Bureau of Reclamation, which assisted in the completion of phase one. In May, the district was notified again it would receive another $300,000 to continue work. Buchanan believes irrigation can play a major role in conserving water, increasing the efficiency of water usage and providing more to the end user. He understands irrigators are not the only users of large amounts of water, but he believes irrigation can draw attention to water conservation. “We have many competing users of water in southwest Oklahoma, as we do in the western states as a whole,” Buchanan said. “These efforts are to try and start to address these issues, and when we become better conservers of water, it points the way and shows other people that we can do it.” According to Buchanan, southwest Oklahoma’s water supply has been low the past three years. Currently, the district’s lake holds about 94,000 acre feet, and when full, it can hold close to 130,000 acre feet. Lugert-Altus Irrigation District bylaws call for 96 cubic feet per second of water to begin irrigation, meaning this minimum amount of water must be requested by farmers across the district before water can
be turned on. The district draws its water from a lake that is about 25 miles north of the designated cropland to be irrigated. With the goal of efficient water usage in mind, people in the district are working together as farmers and neighbors to develop a strong relationship. Producers use the supplemental water source when irrigation benefits the most acres and the most people for a crop at a certain time. Irrigation in southwest Oklahoma historically begins around July 4 and runs until the middle of September. During that time, 46,000 acres are watered with a majority of the acreage devoted to cotton. Buchanan said water conservation should take center stage among Oklahomans and citizens of the western U.S. due to threatening water shortages in the future. Limited supplies of water in the next 30 to 50 years could not only hurt farmers, but also decrease the population of western Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s economic development also would feel the impact of a smaller water supply, providing fewer resources to meet human needs. “It’s incumbent upon not only local entities like ourselves, but the state as a whole, to develop a statewide comprehensive water plan that tells us how much water we have, where it’s at and what quality,” Buchanan said. “That will give us the basis with which we can move forward.” The Lugert-Altus Irrigation District continues to look into new methods of irrigation, and it has begun the process of requesting financial assistance at state and federal levels. Buchanan said By Gail Banzet improved irrigation efficiency would result in increased water availability, but users need to understand that more water does not come without a price. “In order for us to become more conservative to become a better user, it takes capital. There needs to be a trade off of some sort in that a state of Oklahoma or a federal government needs to have the incentives available to the landowner that allows him to be a better user, which then allows more water to be available for everybody else,” Buchanan said. The Lugert-Altus Irrigation District is committed to conserving water while ensuring a valuable water supply to patrons. In fact, the district has decided to tax itself an additional $2 per acre, setting aside these additional funds to be used only for improving its infrastructure. Buchanan said he and members of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District feel new and efficient irrigation practices could set the tone for water users across Oklahoma and the U.S. Through funding, infrastructure modernization and cooperation between patrons, he said the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District is setting an example of water conservation methods for water districts across the country.
Through effective, new irrigation practices, the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District in southwest Oklahoma is improving the efficiency of agricultural water usage.
Lugert-Altus Irrigation District employees pour concrete for a water measurement device in the Lugert-Altus reservoir’s main canal. The construction took place in the winter of 2005 and was recently completed. The measuring device allows water district employees to specifically track water location at any time.
Oklahoma Country • Summer 2005 • 19
All Around
Oklahoma
It was a grand opening at Mayes County FB
ayes County Farm Bureau dedicated its new building April 7 with a grand opening befitting of the attractive, 3,200-square foot facility at 1521 E. Graham in Pryor. More than 250 members and guests attended between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to mark the occasion and get a look at their new county office. They were treated to hamburgers, hog dogs, baked beans and all the trimmings. They also had the opportunity for an up-close look at the AirEvac Lifeteam helicopter, which landed in the parking lot and gave members the chance to see firsthand one of the Farm Bureau member services. Mayes County President Jonathan Scheffel, center, was joined on the right by county Board members Robert Moore, Jerry Koelsch, Howard Kleeman, Robert Erdwin, George Newby and Johnny Hanna as he took scissors to the patriotic ribbon. Joining the county leaders for the ribbon cutting were, from left, OFB’s General Counsel Monica Wilke, OFB President Steve Kouplen, Public Policy Director Jeramy Rich, OFB Director Charles Sloan and Executive Director Matt Wilson.
