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HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON YOUR HORIZON.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL WRITING TODAY'S SHOW IT STRUCK ME THAT IN MANY
WAYS TODAY'S EPISODE HAS SOME DEFINITE SIMILARITIES TO A TRUE 1990'S ICON, THE
MULLET.
YOU KNOW, THE HAIRSTYLE THAT'S SHORT IN FRONT AND LONG IN BACK, IMORTALIZED
BY DAVID SPADE IN THE MOVIE "JOE DIRT".
SO YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME THAT YOU DON'T HAVE NO BLACK CATS, NO ROMAN
CANDLES OR SCREAMING MIMIS?
NO.
OH COME ON MAN!
ROB: AND IT WAS THAT CHARACTER WHO IMORTALIZED THE PHRASE THAT BEST
DESCRIBES TODAY'S SHOW, BUSINESS UP FRONT, AND PARTY IN THE BACK.
TODAY, WE DO JUST THAT BY LOOKING AT OKLAHOMA'S BOOMING ECONOMY.
WE EXAMINE SOME OF THE LEADING SECTORS, AND WHERE THE JOBS ARE, AS WELL AS
GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF A SHORT PROMOTIONAL FILM ON OKLAHOMA GAINING ATTENTION
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S OUR BUSINESS UP FRONT, AND AS FOR OUR PARTY IN THE BACK, WELL
ANDY BARTH GET'S DOWN AND DIRTY IN THE RED DIRT MUSIC SCENE AND LOOKS AT A
HOMEGROWN MUSICAL GENRE THAT JUST CONTINUES TO GROW IN POPULARITY, OF ALL
AGES.
STAY WITH US FOR OKLAHOMA HORIZON.
MALE ANNOUNCER: OKLAHOMA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER: OKLAHOMA'S INVESTMENT IN CAREERTECH PROVIDES MORE
THAN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND TRAINING, IT PRODUCES
SOLID FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE;
OKLAHOMA CAREERTECH, ELEVATING OUR ECONOMY.
MALE: AND, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY,
HELPING GOOD PEOPLE GROW GOOD THINGS.
AND NOW, FROM THE CAREERTECH STUDIOS IN STILLWATER, HERE'S YOUR
HOST, ROB MCCLENDON.
ROB MCCLENDON: HELLO EVERYONE; THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON
HORIZON.
WELL OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES ON AN UPSWING EVEN IF THE PACE IS
SLOWING A BIT.
ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK, METRO OKLAHOMA CITY LEADS JOB
GROWTH IN OUR STATE, WHILE TULSA IS ALSO ADDING JOBS AT A STEADY PACE.
NOW EMPLOYMENT IN NON-METRO AREAS IS FALLING, YET EVEN WITH THE
SLOWDOWN IN RURAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
REMAINED LOW THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE STATE.
NOW TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO EXAMINE THE SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY THAT DRIVE THAT
GROWTH BY CREATING JOBS AND ATTRACTING NEW INDUSTRY INTO THE STATE.
AND WE BEGIN WITH A VIDEO CALLED, OKLAHOMA NOW, THAT IS PART OF A GLOBAL MEDIA
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE OKLAHOMA TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES.
MALE NARRATOR: WE HAVE CREATED A UNITED STATE; BUILT BY AN UNWILLINGNESS
TO FAIL.
CONNECTED BY OUR ABUNDANT RESOURCES, WE HAVE TRANSFORMED THE HEARTLAND
INTO A GLOBAL CROSSROADS.
THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF PROGRESS THIS IS OKLAHOMA, PEOPLE OF HEART, STRENGTH
AND VISION, A STATE LEADING THE NATION OKLAHOMA IS: EVER EVOLVING
SKYLINES, A TEAM AT THE TOP OF OUR GAME; A RESILIENT PEOPLE, CULTURE
AND ECONOMY; PEOPLE, WITH AN ENDLESS DRIVE TO SUCCEED.
