neutral mediator helps participants who are involved in a dispute discuss their disagreements, identify options that might resolve the problem, and agree on solutions. Mediators do not give legal advice and do not determine who is right or wrong. A mediator is not a judge, and has no authority to decide the outcome. Agreements are reached based on what the participants themselves can mutually agree to do. USDA agencies offer mediation to anyone who has received an adverse decision as part of the informal appeals process, in an attempt to resolve the problem early and in the most effective way. hat are the benefits of mediation? Mediation may settle disputes within a participant’s financial means, providing a low-cost alternative to appeals or to often expensive litigation and bankruptcy. Mediation helps reduce the stress caused by lengthy litigation and unresolved conflict. Even where mediation does not result in an agreement, it often results in a better understanding of how the agency decision was reached, and preserves good working relationships between the participants.
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hat’s new at OAMP? OAMP is managed by Andrea Braeutigam, J.D., LL.M., an attorney-mediator with specialized training and practice experience in mediation. OAMP staff will guide you through the mediation process and answer any questions you have about whether mediation is a good option for resolving your dispute. Recently relocated to the Seretean Wellness Center on OSU’s Stillwater campus, OAMP has access to other free services for Oklahomans: • Intensive Financial Management and Planning Support (IFMAPS) provides specially trained financial specialists to work one-on-one with Oklahoma farm and ranch families in developing sound financial plans. IFMAPS specialists provide individual financial management and planning assistance throughout the state. If your dispute involves financial issues, OAMP may suggest IFMAPS financial counseling to assist you in understanding the issues and identifying solutions. • Oklahoma ABLE Tech provides technical assistance to all persons of all ages in acquiring assistive devices. The purpose of
ABLE Tech is to make assistive technology (AT) devices and services more available and accessible to individuals with disabilities and their families. ABLE Tech accomplishes this purpose by providing AT through a short term equipment loan program, AT demonstration centers, re-utilization of AT through the Oklahoma Equipment Connection and a low interest bank loan for AT. • Oklahoma AgrAbility assists people with diseases, disabilities or disorders employed in agriculture. The AgrAbility program is
designed to promote independence in production agricultural and rural living. AgrAbility provides professional training, onthe-farm assessment, technical assistance, information dissemination, and referral to other service providers. On-the-farm technical assistance is coordinated by Oklahoma ABLE Tech. If you or someone you know would benefit from mediation or a referral to any of these resources for Oklahoma farm and ranch families, call OAMP at 1-800-248-5465.
CRAIG COUNTY MEMBER HEADS ANGUS ASSOCIATION
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20 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2007
raig County Farm Bureau member Jot Hartley of Vinita, who is seated in the center of the front row, recently was selected as president of the American Angus Association. Delegates to the 123rd annual convention of the American Angus Association in Louisville, Ky., picked Hartley as their president. Hartley and his wife, Renee, own and operate Spur Ranch at Vinita along with their sons. The operation started by Jot’s grandfather has been in the family since the 1930s, and his dad introduced Angus to the herd in the 1950s. Spur Ranch, a diversified cattle operation consisting of both
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purebred and commercial Angus cows and stocker cattle, hosts a production sale each fall. Hartley is a former director and past president of the Oklahoma Angus Association and a member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. He is also a former director and president of Oklahoma Beef Incorporated, a highly successful, producer owned bull test station. Hartley holds a degree in finance from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is a licensed attorney, admitted to practice in several state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Oklahoma Country • Winter 2007 • 21
FAPC event brings food industry issues to the forefront
he Food & Agricultural Products Center on the Oklahoma State University campus recently held the second annual Charles B. Browning Lectureship Series at the FAPC to discuss issues related to the food industry in Oklahoma. Rodney Holcomb, FAPC agribusiness economic specialist and chair of the series, said he was pleased with the outcome of the event. “I was grateful we could get these industry leaders together to discuss issues relevant to both their individual operations and the food industry as a whole,” Holcomb said. “The opportunities to hear such detailed observations and interact with executives at this level are rare.” Not only did the event include industry speakers, but also included a panel discussion with food industry executives regarding key issues facing Oklahoma’s valueadded processors. Rendering, workers’ compensation, hiring, transportation of product in rural communities, and insurance and liability in bigger cities were some of the issues of concern that were discussed during the event. The speakers were John Bailey of Schwan’s Bakery, Stilwell, Okla.; Phil Whitworth of Producer Cooperative Oil Mill, Oklahoma City; David Howard of Unitherm Food Systems, Bristow, Okla.; and keynote speaker John Bode. Bailey is the director of manufacturing for Schwan’s Bakery and oversees 1100 employees.