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Tulsa County FB shows off its massive new complex
ulsa County Farm Bureau dedicated its new complex in style May 16, capping a nearly half-day-long celebration with the ceremonial ribbon cutting. County and state Farm Bureau leaders joined Farm Bureau & Affiliated staff members as President Mike Spradling used giant scissors to snip the ribbon on the 27,000 square foot Tulsa County Farm Bureau Center, which is located at 10777 S. Memorial. The county served hamburgers, hot dogs, fruit, cake and soft drinks to the nearly 160 people who attended the open house and dedication ceremonies. Spradling, who also serves as OFB Vice President, spoke during the celebration. The complex also is home to Tulsa District Claims along with the law offices of Lawson, King & Shelton, PLLC
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Oklahoma Country • Summer 2005 • 21
Make sure your wishes are known, documented Security as well as other information to help he recent news focusing on honoring family members during a time of grief. people’s last wishes has increased our For help in planning to leave a financial awareness of the need to make legacy for your family and for your free copy of responsible decisions and provide the A Personal Journal of Wishes and Records®, appropriate documentation to have those contact your county Farm Bureau agent. wishes carried out. Though the Journal is comprehensive, it is Another aspect of planning that will help not a replacement for estate and legal make things easier for your family is to counsel. It is a tool you and your family can provide information about where you keep all use to help provide all the necessary your accounts and important documents. information for A Personal caregivers or Journal of Wishes survivors. It’s a way and Records® provides a record of of leaving the personal legacy of a house information in an that is completely easy-to-use format in order. so that when the To serve time comes, your members, spouse, your Oklahoma Farm children or heirs Bureau has can easily locate developed a sample important papers, advance directive bank and brokerage for health care accounts, as well as (living will). such practical The sample things as a safe document, deposit box key. developed by OFB By completing A General Counsel Personal Journal of Monica Wilke, Wishes and Records® shows you how, if provided for you by you are 18 or older, Farm Bureau to inform Financial Services, physicians and you can leave a others of your legacy of wishes, wishes to decline as well as a record or withdraw lifeof important sustaining medical documents. care and to donate A completed specified organs See your Farm Bureau agent for a free copy of A Personal Journal Journal can help when you have survivors or caregivers of Wishes and Records as well as a free sample living will. been diagnosed by make immediate decisions as well as assist your attending physician and another with long-range planning and, perhaps most physician to be in a terminal condition or importantly, help ensure that your wishes will persistently unconscious state. be carried out. Wilke said upon completion of an advance A Personal Journal of Wishes and Records® directive, it may be revoked by the individual also contains resources, such as where to call in whole or part with that person’s to find out about military benefits and Social communication to his or her attending
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physician or other care provider or to a witness to the revocation. She said copies of the advance directive should be placed in your personal records, with family members and your attorney. “The advance directive is a living will which allows you to direct that life-sustaining treatment be withheld or withdrawn if such treatment would only serve to prolong dying if you have a terminal condition or are persistently unconscious,” Wilke said. The document also allows a person to appoint a health care proxy who can be allowed to make decisions about artificial administration of food and water, dialysis or other special medical treatments. Wilke also explained that an advance directive or living will also may be revoked by you entirely or as to any part at any time. “These sample advance directives can be obtained from your agent when you pick up the Personal Journal of Wishes and Records®. This is only a sample document and individuals should consult an attorney to develop an official living will,” Wilke concluded.
FARM BUREAU’S ANNUAL FARM CITY FESTIVAL Members of the state Women’s Committee were on hand April 5 to celebrate Farm City Festival activities, and pose with just a small sampling of the food items prepared for the event. Each year Farm Bureau women from across the state prepare a special luncheon for lawmakers and their staffs to emphasize the major role agriculture plays in the Oklahoma economy. The OFB Women’s Committee sponsors the event. Members of the state Committee were, from left, Marilynn Spence, Kathryn Floyd, Phyllis Holcomb, Georgia Doye, Merle Henderson, Ruth Moeller, Judy Anglin, Nancy Bennett, Clara Wichert and Coordinator Marcia Irvin.
