A product of public education...
Ryan McMullen was the fourth-generation to grow up on his family’s farm just south of Burns Flat, Oklahoma. Here he learned from an early age the importance of family and the value of hard work. A product of public education, Ryan credits many of his accomplishments to the early impact of his local teachers. Through the public schools and his early involvement in his local 4-H club, Ryan began to take an interest in leadership and public service.

Creative solutions for Oklahoma farmers…
As an energetic leader in his local 4-H club, Ryan began to embrace and work for a number of causes. One such cause was McMullen’s work for the passage of Oklahoma’s Boll Weevil Eradication Program. Recognizing the financial benefits such a pro-active approach could mean for cotton producers, Ryan researched and presented persuasive talks to groups across Oklahoma encouraging producers to vote for the passage of the program and for legislators to provide this important funding for Southwest Oklahoma.

Passion for rural economic development…
The economic value of this program made this work another project in Ryan’s passion for rural economic development. Even as a young man, McMullen knew economic development would be the key that would allow his peers and himself to live and work in their own little corner of Western Oklahoma. Understanding the evolving nature of economic development, Ryan’s early contribution to this effort was making countless presentations to groups across Western Oklahoma describing advances in economic development and the importance of making such activities a priority.

Washita County’s first and only…
It was work such as this, numerous service projects, and countless leadership activities on the state and local level, that led to Ryan McMullen’s election as State President of the Oklahoma 4-H Program. With more than 147,000 members during Ryan’s term of service, Oklahoma 4-H is the state’s largest youth organization and one of its oldest. His election marked the first time a resident of Washita County was ever elected to the office of State 4-H President during the organization’s 97 year history.

Award-winning work for our seniors…
Equipped with his belief that the primary role of every leader is to serve, Ryan kicked off his term of office with an ambitious program to distribute what became known as Clover Care Cards. These cards were distributed to the homes of senior citizens, and upon being completed with medical information, were posted on refrigerators to give emergency medical crews much needed information such as possible allergic reactions and current medications. More than 50,000 cards were distributed to Oklahoma households. The program’s success led to Ryan being one of seven individuals nationally to be featured on “Good Morning America” for receiving President Clinton’s Student Service Award. Ryan was further honored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and given their Distinguished Service Award for “making a significant impact in the lives of Oklahoma’s seniors”.

Leadership on a national level…
Also while in office, Ryan pushed forward a policy focus of empowering young people to take greater leadership roles in the world around them. He did this internally by restructuring a variety of conference committees allowing more youth to take greater control in planning and implementing leadership conferences. He was further able to promote the concept of youth empowerment by encouraging young people to look toward seeking elective office and becoming vocal on issues facing their communities. This focus became part of Ryan’s motivational message that he presented to groups across the state. Once elected to the National 4-H Leadership Team, Ryan began to travel the country presenting empowerment seminars to youth and adults alike, challenging participants to look for demanding leadership roles for young people in their communities. Ryan was able to promote this policy even further as a member of the U.S.D.A. Strategic Directions Team, a select group of individuals responsible for creating the federal agency’s strategic plan for implementing youth development programs.

BF-DC to OSU…
McMullen’s extensive involvement in 4-H and other OSU Cooperative Extension programs was among the primary factors that led the Valedictorian graduate of Burns Flat - Dill City High School to Oklahoma State University. Upon arriving in Stillwater, Ryan immediately began to immerse himself into new and exciting leadership opportunities. Whether continuing his commitment to 4-H youth development by serving as a National Collegiate 4-H Officer or engaging his interest in law by serving as a Supreme Court Justice of the Student Government Association, Ryan spent his years of college further developing a variety of leadership skills.

Rural, working-class upbringing and the Democratic Party…
OSU also provided Ryan an opportunity to take his experiences in leadership and public service and become politically active. These experiences had allowed McMullen plenty of opportunities to work on projects at the State Capitol and the U.S. Capitol, as well as an opportunity to interact with elected officials on a variety of levels. As an individual with moderate political views, Ryan drew on these experiences in deciding which political party best reflected those views. Ultimately, McMullen’s rural, working-class upbringing and the Democratic Party’s commitment to quality public education were the factors that led to his involvement with the Young Democrats of Oklahoma. Rising through the leadership ranks at OSU, Ryan was soon elected to a two-year term as state wide president of the organization.

Ag Econ with honors…
Even while pursuing these many leadership opportunities, McMullen remained focused on his degree. Ryan received a degree in Agricultural Economics from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and a minor in Economics from the College of Business Administration to prepare him for a career of working in economic development for Western Oklahoma. McMullen graduated from OSU with honors, receiving the distinction of graduating Cum Laude and Phi Kappa Phi. He was also honored as OSU’s George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholar and one of the Top Ten Senior Men in his graduating class of Oklahoma State University.

