May 29, 2015

Perspective Oklahoma Farm Bureau

Nine students receive OKFB college scholarships klahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee selected nine Oklahoma high school seniors to receive $1,000 scholarships to pursue agricultural degrees.

Students receiving scholarships are: Megan Trantham, Boise City, District 1; Tucker Sawatzky, Weatherford, District 2; Madison Reasnor, Cashion, District 3; Samantha Howe, Sulphur, District 4; Bay Bolen, Idabel, District 5; Hallie Barnes, Hulbert, District 6; Lakan Light, Enid, District 7; Kase Donor, Konawa, District 8; and Colton Pratz, Stillwater, District 9.

The scholarships are given to one student from a Farm Bureau member family in each of the nine OKFB districts. Students receiving the scholarships must enroll as full-time students in an agricultural program at an Oklahoma college or university.

“We are proud to provide these scholarships to students who choose to study agriculture,” said Holly Carroll, OKFB YF&R coordinator. “Oklahoma agriculture needs young leaders with new visions for the future, and we hope these scholarships will help provide opportunities for these students to use their education to improve our industry.”

The YF&R scholarships are granted each year based upon applications. State YF&R committee members reviewed applications and selected the scholarship recipients.

The OKFB YF&R program develops leadership and knowledge in young Oklahoma agriculturalists ages 18-35. YF&R also sponsors several youth programs around the state to help the growth and development of young agricultural leaders.

www.okfarmbureau.org

May 29, 2015

AFBF kicks off 2015 photo contest The American Farm Bureau Federation has announced the 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest. The contest is open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and staff above 18 years of age at the time of entry.

The contest will run May 15, 2015, through March 31, 2016. Photos may be entered in four categories: Farm Families, Farm Labor, Technology and Consumer Outreach. First place winners will be awarded $150, second place $100 and third place $75.

For more information about the contest, visit photocontest.fb.org.

Payne County leaders visit state Capitol Payne County Farm Bureau board members Sheila Taylor, Carl Williams and Brent Haken visit with Rep. Lee Denney during a visit to OKFB headquarters and the Oklahoma State Capitol on May 19. The group learned about the recent passage of the Right to Farm bill from OKFB Vice President of Public Policy John Collison.

During their Capitol visit, the group also met with Rep. Dennis Casey, Rep. Cory Williams and Sen. Larry Boggs about agricultural issues in their area.

Buckner promoted to senior VP of operations ary Buckner has been promoted to senior vice president of operations for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies.

Buckner, former vice president of claims for OKFB Mutual Insurance Co., takes over an expanded and redefined position following the untimely passing of Robert Peeler, vice president of FB Building Corp.

His new responsibilities include managing the building infrastructure, company vehicle fleet and the Information Systems department.

Buckner’s new duties cover everything with a “moving part,” from the heating and air conditioning system, to company cars, to the companies’ vast computer infrastructure.

“I am excited by the challenges and opportunities to continue to be an asset for Oklahoma Farm Bureau,” Buckner said.

Comparing his previous work in claims with his new position, Buckner said the jobs have similarities.

“Both roles are demanding, fast-paced with new, daily challenges and are serviceoriented,” he said.

Buckner said his background helped prepare him to take on new challenges.

“I was taught to work hard and the rest will fall into place,” he said.

Buckner joined OKFB in 1996 as an all-lines claims adjuster for the McAlester district claims office. He was promoted to manager of the Shawnee district claims office in 2002, and in 2005 he was named associate claims manager-property. In 2010, he was promoted to vice president of claims.

Buckner is a native of Talihina, Oklahoma, and graduated from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

OKFB’s Director of National Affairs LeAnna McNally explains the Right to Farm Resolution, State Question 777, to Duncan Chisholm Trail Kiwanis Club in Duncan, Okla. The State Question will appear on the Oklahoma general election ballot in November 2016.

Gary Buckner

YF&R announce summer conference dates OKFB YF&R will host its summer conference July 10-11 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Visit okfarmbureau.org/yfr for more information.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online @okfarmbureau Check out pictures of agriculture all around Oklahoma by following Oklahoma Farm Bureau on Instagram. Help us tell the story of agriculture by posting photos of your own farm or ranch. Make sure to tag us and use the hashtag #okfb15!

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Doye receives Devon Energy Volunteer of the Quarter award OKFB member Thad Doye was honored by the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma for volunteer service in the Beef for Backpacks and Pork for Packs programs. Doye transported animals donated by 4-H and FFA members. Watch RFBO’s video on Doye at https://youtu.be/JX8Ffrr9dsw.

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Now is the time to tell your story

By Holly Carroll OKFB Vice President of Field Services had no idea gluten is a protein found in uring the past wheat and did not understand its removal week, I had the from a diet. After our lesson, each student opportunity to visit had been told the story of agriculture. a local school and Often we forget if we do not tell our story, teach students about someone else will. We cannot sit back, only agriculture. Living in the heart of the wheat concerned about our business, if we are not belt and surrounded by rural Oklahoma, taking time to educate consumers about our one would expect these students to know industry! We have many opportunities in about farming and ranching. I was even the Oklahoma Farm Bureau to tell the story worried the students would be bored with of agriculture, but staff cannot be in all 77 my lesson. counties every day.