OFB supports youngsters with premiums at Expo klahoma Farm Bureau paid premiums on 21 animals, including the grand champion lamb, at the 2005 Oklahoma Youth Expo Sale of Champions March 21. “Farm Bureau is involved in supporting the youth in excelling in their education with the purchase of their animals,” said Matt Wilson, OFB executive director. “We have been the top buyer for the past four years.” OFB Vice President Mike Spradling accepted the Volume Buyer Award for the 2004 sale prior to the auction beginning in the State Fair Arena. Farm Bureau joined forces with Blue and Gold Sausage again in 2005 to purchase the grand champion lamb, which was exhibited by Chelsea Clifton of Kingfisher FFA. The crossbreed lamb bought $25,000. Farm Bureau’s other premium auction purchases were: • The breed champion specklefaced lamb exhibited by Holly Glass of Elgin FFA. • The reserve breed champion Hampshire barrow exhibited by Chad McLemore of Chickasha 4-H.
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• The fourth place Simmental steer exhibited by Brianna Jett of Laverne FFA. • The third place Yorkshire barrow
exhibited by Paula Vaughn of Westville FFA. • The third place Duroc barrow exhibited by Lance Warrior of Warner FFA.
Kingfisher FFA’s Chelsea Clifton led her crossbreed lamb to the grand championship honors at the 2005 Oklahoma Youth Expo. Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Blue & Gold Sausage rewarded her efforts with a $25,000 premium during the March 21 Sale of Champions. OFB directors Mike Spradling, second from left, and Billy Gibson, Bob Drake and Donna VonTungeln, from right respectively, joined Blue & Gold’s Brett Ramsey (holding Grand
Champion Cup), Gov. Brad Henry, Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and a Kingfisher FFA group in the sale ring to celebrate the winning bid. Farm Bureau also was the Grand Champion Lamb Chalice sponsor, which is the cup held by the governor. Oklahoma Youth Expo, which celebrated its 90th year, is the world’s large youth livestock show and attracted more than 13,000 animals and their student owners in 2005.
About 500 people, including this group of hungry secretaries, went through the buffet line that was set up in the first floor rotunda of the state capitol for the Farm City Festival. Women representing 26 county Farm Bureau Women’s Committees “catered” the April 5 event. The Women’s Committee members spent countless hours preparing the food for the annual event. Few morsels of food remained when the buffet line closed after being open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Member’s new book links poetry, stories for enjoyable reading klahoma Farm Bureau member Norm Rourke of Beggs has written a book of cowboy and traditional poetry and stories. The book, Prairie Wind, was released June 25. “Most of the poems and stories are about people I’ve met and places I’ve been,” said Rourke. “Artists, writers, ranchers, historic personalities, ordinary people, nature and special places are the subjects of my work.” Prairie Wind is Rourke’s third book. His first, I Saw the Elephant, was based on the diary of a Confederate soldier’s war experience. The second, War Comes to Alaska, the Dutch Harbor Attack June 3-4, 1942, tells of the Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor, Alaska, preceding their invasion of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian islands. Commenting on the book’s themes, Rourke said, “Through poetry and the stories in Prairie Wind, I’ve tried to tell interesting and sometimes humorous anecdotes. Poetry and poetry blended with stories should be an enjoyable experience. Prairie Wind offers something for everyone. I write to be read.” He said poetry doesn’t have to be dull and unexciting; telling a story in verse can be as effective as in prose. “Prairie Wind isn’t your traditional academic approach to poetry,” he said. “Luther Morse, the subject of one of the poems, is real, and Little Jake the burro is a cookie-eating friend that lives across the road, and Christmas did come in a Chevy truck.” The latter refers to a young couple on their way to the hospital when their old truck crashed into a snow bank in New Mexico. The young woman gave birth to their first child on a cold Christmas morning, Rourke explained. Luther Morse appeared in a recent issue of Western Horseman. “Poems in Prairie Wind are for reading aloud,” he said. “They allow the one reciting to be creative and dramatic. Those in the section Chronicles of the Sisters of the Mystic Night are especially adaptable to a humorous reading.” Rourke’s website, www.norm rourke.com,
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Oklahoma Youth Expo honored Oklahoma Farm Bureau for the fourth consecutive year with the Volume Buyer Award. OFB Vice President Mike Spradling, right, accepted the trophy from OYE Director Justin Whitefield March 21 during the Sale of Champions at the state fairgrounds arena. The award honors the organization, business or individual that purchases the most animals during the Sale of Champions. OFB has been the top volume buyer in the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 premium auctions.
