March 20, 2015

Perspective Oklahoma Farm Bureau

www.okfarmbureau.org

March 20, 2015

Hole Sponsorships Platinum - $1000 Includes green fees for 4 players, meals, door prizes, 2 free mulligans per player and a sponsored hole named for your team.

Gold - $750 Includes green fees for 4 players, meals, door prizes, 1 free mulligan per player and a sponsored hole named for your team.

Silver - $500 Includes green fees for 4 players, meals, door prizes and a sponsored hole named for your team.

YF&R Golf Classic to be held May 8 in Enid klahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee will hold their 13th annual Golf Classic May 8 at Pheasant Run Golf Course in Enid. The scramble-style event is held to benefit the OKFB Legal Foundation.

Check-in will be at 10:30 a.m. on the 8th

OKFB to explore northeast Oklahoma on commodity tour Oklahoma Farm Bureau will be holding the 2015 Commodity Tour March 25-27 in northeast Oklahoma. The theme for this year’s tour is “Osage to the Ozarks: A Journey through Northeast Oklahoma.”

Those attending the commodity tour will participate in a variety of tours including the Port of Catoosa, Natural Falls State Park, the Pensacola Dam and Will Rogers Museum.

with lunch at 11 a.m. and tee-off at noon.

Registration is now open for both teams and individuals. The cost is $350 for a team of four, or $90 per individual. Teams must be registered and pay by May 1. Spots will fill up quickly, so be sure to register early.

Hole sponsorships are available for

companies, organizations or individuals who wish to support the tournament beyond the standard team or individual rate.

To register, sponsor a hole, or for more information, call Holly Carroll, OKFB vice president of field services and YF&R coordinator, at (405) 523-2307.

Legislative Update: Our Right to Farm

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By John Collison OKFB Vice President of Public Policy and Media Relations hope most of you were able to enjoy your spring break. If you went to the mountains, I know you had good snow, and if you were able to go to the beach, it looks like you had good weather. If you stayed around Oklahoma, I know you were able to enjoy some nice weather and hopefully take in the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

One group of individuals who did not take a spring break were the members at the Capitol. As I have said before, once session gets up and running they do not quit until the end of May. I tell you the truth when I say not many things get in the way.

As we have passed the half-way point in the session and the House bills have now moved to the Senate, and vice-versa, your priority legislation is alive and kicking. You told us last year that you wanted to make Right to Farm a constitutional question, and we are one step closer to making that a reality. Rep. Scott Biggs was able to pass Right to Farm in the house with a number of co-authors by a margin of 90-6. I want to thank him publicly and personally for making this cause his own and working with us for two yeas to try and make this

question a reality. This bill now goes to the Senate Rules Committee and, if passed, on to the full senate. If we can get the required 25 votes on the floor you will see this question on the November 2016 ballot.

This is where you come in. By now you are well aware that agriculture as a whole is under attack and will continue to be into the future.

This question of whether we need to protect our industry constitutionally is now up to the senators. I am asking all of you to call the minute you read this and ask your senator — John Collison to vote yes on HJR 1012. Legislative members do listen and they do need you to call them and let them know you will support them when they vote in favor of this bill. Without your assistance, this vote will be very close. Call your senator at the number listed below and ask for their support of HJR 1012, and we can take this question to the people with overwhelming support. This bill is just one more step in the fight to protect agriculture, and with your help, it is a fight we can win.

Members can call the Senate switchboard at 405-524-0126 any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Call your senator ... and ask for their support of HJR 1012, and we can take this question to the people with overwhelming support. This bill is just one more step in the fight to protect agriculture, and with your help, it’s a fight we can win.

oklahomafarmbureau youngfarmers&ranchers

YF&R scholarship applications due April 10 Do you know a graduating high school senior from a Farm Bureau family who will be studying agriculture at an Oklahoma college or university next year? They can apply for the OKFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship which awards nine $1000 scholarships.

To learn more and apply, check out the YF&R Scholarship Application posted on our website’s Applications Center page.

Applications must be postmarked by April 10.

Ask your senators to vote in favor of HJR 1012!

405-524-0126

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online New OKFB Insurance Commercial

@okfarmbureau

We are proud to share with you the latest TV ad from Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance! It will begin appearing on TV in various outlets in our state within the coming weeks. The concept, visuals, script and editing were all completed in-house by OKFB and OKFB Insurance staff. We hope you enjoy it!

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With the legislative session in full swing, the OKFB communications staff has been working hard to keep members upto-date concerning OKFB-supported and -opposed bills via Twitter. Be sure to follow the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Twitter account and use the hashtag #okfb15 when engaging with us!

