PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
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OFB hires new vice president of public policy and media relations Oklahoma Farm Bureau has hired thirteen years covering the state of OklaJohn Collison as the new vice president of homa representing and advising the Senator. public policy and media Collison will be joinrelations for Oklahoma ing the public policy Farm Bureau. department prior to the “John comes to us upcoming legislative with a wealth of political session. and agricultural policy “I look forward to knowledge and expericontinuing Oklahoma ence that is acknowlFarm Bureau’s posiedged at both the state tion as the leading and and federal level,” said most powerful voice in Monica Wilke, OFB Oklahoma for agriculexecutive director. “He ture,” Collison said. “I has a vision for our know firsthand what legislative voice that will it takes to move our inspire and excite our issues forward on both members as we move a state and federal level. into the future.” I am ready and excited Collison is the former to serve the hundreds state director for U.S. of Oklahoma farmers Senator Jim Inhofe, and ranchers who are John Collison where he spent the last affected by decisions from
December 14, 2012
In This Issue • Vice President of Public Policy and Media Relations • Beef for Backpacks • FBW Winter Rally • 2012 Census of Agriculture • Ag Day Essay Contest our legislative bodies. Collison is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in agricultural business and has spent many years working with Oklahoma farmers and ranchers on behalf of Sen. Inhofe. Oklahoma Farm Bureau is the leading agricultural organization in the state of Oklahoma. Its membership is composed of farming and ranching families across the state. “We are excited to have such an experienced political strategist join us at Farm Bureau,” said OFB President Mike Spradling. “John is a true leader and will lead us into the future with regard to the important legislative challenges we face in Oklahoma agriculture.”
Merry Christmas from
Panama Trade Mission – OFB President Mike Spradling visits the Panama Canal with several Farm Bureau leaders from around the country Oct. 21-27. The group made stops in St. Louis and New Orleans to study the U.S. water navigation system before traveling to Panama to learn more about the upgrades being made to the canal’s infrastructure.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Member Benefits • 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 or visit www. farmbureaubank.com. OFB highlights a benefit 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 AFBF Annual Meeting January 13-16, 2013 • Nashville, TN Contact: Melisa Neal, (405) 523-2475 National YF&R Leadership Conference February 7-11, 2013 • Phoenix, AZ Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 205-0069 National Leadership Conference February 7-11, 2013 • Phoenix, AZ Contact: Melisa Neal, (405) 523-2475
Beef for Backpacks program needs donated cattle Organizers of the Beef for Backpacks able source of protein. The backpacks are an program are asking livestock producers to integral part of the Food for Kids program. consider the benefits of donating cattle as The Food for Kids program was started they prepare their year-end statements. by the food bank in 2003 when they recogThe Beef for Backpacks program is a nized the need to help supplement children’s collaboration among the Oklahoma Farmdiets when the school lunch program was ing and Ranchunavailable. The ing Foundation, program provides Oklahoma Farm chronically hungry Bureau, Oklahochildren, identified ma Beef Council, by school personOklahoma State nel, with backUniversity Food packs filled with and Agricultural non-perishable, Products Center, kid-friendly food the Regional Food to eat on weekBank of Oklahoends and school ma, Ralphs Meat holidays. Beef sticks - made possible through Company in The program the Beef for Backpacks program - help Perkins and serves 475 elemenChickasha Meats. provide a nutritious source of protein tary schools in 53 for more than 13,500 chronically hungry counties across Each week, children each week. Donated cattle are central and western volunteers at the needed to sustain the program. Regional Food Oklahoma, providBank stuff backing backpacks packs with nutritious food and snacks to more than 13,500 chronically hungry that are handed out to school children to children each week. supplement their weekend diets. Beef sticks “We are excited by the opportunity to supplied by program partners provide a valuprovide a nutritious source of protein to the children,” said Monica Wilke, executive director of the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation. “We estimate that between 20,000 and 25,000 beef sticks will be needed every month to supply all of the Monitor the latest Farm Bureau hungry children who currently benefit from and