Perspective Oklahoma Farm Bureau
www.okfarmbureau.org
Oct. 30, 2015
2015 OKFB Convention Trade Show Exhibitors Located in Exhibit Hall One of the Cox Convention Center, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention trade show will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14. Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma High Plains Journal IPFS John Vance Auto Group Journey House Travel Great Plains Kubota National Livestock Credit Corp. Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program, Inc. Oklahoma Beef Council Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Oklahoma Cattlewomen Inc. Oklahoma Conservation Commission Oklahoma Farming & Ranching Foundation Oklahoma Mesonet Oklahoma Soybean Board Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economics Department Oklahoma Wheat Commission P&K Equipment Stephanie’s Selections USDA NRCS USDA-NASS Verna’s Jewelry OKFB Member Benefits OKFB Store OKFB Women’s Leadership Committee Find an up-to-date list at www.okfarmbureau.org.
OKFB state resolutions committee prepares policies for 2016 he Oklahoma Farm Bureau state resolutions committee met Oct. 20-21 in Oklahoma City to review, condense and organize resolutions for its 2016 policy book. The meeting served as one of the final steps in the organization’s grassroots policy development process. All 77 county Farm Bureaus submitted resolutions for review by the 39-member committee made up of OKFB farm and ranch members from across the state. “Because Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization, all of our policies come straight from our members,” said Tom Buchanan, OKFB president. “The ideas and
needs of our members guide the issues we focus on at the state Capitol.” Support and funding of State Question 777, or the Right to Farm constitutional amendment, topped the list of suggested policies for 2016. Other trends included an update of water policy and clarification of feral hog policy. Resolutions to OKFB policy will not be final until approved by the delegate body at the 2015 OKFB Annual Meeting. County Farm Bureaus will receive the suggested policies to review before state convention. Once accepted, the resolutions will help direct the organization for the next year.
Four families nominated for 2015 Farm Family of the Year
The Muller Family – District Two our Oklahoma Farm Bureau families from across the state have been named District Farm Family of the Year and are nominated for the state Farm Family of the Year award. The Farm Family program, sponsored by the OKFB Women’s Leadership Committee, recognizes farm and ranch families who embody the best traditions of Oklahoma agriculture and rural life. Each family will represent their district at state convention Nov. 13-15 in Oklahoma City, where the OKFB state Farm Family of the Year will be named during the awards session Friday, Nov. 13. Representing District Two, Matt and Kellie Muller of Altus, along with their children Taylor, Levi, Luke and Lincoln, grow cotton, wheat, grain sorghum, canola, hay and more on their southwestern Oklahoma farm. The Mullers’ diversified farm has
The Leonard Family – District Six
included soybeans and peanuts in the past, changing to meet growing conditions and the agricultural economy. “My dad liked trying different crops and instilled that passion for agronomy in me,” Matt Muller said. “I like the challenge of it. I like the soil health benefits of rotating the different crops and trying new crops.” Faith and family are important to the Mullers, whose children raise meat goats and stocker cattle. They work side-by-side in the fields tending to crops and livestock. The family also loves to share their passion for agriculture by inviting community and school groups to their farm to see first-hand how crops are grown. “We have actually gone to schools and invited kids to come out, just so we can educate them on what we do and why we do it,” Kellie Muller said. “They can get some hands-on education and see where
their food and fiber comes from.” Representing District Six, Greg and Mary Leonard, along with their children, Kody and Katy, grow wheat, corn and soybeans in a three-crop rotation on the family’s northeastern Oklahoma farm. The family’s cattle operation consists of cow-calf pairs on native grass pasture. They also own and operate a seed business, selling corn and soybean seed to farmers in their area. “With double-cropping, we’re always harvesting and planting at the same time, then when you throw in 15 to 20 other farmers that you’re providing seed for, there’s a lot of mornings in June when Mary and Katy are out delivering seed and Kody and I are trying to take care of our own farm,” Greg Leonard said. The Leonard family is heavily involved in their local community, as Mary teaches in nearby Vinita and both Kody and Katy
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Buchanan interviewed about SQ777
OSU releases drought-resistant wheat
Last weekend, OKFB President Tom Buchanan sat down with Ron Hays and the Oklahoma Farm Report to discuss the State Question 777, or Right to Farm, campaign. Find the link to the interview on our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/okfarmbureau.