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22 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2007
Listening to issues of concern related to the food industy in Oklahoma are some of the many participants who attended the recent Charles B. Browning Lectureship Series.
The plant produces pies, such as apple, pumpkin, pecan, custard, crème and meringue, and breaded vegetables, such as okra, squash, cauliflower, zucchini and cheese sticks. uring Bailey’s presentation, he praised the capabilities of the FAPC. “This facility has latent, dormant potential that is not utilized by this state,” Bailey said. Bailey said Schwan’s Bakery has used the FAPC on many occasions and encouraged others to take advantage of the center’s services. “There are people here who have a wealth of knowledge who can help us,” he said. Whitworth explained the PCOM production plant crushes 200,000 tons of cottonseed per year and has a storage capacity of 150,000 tons. Whitworth also explained that PCOM is working with the FAPC on several projects. “We are really proud to work with the FAPC and OSU,” he said. Some of the projects that PCOM is working on with the FAPC include a market line of lawn and garden products using cottonseed meal and hulls as potting mix; cottonseed meal as an organic, slow-release fertilizer; and cottonseed hulls as an organic mulch compost. “What we would like to do is bag 20 percent of our product in the future,” Whitworth said.
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During Howard’s presentation, he discussed some of the food safety equipment and processes produced by Unitherm Food Systems. Unitherm has worked closely with the FAPC and has provided about $2.5 million worth of equipment to the FAPC. “We got involved with the FAPC in developing processes we could sell to the industry,” Howard said. Howard stressed that food safety sets companies apart from other companies “If companies invest in the food safety equipment, their companies will be safer,” he said. “The companies that have bought Unitherm’s food safety equipment say their companies run smoother.” During Bode’s keynote presentation, he discussed the challenges with regulating food. He identified three regulatory challenges that currently affect the food industry: market forces, government forces and Mother Nature. Bode defined market forces as low prices, desire for fresh products and more product information. “There is an interest in a greater perceived quality,” he said. “Also, America is eating more produce. That is why we have more food safety concerns in produce.” Bode discussed some examples of governmental forces affecting the regulation of food, which include risk reduction pressure, shifting political environment, state initiatives and tight funding for regulatory agencies. Bode identified Mother Nature as emerging threats to food safety, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Escherichia coli and Listeria. Some of the future regulatory challenges facing the food industry include allergens, adulterants, labeling of allergens and trans fats, nutrition labeling, and health and nutrient content claims, Bode said. The food industry is never stationary; it is always moving and changing, Holcomb said. “Industry members have to be looking five years down the road and anticipating trends in both consumer demands and regulatory issues,” he said. “Mr. Bode gave us a good look into the crystal ball, and from the discussion it was enlightening to see how our industry members have started preparing for the future.”
Farm Bureau Bank Introduces the Business Member Rewards Program arm Bureau Bank is proud to announce another valuable member benefit to all business line of credit holders. The Farm Bureau Bank Business Member Rewards Program is a new program that gives Farm Bureau business line of credit holders who use their Visa® Business Card the opportunity to receive a wide array of rewards and benefits, just for using their card! Business line of credit holders will automatically earn business member rewards points every time they use their Farm Bureau Bank Visa Business Card for qualifying purchases. Cardholders can earn points by eating meals at their favorite restaurants, purchasing gas for their vehicles, buying supplies for their business and much more. Business member rewards points can be redeemed for Farm Bureau membership dues
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reimbursement, travel, merchandise, gift cards and other great rewards items. • Membership Dues Reimbursement – Redeem your rewards points for a Farm Bureau membership dues reimbursement. • Travel – Round trip flights on any major carrier, with no black out dates or frequent flyer programs to join. • Merchandise – Available items include digital cameras, LCD televisions, power tools, cookware and much, much more! • Gift Cards – Gift cards for retailers, entertainment and popular restaurants. embers who are already a Farm Bureau Bank business line of credit holder are automatically enrolled in the Business Member Rewards
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program. If you are interested in the Business Member Rewards Program, simply apply for a business line of credit today. Once approved, you will automatically be enrolled when you receive your Visa Business Card. Farm Bureau Bank’s business line of credit offers convenient access to working capital with up to $100,000 line of credit and comes with automatic tools to help your business, such as year-end expense statements from Visa, Visa Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty. For more information about a business line of credit through Farm Bureau Bank, or to apply, visit your local Farm Bureau office or agent, call 1-800-492-FARM (3276) to speak with a personal banker or visit www.farmbureaubank.com.
