Still Outstanding
by Whitney Highsmith-Collins

From a wheat field in Guthrie, Okla., to a law office in Oklahoma City, Kenny Davis' life has changed since being named the 1986 College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources' outstanding senior.

"I remember the relationships I built at OSU most," Davis said.

While at Oklahoma State University, Davis' adviser, Dan Badger, had an important influence on him. Badger supported Davis, and with an open-door policy, Badger would talk with him about anything.

Agricultural economics faculty Robert Oehrtman, Dan Tilley and Marcia Tilley also influenced Davis' education. They taught him life lessons and made it possible for him to see a future beyond farming.

Marcia Tilley suggested Davis consider going to law school.

"Kenny was an excellent student and wrote great answers to exam questions," Marcia Tilley said. "Whenever I see students who appear to have promise as attorneys, I suggest they consider a legal career.

"Good students have many opportunities, and each has to find the career path that best suits his or her interests, but legal knowledge has many applications, even if they decide not to practice law."

After leaving OSU, Davis farmed full time for his parents, Ernest and Shirley Davis, for a year before attending law school at the University of Oklahoma.

"When Kenny decided to go, Ernest was upset and hurt," Shirley Davis said. "I always felt like the kids needed to do what they wanted to do and understood his reasoning for wanting something to fall back on if something happened to the farm."

When Kenny Davis graduated from law school, he worked full time for the Hartzog, Conger, Cason and Neville law firm for three years.

However, Davis said he always knew he wanted to continue to be a part of the farm. When he decided to start a family, he went back to farming and now practices law part time during the winter.

"Ernest didn't think he would return to farming," Shirley Davis said, "but I had talked to him and he said he wanted to raise his kids around the farm and he didn't like being stuck in the office all the time."

Davis said he continued farming because it was a part of him.

"I grew up on the farm, and that is the only life I have ever known, was comfortable with and enjoyed," Davis said.

Davis Farms is located southwest of Guthrie, Okla. They plant about 3,100 acres of wheat a year and have about 2,400 acres of grassland. The farm has 160 dairy cows and 175 Angus/Chianina/Maine-Anjou cattle.

"A large part of our farm is buying 400-pound Holstein heifers, which we raise, breed and then sell to dairies, primarily in New Mexico," Davis said.

Even though he had not considered going to law school until taking agricultural law at OSU, he said it is useful when managing a farm.

"No matter what business you are involved in, the understanding of law is a good tool to have," he said.

Davis gravitated toward commercial law and real estate, but he said when you are only in the office during the winter, you do whatever is needed at the time.

"My primary responsibility on the farming operation is the wheat crop, and during the winter we have some down time," Davis said. "The down time has allowed me to be involved in the practice of law and still be able to farm."

Since Davis is close to home during most of the year, he is involved in his community. He actively is involved with Harmony Community Church and served on the Logan County Hospital board for 11 years.

"A lot of my time at this point in my life goes to my kids and their activities," Davis said with a laugh. "It seems like any free time I have is taken up by them."

Davis and his wife, Gina (Harraman) Davis, have four children involved in sports and showing livestock: Jill, 13; Luke, 12; Beau, 9; and Callen, 7.

"I decided to quit practicing law full time about the time I started a family," Davis said. "I thought it was good to be closer so that I could get them involved."

Although the Davises do not push their children to be involved, "They want to participate in everything.

"Our children are very self-driven, which they get from their dad's side of the family," Gina Davis said. "We don't push that they get involved. We don't force it."

Davis' children keep him running from ballgames to livestock shows.

"Being involved allows you to manage time better," Davis said.

He should know.

During college, Davis was active in Aggie-X, Agricultural Student Council, Blue Key Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa and Student Government Association.

"The extracurricular activities in the college of agriculture opened up a lot of opportunities to get involved all over campus," Davis said.

Davis also served as president of FarmHouse Fraternity. The people he lived with were a big part of his education and life.

"FarmHouse had a big impact on my life, as well as my development throughout those years," he said.

Through the opportunities of his extracurricular activities, he was able to be seen as an active and well-respected student.

Aside from being named Alpha Zeta Outstanding Senior, Davis was Outstanding Agricultural Economics Senior and a Top 10 Senior of OSU.

Davis said memories he made at OSU were vital to his social growth. Although he was there for an education, he said, "Without the social maturing process, it wouldn't have been as beneficial as it was."

Davis said students should be involved in many activities. Aside from time management, involvement allows endless opportunities, and one never knows when a door will open from one of those opportunities.