DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Graham Oakley
Not everyone gets to pursue a career in something they love, but early on in his experience as an MSU Bulldog, Graham Oakley found his path. Graham has worked as an Extension associate in the soybean research program for 5 years.
He oversees different activities associated with research including equipment maintenance, planting, spraying, data collection, and data analysis and presentation. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree.
“Recently, I’ve enjoyed being able to attend some classes on campus regarding the use of drones in agriculture and will use some of that this summer during our research trials,” Graham said.
He especially loves the summer projects where he drives to various research locations with all the different graduate students he has met over the years.
Graham says his career chose him as he has always loved the outdoors.
“Having grown up on a farm in Starkville and enjoying being in agriculture, I knew that I wanted to stay in agriculture,” Graham said.
The summer of his senior year in college, he became a student worker for Dr. Dan Reynolds, weed scientist and Edgar E. and Winifred B. Hartwig Endowed Chair in Soybean Agronomy.
“I had never heard of weed science until then, but quickly found out that this is something I enjoy,” said Graham. “After graduating, I took a job working full time for Dr. Reynolds.”
In his spare time, Graham enjoys working on his family’s beef cattle farm.
Editor's note: The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Spotlight Employee profiles are provided by the Office of Agricultural Communications at Mississippi State. For more information, please click here.
