PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
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May 31, 2013
Oklahoma Farm Bureau reaches out to storm victims Throughout much of the history of this great state, the family members of Oklahoma Farm Bureau have worked together, sharing the joys and the sufferings that accompany everyday life. We are a statewide family with offices in all 77 counties to serve Oklahomans. The horrific storms that recently affected central Oklahoma serve as another reminder of how important it is to help each other when tragedy strikes. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies’ main office at 2501 N. Stiles in Oklahoma City will serve as a collection point for donations to those affected by the storms. Critical items needed are bottled water, sports drinks, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, individually wrapped snack food, diapers, baby formula and work gloves. Clothing does not appear to be needed at this time. A trailer is located on the west side of the building for donations that our staff will distribute to appropriate relief organizations. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those employees, members and all other families who lost life and property during the storms,” said OKFB Executive Director Monica Wilke. “Each one of us, in our own specific capacity, has the opportunity to make a positive difference for those who have suffered catastrophic loss.”
Several counties have already contributed much needed supplies, and the trailer will be available for as long as needed. In addition to supplies, monetary donations are also being accepted through the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation. You may aid those in need by donating money, which will be directly used for recovery efforts. Checks can be made out to the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation, 2501 N. Stiles, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. The family members of Oklahoma Farm Bureau respectfully request your prayers and compassion during this time of need for our fellow Oklahomans.
TOP – Field Rep Justin Whitmore unloads cases of water donated by Caddo and Nowata Counties. LEFT – Wisconsin Farm Bureau member Stan Hallman piles limbs and debris at Cleveland County FB member Jimmy Mabry’s family farm near Moore. Hallman and two fellow Wisconsinites drove 13 hours to help with storm clean up. Visit www.okfarmbureau.org to view a video about these volunteers.
Smith joins OKFB as communications intern Burlington, Okla., native Samantha Smith joined Oklahoma Farm Bureau as the communications summer intern in mid-May. Smith is an agricultural communications senior at Oklahoma State University. Her Samantha Smith interest in the internship began with the role Oklahoma Farm Bureau played in her home community, as well as her desire to communicate agriculture
to the public, Smith said. “Growing up in Alfalfa County, I knew a lot of people involved in Farm Bureau,” Smith said. “I knew it was a company whose values would be congruent to mine.” Smith grew up on a primarily wheat-producing farm in Amorita, Okla. Her passion for agriculture developed from experiencing the industry first-hand and becoming involved in the FFA through public speaking, she said. “FFA public speaking was where I really learned how to communicate about agriculture,” Smith said. “My interest in writing, design and photography stemmed from there,
but agriculture has always been the common factor.” The communications internship at Oklahoma Farm Bureau is designed to provide quality work experience to an agricultural communications student. Interns are given the opportunity to write stories for Farm Bureau publications and radio, as well as gain experience in the field of photography and videography. “I want to help spread the message of Oklahoma agriculture and inform others about what people are doing within the industry,” Smith said. “Oklahoma Farm Bureau is giving me the opportunity to do just that.”
Member Benefits • KJD Enterprises offers a $150 dollar cash rebate to all OKFB members who are the end user upon the purchase of a new K/D front end loader. Call 1-888641-0420 toll free for instructions and a rebate voucher. OKFB highlights a benefit in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OKFB members. Find a complete list of savings online at www.okfarmbureau.org.
OKFB Calendar OKFB Safety Camp June 11-13 • Stroud Contact: Justin Greggo, (405) 523-2391 Oklahoma Youth Leading Ag Conference June 24-27 • Oklahoma City Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 301-6610 OKFB Leadership Team Nurse’s Scholarship Deadline July 1 • Oklahoma City Contact: Marcia Irvin, (405) 523-2405
By John Collison, OKFB Vice President of Public Policy and Media Relations Sine die! These two words are music to my ears. After months of constant negotiations and meetings, the first session of the 54th Oklahoma Legislature has wrapped up. Ladies and gentleman, Oklahoma Farm Bureau had a great session. It seems like a lifetime ago we went to battle against the animal extremists over the horse harvest bill. That piece of legislation started session with the most controversial issue that came through the body this year. If you will recall, four members introduced bills to allow Oklahoma to open a horse slaughter plant. We were attacked on all sides, but due to your hard work and effort, the message of the day prevailed and we were successful with the passage of HB 1999. We had great success in the middle of session passing a number of ag related bills, but it was the last day of session that we really hit the bullseye. If you have been reading my articles, you
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org. Currently online: • Agricultural News – Oklahoma Farm Bureau features a new agriculturerelated story every day on its site. Read about both AFBF and state Farm Bureau news by visiting the homepage. • OKFB Harvest Watch Blog – The second annual OKFB Harvest Watch blog season is underway. Visit www.okfarmbureau.org and click on the OKFB Harvest Watch link to follow the six farm families.
www.okfarmbureau.org
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know I hold water in the highest regard. SB 965 was a bill that reorganizes the Oklahoma Water Resources Board so everyone in the state has fair representation. For years we have had major portions of the state cut out of John Collison the discussion when it comes to how and where we use Oklahoma water. SB 965 transitions the nine member OWRB board from one member from each congressional district and four at-large positions to one member from nine specific geographical areas. SB 965 provides more regional representation on the board, including one seat for Oklahoma County and one seat for Tulsa County. As I write this article, the bill sits on the governor’s desk awaiting her signature. This is only one step in the process, but it was a big one. They say it is hard to change a state board in Oklahoma and almost impossible to change one that deals with water. After four months and a few hours, we passed the final version out of the House by one vote. We want to thank all members of the legislature who carried our bills and worked on your behalf to make Oklahoma a better place. We also want to thank Gov. Fallin for her support this year. We have a governor who stands strong with Oklahoma agriculture, and we need to let her know how much we appreciate her. If you see your member and they carried our bills or worked on them to see them pass, please make sure you thank them. It is because all members of the legislature and our governor care about what we do and our way of life that we are able to be successful. Please watch for a final legislative wrap up to follow soon.
