Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell was the guest speaker of the Kingfisher Rotary Club last Tuesday.

The focus of his speech was the importance of tourism in the state. He told Rotarians that agri-tourism is the fastest growing segment of state tourism, which is extremely important to the people and communities of western Oklahoma.

Rural Oklahoma lost over 70,000 in population over the past 10 years, Pinnell said, and tourism jobs and income are of significant benefit to growing population in rural areas.

“As head of tourism for the state, my job is to help bring tourism jobs and income to our state, specifically the other 75 counties that Tulsa and Oklahoma City aren’t in,” he said.

He added that Oklahoma City and Tulsa have their own tourism budgets and the populations of those cities are growing.

“Tourism is the number three industry in the state behind energy and aerospace and aviation, and we need to grow that industry as much as we can,” he said.

Pinnell encouraged Oklahomans to visit the website travelok. com.

“Everything you might want to know about what’s happening regarding tourism in Oklahoma is right there for you,” he said.

“If you want to see America, you gotta see Oklahoma. That’s what we tell everyone interested in visiting our state,” he said.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area now has a population of over 8 million, which comes with all the problems with concentrated growth, Pinnell said.

“We have a great quality of life just a couple of hours north and that’s the pitch we’re making to bring great jobs to our state,” he said. Pinnell also answered questions from the club.

He encouraged the membership and guests to vote “no” on the recreational marijuana state question that will be Tuesday, March 7.

He also said improved public education in the state was a must for growth, with an increase in teacher pay vital in encouraging the brightest to attain teaching degrees.

Pinnell was elected as the 17th lieutenant governor in 2018.

His job encompasses president of the Oklahoma State Senate and he also serves on multiple constitutional boards and commissions.

He is also secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage on Governor Kevin Stitt’s cabinet.

He is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and lives in Jenks with his wife of 20 years and their four children.

Kingfisher native Peyton Burns introduced Pinnell.

Burns is a senior at Oklahoma State University and has accepted a position as northwest Oklahoma representative for U.S. Sen. James Lankford.

Also in attendance were retired state representatives Mike Sanders and T.W. Shannon.