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Oklahoma
2013 OFB Leadership Conference
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tate and federal legislative leaders addressed Oklahoma Farm Bureau leaders Feb. 18-19, during the annual OFB Leadership Conference at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City. “This is a great opportunity for our county leaders to meet with their legislators and discuss issues important to rural Oklahoma,” said OFB President Mike Spradling. Oklahoma FFA President Brandon Baumgarten welcomed members to the conference. The Oilton native challenged members to keep fighting for agriculture. Lawton businessman Bill Burgess addressed
the group with a presentation on leadership in today’s society. Burgess is vice chairman of the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, and his family owns a successful law firm and the Lawton Constitution newspaper. Burgess is a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and is chairman of the board of Vortex, the senior partner of Burgess & Hightower Law Firm, Civilian Aid to the Secretary of the Army and chairman emeritus of Techrizon, which he has developed into the largest Oklahoma-owned software engineering company. Burgess has served as chairman of the Citizen’s Commission on the future of Oklahoma’s higher education. Left: After addressing OFB members, Bill Burgess (center) joined Comanche County Farm Bureau in front of the crowd. He is pictured with OFB President Mike Spradling (left) and Comanche County FB President Don Hankins. Below: Congressman James Lankford talks about leadership and several legislative issues with OFB members, including the gridlock in Washington, D.C.
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Conference attendees also participated in a farm bill discussion with House Agriculture Committee staff member Bart Fischer and heard from OFB Director Tom Buchanan and Oklahoma Water Resources Board Executive Director J.D. White about the future of water in Oklahoma. A reception for Farm Bureau members and legislators followed the breakout sessions. During the evening awards banquet, the 2012 Meritorious Service Award winners were recognized, and American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman presented his group’s highest legislative award, the Golden Plow, to U.S. Rep. and Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Frank Lucas, R-OK. The award is presented annually to one member of the U.S. Senate and one member of the U.S. House of Representatives who have demonstrated strong support for Farm Bureau and agriculture issues.
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he second day of the conference kicked off with a breakfast presentation by Dana Murphy, Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Stallman also addressed the group with a discussion on the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. Participants attended breakout sessions on social media and successful public relations messages, and U.S. Rep. James Lankford, R-OK, discussed modern leadership roles with members. Lankford is in his second term representing the state’s fifth district. He serves on the House budget committee and is chairman of the subcommittee on energy, policy, health care and entitlements. Following lunch at the OFB state office, farm leaders headed to the state Capitol to visit their state legislators.