Before Lyndall Stout ever hosted an episode of SUNUP, she helped with winter morning cattle feeding on her grandparents’ farm along the Arkansas River in Osage County.

Stillwater already felt like home for Stout, who grew up splitting time between Stillwater and Pawhuska. Although she left the state to earn her master’s degree at Louisiana State University and launch a career in television news, she wouldn’t remain away from Oklahoma forever.

Stout returned to Stillwater in 2010 to begin serving as the host and executive producer of SUNUP, a weekly production agriculture television show broadcast on OETA. The show airs on Saturdays and Sundays, and all segments can be found on YouTube.

“Getting to work for the university was a dream come true,” Stout said.

SUNUP is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Stout and the staff evolved the program — which reaches tens of thousands of viewers annually — beyond its traditional broadcast roots, building successful footprints on YouTube and social media.

“I’m grateful producers across the state trust us for timely information each week,” Stout said. “It’s so rewarding to be part of the rich history of this program.”

After more than a decade working in television news, with stops in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Texas, Stout continued working in broadcast television through SUNUP, helping producers, landowners and the general public stay up to date with the latest educational information.

Through collaboration with OSU Extension, OSU Ag Research and the Oklahoma Mesonet, SUNUP has reinforced the university’s land-grant mission by improving agricultural resilience and advancing stewardship of natural resources.

For almost two decades, Stout has been the face of that effort. She’s also served as the director of communications and marketing for OSU Agriculture since 2012.

“The work of OSU Extension and Ag Research is so important,” Stout said. “Serving as an information conduit for the public and the university is a role I love.”

Photo by: Mitchell Alcala

Story by: Dean Ruhl | STATE Magazine