KTJS News...Ryan McMullen reporting …
McMullen’s professional career has been a diverse set of experiences that have been driven by his passion for public service. Aside from Ryan’s early years of chopping cotton and working cattle for local farmers, Ryan’s first job was in the radio broadcasting industry. Employed by KTJS / KQ-106, Ryan had the opportunity to take his love for public speaking and apply it to a slightly different medium. McMullen served as an on-air personality for the Hobart radio stations for more than two years. These experiences included news writing and broadcasting, as well as engineering for Hobart Bearcat athletic broadcasts.

A passion for education and youth development…
Ryan then chose to take a position that utilized his youth development experiences and political interest, by serving as the Coordinator for the National 4-H Youth Directions Council. Employed by the U.S.D.A. and National 4-H Council, Ryan served as advisor to the youth leadership team and did work on Capitol Hill establishing youth advisory councils for various members of Congress.

Legislative experience and the fight for Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers…
McMullen then expanded on these political experiences by accepting a position as OSU’s liaison to the State House and State Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committees. This position allowed Ryan an opportunity to work on a variety of agricultural policy issues, including legislation designed to give agricultural producers greater contractual rights. Through this process Ryan was able to gain invaluable experience working with state legislators, drafting legislation, and helping guide that legislation through the halls of the State Capitol.

On the campaign trail…
Ryan’s experience in politics stretches beyond his work at the Capitol, as he has had the opportunity to serve as campaign manager for several state legislators and candidates for the legislature. While such experiences often dissuade people from seeking office themselves, McMullen was anything but dissuaded, and continued to prepare for the day he would have the opportunity to serve.

A way of life…
Ryan’s experience in agriculture is also much greater than his legislative work, as he has spent his entire life engaged in production agriculture. Raised on a farm and active in FFA raising and showing Polled Hereford cattle, Ryan and his family continue to run the cow/calf operation that has been in the family for generations.

Creating jobs and investing in the future…
Most recently Ryan has worked in his primary field of interest - economic development. As Director of the El Reno Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation, McMullen helped a variety of businesses overcome hurdles and aided a variety of business prospects in locating available properties and potential state tax incentives. Ryan has also worked with a number of community leaders in working toward establishing TIF Districts, advocating for the four-lane expansion of U.S. Highway 81, and a variety of other projects leading to the long-term economic development of the region.

The cutting edge of economic development…
McMullen’s work keeps him on the cutting edge of advances being made in the field of economic development. As a board member of the regional economic development partnership, Ryan helped develop a functional regional partnership, the next generation of economic development entities. He understands the importance of communities working together, rather than competing against each other in luring new business and industry. McMullen has also pursued various avenues of professional development in the field of economic development. Ryan is a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce Management Institute and completed Session I of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.

A November Upset…
In 2004 McMullen stepped forward to serve the people of Washita, Kiowa, Caddo, and Canadian Counties in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. With the same spirit and work ethic in which he had tackled previous endeavors, Ryan and his team campaigned across the vast House District 55 and easily won the Democratic Primary with 68% of the vote. Winning a spot for the November showdown, McMullen found himself in one of Oklahoma’s most hotly contested races. The election placed McMullen as an underdog against the son of a popular former Congressman. Ryan appealed to a broad spectrum of voters, Republicans and Democrats alike, and overcame enormous odds to produce one of the few great upsets for a Democratic candidate in 2004.

An Agressive Reform Agenda…
Ryan hit the ground running as the newly elected State Representative, landing spots on the committees of agriculture and rural development, business and economic development, and aerospace and technology. During this first term in office McMullen pushed an aggressive reform agenda. His legislative accomplishments include money saving agricultural reforms, nationally recognized workers comp reforms, ground breaking protections for Oklahoma property owners and mineral owners, and the elimination of Oklahoma’s estate tax.

Making Oklahoma History...
Representative McMullen was recently elected by colleagues to serve in one of five elected leadership positions in the House of Representatives. As Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, McMullen organizes and presides over all caucus meetings and retreats as well as heads the House Democrats’ campaign and fundraising efforts. He is also a guiding force in the development of caucus policy positions. McMullen’s election makes him the youngest legislator in state history to be elected to House leadership.

A proven community leader…
Civic and volunteer activities have always been a major part of McMullen’s life, and continue to be today. Ryan currently serves as advisor to the Washita County 4-H Teen Leaders and continues to travel the state as a motivational speaker to a variety of youth groups. In addition to motivating youth on topics such as leadership and goal setting, Ryan also presents a variety of educational living history performances in classrooms and historical events across the state. Perhaps most notably has been McMullen’s involvement as one of the featured actors during Historic Fort Reno’s award-winning Tombstone Tales event held each September just outside of El Reno. Ryan’s activities also include membership in Rotary, Farm Bureau, Farmers’ Union, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Leadership Canadian County, and the Burns Flat Chamber of Commerce. He attends the Burns Flat Church of Christ.

Family…
McMullen is the son of Tommy and Beverly Wall of Burns Flat, the grandson of Wanda Mullins and the late Glenn Mullins of Burns Flat, the grandson of Bob and Yvonne Howard of Canute, and the nephew of Tommy and Darlene Lesley of Sentinel.