Okfbsu06 12 23

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:19 PM

Page 10

10 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:19 PM

Page 11

Mat t & Kellie Muller THE TOP YOUNG FARM COUPLE IN AMERICA

By Sam Knipp

Matt and Kellie Muller received the 2006 American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award at the AFBF Annual Convention earlier this year in Nashville, TN.

mong the symphony of sounds on Matt and Kellie Muller’s farm near Martha, we ask how does it sound to be called the top young farm and ranch couple in America.

“Sounds like a bigger deal than it really is,” says Matt.

That humble response rings louder than any sound on the Muller farm. The Mullers wear the Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award title lightly but sitting humility aside... this is a big deal!

No Oklahoman has ever won this award. Not last year, not the year before. Never. That in itself is significant.

Opposite: Matt Muller checks the seed depth on his 2006 cotton crop, hoping the seeds willl help his family farm to prosper.

Left: Kellie and Matt Muller examine their 2005 grain sorghum crop on their farm near Martha in southwest Oklahoma. They are the first Oklahoma couple to receive the top American Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher award.

Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006 • 11

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:19 PM

Page 12

12 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:19 PM

Page 13

The crown carries a hefty reward package: the title to a 2006 Dodge RAM 3500 Mega Cab Diesel 4 X 4 pickup. This is in addition to the one-year lease on a smaller 2006 Dodge pickup and 125-horsepower Kubota tractor the Mullers received by winning the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement award in November.

Now throw in the fact Matt farms in semi-arid southwest Oklahoma where rainfall is often an infrequent guest. When AFBF judges asked how he was able to increase his net worth the last four years Matt had a simple answer.

“It rained!”

If pressed about the award, Matt pushes ego aside and praises all young farmers and ranchers.

“With as few of us as there are, any young farmer and rancher who can make a profit in the face of all the challenges today, should be considered a success,” Matt said. he seeds of the Muller’s success were sown early. Kellie’s family produced commercial turkeys and beef cattle in Arkansas and she was expected to sweat and toil alongside other family members.

“Work is no stranger to me,” Kellie said.

Matt is a native of the Martha area where his family produced row crops, cattle and sheep. At the tender age of five, Matt’s dad helped him purchase 10 baby calves. Dad’s “help” with the loan turned prophetic as this was the last time he would cosign a loan for Matt.

“He strongly discouraged me from farming and insisted I pay my own way if I chose to farm,” Matt said.

Three years later he turned that successful venture into a small herd of registered Suffolk sheep. That was the springboard propelling him thru 4-H and FFA and at age 14 Matt rented his first piece of farm land.

Opposite:Calling himself a fiscal conservative with a strong faith in God, Matt Muller looks forward to a future filled with exciting new biotechnological breakthroughs.

Left above: “Growing up out here requires a strong work ethic which will help them regardless of the career path they choose,” Matt Muller says of his children shown here helping irrigate the cotton last fall. From left, Lincoln, 5, Luke, 7, Levi, 9, Kellie, Matt and Taylor, 10.

Left below: A 2006 Dodge 3500 diesel 4 X 4 Mega Cab pickup and 120horsepower Kubota tractor are ready for a day’s work on the Muller farm as part of Muller’s reward for winning the AFBF Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award.

Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006 • 13

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:19 PM

Page 14

After graduating from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor of science degree in agronomy, Matt returned to the family farm.

Kellie entered Matt’s life when she visited a relative stationed at nearby Altus Air Force Base.

The relative was a friend of Matt’s and they both attended the same church. oday the Mullers grow cotton, wheat, grain sorghum and peanuts on 1,900 acres.

However, the on-going drought has forced the young family to concentrate this year on moisture – stingy cotton.

The Mullers involve their four children in every phase of the farm.

“Sometimes it’s not always a lot of fun around our place, there are a lot of long hours and it’s tiring. But when we can take time off on Sunday afternoon and go watch the children play along the river, it’s very enjoyable,” Matt said.

Balancing work with play is one of the keys to their success, but more importantly the Mullers credit their faith in God. “Everything we have comes from Him and we feel extremely blessed. When we get to the end of the cotton row and there is more in the basket than we expected we know He had a hand in that,” Kellie said.

Fiscal conservatism is another trait Matt credits for their success.

“We have a phobia about carrying a lot of debt,” Matt said.

Young Farmer and Rancher Program The Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award is a program of the American Farmer Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program, which trains and prepares young people as future leaders of Farm Bureau and the agricultural industry.

YF&R members are both men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 who hold a membership in a county Farm Bureau organization. The program provides leadership in building a more effective Farm Bureau to expand opportunities in agriculture and protect individual freedoms. Programs and opportunities offered through YF&R include leadership development and conferences, legislative awareness and involvement, educational conferences, networking opportunities, and competitive events.

State and National YF&R Awards Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers for their efforts in both their chosen occupation and leadership achievement. Applicants must be YF&R members who receive a majority of their income from production agriculture. Application deadline is Aug. 15, 2006.

Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes YF&R members who do not derive a majority of their income from production agriculture for their contributions and involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture. Applicants must be YF&R members who do not receive a majority of their income from an owned agricultural enterprise. Application deadline is Aug. 15, 2006.

Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each committee member to analyze agricultural problems and develop solutions to meet needs.

Charles L. Roff Award recognizes Oklahoma’s top county YF&R committee and encourages members to help strengthen the organization and increase membership.

Application deadline is Oct. 13, 2006.

Outstanding County Event recognizes a county YF&R Committee for an outstanding event the committee hosted. Application deadline is Oct. 13, 2006.

Action Award recognizes new YF&R members who have actively participated in YF&R events throughout the year. Application deadline is Oct. 13, 2006.

Top YF&R Recruiter recognizes members for their commitment to YF&R through recruitment. Application deadline is Oct. 13, 2006.

For more information about YF&R programs or contests, call Oklahoma FBW/FY&R Coordinator Marcia Irvin at (405) 523-2405 or visit http://www.okfarmbureau.org on the Internet.

14 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:19 PM

Page 15

Before the shiny orange Kubota arrived, the last time something with new paint tilled Muller’s soil was 15 years ago, when he first started in the business. ”My dad taught me how to repair machinery. I buy used equipment and keep the debt load manageable.”

The lack of new equipment makes the arrival of the Kubota tractor and Dodge trucks all the more sweet.

“We use the tractor for haying and mowing,” Matt said. “It’s very agile, easy on fuel and quite comfortable. The only challenge is stuffing my 6 foot 5 inch frame into the cab.”

That is not a concern with the Dodge Mega Cab. “It’s a dream machine for our large family. There’s plenty of leg room.” s they tool around the farm in their new Dodge, praying for God to kiss the soil with a quenching rain, the Mullers contemplate agriculture’s future. First on the list...will the kids want to farm?

“I hope so, at least one of them,” Matt said, refusing to take the discouraging path of his father.

“But whatever they chose to do in life, this farm will always follow them because growing up out here teaches a good work ethic, strong morals and strong faith, all necessary for any career path.”

And what advice would the Mullers offer to other young farmers?

“Live within your means,” the Mullers chime simultaneously.

Left above: Taylor Muller, 10, enjoys a unique view of her dad harvesting cotton last fall on their southwest Oklahoma farm.

Left below: Harvesting cotton is a family affair on the Matt and Kellie Muller farm near Martha. Last fall’s cotton harvest was a record high yield for the Mullers.

Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006 • 15

2:20 PM

Page 16

Live

AFTER 10 YEARS OF WORKING TOGETHER, IT’S PRACTICALLY ONE OF THE FAMILY.

16 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006

Fold

7/31/06

Live

OKCSu06

2:20 PM

Page 17

75 50 75 50 5 100 75 50 5

25

50

75

95

100

5

25

MAGENTA

95

BROPHY

25

YELLOW

95

100

5

25

BLACK

95

100

7/31/06

CYAN

Fold

OKCSu06

FARM BUREAU® MEMBERS CAN GRAB A $500 CASH ALLOWANCE ON DODGE TRUCKS. Dodge is proud to be part of the Farm Bureau family. Our partnership has supported farmers and their families with scholarships and truck giveaways for over a generation. The American Farm Bureau Federation, powered by Dodge. Contact your state Farm Bureau for details. Visit dodge.com or call 800-4ADODGE. Must be a Farm Bureau member for more than 30 days. Farm Bureau is a federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Chrysler Financial is a business unit of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services.

Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006 • 17

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:20 PM

Page 18

The pastoral image of a states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New leisurely drive along a rural Mexico and Texas. The region has the road is far removed from distressing distinction of having the highest today’s reality. The percentage of pickup drivers killed in traffic reality is that it is often accidents that were not wearing seat belts. more perilous than urban rush “About one in four vehicles in this region hour traffic. are pickups and your odds of dying in a pickup While only about one in five live in rural truck crash in this region are high compared areas, rural fatal crashes account for nearly to other parts of the country,” says Shults. three out of every five traffic deaths recorded.

“Pickups turn over easier because they That is in spite of the fact that there are fewer have a high center of gravity. If people are not vehicle miles logged in rural areas than in buckled up, people get ejected. It’s certainly urban areas. not what you want to do. You want to stay “Rural roads are more dangerous,” declares inside,” he continues “and rely on the integrity Ronnie Thompson of the Oklahoma Highway of the vehicle to protect you.”

Safety Office (OHSO). “There are so many The recently completed “Click It or Ticket” uncontrolled intersections.” and “Buckle Up In Your Truck” campaigns Despite the inherent dangers like publicized on television and enforced by the uncontrolled intersections and no or few Oklahoma Highway Patrol and virtually all city markings found on the rural roads and police departments were designed to raise the

By Mike Nichols highways, other factors exacerbate the risks awareness levels about and the enforcement for loss of life or disabling injury. of state seat belt laws.

“Rural roads and pickups,” laments Bruce “The Click It or Ticket campaign has been Shults of the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), as he going on in Oklahoma about four years. There is no question,” declares pours over stacks of data illustrating the grim veracity of the Thompson, “that it works.” aforementioned dangerous combination.