agricultural news and information the backpack program.” online at okfarmbureau.org. Wilke said the project is a good example Currently online: of the generosity and efficiency of Oklahoma • Agricultural News – Oklahoma livestock producers. Farm Bureau features a new agriculture“I am constantly impressed by the related story every day on its site. Read generosity and overwhelming desire of our about both AFBF and state Farm producers to help others,” Wilke said. “For Bureau news by visiting the homepage. every 100 pounds of beef donated, we’ll be able to produce 800 beef sticks to help feed • OFB 2013 Calendar – Oklahoma Oklahoma children.” Farm Bureau’s staff is gearing up for To help sustain the program, program a busy schedule in 2013. From the partners are asking beef producers to consider upcoming legislative session to summer a commitment of at least one animal per year. conferences, see our lineup of events! “This kind of commitment will guarantee the programs continued success and be a winwin situation for both producers and the children,” said Rodney Bivens, Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. For more information on how to donate livestock, contact Thad Doye at (405) 523-2307 or thad.doye@okfb.org.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online
www.okfarmbureau.org
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OFB Women gather in Tulsa for annual winter rally Rural women leaders from around the state gathered for the annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s winter rally Nov. 30Dec. 1 at the Double Tree Hotel in Tulsa. “This is a great opportunity for rural women to improve their leadership skills,” said Kitty Beavers, OFB Women’s Committee chairperson. The rally kicked off with a tradeshow full of booths featuring local artwork and jewelry, handy kitchen utensils, a blood pressure station and several commodity organizations. Women also had the chance to bid on items during a silent auction that raised $1,000 to benefit the FBW “Pig to Plate” DVD. After lunch, Tulsa meteorologist Travis Meyers spoke to the women about his involvement in agriculture – he and his wife have Hereford cattle and Quarter horses on their ranch near Tulsa – and his concern about the general public’s lack of agricultural knowledge. He shared his views on global warming and pointed out that climate change may be occurring, but it has happened before in the 1930s and 1950s. He also mentioned that while computer models are predicting snow this winter, 2013 has the potential to be another dry year. After the weather presentation, rally participants heard from OSU doctoral student Cortney Cowley about global marketing challenges and from Beggs Elementary librarian Dana Grimmett about the creation and implementation of the “Pig to Plate” DVD produced by the FBW Committee. Dinner that evening was highlighted
Meterologist Travis Meyers reads some of the humorous emails he has received from viewers during his time at Tulsa’s News On 6. Meyers spoke to OFB Women’s Committee members during the annual winter rally in Tulsa on Nov. 30. A photo gallery from the rally is available on the OFB website at okfarmbureau.org.
with a performance by Bristow gospel trio Master’s Voice. The group performed several of its own songs as well as a few cherished Christmas tunes. Saturday morning started with Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy talking about the work her office does for the state and the many challenges Oklahoma faces in oil and gas development, including technology, economics, the environment and public access to information. She encouraged the women to visit the website FracFocus.org, which was created to provide objective information on hydraulic fracturing, the chemicals used, the purposes
Bedlam Game 2012
they serve and the means by which groundwater is protected. The rally concluded with three rounds of seminars on the state’s AgriAbility program, which supports the rehabilitation and assistive technology needs of Oklahoma farmers, ranchers and their family members impacted by a disabling condition; the Durable Medical Equipment Reuse Program, designed to help Oklahoma residents in need safely gain access to donated used medical equipment; and the 2013 FBW Program of Work, which provides guidelines for each county’s participation in OFB activities throughout the year. University of Oklahoma Head Baseball Coach Sunny Galloway (center) presents a commemorative poster to Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling and Executive Director Monica Wilke during the OSU v. OU football game Nov. 24 in Norman. OFB was recognized for its continued support of the Bedlam Series, and top-producing agents Scott Abbott (left) and Greg Ward (right) were also recognized for their success during OFB’s fall auto/membership campaign. Agent Barry Bundy was not able to attend the game but was also one of the top-producing agents this fall.
