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KOSU reported dozens of stories on rural Oklahoma in 2024. Here are 5 of our favorites

KOSU | By KOSU News,

Anna Pope

Published December 27, 2024 at 6:00 AM CST

Horse tacks drape over a section of Harold Holden's studio as lassos and saddle blankets hang overhead and below.

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KOSU wrote dozens of articles about agriculture and rural affairs this year, led by reporter Anna Pope.

They were about everything from wind turbine recycling to farmer mental health and more. Here are five of our favorites.

1. Oklahoma Wind Turbines Don’t Last Forever, But Now They Can Find Second Life in Woodward

Paul Brown, CEO of Woodbridge Advanced Solutions, walks through the piles of cut-up wind turbine blades outside Oklahoma's first recycling plant for the wings.

When wind turbines reach the end of their lifecycle, they often create waste challenges. A new facility in Woodward is giving them a second life. The new company repurposes turbine blades into materials for construction and manufacturing.

2. Black Farmers Face Specific, Outsized Challenges in Rural Mental Health Crisis

Located in southern Oklahoma, the Town of Tatums is home to 111 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Mental health challenges in rural areas have reached critical levels, but Black farmers face unique obstacles that compound the crisis. KOSU’s in-depth coverage shed light on these challenges, from historical inequities to limited access to culturally competent care.

It was part of the Mental Health Parity Collaborative, a group of newsrooms covering stories on mental health care access and inequities in the U.S. The partners on this project include The Carter Center, The Center for Public Integrity and newsrooms in select states across the country.

3. Black Okmulgee Rodeo Honors Tradition While Looking to the Future

The Checotah Roughriders led the grand entry on both nights of the Roy LeBlanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo. Kenneth LeBlanc, the event's coordinator, said there's always been a following but more people have been drawn to the event. “Now I get so many calls from people in Maryland and all over the United States saying it’s on their bucket list. They’re coming. They want to be here,” he said.

The Black Okmulgee Rodeo celebrated its rich history and cultural significance in 2024, drawing fans and new participants to the annual event. KOSU’s story highlighted the rodeo’s role in preserving Black cowboy traditions while adapting to changing times.

4. Deadly Tornadoes in Oklahoma Leave Thousands Without Power, Trail of Damage

Debris in Sulphur following a tornado late Saturday. — Debris in Sulphur following the tornado outbreak in April.

Severe tornadoes tore through Oklahoma in April, leaving destruction in their wake. Thousands were left without power, and many communities faced significant rebuilding efforts. KOSU’s comprehensive reporting on the aftermath and relief efforts kept readers informed and engaged as KOSU’s Pope appeared on national NPR programs Morning Edition, Here & Now and All Things Considered.

5. Summer Food Assistance Program: Why 13 States Declined Federal Support

People with SUN Bucks can buy produce, meat, fish, dairy products, bread, cereals, snack foods and non-alcoholic drinks.

In July, KOSU reported on the Sun Bucks program, a federal initiative to address summer food insecurity. Despite its benefits, 13 states, including Oklahoma, opted out. Pope explains why and how several tribal nations stepped in to fill feeding gaps.