiple days a week on the road visiting Oklahoma communities, said Jean Hinkle, County Government Training Program director. They provide county-elected officials and deputies with opportunities to further their education through statute-based course trainings, she added.

The County Government Training Program’s roots trace back to the early 1980s, when a statewide investigation implicated more than 200 county-level officials in a scandal, which became known as the OKSCAM investigation.

At the time, the scandal, which impacted 60 of the state’s 77 counties, was the largest of its kind in American history, according to the Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

In the years after the crisis, Oklahoma legislators enacted regulations designed to improve the transparency and accountability of county elected officials, Hinkle said.

Part of those regulations included continuing education requirements covering various aspects of county government.

The courses are taught through OSU Agriculture via a partnership between OSU Extension’s rural economic development program and the Ferguson College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics, said Notie Lansford, former County Government Training Program director.

“In 1991, I taught the first course the program offered, Basic Accounting,” Lansford said.

Since then, the program has expanded to a curriculum of more than 50 courses annually, Lansford added.

“We are seeing the benefits of this take root in local counties, which is critical,” Lansford said. “County government is the closest government to the people.”

The program’s mission is to educate county officials and their staff to operate effectively within state statutes.

The County Government Training Program’s local government specialists travel across Oklahoma, offering specialized training for elected officials in all roles of governance, including county budgeting, fund accounting, and purchasing and supervisory skills, said Majenta Harper, County Government Training Program local government specialist.

“We teach three course accreditation levels,” said Brad Raven, County Government Training Program local government specialist, referring to the basic, advanced one and advanced two certifications offered in the program.

In fiscal year 2025, around 148 county employees earned certifications across Oklahoma, Raven said.

During that time, the program had a total attendance of 5,765, a 5.8% increase from fiscal year 2024.

“I appreciate the great work of the County Training Program team in helping to support county officials in their public service roles through the information and education they provide,” said Damona Doye, OSU Extension associate vice president.

“CTP is a highly visible program for Extension, and the relationships the team develops with officials help understand ways for Extension to collaborate effectively,” Doye said.

Between accreditation classes and workshops, total attendance was 2,798 for the first half of the 2026 fiscal year, Raven said.

“The growth the program has seen in attendance has been truly remarkable,” Hinkle said.

From online training courses alone, there were 269 training session registrations in the first half of fiscal year 2026, Raven said.

“I encourage anyone who wants to know more politically, and about their state, to get involved within county government,” Hinkle said.

Mitch Antle, Washington County commissioner, said his experience taking courses through the program has allowed him to refresh and gain knowledge in an ever-changing political system.

“I encourage those who want to get involved to run for public office in their respective counties,” said Sunilyn Hertt, local government specialist for the program. “It is a great way to serve people around you and make an impact.”

For those interested in learning more about the County Government Training Program, visit okla.st/3OCwXF6.

Story by Kinley Bratcher | Cowboy Journal