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Traci Morgan, Monica Wilke, 523-2346 523-2303 Perspective/Online News Editor Executive Director John Collison, 523-2539 Sam 523-2347 VP of Knipp, Public Policy and Media Relations Vice President of Communications/PR Chris Kidd, 523-2539 VP of Organization and Membership
Tyler Knipp, Norvell, 523-2402 Sam 523-2347 Vice President of Public Policy Senior Dir. of Corporate Communications Marla Peek, 523-2437 Marla Peek, 523-2437Affairs Director of Regulatory Director of Regulatory Affairs
2012 Census of Agriculture coming soon to farmers’ mailboxes For the first time, farmers responding to the Census of Agriculture will be asked to share information about their land-use practices, Internet access and crops grown for production of renewable energy. Those details and others will help policymakers develop and fund programs benefiting producers and rural communities throughout the U.S., said Renee Picanso, director of USDA’s Census and Survey Division. “There’s strength in numbers, so the more farmers that are counted, the better for the agricultural industry,” Picanso said. The agricultural industry uses data to select locations for new processing plants and storage facilities, evaluate transportation needs and more. The Census is issued every five years and will be mailed to farmers this year in midDecember. It can also be completed online. The form must be returned via the Internet form or mail by Feb. 4, 2013. Also new to this year’s Census are questions asking affected farmers why they keep horses, a category requested by the equine industry, and about food that is packaged on farms for resale. While participation in the 24-page Census survey is mandated by federal law, most farmers will only have to complete several pages and should be able to do so in about 30 minutes, Picanso said. USDA is hopeful there will be a good response rate among farmers because historically, participation improves in a drought year. That’s because they want the government to know that their production was
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down, Picanso said. It’s also true that the drought didn’t affect every section of the U.S. Individual data will be kept confidential, and county-level data won’t be published if it would disclose the identity of a producer. Both top producers and small-scale farmers should participate in the Census, Picanso said. The USDA uses demographic information to help small-scale farmers and underserved populations in the agricultural community such as African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women. After Feb. 4, Census officials will follow up with farmers who have not responded by making phone calls and visiting them in person. Those who have recently left farming should still complete the form to the best of their ability before returning it, Picanso said. Census results will be published in early 2014. The Census of Agriculture first happened in 1840 as part of the regular Census under the direction of the U.S. Commerce Bureau. It was distributed to 26 states and the District of Columbia, and the section devoted to agriculture was fairly small. It became a standalone survey in the 1950s and became a responsibility of USDA starting in 1997. Today, the survey is conducted in all 50 states and outlying territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It comprises 3,000 counties. More information about the 2012 Census of Agriculture is available by going to agcensus.usda.gov.
National Ag Day essay contest announced The Agriculture Council of America is asking students in grades 9-12 to submit an original, 450-word essay or a twominute video essay about the importance of agriculture. This year’s theme is “American Agriculture: Nourishing Opportunities” and the deadline is Feb. 1, 2013. The ACA asks teachers and parents to encourage student participation. The theme, “American Agriculture: Nourishing Opportunities,” presents an opportunity for students to address how the agriculture industry is an endless source of opportunity for growth and development. Entrants may choose to either write an essay and/or create a video focusing on how today’s growers are overcoming challenges to provide a safe, stable food supply and sustain the significant role agriculture plays in everyday life. All written entries should be sent to: 2013 Ag Day Essay Contest, Agriculture Council of America, 11020 King Street, Suite 205, Overland Park, KS 66210, or submitted by e-mail to essay@agday.org. Students may upload video essays at http://agday.leapfile.net and follow the directions on the page, or students may choose to mail video entries on a compact disc to the address above. Visit www.agday.org or www.hpj.com/agdayessay to read official contest rules and for more details regarding entry applications.