FAPC receives electrolyzed water generators nitherm Food Systems of Bristow donated two electrolyzed water generators to the Food & Agricultural Products Center on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. FAPC Director Roy Escoubas praised Unitherm Food Systems for this donation. “Results show this state-of-the-art process would give food processors in Oklahoma a way to continue to improve their methods to make food safe for Oklahoma consumers,” Escoubas said. The generators add electricity to salty water, resulting in a non-toxic solution that eliminates bacteria, yeast, molds and viruses on food, food processing equipment or any other hard surface, said Jake Nelson, FAPC value-added meats processing specialist. “This generator has been installed in-line with the FAPC’s steam pasteurization unit and will be used for researching electrolyzed water’s effects on pathogens that may be found on freshly slaughtered carcasses, including beef, pork and lamb,” Nelson said. Generators apply an electrical current to a drinkable water solution, said Peter Muriana, FAPC food microbiologist. The small amount of salt in the water serves to conduct the current. “The electrolytic process results in the formation of water with an antimicrobial effect,” Muriana said. “This electrolyzed water is similar to the weak bleach solutions placed in swimming pools, but is more effective against harmful food borne bacteria.” In meat and poultry processing areas, electrolyzed water is approved for use by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is generally recognized as safe. The use of electrolyzed water does not stop with meat and poultry. It is currently being examined in other processing areas, including sanitary washes for fresh produce, vegetables, fresh-cut melons and shell egg processing and processing environment. There are even applications addressing the use of electrolyzed in animal production quarters, as well as in their drinking water. Scientists in the department of animal science at OSU are investigating ways in which electrolyzed water solutions can be
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24 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2007
used in poultry and swine production facilities to improve animal health and reduce the risks of harmful bacteria getting into the food supply. FAPC researchers are beginning to test the efficacy of electrolyzed water as an antimicrobial intervention for use on ready-to-eat meat items. Oklahoma-based SanAquel LLC, a partner company with Unitherm Food Systems, patented the electro-chemical activation process. “Although it’s not a new process, few companies are demonstrating SanAquel LLC and Unitherm’s vision to implement electrolyzed water throughout a processing environment using automated generators, PVC plumbing and spray nozzles to mist and fog the liquid as a sanitizing solution into bacteria-sensitive areas in processing facilities,” Muriana said. Using electrolyzed water is cost effective because it eliminates chemical shipping and storage costs, Muriana said. “A big advantage of electrolyzed water over other types of antimicrobials is electrolyzed water is safe to spray even in the presence of humans, which can hardly be said for other sanitizing solutions that may cause respiratory problems and must only be used after a production shift,” Muriana said.
Seven in 1,000 hen families are preparing a nursery and buying tiny sleepers, thoughts don’t often turn to life insurance. However, life insurance for a newborn can be a very important purchase. If life insurance is purchased for a newborn or a term rider is added to a parent’s policy, the child may then always have life insurance, even if he or she later develops a serious or chronic health problem that might make life insurance prohibitively expensive. No one wants to think about an infant not surviving, but the fact is that in the United States seven in 1,000 newborns do not survive. Michele and Bryan Thurm of Epworth, Iowa, were aware of that statistic when their third child, Nathan, was born in September 2004. They had two healthy sons, and Michele
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says, “I thought, well, there’s not going to be anything wrong with my child. I’m a healthy person. My husband’s healthy, so we’re going to have a healthy baby.” And Nathan was born healthy, too. Unfortunately, he soon contracted a spore in the air that caused an infection. Michele says, “When we were sitting at the University of Iowa Hospital Clinic, I didn’t want to worry about what kind of money we were going to have to pay for these bills and, what if something happens, how will we pay for a funeral?” Later, when it looked like Nathan would not make it, Michele called her Farm Bureau agent just to make sure that the children’s term rider was in place on her life insurance policy. It was. Nathan passed away in October 2004. “You don’t realize until that time what funerals and tombstones really do cost, and all the other expenses,” Michele says. “That life insurance benefit – it really helped. We were able to pay all those expenses. And we were able to put some money into an account for our two other children. We figured that’s the only gift they’ll ever get from their little brother.” Michele says, “My perception of life insurance earlier was, ‘well, I’m young, I don’t need this,’” but she listened to her agent who explained to her that life insurance was important for her family. “After going through the death of our little boy, we’ve changed our thoughts on the life insurance. “If we had not had the children’s term rider on my policy, my husband and I probably would have had to go to the bank and add on to our home equity loan or take out some other kind of a personal loan to help pay for the funeral and everything else that goes along with it when a child passes away,” she explains. The Thurms were fortunate that the death of their third child didn’t add financial setback to their lives during a time of utmost grief. But most families who suffer such a loss will not be so fortunate. A new study by LIMRA shows that more than one in four men have no life insurance coverage at all, and nearly two-thirds of men 18- to 24-years old have no life insurance. For women, the study shows that one in three women have no life insurance, with nearly half of the 18- to 24-year-olds having no coverage. The result? Surviving family members may be
