October 18, 2013

PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

®

October 18, 2013

OKFB continues tradition of sponsoring Oklahoma youth at Tulsa State Fair OKFB board members pose with Morgan Craig (center) of Fort Gibson FFA, after purchasing the premium on her Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat at the 2013 Tulsa State Fair on Oct. 4. OKFB donated nearly $40,000 to purchase premiums for youth from around the state.

RIGHT – Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Roland Pederson (right) accepts the Frank Sanders Memorial Award after OKFB was recognized as the volume buyer for the 2012 Tulsa State Fair Livestock Premium Auction.

2013 OKFB Annual Meeting Join us in Norman, Nov. 15 –17 Visit the OKFB Website at okfarmbureau.org for a detailed

schedule and more information about the 2013 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention.

Be sure to join us on Twitter before, during and after convention with the hashtag #OKFBNewHeights

DEEP ROOTS 2013 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention • November 15 – 17 • Norman

Member Benefits • As a Farm Bureau member you are able to visit with a local agent about an entire line of competitively priced insurance products available through Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance. Contact your local FB agent today.

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/benefits.

OKFB Calendar State Resolutions Meeting October 22-23 • Norman Contact: Sara Drozdowski, (405) 530-2681 72nd OKFB Annual Meeting Nov. 15-17 • Norman Contact: Melisa Neal, (405) 523-2475

2013 oklahoma farm bureau

young farmers & ranchers leadershipnov.conference 14 & 15 • norman, ok

Young farmers and ranchers from across the state are invited to attend an exclusive YF&R Leadership Conference, Nov. 14-15, held in conjunction with the 2013 OKFB Annual Meeting in Norman. Participants will hear from dynamic speakers, network with fellow YF&R members and have the opportunity to compete in the annual discussion meet. Registration is free and open to the first 100 people. Childcare will be provided.

Please contact OKFB Vice President of Field Services and Leadership Development Holly Carroll at (405) 301-6610 or holly.carroll@okfb.org for more information or to register.

1 - 2 p.m.

Registration

9 a.m.

Break-Out Session

2 p.m.

Opening Session

10 a.m.

Break-Out Session

3:30 p.m.

Snack Break

11 a.m.

Discussion Meet Finals

4 p.m.

Discussion Meet Round 1

noon

5 p.m.

Discussion Meet Round 2

Luncheon/Outstanding Event of the Year

6 p.m.

Dinner on your own

1:30 p.m.

Join OKFB Annual Meeting General Session

3-5 p.m.

OKFB Break-Out Sessions

5-7 p.m.

YF&R Closing Dinner/ District Caucus

Judging of Excellence in Agriculture Award 8 - 10 p.m.

Movie Night

OKFB Leadership Team Winter Rally Dec. 6-7 • Duncan Contact: Marcia Irvin, (405) 523-2405

okfbyf&r 7 p.m.

Monitor the latest Farm Bureau and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org.

Currently online: • Agricultural News – Oklahoma Farm Bureau features a new agriculture-related story every day on its site. Read about both AFBF and state Farm Bureau news by visiting the homepage.

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Denim, Diamonds and Dessert Awards Program

oklahomafarmbureau youngfarmers&ranchers

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online

www.okfarmbureau.org

friday, nov. 15

thursday, nov. 14

• 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.

OKFB still accepting 2013 Annual Meeting trade show registration It’s not too late for vendors to register for the 2013 trade show held in conjunction with the OKFB Annual Meeting, Nov. 15-17, at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Norman.

Tentative times for the trade show are Friday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All trade show booths will be located inside the Embassy Suites.

For booth pricing and other information, contact Kelli Beall at (405) 523-2470 or kellibeall@okfb.org, or Whitney Bender at (405) 523-2401 or whitney.bender@okfb.org.

FB member participates in Oklahoma Honor Flight program

Pontotoc County FB member Theophilus Inslee (right) and his son Phil prepare to leave on the 15th Honor Flight from Oklahoma. Theophilus served as an Army medic and clerk during WWII and now owns Inslee Fish Farm in Connerville. He is one of 83 WWII veterans who participated in the flight. Learn more about Inslee and the Honor Flight program by listening to the All Around Oklahoma Agriculture story on the OKFB website.

OKFB members encouraged to help hungry Oklahomans There’s still time to donate to Gov. Fallin’s Feeding Oklahoma Food Drive. Each county Farm Bureau office across the state is serving as food donation drop off location until Oct. 31.

Gov. Fallin said the campaign’s goal is to provide enough food for 1.4 million meals.

The food drive is conducted in partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, which serve community soup kitchens, food banks and shelters in all 77 counties.

“The farming and ranching families of Oklahoma Farm Bureau are proud to support Gov. Fallin’s Feeding Oklahoma Food Drive,” said OKFB President Roland Pederson. “We strongly believe no one should go to bed hungry in a state that is blessed with abundant food production, and this is our way of reinforcing the connection between those who grow the food and those who need it the most.”

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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 Monica Wilke, 523-2303

Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.

Executive Director

Traci Morgan, 523-2346 John Collison, 523-2539 Perspective/Online News Editor

VP of Public Policy and Media Relations

Macey Hedges, 523-2346 Sam Knipp, 523-2347 Communications Director of Corporate Vice President of Communications/PR Sam Knipp, 523-2347 Director of Corporate Communications

Tyler Norvell, 523-2402 Dustin Mielke, 530-2640 Vice President of Public Policy

Director of Corporate Communications

Karolyn Bolay, 523-2320 Marla Peek, 523-2437 Communications SpecialistAffairs Director of Regulatory

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members tailgate in style

More than 225 fans enjoyed great food and fellowship during the OKFB/Chisolm Trail Farm Credit tailgate prior to the Oklahoma State v.

Kansas State game in Stillwater, Oct. 5.

Oklahoma farmers lend a helping hand through contest Thanks to farmers across Oklahoma, $102,500 has been invested in rural communities throughout the state. Back for the fourth consecutive year, America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, will be giving farmers the opportunity to win a $2,500 donation for their favorite, local nonprofit organization.

Since the program was piloted in 2010, America’s Farmers Grow Communities has helped more than 41 non-profit organizations.

Nonprofit organizations continue to search for funding opportunities that will better enhance their programs. Through the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, farmers have been able to sup-

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port a variety of nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma.

• FFA chapters across the state have received a total of $20,000 in Grow Communities donations.

• Farmers helped put out fires by donating $20,000 to fire- and health-related orga nizations.

• Service organizations, like food pantries, have received $17,500.

• Grow Communities has donated $20,000 to education organizations.

• Community improvement organizations have received $15,000 through Grow Communities.

• Many farmers chose to give back to their local 4-H clubs. A total of $5,000 has been donated to 4-H clubs across the state.

America’s Farmers Grow Communities launched nationally in 2011 and has grown to include 1,289 eligible counties in 39 states.

Farmers and rural community members can now visit www.growcommunities.com or call 1-877-267-3332 and register to win or submit an idea for a nonprofit in need of funding.

This program is part of the Monsanto Fund’s overall effort to support rural communities.