[MUSIC].
OKLAHOMA IS THE BEATING HEART OF AMERICA, WITH THE NATION'S BEST BUSINESS
INCENTIVES, LOWER TAXES, A LOWER COST OF ENERGY, HIGHER EMPLOYMENT, AND
HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE'RE EDUCATED, ARTISTS, CULTURED.
WE'RE FEARLESS, EXPLORERS, ADVENTURERS.
WE'RE THUNDERING UP; ONE STATE OF MIND WORKING TOGETHER, DRIVEN BY A
CULTURE OF CREATIVITY, THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE MODERN RENNAISANCE.
AND IF YOU THINK WE'RE ON OUR WAY, THINK AGAIN.
WE'VE ALREADY ARRIVED.
WE'RE THE UNITED STATE.
WE ARE OKLAHOMA.
JOIN US.
ROB MCCLENDON: WHEN WE RETURN, I SIT DOWN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCES' DEIDRE MYERS TO LOOK AT FOUR OF OKLAHOMA'S MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS
SECTORS.
MALE ANNOUNCER: YOU'RE WATCHING OKLAHOMA HORIZON, FEATURING SOME OF THE GOOD
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL, AS BUSINESS BECOMES INCREASINGLY RELIANT ON
TECHNOLOGY, COMPANIES ARE FINDING THAT THEIR PORTFOLIO OF DIGITAL
OPERATIONS CONTINUES TO GROW.
OKLAHOMA IS PRESENTLY HOME TO OVER SEVENTY DATA CENTERS SERVICING THE I T
STORAGE NEEDS OF A WIDE RANGE OF INDUSTRIES.
[MUSIC].
MALE NARRATOR: OKLAHOMA HAS MASTERED THE DIGITAL UNIVERSE BITS ARE OUR
BUILDING BLOCKS.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS OUR FOUNDATION.
[MUSIC].
WE'RE ARCHITECTS OF INFORMATION WITH THE EXPERTISE TO CREATE IT,
HOUSE IT, PROTECT IT AND SHARE IT.
[MUSIC].
WE'RE THE LEADERS OF THE DIGITAL ERA.
WE KEEP INFORMATION FLOWING IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.
[MUSIC].
WE ARE THE MODERN MOGULS OF THE NEW CONGRESS.
OKLAHOMA IS PLUGGED IN.
ROB MCCLENDON: PLUGGED IN AND READY TO GO, JOINING ME NOW IS THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND
WORKFORCE POLICY, DEIDRE MYERS WELL FRANKLY DEIDRE, I WAS SURPRISED BY THE
NUMBER OF DATA CENTERS WE HAVE IN THE STATE.
DEIDRE MYERS: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FRONT AND
CENTER.
HOWEVER OKLAHOMA IS VERY COMPETITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO DATA STORAGE, AND
MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY, BECAUSE, ONE, OUR ELECTRICAL RATES, OUR
GENERAL ENERGY RATES ARE MUCH, MUCH LOWER.
OUR, WE HAVE LAND USE THAT IS AVAILABLE AND ALSO WE HAVE A VERY STRONG
WORKFORCE FOR DATA MANAGEMENT, AND THAT IS CYBER SECURITY AND OTHER
KINDS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS.
IN FACT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP PROGRAMS IN CYBER
SECURITY IN THE NATION.
ROB: AND THIS CUTS ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES.
MYERS: IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT INFORMATION IS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN AGRICULTURE WE NOW HAVE FARM IMPLEMENTS THAT READ
THE KIND OF DATA SUCH AS MOISTURE IN THE SOIL AND OTHER KINDS OF
INFORMATION.
IT GOES UP INTO A CLOUD SERVER AND THEN IT COMES BACK AROUND TO TELL THE
FARMER WHAT KIND OF NUTRIENTS HE NEEDS TO PUT ON HIS FIELD.
