Association rangers,” said Coy. “These guys are the ones that really got all this stuff working.” The Texas saddle thieves arrested and convicted for the Morgan thefts had a rather large theft ring in Oklahoma and Texas. They typically sold stolen Oklahoma saddles to Texans, and saddles stolen in Texas to Oklahomans. Coy returned from Texas with most of the Morgan’s saddles. Two had to be retrieved from a Florida law enforcement officer who purchased them from the thieves on the side of the highway. “He brought them back here in about 10 days,” said Tom. “Everything just hit right. It felt good to get them back. I really wanted my old saddle back. It was just unreal that we got ’em back.” “We wanted our saddles back,” reiterated Nellie, who is vice president of the Washington County Farm Bureau board of directors. The Morgans have been fortunate. They have been on their cattle ranch since 1970, and the theft of the saddles was the first major crime they’ve had to deal with in almost 40 years. “We lock up now and we put in a security system,” said Nellie. “It’s a hassle.”
Left: Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s reward program is one of the organization’s oldest member services. The old sign posted here, which still hangs today, along with the warning of a bad dog dates back at least 25 years ago when the program offered a $500 reward. Below: New Reward Sign
14 • Oklahoma Country • Fall 2009
hile the Morgans have changed a few things since the burglary, one thing hasn’t changed – posting of the $5,000 Oklahoma Farm Bureau reward signs on their property. The reward program is one of OFB’s oldest member services. It was set up to discourage theft, vandalism and arson on the farms, residences and other property of OFB members. The reward was increased from $1,000 to $5,000 in late 2006, and Jenkins is the first person to claim the payment. “This is the first reward payment Farm Bureau has made since the monetary award was increased to $5,000,” said Richard Newberry, Farm Bureau Insurance Claims vice president. “We are happy to recognize the efforts of Coy Jenkins in both recovering the Morgan’s stolen saddles and securing a conviction of the thieves. “Today it is rare for an individual to shoulder the task of recovering someone else’s stolen property. Coy not only shouldered that responsibility, but was instrumental in securing the evidence necessary for authorities to obtain felony convictions for the theft of the saddles.” He said the $5,000 reward was a small price for Farm Bureau to pay in this theft case. If the saddles had not been recovered and returned to the Morgans, it would have cost the company around $20,000 to settle the claim. “The reward program,” said the Claims vice president, “actually saved the company the cost of a rather large claim, and we hope that as news of it spreads criminals will think twice when they see an Oklahoma Farm Bureau reward sign posted.” Richard said it is sad that it has taken almost three years for the company to have the opportunity to present the first $5,000 reward. “However, we recognize that our court system is crowded and sometimes it takes longer than we’d all like for justice to be served. The theft at the Morgan’s ranch took place more than two years ago, and it was only recently that the justice system incarcerated the criminals despite the case being solved in less than two weeks.” Reward signs are available at all county Farm Bureau offices. New members are entitled to one free reward sign. Signs are available for a nominal cost of $1 each to both new and existing members. “We realize that no reward program will stop crime, but I think our $5,000 offer certainly serves to make all of us more cognizant of what’s going on in our neighborhood or community,” Richard concluded.