PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
March 9, 2012
OFB Women participate in National Food Check-Out Week Oklahoma Farm Bureau women leaders celebrated National Food CheckOut Week, Feb. 19-25, by donating more than $1,500 worth of food to the Ronald McDonald Houses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The annual event recognizes the fact that by this time in the year, the average American consumer has earned enough income to pay their annual grocery bill. “Stretching Your Grocery Dollar with Healthy, Nutritious Food,” the official theme of Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week, is an indicator of the tight economic times consumers face. Dining out less often and preparing more meals at home are two strategies people are using to cope with the situation. This is especially true in the case of families caring for hospitalized children. (See Food Check-Out, page 3)
SHOPPING – (Top right, from left to right) Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Glenda Love, OFB Women’s Committee member Beverly Delmedico, committee coordinator Marcia Irvin, OFB District 9 Director Phyllis Holcomb and committee member Lena Henson give groceries to the Ronald McDonald House in Tulsa, Feb. 22. (Bottom left, from left to right) OFB Women’s Committee members Desdive Milacek, Sharlene Lambring and chairman Kitty Beavers shop for groceries at Crest Foods in Oklahoma City, Feb. 23.
Bills receive committee approval By Chris Kidd, OFB Director of State and National Affairs The legislature is in full swing and March 1 marked the deadline for bills to be reported out of committee. OFB FARM BUREAU Legislative Update saw one priority bill pass the House floor and two pass out of committee. HB 2994, authored by Rep. Tom Newell, passed out of the House General Government Committee before receiving approval on the House floor by a vote of 81 to 1. The bill will now go to the Senate for a hearing and a vote. Should the bill become law, it will require a majority of the owners of more than half of the land to give written consent before a street improvement district can be approved. This language was compromise language between OFB and the Oklahoma Municipal League. Authored by Sen. Mike Schulz, SB 1192 clarifies the original intent of the Airspace Severance Restriction Act passed in 2010. It specifies that the landowner who has entered (See Committee Bills, page 3)
In This Issue • Food Check-Out Week • Legislative Update • YF&R Conference Agenda • Commodity Tour • Painter Earns National Award • Inhofe Book Signings
Space available in OFB cattle sale The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Herd Builder cattle sale is coming to the Southern Plains Farm Show in Oklahoma City, April 19-21. Now in its second year, the OFB cattle sale is an opportunity for cattlemen and women to market their cattle beyond the sale barn. Owners are welcome to offer bulls, heifers and cows at private treaty and must provide feed, water and stall upkeep. Health certification on all animals also is required. In addition to the cattle sale, OFB plans to hold a series of extension talks at the farm show on Friday, April 19. Topics will include economics, forage options related to drought response and an overall cattle market outlook. For more information about the upcoming Herd Builder sale, please call Thad Doye at (405) 523-2307.
YF&R Scholarship Reminder The deadline for YF&R Scholarship applications is quickly approaching. Apps must be postmarked to Holly Carroll at the home office by March 15. Visit www. okfarmbureau.org to print off a PDF application.
Member Benefits
• Beef Verification Solution – A cattle
program utilizing radio frequency ID technology and livestock data collection. Call (405) 523-2406.
• Beltone Hearing Aid Centers – Offers
members free hearing assessments and discounts on hearing instruments. Call 888497-7447.
OFB highlights a few benefits in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OFB members. Find a complete list of savings online at okfarmbureau.org.
OFB Calendar Oklahoma Youth Expo March 9-19, 2012 Contact: Tyler Norvell, (405) 235-0404
2012 State YF&R Leadership Conference
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April 12-15 • Lake View Lodge, Broken Bow, OK Thursday, April 12 Registration ..............................................................................................................4-6 p.m. Cookout at Lakeview Lodge ....................................................................................6-8 p.m. Friday, April 13 Registration/Breakfast ..............................................................................................7-8 a.m. Tour Tyson Hatchery .................................................................................................. 9 a.m. Tour Tyson Processing Plant .................................................................................. 9:30 a.m. Lunch ........................................................................................................................ 11 a.m. Brankley’s .................................................................................................................... 1 p.m. Tour Bolen Farms ........................................................................................................ 2 p.m. Dinner at McCurtain County Fairgrounds ................................................................. 5 p.m. Return to Lodge .......................................................................................................... 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14 Breakfast ...................................................................................................................7-8 a.m. Tour OSU Forestry...................................................................................................... 9 a.m. Lunch ........................................................................................................................ 12 p.m. Speaker at Lodge ......................................................................................................... 1 p.m. Member Benefits Presentation by Monica Wilke .................................................. 4:30 p.m. Activity ........................................................................................................................ 5 p.m. Dinner ......................................................................................................................... 7 p.m.
YF&R Speech Contest March 26, 2012 • Oklahoma City Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 205-0069
Sunday, April 15 Breakfast ...................................................................................................................7-9 a.m. Vespers......................................................................................................................... 9 a.m. OFB Policy Update ................................................................................................... 10 a.m.