BUT IT ALSO TELLS COMPANIES WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE CURRENT
MARKETPLACE.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES THAT OKLAHOMA
EXCELS AT.
ROB: WELL MOVING FROM COMPUTER FARMS TO THE KIND OF FARMS THAT ACTUALLY
GROW CROPS, OKLAHOMA'S AGRICULTURE ROOTS GO DEEP AND LOOK TO GROW EVEN
MORE.
THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY HAS BEEN CALLED THE "BIOCENTURY" WITH MODERN
"AG-BIOSCIENCE" REPRESENTING PERHAPS THE MOST PROMISING AREA FOR
ADVANCEMENT.
[MUSIC].
MALE NARRATOR: WE ARE CULTIVATING THE FUTURE, APPLYING SCIENCE TO
IMPROVE ON NATURE'S GIFTS.
WE'RE REVOLUTIONIZING AGRICULTURE AND BIOSCIENCE, PLANTING THE
SEEDS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
[MUSIC].
WE ARE AGRISCIENTISTS ADVANCING TOMORROW'S HARVEST WITH DROUGHT AND
DISEASE RESISTANT CROPS PRODUCING LARGER YIELDS TO FEED AND FUEL THE WORLD.
[MUSIC].
WE'RE RESEARCHERS DEVELOPING BREAKTHROUGHS TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE
AND ERADICATE DISEASE.
[MUSIC].
OKLAHOMA IS THE FERTILE GROUND OF BIO-INNOVATION.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN OKLAHOMA IS ACTUALLY PART
OF A GLOBAL TREND AS WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ACROSS THIS PLANET.
DEIDRE MYERS: ABSOLUTELY, AS OUR POPULATION GROWS AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
INCREASE THEIR MIDDLE CLASS, PEOPLE ARE MOVING FROM AN AGRICULTURAL
OCCUPATION OR INDUSTRY INTO MORE URBAN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
AND THIS MEANS THAT WE IN OKLAHOMA ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROVIDING THE
FOOD ITEMS THAT THE WORLD NEEDS.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT IN TERMS OF OUR MAJOR GRAINS AND OTHER KINDS OF
COMMODITIES.
BUT ARE THEY DROUGHT RESISTANT?
DO THEY NEED LESS CHEMICALS?
MORE PRODUCTION IN TERMS OF FOOD OR PRODUCTION PER ACREAGE, SO.
IT'S THOSE KINDS OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION, DEVELOPMENT, WHERE
OKLAHOMA IS LEADING NOT ONLY THE NATION, BUT THE WORLD.
ROB: YEAH, IN ADDITION TO THE PRODUCTION THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR DECADES AND
DECADES, THERE'S ALSO SOME JUST GREAT RESEARCH GOING ON DOWN AT THE NOBLE
FOUNDATION.
MYERS: ABSOLUTELY, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE NOBLE FOUNDATION, AND THEIR KIND
OF REPUTATION IN THE WORLD AGRICULTURAL MARKET.
BUT ALSO WE HAVE OUR UNIVERSITIES.
AND NOT JUST THE POWER UNIVERSITIES, OSU, OU.
BUT ALSO OUR REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES, LIKE PANHANDLE STATE
UNIVERSITY, AND OTHER KINDS OF REGIONAL AND COMMUNITYCOLLEGES, WHERE
WE HAVE HAD SUCH AN AGRICULTURAL FOCUS.
BUT NOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW THAT TRANSLATES TO 21ST CENTURY RESEARCH,
INNOVATION, PRODUCTIVITY.
ROB: WELL CERTAINLY A HERITAGE INDUSTRY THAT JUST CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.
WELL HERE IS SOME ABBREVIATIONS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT YOU NEED TO.
M-R-O, WHICH STANDS FOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL; AND U-A-V,
THAT'S SHORT FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE, A COUPLE OF THREE-LETTER
ABBREVIATIONS THAT HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY.
[MUSIC].