While Oklahoma has had a seat belt law on the books for some time, Shults NHTSA office is responsible for the south central region it wasn’t until 1997 that it was made a primary law – meaning police Above: Excessive speed combined with uncontrolled intersections makes driving on rural roads and highways more dangerous than city rush hour traffic. Unlike the breakaway and impact-absorbing barriers in place on urban roadways, large trees found along rural roads and highways absorb the impact of crashes with sometimes-deadly results.

18 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2006

Right: Auto manufacturers are working to improve the roof integrity of pickup trucks with input from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Seat belt use keeps the driver and passengers inside the vehicle, which is a much safer fate than being ejected.

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:20 PM

Page 19

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:20 PM

Page 20

officers can stop people simply for not wearing seat belts and issue a citation.

“Compliance has gone from 47 percent in 1997 to 83.1 percent,” says Thompson. “The high visibility of law enforcement has played a big factor.”

“Where primary laws are in effect, drivers are more likely to buckle up because the perception is that they’re going to be pulled over if they don’t,” says Susan Ferguson of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The OHSO, IIHS and NHTSA trio agreed that people don’t comply with traffic laws because they think doing so will prevent crashes or save lives.

Compliance comes if people believe there’s a real chance of getting a ticket if they don’t.

Thompson assisted officers at one of the seatbelt checkpoints during the recent campaign, and says he was astonished by some of the reasons he heard drivers give for not wearing seat belts.

“One man claimed that seat belt laws were unconstitutional. Some said they knew people who survived accidents because they weren’t wearing seat belts.

“While that might be true,” says Thompson, “the odds are in your

favor if you’re wearing a seat belt.”

“The Click It or Ticket program is directed at all drivers,” says Shults. “But we found that seat belt use in pickups was 10 percentage points lower than other passenger vehicles.”

Oklahoma has one pickup for every three licensed drivers, intensifying the problem of lower seat belt use in the Sooner State. The findings about seat belt use in pickups being behind other kinds of vehicles alarmed safety officials since pickups are two times more likely to rollover than cars in fatal crashes.

In the event of pickup rollovers, crash statistics reveal that the wearing of seat belts reduces the risk of dying by 70 to 80 percent.

“Many pickup drivers don’t stop to think what their lives mean to their friends and family,” asserts Richard Coberg, director of the Buckle Up In Your Truck program. “Not wearing a safety belt often means that a boyfriend, son, father or husband isn’t coming home after a crash. That’s a pretty high price to pay for not taking a few seconds to buckle up.”

“Click It or Ticket” & “Buckle Up In Your Truck”

Below: Pickups are more likely to rollover than passenger cars due to their high center of gravity. In a sudden maneuver, such as the one illustrated in the sequence of pictures, a pickup going airborne usually rolls over. In fatal crashes, pickups roll over twice as often as passenger cars, and being thrown out of the pickup is the most common cause of injury and death in rollover crashes.

OKCSu06

7/31/06

2:20 PM

Page 21

“It’s not just themselves they need to think about, but their family’s lives without them,” says Norman’s Tammy Ryden, who lost her daughter in a pickup accident in 1999 when the 15-year-old was ejected because she wasn’t wearing a seat belt.

“Trucks are advertised as being tough – Chevy’s Like a Rock and Ford’s Built Ford Tough. They think that big hunk of metal will protect them in a crash, but the best way is to stay inside of it.”

Ryden taught high school for 17 years and math at the University of Oklahoma. The tragic day in February 1999 when her daughter, Rachel, died forever changed the path of Tammy’s life.

“I was forced to live the rest of my life without my daughter, without my first born child, without the child who first made me mommy,” she says.

After the loss of Rachel, Ryden decided early on that she could not live in pain everyday without trying to do something to stop similar tragedies from happening to other families.

“It was a gradual progression,” she says. “I felt like I needed to keep the memory of Rachel alive to make sure her death was not in vain. I felt lead to put together a program to talk to teens about responsible driving and seat belt usage.”

She took her message to schools and youth groups, putting her years of experience in the classroom to work this time to teach youngsters about the importance of seat belt usage.

After telling her story about Rachel to the teens, she always concludes with this quote: “My death is not my own, but yours, and its significance will depend on what you choose to do with it” with the hope young drivers will buckle up and slow down.

“There are always kids who come up after the program who thank me for coming and say they didn’t wear seat belts. But after hearing the program, they tell me they don’t want to put their moms in my place.

“If I can just change one mind,” she says, “that will be one less family that will have to go through this.”

The accident that claimed her daughter and the seat belt program

Above: Norman’s Tammy Ryden holds a portrait of her daughter, Rachel, who lost her life in a February 1999 automobile accident. Rachel was not wearing a seat belt.

The tragic loss of her daughter served as an incentive for Ryden to develop a program for teenage drivers. That evolved into the “Write One for Rachel” program, which urges police officers to write tickets for non-compliance with seat belt laws, and her involvement with the “Buckle Up In Your Truck” program.