• The third place Poland China barrow exhibited by Cody York of Elmore City FFA. • The third place crossbreed lamb exhibited by Heath Burchfield of Fairview FFA. • The fourth place Shorthorn steer exhibited Cole Hammon of Chickasha FFA. • The fourth place Chester barrow exhibited by Adam Hunt of El Reno FFA. • The seventh place Hampshire barrow exhibited by Daniel Robbins of Altus 4-H. • The fifth place Suffolk lamb exhibited by Trevor Julian of Mt. View-Gotebo FFA. • The seventh place crossbreed barrow exhibited by Sara Smith of Newcastle FFA. • The seventh place Suffolk lamb exhibited by McKenzie Clifton of Kingfisher FFA. • The eighth place Maine-Anjou steer exhibited by Bobby Kokojan of Waukomis FFA. • The sixth place Duroc barrow exhibited by Justin Frailey of Mannford FFA. • The eleventh place Hampshire barrow exhibited by Kim Smith of Altus FFA. • The seventh place natural color lamb exhibited by Jessica Seibold of Elgin FFA. • The eighth place crossbreed lamb exhibited by Lance Rhodes of Fairview FFA. • The sixteenth place crossbreed barrow exhibited by Austin Cowan of Balko FFA. • The tenth place natural color lamb exhibited by Chase McGolden of Fairview 4-H. 24 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2005
Norm Rourke
has information about Prairie Wind and selections from the book. Rourke is a staff writer for Persimmon Hill and The Ketchpen, publications of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. He was a guest columnist for the Tulsa Tribune and Tulsa World, an editor and writer of business and industry materials and a newspaper reporter. He also has written for a wide variety of national publications and trade journals. He performs at various cowboy poetry gatherings, and is a participant in the annual Echoes of the Trail Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Celebration of the West held in Fort Scott, Kan. He also has presented his poems at the annual Western Oklahoma Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Rourke is a graduate of the University of Tulsa, and attended graduate school there.
AREA MEETINGS SET Oklahoma Farm Bureau will host its annual Area Meeting series in late July and August, kicking off the policy development season for county leaders and members. The meetings, scheduled in each state director district, provide leaders and members the opportunity to share concerns on a variety of issues. Those issues are examined and recommendations made at county annual meetings in the fall with policy ideas submitted for consideration at November’s annual OFB convention. AREA MEETING SCHEDULE, BY DISTRICT • District 1, Aug. 22 at Guymon, and Aug. 23 at Woodward. • District 2, Aug. 4 at Quartz Mountain. • District 3, July 28 at El Reno. • District 4, Aug.16 at Lake Murray, and Aug.17 at Duncan. • District 5, Aug.15 at McAlester. • District 6, Aug.18 at Vinita, and Aug.18 at Muskogee. • District 7, Aug.15 at Enid. • District 8, Aug. 25 at Ada. • District 9, Aug.16 at Mannford. For times and specific locations, check your county Farm Bureau office.