MALE NARRATOR: WE'RE REACHING NEW HEIGHTS, DEFIERS OF GRAVITY TAKING
TO THE SKIES AND BEYOND.
[MUSIC].
OKLAHOMA IS A WORLDWIDE LEADER IN AEROSPACE, UNMANED AERIAL SYSTEMS,
AND DEFENSE.
[MUSIC].
A STATE UNITED, WE'RE DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
WE'RE PERFECTING MANNED AND UNMANNED FLIGHT.
WE'RE THE FORERUNNERS IN AEROSPACE EDUCATION WITH THE NATION'S FIRST UAS
FOCUSED DEGREE PROGRAM.
[MUSIC].
WE HAVE THE MANPOWER AND RESOURCES FOR DEFENSE WITH AMERICA'S LARGEST AIR
LOGISTICS DEPOT.
[MUSIC].
WE'RE PROVIDING MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL WITH THE LARGEST
MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING CENTER ON EARTH.
OKLAHOMA IS SOARING.
ROB MCCLENDON: SO OKLAHOMA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING IN AEROSPACE AND
DEFENSE.
MYERS: ABSOLUTELY, AND IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT TO
OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY.
WE HAVE FIVE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
BUT ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MANY OKLAHOMA BUSINESSES
SUPPORT THE AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE ECOSYSTEM, OR ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
MANY OKLAHOMA COMPANIES, MID AND SMALL COMPANIES, DO THE MANUFACTURING OF
THE PARTS THAT THEN GO INTO THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL.
SO, OUR MANUFACTURING BASE IS VERY STRONG WHEN IT COMES TO AEROSPACE,
PARTS, ENGINE PARTS AND INSTALLATION ACTIVITIES.
IT ALSO IS A VERY BIG PROMISE FOR VETERANS COMING BACK IN TERMS OF
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
WE KNOW THAT VETERANS HAVE AMAZING SKILLS THAT THEY LEARNED WHILE THEY WERE IN
SERVICE.
THE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, THE TECHNICAL SKILLS THAT THEY HAVE BY SERVING OUR
COUNTRY ARE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEIR SOFT SKILLS, THEIR WORK ETHIC, IS SECOND TO
NONE.
AND SO OKALHOMA IS ACTUALLY RANKED, IN PARTICULAR OKLAHOMA CITY,
IS RANKED THE NUMBER ONE PLACE FOR RETURNING VETERANS FOR EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES BY THE VETERANS GROUPS.
ROB: AND NOT TO MENTION THESE ARE, HIGH SKILLED, BUT ALSO HIGH WAGE JOBS.
MYERS.
ABSOLUTELY.
ROB: ALRIGHT DEIDRE.
WELL OKLAHOMA ENERGY PRODUCERS ARE LEADING A NATIONAL ENERGY REVOLUTION
THANKS IN GREAT PART TO INNOVATION.
NEW TECHNOLOGY AND DRILLING TECHNIQUES SPEARHEADED BY OKLAHOMA
PRODUCERS ARE FOREVER ALTERING OUR NATIONAL ENERGY LANDSCAPE.
MALE NARRATOR: WE ARE AN ENERGY GIANT, POWERING THE WORLD WITH
INDUSTRY-CHANGING INNOVATIONS.
[MUSIC].
HOME TO SOME OF THE NATION'S LEADING ENERGY PRODUCERS, WE HAVE
REVOLUTIONIZED THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND DEVELOPED NEW TECHNIQUES TO EXTRACT
RESOURCES ONCE THOUGHT TO BE INACCESSIBLE.
[MUSIC].
WITH ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST ENERGY RESERVES, WE ARE INCREASING NORTH
AMERICAN PRODUCTION AND JOBS, AND DECREASING OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN
ENERGY.
[MUSIC].
OKLAHOMA IS MORE THAN A BOOMING OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.
WE'RE SWEEPING THE NATION AS ONE OF THE TOP UNCONVENTIONAL ENERGY
PRODUCERS.
