PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
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December 27, 2013
Agricultural education travels Oklahoma roads Agricultural education has never been more important. And now, thanks to a trio of Oklahoma institutions, it has never been more mobile either. This winter, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation’s youth education and outreach program - Noble Academy, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation launched a new mobile agricultural education trailer called the Grown For You mobile classroom to provide students a fun, fast and factual look at Oklahoma agriculture. Grown For You provides an interactive look into agriculture and highlights the commodity crops grown in Oklahoma. “This trailer was designed to illustrate the importance of agriculture to society and our state’s economy,” said Frank Hardin, Noble Academy education outreach manager. “Our goal is to share the importance of agriculture and show the connection between agriculture and our food supply. It is important that our audiences understand that Oklahoma farmers and ranchers work to feed us all. The product of their labor is grown for all of us.” The Grown For You mobile classroom will deliver its messages to audiences at elementary and intermediate schools, county fairs and other community and special events. The Grown For You trailer uses videos, presentations and interactive games pre-
OKFB staff members listen as Frank Hardin, Noble Academy education outreach manager, explains the features of the new Grown for You mobile classroom. sented on four 46-inch outdoor TVs. Short videos focus on various commodity crops grown in Oklahoma, while demonstrations bring a hands-on element to audiences. A packed picnic basket teaches students about the obvious –and not so obvious –agricultural origins of items typically found on a picnic, from the beef in a hamburger to the
ink on a bag of chips. In the future, a working, hand-operated cotton gin will teach students how cotton is processed to become (See Trailer, page 2)
OKFB names 2013 Champion Award recipients Fifteen of the state’s top agricultural advocates – including Gov. Mary Fallin – will receive the Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2013 Champion Award during the OKFB Leadership Conference, Feb. 17-18, at the Skirvin Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Board of Directors is recognizing the state leaders and legislators for going above and beyond to protect and improve agriculture and rural Oklahoma during the 2013 legislative session.
“As the state’s largest agricultural organization, we are committed to preserving the livelihood and legacy of our fellow farmers and ranchers,” OKFB President Tom Buchanan said. “It is an honor to distinguish these state leaders who share our vision and who continue to help make positive strides for Oklahoma agriculture.” In addition to Fallin, the following legislators will be recognized for their outstanding efforts: Sen. Mike Schulz, Altus; Sen. John Sparks, Norman; Sen. Eddie Fields,
Wynona; Sen. Bryce Marlatt, Woodward; Sen. Kim David, Porter; Sen. Larry Boggs, Wilburton; Sen. Kyle Loveless, Oklahoma City; Speaker T.W. Shannon, Lawton; Rep. Mike Jackson, Enid; Rep. Dale DeWitt, Braman; Rep. Don Armes, Faxon; Rep. Jerry Shoemake, Morris; Rep. Steve Martin, Bartlesville; and Rep. Skye McNiel, Bristow. Nominations for the awards were received from county Farm Bureau boards and the OKFB Board of Directors.
Member Benefits • Farm Bureau Insurance offers OKFB members 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 95th AFBF Annual Convention Jan. 12-15, 2014 • San Antonio Contact: Melisa Neal, (405) 523-2475 Oklahoma Legislature Convenes Feb. 3, 2014 • Oklahoma City Contact: John Collison (405) 523-2539 OKFB Leadership Conference Feb. 17-18, 2014 • Oklahoma City Contact: Sara Drozdowski (405) 530-2681
All American Beef Battalion Seth Hale (center), a Throckmorton, Texas 4-H member, is all smiles after giving a speech about the All American Beef Battalion at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, Dec. 16. Pictured with Hale are Robert York (left), president of National Livestock Credit Corporation, and Bill Broadie, an Ashland. Kan. rancher and founder of the All American Beef Battalion. A calf, donated by 3C Cattle Feeders and the Clyde Runyan family of Mill Creek, Okla., brought nearly $50,000 in donations to support the All American Beef Battalion’s efforts to organize and sponsor steak feeds, entertainment, programs, meetings and projects for U.S. troops and their families.
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 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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• 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.
(Trailer, from page 1) cloth. My American Farm educational video games, provided by American Farm Bureau and projected on the trailer’s TVs, offer audiences a chance to understand and learn more about agriculture. “Today’s youth are the future –not just for agriculture, but they are future consumers, legislators and professionals,” said Holly Carroll, Oklahoma Farm Bureau vice president of field services and leadership development. “Educating the youth at an early age about the importance of agriculture is vital to future sustainability.” The Grown For You mobile classroom will be ready to visit schools and communities after Jan. 1, 2014. The mobile classroom will be scheduled and operated through Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and updated and supported by the Noble Foundation. Anyone interested in bringing the trailer to their area can call now to get on the schedule. For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Carroll at 405-523-2307.
OKFB sponsors Bedlam Series Dave Martin (left), Oklahoma State University deputy athletics director, presents a commemorative jersey to OKFB’s John Wiscaver, Monica Wilke and President Tom Buchanan during the 2013 Bedlam football game in Stillwater. OKFB was recognized for its continued support of the Bedlam Series.