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KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City featured Mason Bolay, OKFB YF&R committee member and wheat farmer, in an Oct. 21 story about a new drought-resistant wheat variety from Oklahoma State University. Find the link to the story on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Facebook page.
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The Temple Family – District Eight have participated in 4-H and FFA. Their supervised agricultural experience projects helped them start their own farming operations. Kody is applying his love for farming at Oklahoma State University as he studies plant and soil science. “I grew up with farming,” Mary Leonard said. “So it was something logical for me to pass it on to my kids and for us to do it together.” Representing District Eight, Raymond and Mary Temple raise cattle on their Garvin County farm, with a focus on their cow-calf operation consisting of 750 head of mother cows. The family also raises stocker cattle on wheat pasture during winter months. A major focus for the family has been improving the land, making it more productive and allowing them to raise more cattle. Their dream of leaving the land better
The Jobes Family – District Nine
than when they started their farm has come true through years of controlling brush, building ponds, planting improved grasses and implementing other soil-improving conservation efforts “There’s so many ways that we try to improve these cattle every year, just utilizing the kind of forage that we have,” Raymond Temple said. “It really gives me great satisfaction to see what we’ve accomplished over the years.” Representing District Nine, Raleigh and Betty Jo Jobes own and operate Cliff Springs Ranch, located north of Stillwater. Focusing on quality genetics, the couple raises registered Angus cattle in a partnership with their son and grandson. Artificial insemination and genetic testing have allowed the family to quickly improve their herd, with the ultimate goal of providing top-quality beef to consumers.
“To me, being in agriculture is almost a privilege,” Raleigh Jobes said. “It’s exciting to see what you can do with the animals in trying to building a life – building an animal – that is good.” The Jobeses enjoy sparking an interest in agriculture in the hearts of local students. The couple has helped area youth get started in showing cattle, teaching them valuable life lessons along the way. “I’ve started a program where we’ll give a heifer to at least one young person a year,” Raleigh Jobes said. “To me, that is the whole reason for being on the farm: to see what comes out of those cows and those calves, and seeing the young people with them. There’s times it can almost give me goose bumps to see those young kids with those calves.” Learn more about the families by visiting www.okfarmbureau.org.
Member Benefits
Calendar
Practice Safe Text
OKFB Women’s Leadership Committee Fall Rally Oct. 30-31 Contact: Marcia Irvin 405-523-2405
Oklahoma’s texting while driving ban will go into effect on Nov. 1. The OKFB Safety Services department and the Oklahoma Safety Council want to remind members to #PracticeSafeText! Learn more about the ban and how to spread the word by visiting www.oksafety.org/practicesafetext or searching #PracticeSafeText on social media.
www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits
OKFB Annual Meeting Nov. 13-15 Contact: Melisa Neal 405-523-2475 YF&R State Committee Meeting Dec. 3-4 Contact: Holly Carroll 405-523-2307
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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
STAFF DIRECTORY
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Executive Director Monica Wilke 405-523-2303 VP of Public Policy and Media Relations John Collison 405-523-2539 Director of Corporate Communications Dustin Mielke 405-530-2640 Communications Specialist Hannah Nemecek 405-523-2346
Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation sponsors Honor Flight
Top Left: A group of students applaud Gerald Turner at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., during the final Oklahoma Honor Flight Oct. 21. Top Right: John Irick stands in the World War II memorial. After the war, Irick came back to work on his Oklahoma farm. Bottom Left: Rep. Frank Lucas visits with Irick at the WWII memorial. The Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation helped sponsor the final Oklahoma Honor Flight on Oct. 21. Turner and Irick, both farmers and ranchers, also were sponsored by the Foundation. The trip provides WWII and Korean War veterans an all-expense-paid trip to visit the monuments and memorials that honor their service to the nation. For more information and pictures, visit www.okfarmbureau.org, or visit the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Facebook page.
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