[MUSIC].
OKLAHOMA IS A STATE FULL OF ENERGY.
ROB: WELL WHEN IT COMES TO OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY, ENERGY CONTINUES TO PLAY A MAJOR
ROLE.
MYERS: ABSOLUTELY, WE'RE AN ENERGY STATE.
AND, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE JUST RECENTLY THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY HAD AN
ARTICLE THAT TALKED ABOUT THE GROWTH OF HIGH WAGE JOBS IN THE U S. AND IT
TALKED ABOUT HOW OKLAHOMA, AND PARTICULARLY OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA, ARE AMONG
THE LEADERS IN THE U S IN TERMS OF GROWTH NOT ONLY OF EMPLOYMENT BUT HIGH
WAGE JOBS.
NOW, WHAT THIS SAYS IS IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE EXTRACTION OF ENERGY WHICH
HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO OKLAHOMA.
BUT IT'S OUR INNOVATION AND IT'S ALSO THE MANUFACTURING.
OKLAHOMA IS A LEADER IN THE WORLD IN THE MANUFACTURING OF PUMPS,
COMPRESSORS, AND OTHER KINDS OF MACHINERY THAT'S NEEDED, VALVES . AND SO
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT EXTRACTING THE ASSETS FROM THE EARTH, BUT THE WAY
THAT WE DO IT AND THE MATERIALS THAT WE USE.
ROB: IN GENERAL A GOOD PLACE TO GROW A BUSINESS AND TO GET A GOOD JOB
THEN.
MYERS: ABSOLUTELY.
ROB: ALRIGHT DEIDRE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
NOW DEIDRE MYERS IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND
HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE POLICY.
NOW WHEN WE RETURN, THE ECONOMICS OF ENTERTAINMENT.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER: STILL TO COME ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON, A TRUE FIT FOR AN OKLAHOMA
BUSINESS.
BUT FIRST, RED DIRT MUSIC.
[MUSIC].
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY IS CERTAINLY IMPACTED BY MANY
FACTORS, ONE OF WHICH IS OUR MUSIC INDUSTRY.
OKLAHOMA IS HOME TO MANY MUSIC STARS, AND WHEN THEY RETURN HOME FOR A CONCERT,
THEY PROVIDE MUCH MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT.
OUR ANDY BARTH MET UP WITH A COUPLE OF OKLAHOMA-GROWN MUSIC STARS TO LOOK AT THE
IMPACT OF COMING HOME.
ANDY BARTH: THAT'S RIGHT ROB, RED DIRT MUSIC HAS A LONG HISTORY, BUT IT
RECENTLY HAS EXPLODED ACROSS THE NATION, THANKS IN PART TO TWO ARTISTS WHO
HEADLINED A CONCERT AT THE FIRST EVER MEDICINE STONE MUSIC FESTIVAL IN
TAHLEQUAH.
I SAT DOWN WITH BOTH ARTISTS TO TALK ABOUT THE MUSIC THEY LOVE.
[MUSIC].
ANDY BARTH: WITH GUITARS JAMMING; AND FANS DANCING; THE STAGE IS ROCKING WITH
RED DIRT MUSIC.
[MUSIC].
JASON BOLAND: THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE BANDS ON HERE ARE TO HAVE A POSITIVE,
HEALING EXPERIENCE.
IT'S NOT TO 'OH MY GOD.
ONE DAY WE'RE ALL GONNA GET FAMOUS OR SOMETHING.'
YOU KNOW?
THIS IS IT.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
ANDY: JASON BOLAND AND THE STRAGGLERS HEADLINED THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE
CONCERT.
BOLAND: ESPECIALLY, WHEN WE ALL, WHEN WE ALL FOUR MET, THE ORIGINAL FOUR OF
US, ROGER, GRANT, BRAD AND I, WE ALL HAD REALLY DIFFERENT MUSICAL TASTES
AND BACKGROUNDS.