Congressional Action Tour March 25-29, 2012 • Washington, D.C. Contact: Marcia Irvin, (405) 523-2405
Reserve your spot at the YF&R Conference by contacting Holly Carroll at (405) 205-0069 or Holly.Carroll@okfb.org.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • Scholarships – Oklahoma Farm Bureau offers nine district scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Learn more about the requirements and scholarship deadline on our home page. • Speech Contest – The annual OFB YF&R Speech Contest is March 26 at the home office in Oklahoma City. Learn more about the speech divisions and application deadlines on our website.
www.okfarmbureau.org
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State capitol to host AgrAbility Day The 2012 AgrAbility Day at the capitol in Oklahoma City is set for Monday, March 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. AgrAbility Day is an opportunity for the state legislature to learn about the importance of AgrAbility projects in Oklahoma and the need for funding to support its services. The purpose of the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project is to provide education, service and support to farmers, ranchers and their families who have a disability or debilitating injury limiting their ability to perform essential work tasks. This year’s event at the state capitol will feature indoor exhibits in the 4th floor rotunda. A variety of disability simulation exhibits also will be on display. For more information about AgrAbility Day at the state capitol, contact Stacy Bauter at stacy.bauter@okstate.edu or 888885-5588.
Committee Bills
(from page 1)
into a wind or solar energy agreement may also enter into leases or easements for oil and gas, agricultural, and hunting purposes, as well as electric transmission lines. SB 1192 moved out of the Senate Energy Committee with a do pass and now awaits a hearing on the floor. HB 1952, authored by Rep. Skye McNiel, limits the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to permanent weigh stations and not temporary weigh stations. It passed out of the House Agriculture, Wildlife and Environment Committee and awaits a hearing on the floor. SB 1035, authored by Sen. Ron Justice, would extend the surface damages act to seismic operations. It passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is awaiting a hearing on the floor. Your OFB Public Policy team invites members and county Farm Bureaus to schedule a capitol visit with us and your legislators. To schedule a visit, please call (405) 523-2539. If you have any questions about a specific piece of legislation, how to contact a legislator, or inquire about your legislator's vote on a particular bill, please contact the OFB Public Policy Team at (405) 530-2681.
Fleet vehicle sales now online Oklahoma Farm Bureau fleet vehicle sales are now available for viewing by visiting www.okfarmbureau.org. OFB members receive a $300 discount on the purchase of any fleet car sale. See pictures and other car details by choosing the Membership button, then select “fleet vehicle sales.” Also, call Robert Peeler at (405) 523-2338 for more fleet information.
Register now for Commodity Tour The bus for Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 2012 Commodity Tour, April 9-10, is filling up fast. This year’s event features stops at the Producers Cooperative Oil Mill in Oklahoma City and the Wal-Mart distribution center in Pauls Valley before traveling to the southern region of the state. Monday evening dinner will take place at a waterfowl hunting lodge near Ardmore. Tuesday visits include several locations owned by the Noble Foundation where members will see the latest technology in cattle handling facilities, learn about feral hog management and meet with Noble Foundation officials about grazing forage practices. Tour bus seats are available on a first come, first serve basis – free of charge. To register, please call Thad Doye at (405) 523-2307.
(Food Check-Out, from page 1)
See this 2010 Dodge Nitro and other cars at okfarmbureau.org.
“WHAT BETTER GIFT THAN FOOD” – (Top left, from left to right) OFB Women’s Committee coordinator Marcia Irvin, committee members Sharlene Lambring and Desdive Milacek, Oklahoma City Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Susan Adams and committee chairman Kitty Beavers unload groceries in the OKC charity’s kitchen, Feb. 23. (Bottom right) Committee member Lena Henson shops for non-perishable food items at a Reasor’s in Tulsa, Feb. 22.
“The Ronald McDonald House provides an affordable, safe haven for these families,” said Kitty Beavers, chairperson for the OFB Women’s Committee. “We’re glad to have the opportunity to help these families. What better gift to give someone than food." In addition to the Ronald McDonald House contributions, Farm Bureau women leaders throughout the state worked with their county organizations to donate food and money to local shelters and food pantries. “We want to share our resources and at the same time let people know how hard farmers and ranchers work to provide a safe, quality food product,” Beavers said. This year, National Food Check-Out Week coincided with Farm Bureau Week in Oklahoma. The event is an opportunity for many county Farm Bureaus to promote the farm organization as they help consumers make a strong connection with agricultural producers.
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National YF&R Conference Grand Rapids, Michigan BELOW – Members of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers attend the National YF&R Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 18-20. The event included motivational speakers, leadership sessions and time for members to network.
ABOVE – Oklahoma YF&R members tour an all natural dairy production facility near Grand Rapids. The annual conference features various tours of local agricultural operations.
Inhofe to host Tulsa/OKC book signings
Painter earns national award
The Society of American Business Editors and Writers recently announced that Oklahoman news columnist Bryan Painter is the winner of a “Best in Business” award for 2011. The Best in Business competition honors journalists from across the country for their excellence in business and financial journalism. Painter was selected for his coverage of Oklahoma’s 2011 drought. Painter will receive his award March 17, at the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis. The Oklahoman journalist also was awarded the 2011 Statewide Journalist of the Year award from Oklahoma Farm Bureau, during the OFB Annual Meeting last November.
Conference pictures
U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe will attend upcoming book signings in Tulsa and Oklahoma City for his new book “The Greatest Hoax: How the global warming conspiracy threatens your future.” See below for details on dates, times and locations.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers – Tulsa 5231 E. 41st Street Monday, March 12 • 5:30 p.m.
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Full Circle Bookstore – OKC 1900 Northwest Expressway Friday, March 16 • 4 p.m.
Legislators mingle at the 2012 OFB Leadership Conference. See a photo gallery of the recent Oklahoma Farm Bureau Leadership Conference by visiting www.okfarmbureau.org. Select News and click “galleries.”