However, my experience was much Instead, we need you to help! You, different than imagined. Rather than as a member of OKFB, are the voice of boredom, these students were like sponges, agriculture. You should be telling your soaking up every bit of information I had to story in your schools, your churches, give them. They asked questions and were your workplaces, your communities engaged in learning the “story” I had to tell and your counties. With the Right to them – the story of how their food gets to Farm Resolution, or State Question 777, their tables. appearing on the How many times general election are we guilty of ballot in November staying in our 2016, the next year comfort zones while and a half will someone else is create a spotlight for telling our story for Oklahoma farms and us? When I asked — Holly Carroll ranches to thrive. about agriculture, Our state has the opportunity to protect none of the third- and fourth-graders knew its most vital industry – agriculture. how to define it. When I asked them to What better time to start telling your identify wheat, only two students were story than now? Host community leaders able to point it out. When I asked if they to learn about agriculture on your farm, had heard the term ‘gluten-free,’ every visit a classroom once a month to read an hand went up and stories of what it meant agriculture book to students, or talk with started pouring out. My favorite story of the your neighbors about our way of life. No day was a mom telling a student not to eat matter how you choose to do it, make sure bananas because of the gluten. to tell your story! The public so desperately At the beginning of the day, the students

You feed and clothe the world. It is time to take pride in what we do and tell the story of agriculture.

Third- and fourth-grade students in Cashion, Okla., learn about agriculture, food and fiber. needs to hear about the vital importance of our industry.

The final activity at the school that day was making “dirt babies”. Each student planted wheat in a cup of potting soil.

The simple experience took 20 minutes to complete and $20 to purchase, but it gave every student something to take home, sit on the kitchen counter, and watch grow over the next few weeks. It made an impact on not only the students, but also their families. It taught them about agriculture and the plants they see out their windows.

It kept our industry at the front and center of the students’ minds.

Do not be afraid to make your story front and center. You work hard each and every day to feed and clothe the world. It is time to take pride in what we do and tell the story of agriculture!

Member Benefits

Calendar

Case IH

OKFB Youth Safety Day June 4 — Oklahoma Farm Bureau Home Office Contact: Marcia Irvin 405-523-2405

Case IH is offering many customers 0 percent financing for 72 months on Farmall compact tractors and hay equipment now through June 30.

Combined with the special OKFB-member savings of $300 - $500 per unit, it’s a great time to upgrade to Case IH. Visit our website for offer details and learn how to take advantage of these special offers.

www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits

Oklahoma Youth Leading Agriculture Conference June 10 – 13 — Oklahoma City Area Contact: Holly Carroll 405-523-2307 National Ag in the Classroom Meeting June 16 – 20 — Louisville, KY Contact: Marcia Irvin 405-523-2405

oklahoma farm bureau | 3

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 Hannah Nemecek 405-523-2346

‘Get a Move On for GMOs’ helps farmers stand up for biotechnology etaMoveOn.fb.org is American Farm Bureau’s just-launched advocacy website that gives farmers and ranchers a simple way to “Get a Move On” for GMOs. Through the website, farmers can easily express support for a national, sciencebased labeling standard, like the approach taken in the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599).

“Now is the time for farmers and ranchers to take action in support of innovation in agriculture,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. “Access to crop traits that resist pests, diseases and drought stress is helping farmers across the nation grow more food using less land, water, fuel and pesticides,” Stallman said.

“Biotechnology will offer even more benefits in the future.”

From the website, farmers and ranchers can send House members emails encouraging “yea” votes for the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The bill will clarify the Food and Drug Administration as the nation’s foremost authority on food safety and create a voluntary labeling program run by the Agriculture Department’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the same agency that administers the USDA Organic Program.

The legislation will provide a federal solution to protect consumers from a confusing patchwork of 50-state GMO labeling policies, as well as the misinformation and high food costs that would come with them.

Through GetaMoveOn.fb.org, farmers can not only connect with their lawmakers, but

find state-by-state fact sheets detailing the value and share of GMO crops in each state.

“It’s critical that we as farmers help our lawmakers understand that there’s a cost associated with discouraging agricultural innovation,” Stallman said. “That cost will go well beyond the higher prices consumers will pay at the supermarket if each state passes its own GMO labeling law.”

In addition to the advocacy site, Farm Bureau’s grassroots toolkit continues to be a helpful resource for farmers and ranchers who want to share the many positives about biotechnology with policymakers, community members and others. The free resource is accessible at fb.org/biotech.

For more information about AFBF’s advocacy campaign, visit www.fb.org.

Nemecek joins OKFB communications team

Hannah Nemecek

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native of Skiatook, Oklahoma, Hannah Nemecek recently joined the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Corporate Communications department as a communications specialist.

Nemecek graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in agricultural communications in early May. After interning with OKFB in the summer of 2014, Nemecek said the organization was the perfect fit.

“I am excited to continue working with Oklahoma Farm Bureau,” Nemecek said.

“It is humbling to work for an organization serving farmers and ranchers every day.”

The daughter of an agricultural education teacher, Nemecek learned the importance of agriculture at an early age. Her passion for the industry began with her involvement with livestock and FFA. She plans to use her talents and abilities to further the mission of OKFB. “Agriculture is vital to our state and our nation,” she said. “I plan to use my communications skills to protect the industry both now and in the future.”

Nemecek will oversee the production of Oklahoma Country and Perspective along with assisting the communications department with various tasks.