BUT, ALL AGREED ON THE TYPE OF BAND WE WANTED TO BECOME, WHICH WAS, JUST A
GOOD, SOMEWHAT GARAGE STYLE, *** TONK BAND.
ANDY: AND SOMETHING YOU HEAR IN EVERY CHORD, BOLAND SAYS ENERGY IS KEY.
BOLAND: YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA BE EXCITED AT ELEVEN.
NOT JUST MAINTAINING AT ELEVEN.
AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK YOU HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, SUPERMAN AND READY TO GO, SO.
NAPS HELP.
ANDY: THE CURRENTLAND MAGAZINE COVERS THE MUSIC SCENE IN OKLAHOMA.
AND PUBLISHER TOM BARLOW SAYS RED DIRT IS THE FOUNDATION TO MODERN DAY
MUSIC.
TOM BARLOW: IT'S THE ROOTS OF ROCK AND ROLL.
IN OKLAHOMA, IT HAS THAT *** GUTHRIE ROOTS.
IT HAS THAT, "THE SONG IS THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSAGE IS THE SONG"
ROOTS.
AND SO THAT MESSAGE IS A LITTLE MORE ON TOP.
AND IT'S A LITTLE MORE FOLK BACKGROUND THAN IT IS IN TEXAS, WHERE IN TEXAS
IT'S A LITTLE MORE COUNTRY BACKGROUND.
ANDY: THE MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTES TO MORE THAN 450,000 PEOPLE.
AND JASON BOLAND MAKES A REGULAR APPEARANCE IN THE PUBLICATION.
BARLOW: HE WAS ON OUR VERY FIRST COVER.
HE'S BEEN ON THE COVER MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH JASON'S MUSIC.
MY FAVORITE ALBUM IS STILL PEARL SNAPS.
AS A SONGWRITER HE'S SO SUPERB.
THE WORDS ARE LIKE, THEY'RE JUST LIKE SILK.
AND THEY TELL A CLEAR MESSAGE.
ANDY: AND BOLAND IS NOT THE ONLY ARTIST HIGHLIGHTED IN THE
MAGAZINE OR ON STAGE AT THE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
BARLOW: THERE'S JUST SOMETHING IN THE TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS' MUSIC, LIKE
JASON BOLAND, THAT IT'S TIMELESS.
ANDY: EVAN FELKER IS THE TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS' LEAD SINGER.
EVAN FELKER: WELL I ALWAYS LOVED PLAYING MUSIC YOU KNOW.
AND I JUST KEPT PURSUING IT MORE AND MORE.
WE WERE WORKING; YOU KNOW I WAS WORKING AS AN ELECTRICIAN.
AND R C WAS A PHARMACIST.
AND WE WERE PLAYING MUSIC ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU KNOW, AND WRITING SONGS TOGETHER
ON THE WEEKENDS AND STUFF.
WE EVENTUALLY JUST KIND OF PHASED OUT ALL THE WORK AND JUST STARTED PLAYING
MUSIC FULL-TIME YOU KNOW?
ANDY: AND FOR FELKER, BEING ON STAGE IS HIS BIGGEST RUSH.
FELKER: THE LIVE SHOW IS THE MOST EXCITING THING THAT A PERSON CAN PROBABLY
DO, I THINK.
I LOVE TO PLAY, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE HOMETOWN CROWD.
REGARDLESS OF THE VENUE, PLAYING TO A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY
INTO IT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE DOING, IT'S
GREAT.
THE CROWD FEEDS OFF THE BAND, THE BAND FEEDS OFF THE CROWD AND YOU GET THIS
VICIOUS CIRCLE GOING ON.
IT PERPETUATES JUST THIS FRENZIED, EXCITING SHOW.
ANDY: AND FELKER SAYS RED DIRT MUSIC IS TRUE OKLAHOMA.
FELKER: AS AN OKLAHOMAN, YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE MUSIC, AND IT'S KIND OF
OUR MUSIC YOU KNOW?