Centennial Development Committee looks to stay ahead of change The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Centennial Development Committee met May 16 to present ideas and discuss changes for the future of American Farm Bureau Federation. The purpose of the committee, made up of about 60 OKFB leaders from across the state, is to pinpoint areas of the organization where members wish to see change or improvement. “It’s a strategic planning project for the organization,” said OKFB President Mike Spradling. “We’re looking at all the things that make up a grassroots driven organization like Farm Bureau.” The committee considers areas including member benefits, membership growth, financing and demographics. As society’s need for change comes knocking on the door, improvements must be made to add value to the organization and satisfy members in the future, Spradling said. “We know what we’ve done to get us to this point,” Spradling said. “We want to see
where the members of this organization want to go and what we need to do to make certain that we meet the goals, needs and obligations of the membership for the next 100 years.” As Oklahoma’s representative on the AFBF Executive Board of Directors, Spradling will take the proposed ideas and forward them to the national committee. He said OKFB OKFB Leadership Team Chairman Kitty Beavers will also benefit from the presents her group’s ideas during the Centennial changes. Development Committee meeting. About 60 “These situations paral- OKFB members gathered to discuss goals for the lel each other,” Spradling future of the Farm Bureau organization. said. “Things that are good Centennial Development Committee. The for American Farm Bureau will be just as project will be completed in 2014, folgood and just as appropriate for Oklahoma lowed by the project’s implementation and Farm Bureau.” AFBF’s centennial celebration in 2019. This was the second meeting of the
Altus FFA wins Oklahoma Farm Bureau video contest The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee selected Cade Childress and Carson Vineyard of the Altus FFA Chapter as the winners of the inaugural YF&R video contest. The contest was designed as an outlet for high-school students to use their communications skills
to show how Oklahoma producers care about the products they are producing. Childress and Vineyard’s video focused on the farming practices of Jackson County farmers and gave a taste of what Oklahoma legislators are doing to preserve farming practices in the state. “Our video is basically just promoting agriculture,” said Vineyard, Altus senior FFA member. “It shows what all Jackson County farmers have to offer for their environment, what they do for their OKFB YF&R Coordinator Holly Carroll (left) presents a check consumers to video contest winners Carson Vineyard and Cade Childers and how they (center) of the Altus FFA Chapter. Also pictured are Altus FFA produce the Advisors Bruce Farquhar and J.C. Stafford. best quality
products for consumers to consume.” Childress, a junior at Altus High School, said the two wanted to show farmers truly care about their products and the way they raise them. “They’re not just people who raise things to make money off of them,” Childress said. “They put a lot of time and effort and care into the products they produce.” Childress and Vineyard’s winning video earned them a $1,000 cash prize, as well as $1,000 for their FFA chapter. “I plan on building my education with the money received,” Vineyard said. “I plan to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall and major in agribusiness.” Childress said he plans to use his prize money to purchase show pigs and feed for the upcoming Tulsa State Fair. The Frederick FFA Chapter was chosen as the second place winner, earning $500 for the video producers and $500 for their chapter. The Coweta FFA Chapter’s video placed third, winning $250 for the producers and the chapter, as well. High school students are encouraged to check the YF&R Facebook page for more information on the next video contest.
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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, 523-2402 VP of Organization and Membership
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LEFT – Custer County Extension Agent Ron Wright explains his county’s Master Gardener Program during the Washita County Women’s Day, May 21, in Cordell. More than 30 women attended the event and also learned about health care and a local farmers’ market initiative. RIGHT – Longtime Washita County FB members Gerald and Raedell Nabors are honored during the Washita County Women’s Day, May 21, for their many years of service to OKFB. The couple recently moved to Texas to be closer to family.
OKFB Director Alan Jett discusses water and the persisting drought during the Cimarron, Texas and Beaver Counties legislative dinner, May 16, in Guymon.
YF&R presents nine district scholarships The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee recently awarded nine scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Students are required to be members of a voting OKFB family and enrolled in an agriculture program at an Oklahoma institution of higher learning. The following students received $1,000 toward funding their college education:
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District 1 Travis Brewer, Guymon District 2 Kalli Kliewer, Thomas-Faye-Custer District 3 Tanner Miller, Mulhall-Orlando District 4 Allison Christian, Duncan District 5 Tuff Parsons, Battiest
District 6 KC Barnes, Porter District 7 Tyler Schnaithman, Garber District 8 Jesse Blevin, Stuart District 9 Laurie Fitch, Stillwater