OKFB offers course for political candidates Many Farm Bureau members are involved in public service and serve as leaders in their communities. The 2014 elections will be here before we know it, and OKFB is once again hosting a campaign management seminar for members interested in running for public office, Feb. 13-14, at the OKFB home office in Oklahoma City. American Farm Bureau Federation has developed this seminar with the help of professional political consultants and staff members of the Democrat and Republican parties. Linda Johnson, director of policy implementation for the AFBF office in Washington, D.C., will lead participants through case study exercises, including a computer-simulated campaign. The
computer-simulated campaign will test the candidates’ campaign techniques, tools and methods. The campaign seminar will also include sessions on candidate evaluation, campaign issues, raising campaign funds, working with the news media, recruiting volunteer campaign workers and using polling data to your advantage. The seminar is open to candidates, spouses and campaign managers. Contact your county Farm Bureau office or Marla Peek at 405-523-2437 or marla.peek@ okfb.org for more details on the course or registration fees. The deadline to register is January 20, and space is limited.
Tulsa Farm Show
OWRB to study Upper Washita Basin The Oklahoma Water Resources Board has announced a special water study in the Upper Washita Basin. The area is comprised of 5,000 square miles of drainage area in west-central Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will conduct the three-year study, which will update information on groundwater and surface water demands and supplies and evaluate water management options to address supply challenges both now and in the future. The study will be conducted in partnership with the OWRB, Foss Reservoir Master Conservancy District and Fort Cobb Reservoir Master Conservancy District. Together the two reservoirs provide 90 percent of the surface water supplies in the study area, including municipal water to 40,000 people and two power generation facilities. Both reservoirs are currently experiencing challenges due to aging, inefficient and undersized infrastructure. Concurrently, the OWRB will perform a maximum annual yield study of the Rush Springs Sandstone groundwater aquifer. The Rush Springs aquifer is a critical agricultural water supply source. According to the OWRB, under current permitting procedures, depletions in the Rush Springs aquifer may occur in some areas by 2020. A maximum annual is a determination of the total amount of fresh groundwater that can be produced from a basin allowing for a minimum 20-year life of the basin.
Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese (second from right) stops by the OKFB Grown for You mobile classroom to visit with field representatives Todd Honer (left) and Robin Landrum (second from left) and Payne County YF&R member Tim Taylor (right) during the 2013 Tulsa Farm Show. The annual exhibition gives producers an opportunity to view the latest in agricultural and ranching equipment. Over 300 companies featured a full line of displays, including tractor, sprayer, tillage, harvest equipment, cattle management products, safety and education, and more.
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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 Director of Corporate Communications 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 Marla Peek, Bolay, 523-2437 523-2320 Communications SpecialistAffairs Director of Regulatory
33rd Annual Horticulture Industries Show slated for Jan. 10-11 at Tulsa Community College Oklahoma State University, together with the University of Arkansas, will sponsor the 33rd Annual Oklahoma and Arkansas Horticulture Industries Show. Both gardening professionals and enthusiasts should mark their calendars for this two-day event slated Jan. 10-11, 2014, at the Tulsa Community College, Northeast Campus, 3727 E. Apache, Tulsa. The theme of the meeting is “Improving Your Production Toolbox.” HIS has consistently provided growers and the public with the latest information on vegetables, fruit, Christmas trees, farmers market crops and public gardening issues. The public and growers from Arkansas, Oklahoma and surrounding states are welcome to attend. Other sponsors of HIS include the Arkansas State Horticultural Society, OSU’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Tulsa Community College and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture. On-site registration is $75 per person, and a spouse and up to two additional adults from the same farm/business may register for $35 each. Bill Lamont, professor of vegetable crops at Penn State University, will serve as keynote speaker for the meeting. He has done extensive research in areas including cultivar evaluations, feasibility of growing new crops in high tunnels and plasticulture systems, sustainable and organic production of various vegetable crops and tomato breeding. Most recently he has been involved in helping to establish high tunnels
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in Philadelphia to promote the production of nutritious vegetables and winter production of greens and other crops for the city’s population. “Bill is one of the leading authorities on plasticulture and protected agriculture in the United States,” said Lynn Brandenberger, OSU Cooperative Extension food crops specialist. He has a great wealth of knowledge and experience and he knows how to share it.” Lamont also will head up a hands-on experience off-site from the conference dealing with high tunnels and season extension.
In addition to the valuable information shared by the Lamont, attendees also will have the opportunity to take part in concurrent educational sessions covering topics such as invasive insects, postharvest practices for maintaining quality in fruits, edible natives, grape breeding, water needs, 2014 Oklahoma Proven plants, vermicomposting, low maintenance lawns, selling to buyers, LED technology and many other topics. For more information contact Donna Dollins, HIS secretary/treasurer, at 405-744-6460 or email at donna.dollins@ okstate.edu. You also may go to www.hortla.okstate.edu/his.