AND IT'S AN INTERESTING THING FOR A STATE WHO'S SO NEW, AND OFTEN I THINK
STRUGGLES WITH ITS IDENTITY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REAL, AND
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IDENTIFIED WITH THIS KIND OF MUSIC.
ANDY: AND NO MATTER HOW FAMOUS HE GETS, BOLAND SAYS MUSIC IS STILL THE
REASON HE LOVES HIS JOB.
BOLAND: MUSIC ONCE IT BECOMES A BUSINESS GETS GROUPED IN LIKE EVERYTHING
ELSE, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
IT CAN STILL BE SOMETHING SO CLOSE TO PURE YOU KNOW?
AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET IT.
WE'RE STILL SELLING TICKETS AND THERE'S SPONSORS AND THINGS GOING
ON, BUT.
IT'S, THE GOAL IS STILL FOR A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER, AND HAVE A
POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.
[MUSIC].
ANDY: TWO ARTISTS; ONE EVENT; ALL TELLING STORIES THE BEST WAY THEY KNOW
HOW.
[MUSIC].
ANDY BARTH: NOW RED DIRT MUSIC GREW FROM AN OLD TWO-STORY FIVE-BEDROOM
HOUSE IN STILLWATER CALLED "THE FARM."
AND FOR TWO DECADES IT WAS THE CENTER OF WHAT EVOLVED INTO THE RED DIRT
SCENE.
NOW THE HOUSE WAS THE COUNTRY HOME OF LATE RED DIRT ARTIST BOB CHILDERS.
AND EVENTUALLY CHILDERS LEFT THE FARM, BUT THE RED DIRT SCENE CONTINUED TO
GROW AND THRIVE.
ROB: NOW, TAHLEQUAH HAS A PRETTY GOOD HISTORY OF BRINGING IN SOME VERY GOOD
MUSICAL ACTS.
HOW DID THIS INAUGURAL EVENT GO?
ANDY: ROB, IT WENT VERY WELL.
EVERYONE WAS PLEASED WITH HOW IT TURNED OUT.
THERE WERE MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE THERE AND THEY EXPECT IT TO GROW
SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE COMING YEARS.
ROB: ALRIGHT, WELL I'M A LITTLE BIT JEALOUS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ANDY.
ANDY: YOU'RE WELCOME, ROB.
ROB: NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ABOUT RED DIRT MUSIC, WE DO HAVE AN
ONLINE FEATURE AT OK HORIZON DOT COM STREAMING UNDER THIS WEEK'S VALUE
ADDED.
ROB MCCLENDON: WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING YOU'VE SEEN HERE TODAY?
WELL, ALL OF OUR EPISODES ARE STREAMING ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT
OKLAHOMA HORIZON TV; OR, YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY FREE PODCAST ON
I-TUNES.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL WHILE OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY IS INCREASINGLY DIVERSIFIED,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR TO FIND BUSINESSES ROOTED IN OUR WESTERN HERITAGE.
COURTENAY DEHOFF INTRODUCES US TO AN OKLAHOMA ARTISAN WHOSE
CUSTOM MADE COWBOY HATS ARE LIKE THE GUCCI OF FASHION AND THE CADILLAC
OF CARS.
COURTENAY DEHOFF: EVER WONDERED WHAT COUTURE FOR COWBOYS LOOKS LIKE?
WELL TAKE A GOOD LOOK, BECAUSE THIS BEAVER PELT IS SHAPING UP TO BE ONE OF
THE FINEST COWBOY HATS MONEY CAN BUY.
SHORTY KOGER: BEST IN THE WORLD.
MADE WITH LOTS OF LOVE.
BEAVER FUR HATS.
CUSTOM MADE BY SHORTY'S HATTERY.
COURTENAY: AND NOBODY KNOWS SHORTY'S HATTERY BETTER THAN LAVONNA KOGER.