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www.okfarmbureau.org

Beckham County Farm Bureau’s legislative dinner on March 12 brought Sen. Jech and Rep. Russ to Sayre to visit with Farm Bureau members about the Oklahoma legislative session and issues. Water was a hot topic for agriculturalists bracing for an unknown future.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt spoke to the OSU animal science capstone class on March 9 about the efforts his office is making to stand up for agriculture. OKFB and the OSU Collegiate Farm Bureau club hosted lunch for Attorney General Pruitt after his lecture.

Hughes, Pontotoc Counties visit Capitol Farm Bureau members from Hughes and Pontotoc Counties traveled to Oklahoma City on March 10 to visit the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Headquarters and the Oklahoma State Capitol.

The visit at OKFB featured topics including wild hogs and water with OKFB Vice President of Public Policy John Collison.

The group had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Susan Paddack, Sen. Larry Boggs and Rep. Todd Thomsen during their Capitol visit to talk about issues in their area of the state.

Member Benefits

Calendar

Choice Hotels

OKFB Commodity Tour March 25-27 — Northeast Oklahoma Contact: Marcia Irvin (405) 523-2405

Choice Hotels are giving their Choice Privileges members an opportunity to stay two separate times now to April 22 and earn a free night at more than 1,500 hotels.

OKFB highlights a benefit in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OKFB members. You can find a complete list of savings on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau website.

www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits

Ag Day at the Capitol April 1 — Oklahoma City Contact: Marcia Irvin (405) 523-2405 Deadline for YF&R Scholarship Applications April 10 — Oklahoma City Contact: Holly Carroll (405) 530-2307

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Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Published Oklahoma Farm Bureau Postmaster:by Send address corrections to: Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332

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

STAFF DIRECTORY

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

Executive Director Monica Wilke 405-523-2303 VP of Public Policy and Media Relations John Collison 405-523-2539 Directors of Corporate Communications Sam Knipp 405-523-2347 Dustin Mielke 405-530-2640 Communications Specialist Samantha Smith 405-523-2346

Rural Oklahoma remains a priority at the State Capitol

By LeeAnna McNally OKFB Director of National Affairs pring has sprung and it is hard to believe we are more than a month into the 2015 Oklahoma Legislative Session. Many late nights have ensued at the Oklahoma State Capitol, especially last week being a deadline week in both chambers. Although last week seemed like it would never end, it is evident production agriculture is still a priority in the minds of many respected Oklahoma legislators. We have seen legislation authored by both the Senate and House of Representatives dealing with many aspects of agriculture and rural Oklahoma.

Senate Bill 468, authored by Sen. Bryce Marlatt, affirms private property rights are still a top priority in Oklahoma. The bill in part states: “Whenever a municipality, county, or other political subdivision, other than the Corporation Commission, adopts or implements an ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, or other form of official policy concerning oil and gas operations that has the effect of: 1) interfering with the use and enjoyment of the mineral estate, as defined in Section 802 of Title 52 of the Oklahoma Statutes 2) imposing or enforcing a limitation that adversely impacts the use and development of minerals by substantially increasing the costs of the oil and gas operations,

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or thereby substantially reducing the fair for individuals who are currently out of state market value of the mineral estate, or to move to rural Oklahoma.”

3) prohibiting access to develop the House Bill 1747 by Rep. Tom Newell and mineral estate, it shall be considered Sen. Mike Schulz of Altus provides a tax a taking pursuant to Article 2 of the exemption for a period of five years, of 100 Oklahoma Constitution and relevant percent of income, received by a person statutes.” who becomes a resident of a county within When asked why Sen. Marlatt thought the state that has had a population decline. this was important legislation he stated, The bill currently has 14 co-authors in “Oklahomans should not be prohibited the House of Representatives, including from reaping the benefits of their property, Oklahoma Speaker of the House, Jeff including Hickman. mineral This week bills estates.” will swap chambers He added, and the House of “Private Representatives property will begin hearing rights and the Senate bills, while energy sector the Senate will begin are still a high hearing House bills. priorities in The Oklahoma — LeeAnna McNally the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Public State Senate.”

Policy Department will continue to monitor Although populations have declined bills and explore ideas which align with in many parts of rural Oklahoma, it is OKFB policy. Please contact our office with not because of the quality of life. Rep. any questions or concerns you may have Tom Newell from Seminole knows the regarding legislation. importance of attracting people to rural Oklahoma Farm Bureau members Oklahoma. “Oklahoma is a great place to continue to be the voice for rural be right now, especially rural Oklahoma.

Oklahoma. Thank you to our membership I want to be sure people know what a for continuing to be engaged in moving wonderful place it is, and offer an incentive Oklahoma forward.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members continue to be the voice for rural Oklahoma. Thank you to our membership for continuing to be engaged in moving Oklahoma foward.