forced to work extra jobs or longer hours, borrow money or move to less desirable housing. When a family member dies, the stress and grief are difficult enough, even if the death follows a long-term illness. A time of loss of a family member is not when anyone should have to deal with financial difficulties. Life insurance can help spare families experiencing a loss from also experiencing economic hardship. Many Americans have some life insurance coverage through an employer, but that coverage often goes away when the employee leaves the company or retires. It’s a good idea for families to review their life insurance coverage annually because circumstances change. You can use calculators online to determine your need for life insurance at www.fbfs.com, click the personal category on the insurance tab. Then click on life insurance, and you will find the calculator link on the right in the Related Links box. You can also find information about your need for life insurance on the Life and Health Insurance
Foundation for Education (LIFE) Web site at www.life-line.org. A Farm Bureau agent can help you determine your need for life insurance. Through an exclusive, multi-state agent force, the companies affiliated with the Farm Bureau Financial Services brand underwrite, market and distribute a broad range of
financial services products, including life insurance, investments, annuities, propertycasualty insurance products and services and more, to individuals and small businesses within a marketing territory that includes 15 states. For more information about products and services, call your local Farm Bureau office or log on to fbfs.com.
Retirement planning through individual retirement accounts reparing for your financial future once you reach retirement age is the objective of every individual. Many members meet their financial retirement goals sooner through proper retirement planning and investments. One of the easiest ways to plan for retirement is through opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Two types of IRAs are available, a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA. Each type has unique benefits. Depending on your financial
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goals and personal financial situation, finding the proper IRA for your needs will make planning for retirement even easier. The traditional IRA is a tax-sheltered retirement account in which tax liabilities are deferred until distributions are taken from the account. This helps your savings grow quickly as you will not have to pay any taxes until distributions are taken from the account. Another benefit to the traditional IRA is that qualified contributions can be tax deductible.
The traditional IRA is a better option for those who believe they will be at a lower tax-bracket at retirement. In contrast to the traditional IRA, contributions to a Roth IRA are made with after tax funds, and are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. However, the greatest advantage for a Roth IRA is that qualifying distributions are tax-exempt. Because contributions are made with after tax funds, it is possible to build up a hefty savings, and there are no taxes to pay later. Roth IRAs are a good option for members who are a looking for tax-free retirement income. The amount you can earn on your IRA investment choice can vary depending on what type of account is established. Farm Bureau Bank offers two options for IRA contributions, a money market IRA and a certificate of deposit (CD) IRA. The first option is the money market IRA. The money market IRA allows members to make multiple contributions during the course of the year. Interest rates vary and are based upon the balance of the account. The money market IRA initial opening deposit is $250, and you can make unlimited deposits up to the maximum federal contribution limit. This account is better suited for members who want to make multiple contributions throughout the year. The second option is the CD IRA. The CD IRA may be a better option for members who want to make a lump-sum contribution or rollover a previously held 401k or IRA from another institution. The benefits of a CD IRA include higher earnings with a fixed rate over a specified term, providing all of the securities of a CD, plus the tax advantages of an IRA. To open a CD IRA requires an initial $1,000 deposit and has terms of three months to five years. Best of all, both the Farm Bureau Bank money market IRA and the CD IRA are FDIC insured up to $250,000 and are available for rollovers from other institutions. Retirement is not as far away as it seems. Start planning today for your retirement by opening an IRA through Farm Bureau Bank. They can help fulfill retirement goals by offering both traditional and Roth IRAs. For current rates and more information, visit www.farmbureaubank.com or call 1-800492-3276 to speak with a personal banker. 26 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2007
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Oklahoma Country • Winter 2007 • 27
Convention
Roundup
Delegates set OFB policy for 2007 OFB President Steve Kouplen and Vice President Bob Drake chaired resolutions sessions during the 65th annual convention.