Phone before digging; get your underground lines marked for free elow your feet are miles of lines, cables and pipes that can be damaged, disrupting service, even creating danger if your shovel breaks or nicks one. Summer is here and the compulsion to go outdoors and plant trees, shrubs and flowers is natural. It’s hard to stop some of the more enthusiastic gardeners and remind them to think before they reach for their shovels. For other more thoughtful ranchers, farmers and homeowners, the rainbow of colors on their grass – on sidewalks, driveways and streets – indicates that they’ve done the
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right thing. Before they began digging they called an important number and arranged to have a specialist locate and mark their underground lines. And it didn’t cost a dime. “As Oklahomans dig into doing that long list of chores, landscaping and construction projects, the potential for accidentally severing utility lines increases. Hidden dangers can lurk right in your own yard. Underground power lines, communications cables, gas lines, water lines, sewer lines or other utilities may lie just a few inches under your grass and shrubs. Play it smart whenever you plan to dig. Learn where all those lines are by making one phone call,” said Doug MacMillan, Oklahoma One-Call System, Inc., executive director. “That’s what Call Okie can do for you. After you place this toll free call by dialing 1-800522-OKIE, we’ll arrange for local utilities to come to your property and mark their underground lines with flags and paint markings. But remember, all private utility lines must be located by you or a contractor; our members locate only their lines. Then you’ll know where you can safely dig,” MacMillan added. “Digging up utility lines is more than embarrassing, it’s also dangerous. Damaging underground electric cables or gas lines can cause you and your neighbors to be without service, or worse, it can easily injure and kill,” said Jerry West, Oklahoma One-Call public education and damage prevention manager. Why should you call before you dig? 1. It could save your life. Many things lie buried beneath the ground. Power lines and gas lines are two of the most deadly. 2. It could save your property. Fire or explosion from a damaged gas line, erosion from a broken water line, disease from a broken sewer line, or simply the inconvenience of losing your phone or cable TV service could all happen due to a cut line. 3. It could save you money. It doesn’t cost anything to call and request to have your utility lines located. With one quick telephone call, utilities in your area will be notified to come and mark the location of their lines. However, if you damage a utility line and did
not call for the service, you may be liable for all repairs and lost revenue. Some highcapacity telephone lines carry up to $1 million per minute in calls. 4. It’s the law. According to the Oklahoma Underground Damage Prevention Act, excavators must give notice no less than 48 hours and no more than 10 days prior to excavation. “When we receive your call at Call Okie in Oklahoma City, our modern electronic notification system identifies all of our members who may have buried lines in the proposed digging area. They are given your excavation details and will contact you to let you know if there are facilities in the area. If so, they will come out and mark them. All of this is free,” said Rebecca Estes, Oklahoma One-Call marketing communications manager. “Call Okie is a non-profit, state-wide service provided by members of Oklahoma One-Call System, Inc. Our members mark their underground utility lines to minimize the risk associated with damaging or cutting buried facilities. Last year Call Okie handled over 600,000 inbound calls resulting in over 3,200,000 outbound messages to our One-Call member companies. That’s how we ensure safe, accident-free digging,” MacMillan added. “It just makes good sense to call. How can you or your neighbors afford not to call?”
Eight Oklahoma students awarded FB scholarships klahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies and its Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee awarded eight $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors during the month of May. The students, who must pursue a career in agriculture at an Oklahoma institution of higher learning and be a full-time student, filed applications with county Farm Bureau offices for the scholarships. All applicants had to be from an Oklahoma Farm Bureau voting member family. One student in each of the nine state board of
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director districts was eligible to receive the $1,000 scholarship. There were no applicants from district five, however. Beaver County’s Chad Bransgrove earned the scholarship in district one. He is the son of Robert and Cindy Bransgrove of Balko. Chad graduated from Balko High School in May and was class valedictorian. He plans to attend Oklahoma State University (OSU) and major in veterinary medicine. Tillman County’s Paige Treadwell earned the scholarship in district two. She is the daughter of Elbert and Micah Treadwell of Frederick. Paige graduated from Frederick High School in May with a 3.71 grade point average (GPA). She plans to attend OSU and major in agricultural education. Blaine County’s Lance Cowan earned the scholarship in district three. He is the son of
Rodney and Carol Cowan of Watonga. Lance graduated Watonga High School in May with a 4.0 GPA and was class valedictorian. He plans to attend OSU and major in agri-business. Stephens County’s Cooper McCarley earned the scholarship in district four. He is the son of David and Mary Ann McCarley of Marlow. Cooper graduated from Marlow High School in May with a 4.0 GPA. He plans to attend OSU and major in agricultural mechanical engineering. Delaware County’s Kimberly Curl earned the scholarship in district six. She is the daughter of Charles and Kenna Curl of Wyandotte. Kimberly graduated from Grove High School in May with a 3.93 GPA. She plans to attend Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and major in agricultural communications.