SHORTY: I'D LET YOU TRY MINE ON, BUT MINE IS JUST A SIX AND THREE-QUARTER.
COURTENAY: BETTER KNOWN AS SHORTY, THE FIREY COWGIRL WHO DOMINATES A LARGELY
MALE INDUSTRY EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID SHE NEVER WOULD.
SHORTY: IT'S PERSEVERANCE AND JUST STICKING WITH WHAT I HAD A GOAL TO DO.
YOU KNOW I COULD CLEAN HATS, SO IF I COULD CLEAN HATS, I THOUGHT I COULD
MAKE ONE.
SO 21 YEARS LATER, WE'RE MAKING THE BEST HAT THERE IS.
COURTENAY: AND NEARLY A QUARTER OF A CENTURY LATER, SHE IS THE PREMIER
ARTIST OF THE HAT WORLD.
SHORTY: FIRST OF ALL IT'S THE QUALITY OF THE BEAVER THAT I BUY, AND EVERYTHING
IS DONE BY HAND.
IT'S NOT RUN THROUGH A MACHINE, AND YOU JUST GET A BETTER LOOK WHEN YOU DO
IT BY HAND AS OPPOSED TO RUNNING EM THROUGH MACHINES AND DOING EM THAT
WAY.
COURTENAY: SHORTY TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO EVENTS ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WITH HER HATS AND HER TEAM, ONE CANINE AND HER MAIN HUMAN
COUNTERPART.
SHORTY: BOBBY GOFF, AND SHE HAS BEEN WITH ME 10 YEARS.
AND SHE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB FOR ME IT'S ALMOST LIKE I'VE GOT TO
SEMI-RETIRE SINCE SHE COME ON BOARD.
IT'S LIKE COMING TO, IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY'S FAMILY WITH ME AND THAT'S HOW WE
LOOK AT OUR CUSTOMERS.
THEY'RE NOT JUST A CUSTOMER TO TAKE MONEY FROM.
WE CARE ABOUT EM; WE TRY TO KEEP UP, KEEP TRACK OF EM WHEN THEY DO SHOWS AND
SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ABOUT SERVICE WITH MY BUSINESS.
ROB: YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH US THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
JUST HEAD TO O K HORIZON DOT COM WHERE YOU CAN SEE MORE OF ANY OF OUR
STORIES, READ OUR REPORTERS' BEHIND THE SCENES BLOGS, SEE WHAT
OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT US ON TWITTER, AND FACE THE FACTS WITH OUR REGULAR
UPDATES.
SO REACH OUT AND TOUCH US ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME.
ROB MCCLENDON: WHILE FALL MEANS FOOTBALL FOR MANY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES, FOR
OTHERS, THEIR COMPETITION IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ARENA.
NEXT TIME ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON, FIRST ROBOTICS.
THIS IS AWSOME.
I MEAN, I DO, I TAKE KIDS TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND I HAVE OVER MY
CAREER; BUT THIS IS THE COOLEST THING I THINK I HAVE EVER HAD THE CHANCE
TO DO.
HIGH TECH ON THE HIGH PLAINS, ON OKLAHOMA'S SHOW FOR THE HEARTLAND,
OKLAHOMA HORIZON.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL THAT IS GOING TO WRAP US UP FOR TODAY, BUT YOU CAN SEE
MORE OF ANY OF OUR STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE AT O K HORIZON DOT COM; YOU CAN
WATCH US ON THE GO WITH OUR WEEKLY PODCAST ON I-TUNES; FOLLOW US
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ON TWITTER AT OK HORIZON TV; OR, JUST BECOME A HORIZON
FAN ON FACEBOOK.
I'M ROB MCCLENDON.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT TIME.
MALE ANNOUNCER: HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION;
AND, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY,
HELPING GOOD PEOPLE GROW GOOD THINGS.
COPIES OF TODAY'S SHOW ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, O K HORIZON DOT COM.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OKLAHOMA HORIZON.