PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
April 6, 2012
In This Issue
Congressional Action Tour 2012
• Congressional Action Tour • YF&R Golf Classic • OYE Sale of Champions • YF&R Speech Contest • YF&R Leadership Conference • Legislative Visits/Dinners
March 25-29, Washington, D.C.
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1. Oklahoma Farm Bureau leaders and members recently visited the nation’s capitol to discuss agricultural policy issues with Oklahoma’s senators and representatives. For a press release on the event, see the News section at www. okfarmbureau.org. To view additional photos, select the “galleries” section 4. under the News tab. PHOTOS (1) – OFB members on capitol hill. (2) – members with 5th District Rep. James Lankford, (3) – 4th District Congressman Tom Cole, (4) – Sen. Jim Inhofe discusses current policies in Washington, (5) 3rd District Rep. Frank Lucas addresses the prospect of a new 5. farm bill in 2012.
Four bills pass through committee By Chris Kidd, OFB Director of State and National Affairs FARM BUREAU
Legislative Update Oklahoma lawmakers in the House and Senate are now well into the second rounds of committee and floor work with many Oklahoma Farm Bureau key pieces of legislation passing out of their assigned committees. HB 2994, authored by Rep. Tom Newell and Sen. Dan Newberry, protects landowners from being forced to fund the majority of a paving district without a majority of the acres consenting. It passed out of the Senate General Government Committee. HB 1952, authored by Rep. McNiel and Sen. Gary Stanislawski, limits the authority of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to weigh vehicles at temporary scales. It passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee and has also been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Finally, HB 2188 and HB 2189 prohibit the commercial production and transportation of castor beans. Authored by Rep. Dewitt and Sen. Schulz, the bills unanimously passed the Senate floor and have been sent to the governor’s desk.
OFB cattle sale to feature extension talks A series of cattle extension specialists are scheduled to speak Friday, April 20, during the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Herd Builder private treaty sale. The sale will be held in conjunction with the Southern Plains Farm Show at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, April 19-21. The extension talks will cover topics such as reinvesting in your beef herd and pasture recovery from drought. All presentations are free and open to the public. In addition to the cattle presentations on Friday, ranchers are still welcome to participate in the Herd Builder sale, open to bulls, cows and heifers. For more information about the extension talks or to register for the Herd Builder sale, call Thad Doye at (405) 523-2307. Extension Talk Schedule Friday, April 20 10-11 a.m. – livestock market outlook and reinvesting in the beef herd, Rodney Jones 11-11:30 a.m. – livestock and forage insurance as risk management tools, JJ Jones 12-12:30 p.m. – pasture recovery following drought, Daren Redfearn 12:30-1 p.m. – current tax issues, JC Hobbs 1-1:30 p.m. – ag leasing issues, Shannon Ferrell
10th Annual YF&R Golf Classic
Member Benefits
• TSC Security, Inc. – Offers members a
free home security system in exchange for a 3-year service agreement. Call 866-321-4177.
May 4 Lakeside Golf Course, Stillwater
• Farm Bureau Bank – Offers access to a broad array of financial services for members, including checking, loans, CDs, money markets and credit cards. Call 800-492-3276.
To register or for more details, please call Holly Carroll at (405) 205-0069.
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.
Registration deadline is April 25. All proceeds benefit the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation
OFB Calendar OFB Commodity Tour April 9-10, 2012 • Ardmore, OK Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307 YF&R State Leadership Conference April 12-15, 2012 • Broken Bow, OK Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 205-0069 Herd Builder Cattle Sale, OKC Farm Show April 19-21, 2012 • OKC Contact: Thad Doye, (405) 523-2307
BOOK SIGNING – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe signs copies of his new book, The Greatest Hoax, at Oklahoma City’s Full Circle Book Store, March 16. Inhofe also made a recent stop at Barnes and Noble in Tulsa to promote his policy ideas on global warming and CO2 emissions.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • OFB Harvest Watch – OFB farmers and ranchers are preparing for the growing season. Read the latest blog entries from four farm families by clicking on the “Harvest Watch” icon on the OFB homepage. • Congressional Action Tour – OFB members and staff recently returned home from the annual congressional action tour in Washington, D.C. See photos by clicking on “galleries” under the news tab.
www.okfarmbureau.org
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YF&R Conference is April 12-15
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The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers State Leadership Conference is just a few days away. The four-day event will be held at Lakeview Lodge in Broken Bow. Activities on this year’s agenda include tours of the Tyson Hatchery and Tyson Processing Plant, bus tours of local farming and ranching operations, department updates from OFB staff members, and time to fellowship with other YF&R members from across the state. Conference registration is free. For more information about the annual YF&R conference, please call Holly Carroll at (405) 205-0069.