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS OFFERS MEMBER DISCOUNTS
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Alfalfa County’s Chance Simpson earned the scholarship in district seven. He is the son of Steve and Gay Simpson of Kremlin. Chance graduated from Timberlake High School in May with a 3.42 GPA. He plans to attend NOC Gateway/OSU and major in agronomy. McClain County’s Kara Simpson earned the scholarship in district eight. She is the daughter of Gordon and Mickey Simpson of Blanchard. Kara graduated from Blanchard High School in May with a 3.79 GPA. She plans to attend OSU and major in veterinary medicine. Payne County’s Brooke Clay earned the scholarship in district nine. She is the daughter of Robert and Tamara Clay of Perkins. Brooke graduated from Perkins/Tryon High School in May with a 3.76 GPA. She plans to attend OSU and major in agricultural communications.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau has added SherwinWilliams to the list of providers in its special member service program known as the FB Card. The Sherwin-Williams Company will give OFB members 25 percent off list prices or a 10 percent discount off sale prices on everything (excluding Duration Coatings and spray equipment) in its Oklahoma stores as well as stores in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas that serve Oklahoma customers. OFB members must use the special account number, 9061-2947-3, at checkout time. There are 41 SherwinWilliams stores located in Oklahoma in the following cities: Ada, Altus, Ardmore, Bartlesville, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Chickasha, Claremore, Cushing, Duncan, Durant, Edmond, Enid, Lawton, McAlester, Miami, Midwest City, Muskogee, Norman, Oklahoma City, Okmulgee, Owasso, Pauls Valley, Ponca City, Pryor, Sand Springs, Seminole, Shawnee, Stillwater, Tahlequah, Tulsa, Vinita, Weatherford and Woodward. SherwinWilliams stores in Texas that honor the discount are located in Denison, Denton, Gainesville, Hickory Creek, Paris, Sherman, Vernon and Wichita Falls. Missouri stores honoring the discount are in Joplin. Coffeyville and Liberal, Kan., SherwinWilliams stores are participating locations as well as Fort Smith, Ark., stores.
MAGNUMS ADDED TO REBATE PROGRAM
Prescription discount program adds more pharmacies in state he ScriptSave prescription drug discount plan, one affiliate of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s member-service benefit package, recently has expanded the number of participating pharmacies. “ScriptSave’s expansion of participants now gives our members access to at least one participating pharmacy in each county,” said Kathy McNally, coordinator of OFB’s FB Card program. The program now has an extensive network of participating pharmacies in Oklahoma. When ScriptSave was recruited to join the OFB program, many independent local pharmacies accepted the ScriptSave card as well as recognized chains such as Eckerd, K-Mart, Osco, Target and Albertsons. McNally said the biggest addition to the list of participating pharmacies includes Wal-Mart Pharmacies. The other additions include Buy For Less, Clinic Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy, Drug Mart, Drug Warehouse, Familymeds, Homeland Pharmacy, Mays Drug Stores, Medicine Chest, Medicine Shoppe, Med-X, Reasor’s, Sam’s Club, United Discount Drugs, and Walgreens. “Farm Bureau is pleased to have ScriptSave in our member-service program, and pleased that it has expanded its list of participating pharmacies. That makes it just that much more convenient for our members. “This program allows our self-employed and retired members access to discounted prescriptions. And,” McNally added, “the
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Dodge has added its new Magnum line to the rebate program offered only to Oklahoma Farm Bureau members. Members who purchase a Magnum receive a $500 rebate on top of their best deal from their Dodge dealer. With the addition of the Mangum, virtually the entire Dodge vehicle line comes with the $500 rebate offer to OFB members. The $500 Bonus Certificate for the Dodge rebate is available at all county Farm Bureau offices. The Magnum became eligible for the OFB rebate program May 2. If a member purchased a 2006 Magnum prior to May 2, he or she should write to Dodge
