Oklahoma Farm Report: Ron Hays, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Its Team
Profile updated November 2026
Oklahoma Farm Report is the farm news brand of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network (ROAN), which calls itself the voice of Oklahoma agriculture. Its reports on markets, weather, policy, cattle and wheat air on 58 radio stations in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Missouri, backed by a website, a daily email and podcasts. Its best-known voice, Hall of Fame broadcaster Ron Hays, has greeted Oklahoma farmers with Howdy, Neighbors since 1977. Here is its history, coverage and team.
| Network | Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, part of the Radio Oklahoma Network |
|---|---|
| On-air legacy | Ron Hays, farm broadcaster in Oklahoma since 1977 |
| Farm director | KC Sheperd |
| Reach | 58 radio stations in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Missouri |
| Products | Radio reports, website, daily email, podcasts, Beef Buzz |
| Affiliation | Member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting |
| Official website | OklahomaFarmReport.com |
History of Oklahoma Farm Report
The story of Oklahoma Farm Report is largely the story of Ron Hays. A Kentucky native who started in radio in 1970 as a board operator at WWLV in Versailles while in college, he became a farm broadcaster at KFH in Wichita in 1974. In 1977 he moved to Oklahoma as farm director of the Oklahoma Agrinet, later served as operations manager of the Oklahoma News Network and in 2006 became director of farm programming for the Radio Oklahoma Network.
Along the way Hays helped move the network's audio from telephone circuits to satellite delivery and pioneered farm reports customized for stations in several states. He also oversaw the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State sports networks and created a statewide high school football scoreboard show. A Class I graduate of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, he chaired its advisory board for 25 years.
Hays has been named National Farm Broadcaster of the Year, won the Oscar award three times, received the Milt Hakel Award for ag journalists and was inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Oklahoma Farm Report Today
In February 2020 Hays recruited KC Sheperd, who grew up showing cattle on a farm near Canute in western Oklahoma and had spent years in commercial radio, including afternoons on Hank FM, to rejoin radio full time with ROAN. She is now farm director, serves as a National Association of Farm Broadcasting South Region vice president and sits on the NAFB mentor board.
The team also includes ag broadcaster Dave Lanning, a radio veteran of more than 35 years, and Carli Davenport, an agriculture business graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Reports air throughout the day, and a daily email delivers the latest farm and ranch news to subscribers.
What Oklahoma Farm Report Is Covering Now
Markets and price reports
Daily coverage of Oklahoma City and regional cattle markets, wheat and other grains, plus auction listings, keeps producers ready to sell.
Beef Buzz and specialty features
Beef Buzz focuses on the cattle business, while Agri-Innovations and the Blue Green Gazette cover new technology and conservation topics.
Youth and events
ROAN covers FFA and 4-H events, including state conventions and livestock shows, and keeps a calendar of ag events across the state.
Oklahoma Farm Report Editors and Staff
The Oklahoma Farm Report team page lists:
- Ron Hays - Hall of Fame farm broadcaster, on air in Oklahoma since 1977
- KC Sheperd - Farm Director
- Dave Lanning - Ag Broadcaster
- Carli Davenport - Team member
Staff are reached through the network's radiooklahoma.net email addresses.
Who Listens to Oklahoma Farm Report
Listeners are Oklahoma wheat farmers and cow-calf and stocker operators, along with neighbors across the borders in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Missouri. Many are FFA and 4-H families who follow the network's show coverage as closely as its markets.
Cattle and wheat define the region. USDA's Economic Research Service reports that cattle accounted for 37% of U.S. animal product receipts in 2021, and the Census of Agriculture shows Oklahoma with one of the nation's largest cattle inventories and a major share of hard red winter wheat acres.
Oklahoma Farm Report listeners have been told Howdy, Neighbors for nearly 50 years, and folks raised on that kind of friendly radio tend to enjoy a good yarn. farm.FM spins plenty, with farm satire about wheat pasture, wind and the sale barn. Stocker operators and wheat farmers will find farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes there to pass along at the next co-op meeting.
For context, farm.FM is the nation's first satirical farm site and the home of Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers. Its contributors each keep an archive, and this one is a good sampler of ranch humor and farm jokes.
Oklahoma Farm Report Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Oklahoma Farm Report: About us - the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and its reach.
- Oklahoma Farm Report: Our team - bios of Ron Hays, KC Sheperd and colleagues.
- Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters: Ron Hays - Hall of Fame biography.
- USDA ERS: Animal product receipts - the value of U.S. cattle and livestock.
- USDA NASS: Census of Agriculture - Oklahoma farm, cattle and wheat data.
Oklahoma Farm Report FAQ
Who runs Oklahoma Farm Report?
It is produced by the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, with farm director KC Sheperd and Hall of Fame broadcaster Ron Hays.
How many stations carry Oklahoma Farm Report?
ROAN reports 58 radio stations in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Missouri.
How long has Ron Hays been on Oklahoma radio?
Since 1977, when he became farm director of the Oklahoma Agrinet.
Does Oklahoma Farm Report have a newsletter?
Yes. It sends a daily email with farm and ranch news and keeps an archive of past emails.
With Ron Hays' long legacy and KC Sheperd's leadership, Oklahoma Farm Report remains the daily farm voice for Oklahoma and its neighbors.