BELOW – OFB President Mike Spradling accepts the 2011 OYE Volume Buyers Award from OYE Board of Director Chairman Bob Funk (left) in recognition of last year’s sale.
Oklahoma Youth Expo Sale of Champions
Oklahoma Youth Expo – The Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb, exhibited by Luke Davis of Guthrie FFA, was purchased by Oklahoma Farm Bureau and BancFirst. OYE’s Sale of Champions was held March 19, in Oklahoma City. The Davis lamb was among 33 animals OFB purchased at the annual sale. According to expo officials, more than 8,400 animals were shown between March 9 and 18, at OYE, the nation’s largest junior livestock show.
YF&R hosts annual speech contest More than eighty Oklahoma youth recently competed for $8,200 in scholarships and savings bonds during the 17th annual Young Farmers and Ranchers Speech Contest, sponsored by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The contest was held March 26, at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau office in Oklahoma City. The YF&R Speech Contest was divided into three age divisions: Junior, nine-12 years old; Intermediate, 13-15 years old; and Senior, 16-18 years old. The Junior division contestants presented speeches on the topic “I believe in Oklahoma agriculture.” The Intermediate and Senior divisions gave speeches in three division categories, including Agricultural Production, Agriculture Policy and Environment and Natural Resources. Participants were judged on speech presentation, content, response to questions and general poise and appearance. Farm Bureau presented plaques to the winners of each category in each age group.
YF&R state committee member Mary Crain directs a speech contest participant to her appropriate room for judging.
Results
YF&R state committee members Amy Harris and LeTisha Williams register participants at the OFB office, March 26.
• Sr. Division - Agriculture Production First Place: Tyler Schnaithman, Garber Second Place: Annie Gilbert, Tecumseh Third Place: Kaylen Baker, Yukon • Sr. Division - Agriculture Policy First Place: Mikayla Balderas, Tipton Second Place: Emily Landoll, Elgin Third Place: Denton Lowe, Amber Pocasset • Sr. Division - Environmental and Natural Resources First Place: Ryan Neal, Elgin • Int. Division - Agriculture Production First Place: Kaylia McCracken, Elgin Second Place: Juanita Neeley, Lawton Third Place: Kyler Belinson, Fletcher
• Int. Division - Agriculture Policy First Place: Colton Budy, Alva Second Place: Shiane Hood Third Place: Kelby Corbett, Elgin • Int. Division - Environmental and Natural Resources First Place: Bayli Hyde, Burlington Second Place: Cale John, Cyril Third Place: Jordan Storey, Idabel • Jr. Division- "I Believe in Oklahoma Agriculture" First Place: Hadley Griffith, Shawnee Second Place: Alexis Peeper, Enid Third Place: Kayla Chaplin, Yukon
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Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Postmaster: address corrections to: Published bySend Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332
STAFF DIRECTORY STAFF DIRECTORY Gail Banzet, 523-2346
Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.
Perspective/Online News Editor Traci Morgan, 523-2346 Monica Wilke, 523-2303 Perspective/Online News Editor Executive Director Sam Sam Knipp, Knipp, 523-2347 523-2347 Vice Vice President President of of Communications/PR Communications/PR Kinsey Money, 523-2539 Director of Public Policy Tyler Norvell, 523-2402
Marla Peek, 523-2437 Vice President of Public Policy Director of Regulatory Affairs MarlaKidd, Peek,523-2539 523-2437 Chris Director of of State Regulatory Affairs Affairs Director and National
Legislative Activities
Pontotoc County Kiowa County
Grady County Noble, Garfield & Major Counties
Top Left: Pontotoc County FB members (from left to right) Jim Neel, Charles Morrow, James Wingard, and Mel Bradford talk with Sen. Susan Paddack during a legislative visit, March 21.
Top Right: Grady County FB members Steve Calhoun (left) and Cliff Pettijohn (right) talk with Sen. Ron Justice during the Grady County legislative dinner, March 22, in Chickasha.
Bottom Left: Rep. Todd Russ discusses state capitol news with Kiowa County FB board member Johnny McElroy (left) during the Kiowa County FB legislative dinner in Cordell, March 22.
Bottom Right: Sen. Patrick Anderson explains bills currently under consideration at the state capitol during the Noble, Garfield and Major Counties legislative dinner, March 29, in Enid.
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