prices truly are discounted.” Since the ScriptSave addition to the Farm Bureau member-service program was instituted in September 2001, members in Oklahoma have notched $2.2 million in savings. In 2004 alone, the savings totaled $575,000. “The 2004 figure amounts to an average saving of $12.27 per prescription for our members,” said McNally. “That’s about a 23 percent average discount off the national average.” The program grants instant point-of-sale savings on prescription medication purchases – on both brand name and generic prescription drugs – to everyone in a member’s household. ScriptSave, founded in 1994, is America’s premier member-only health and wellness enhancement program with its primary focus on prescription and non-prescription drug savings. It offers unlimited use and immediate discounts with no claim forms to file. OFB members received ScriptSave
Customer Service Department at P.O. Box 5079, Troy, MI 48007-5079 to request the $500 rebate. The member must send in a copy of his or her purchase or lease agreement and proof of OFB membership with the letter requesting the rebate. Dodge not only offers rebates to all OFB members. It provides Dodge trucks to state and national winners in select Young Farmers and Ranchers contests. Entry and application forms for Oklahoma YF&R contests are available at all county Farm Bureau offices, from district YF&R members, and YF&R Coordinator Marcia Irvin by telephoning 405-523-2300.
discount cards when the program was instituted. The cards are free to OFB members, and there are no enrollment fees to receive the discounts. Members who may have misplaced their ScriptSave card are advised to see their county Farm Bureau office for a new one or to use their OFB membership card at participating pharmacies. Information on the back side of the card verifies a member’s eligibility for the ScriptSave program. ScriptSave has added a link on its web site, scriptsave.com, which allows members to type in their zip code and find the participating pharmacy nearest them. A list of participating pharmacies in the state also can be viewed on the OFB web site at okfarmbureau.org. Simply look under the member benefits section and the information can be found in the discount buyer card program. County Farm Bureau offices also have a list of pharmacies that
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serve their members. ScriptSave offers members a best price guarantee, which assures them that they are paying the lowest price on available prescription purchases. If a pharmacy puts a medication on special and the price is less than the negotiated ScriptSave price, the OFB member always will pay the lowest cost. “This is not an insurance program,” said McNally. “It is a discount program that works to save our members money on prescription purchases. “All Farm Bureau members must do is take their prescription and ScriptSave card to the participating pharmacy. Within minutes, the prescription will be processed and our member will pay the discounted price. “Access to affordable prescriptions has become a national problem,” McNally concluded. “Farm Bureau’s partnership with ScriptSave allows us to bring significant prescription savings to those who need it most – seniors and those without prescription coverage.”
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OFB LAUNCHES PRESS PASS Visit Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Press Pass, an online media center covering Oklahoma agriculture. Press Pass is a onestop source of information on agriculture production, legislative action, upcoming events and much more. Press Pass features a complete listing of up-to-date agricultural information, including news releases, feature articles, radio
reports, video stories, agriculture links, downloadable graphics and photo galleries. All of the resources found on this site are useful in promoting and educating others about the state’s agriculture industry. Press Pass can be accessed at www.okfarmbureau.org/press_pass Be sure to bookmark this site as new information is available on a regular basis!
Hummingbird survey available at wildlifedepartment.com he Wildlife Diversity Program of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation needs your help to track the hummingbirds in our state.
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Citizens who place hummingbird feeders at their home are encouraged to participate in the annual hummingbird survey found at www.wildlifedepartment.com/hummingbird.htm.