Delegates to Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 65th annual convention set the organization’s policy for 2007, focusing on the next farm bill while also addressing a bevy of other issues. The delegates voted to continue to support the extension of the current farm bill, but asked that funding for disaster aid be included as well as increased funding for crop insurance in the next farm bill.
The delegates from the 77 county Farm Bureaus, meeting Nov. 10-12 in Tulsa, also looked at the eminent domain issue. They voted to ask that blighted property be better defined in issues involving eminent domain and that agricultural property be excluded in that definition. They approved policy stating that relocation assistance payments in state
eminent domain procedures be comparable to payments in federal eminent domain procedures. Policy was reaffirmed putting the organization in strong opposition to animal waste being included as a hazardous waste under federal environmental laws. The action came in response to the Oklahoma attorney general’s continued assault on the state poultry industry and similar unjust attacks in other states against livestock industry segments. Responding to the energy crisis, the delegates gave backing to a measure asking that 25 percent of the energy supply be composed of renewable energy sources by the year 2025. Policy also was adopted supporting the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture’s request to more adequately fund rural fire departments. That action was a result of the wild fires that plagued the state in 2005-06, and the resulting extreme financial hardships rural fire departments faced. The delegates approved a change to state Farm Bureau bylaws. The amendment called
AFBF President Bob Stallman
Secretary of Energy David Fleischaker
KOTV Meteorologist Travis Meyer
28 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2007
n addition to adopting policy, the delegates elected leaders to serve their organization. Pontotoc County farmer-rancher Bill Gibson was elected to his second three-year term as the district eight state director with Latimer County rancher Larry Boggs also winning a second term as district five director. Tom Buchanan, who farms and ranches near Altus in Jackson County, was seated as the district two state director. He succeeds Merle Aktins of Davidson, who served nine years on the board and was prohibited by term limit restrictions from serving again. Buchanan has been a farmer since 1980 and produces cotton, and also has wheat for pasture. He owns a large cow herd. In addition to farming and raising cattle, he has served as the general manager of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District for the past four years. He has been a Farm Bureau member for more than 10 years, and currently serves as Jackson County Farm Bureau president. Buchanan is a graduate of the University of
Oklahoma, where he earned a degree in advertising. He has a 21-year-old son, who is a junior at the University of Tulsa, and an 18-year-old daughter, who is a senior at Altus High School. Buchanan is a member of the board of the Red River Valley Association as well as a member of the Southwest Oklahoma Ag Affairs. County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members selected their state chairman and three new representatives for the state Women’s Committee. Clara Wichert of Major County was reelected FBW chairman. LoWayne Piercey of Washita County was elected to a three-year term as district two FBW member, succeeding Ruth Moeller. Nadine Butler of Atoka County was elected to a three-year term as district five FBW member, succeeding Merle Henderson. And, Roberta Hughes of Seminole County was elected to a three-year term as district eight member, succeeding Kathryn Floyd. County YF&R members picked that group’s new state Committee members during district caucuses. District one members selected Chuckie Hurt of Dewey County. Tami Mann of Kiowa County was the choice of district two
The general sessions at the 65th annual OFB convention attracted several top-flight speakers. AFBF President Bob Stallman, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy David Fleischaker, KOTV Meteorologist Travis Meyer and Oklahoma Lt. Gov.-Elect Jari Askins shared the Nov. 10 general session spotlight.
Lt. Gov.-Elect Jari Askins
New District Two Director Tom Buchanan
Miss America Jennifer Berry
for a district caucus to be held to fill a state director position that might become vacant before a term was completed. The state board of directors previously was authorized to fill such a vacancy.
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delegates. Paul and Melinda Fruendt of Logan County were elected as district three members. Keith Prater of Stephens County was the choice of district four members. District five elected Mike and April Clark of LeFlore County. Jon and Natalie Leeds of Muskogee County were the choice of district six members. Woods County’s Steve and Ashlee Sneary were picked as district seven members. In district eight, delegates elected Heath and Natalie Briggs of Pontotoc County. Will and Jennifer Cubbage of Osage County were the choice of district nine delegates while Monte and Danielle Tucker of Beckham County filled the at large post. The convention concluded when winners of the YF&R-sponsored raffle for two ATVs were drawn. Clebe McClary, the vespers and memorial speaker, heard his name called as the winner of the Cub Cadet ATV. Ruben Ulrich of Major County was the lucky winner of the John Deere Gator.
Oklahoma Country • Winter 2007 • 29