Left: Richard and Millissa Coffey
In Jones, Oklahoma, I grew up in a place that looked like something straight out of Green Acres. Although my dad was a full-time concrete contractor, we still maintained a few cows, some chickens, a couple of pigs, and rows of garden produce - just enough to keep us busy and maybe a little muddy most days. Life was simple, but it was full of lessons, love, and laughter. My dad only had a ninth-grade education, but he and my mom gave us everything they could, especially encouragement. With three sisters and me running around that hobby farm, things were always lively, sometimes loud, and never boring.
When I told my parents I wanted to go to college, they never hesitated to cheer me on. I was the first in our family to finish, and I’ll never forget the pride in their eyes. I started college in 1981 with plans to become a vocational ag teacher, inspired by my high school ag teacher, Mr. Frank Stehno, a man who made education look like a calling.
But, as life often does, it threw me a curveball. While I was working towards my double major in animal science and agriculture education at Oklahoma State University (OSU), I was offered a herdsman job, so I dropped the agriculture education part of my degree plan and majored solely in animal science. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
The next year, in 1982, I married Millissa, who had been my high school sweetheart. A year later, our first daughter was born. Life came at us fast, and it hasn’t slowed down since!
Above: Richard and Millissa, graduation day 1990! Charles Maxwell, Ph.D. Gary Cromwell, Ph.D.
I earned my undergraduate and M.S. in animal science at OSU. Dr. Charles Maxwell guided me through the rigors of grad school. Later, I transferred to the University of Kentucky (UKY) for my Ph.D. program and worked with Dr. Gary Cromwell; another mentor who shaped my path. By then, with two daughters at home, I wasn’t just a student, I was a provider and had to work. But that pressure also pushed me toward what became my passion: swine extension.
Extension work was my calling. Pigs were the path that helped me serve people; whether it was improving farms, supporting families, or mentoring young folks. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping farmers improve their herds, watching a young person grow and helping them find success, and knowing you played a part in that.
I spent 32 incredible years at UKY as an Extension Swine Specialist and Department Head and have had the privilege of serving as the Department Head of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University for almost three years now. But through it all, one constant that has felt like family outside of my own is being a member of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS).
My very first ASAS meeting was in 1990 at the Midwest ASAS annual meeting in Des Moines, IA. I was presenting my M.S. research and was absolutely terrified! I didn’t know if I belonged. But I showed up, and I kept showing up. Over time, ASAS became more than a professional organization. It became a family. It’s where I built lasting friendships, found mentorship, and grew both personally and professionally. In many ways, I could categorize ASAS as another of my important communities, somewhat similar to my church family. It’s a place where I’m surrounded by people who challenge, support and inspire me. Whether it's a five-minute hallway chat or a days-long conversation, ASAS constantly challenges and uplifts me. It’s a phenomenal place to be a member!
Above: Richard, Millissa, and their two daughters Maddie and Milo Richard, Millissa and their grandsons
Today, Millissa and I have two wonderful daughters, three energetic grandsons, and two spoiled Schnauzers, Maddie and Milo. It’s a full, noisy, joy-filled life, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I support the ASAS Foundation because I remember the people who gave to me - mentors, colleagues, and friends who helped me find my way. Now, it’s my turn to pay it forward and ensure that the next generation of graduate students and early-career scientists has the same opportunities.
This journey has been more than a job. It’s been a calling. And I’m grateful every day that pigs, of all things, helped me find my purpose.
If ASAS has been part of your journey, too, and helped shape your career, your friendships, or your sense of purpose, please join me in giving back. Let’s make sure the next generation has the same opportunities we were given.
Richard Coffey, Ph.D.
To support the ASAS Foundation, visit online here.
