Ozarka College has hired Dr. Casey Orr to serve as the agriculture program coordinator/lead faculty. During the spring 2017 semester, the College received approval from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to begin offering an Associate of Science degree in Agriculture beginning in the fall 2017 semester. Though Dr. Orr only recently began his journey as the first employee to fill this new position, enrollment for the agriculture program has been in full swing.

"I am excited about further developing the Agriculture program here at Ozarka, " said Dr. Orr. "I think this program has the potential to be very successful and will offer a lot of great opportunities to our students. " Dr. Orr holds a Bachelors degree in Agriculture Education from West Texas A & M University in Canyon; a Masters degree in Animal Science from Texas Tech in Lubbock; and a PhD in Animal Science from the University of Arkansas (U of A) in Fayetteville. Prior to his employment at Ozarka, Dr. Orr served as a senior graduate assistant and horse judging coach at U of A.

Ozarka's associate of science degree in agriculture is designed to provide students with a broad knowledge of agriculture and agribusiness applications. Through a partnership with Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, graduates will have a seamless transfer into agriculture degrees offered at A-State. Students will also be equipped with skills preparing them to manage the family farming operation, or to enter employment within the Agribusiness World of Work.

For more information about Ozarka's agriculture program, please contact Dr. Casey Orr at 870.368.2072 or email: casey.orr@ozarka.edu.