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USDA to survey cattle producers he U.S. Department of Agriculture is calling on nearly 50,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide the latest and most accurate data on cattle inventories and calf production.

“The January Cattle Survey provides Oklahoma producers the opportunity to serve as the frontline source of data on cattle,” said Wilbert Hundl, Jr., director of the Oklahoma field office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). “In Oklahoma, we’ll be contacting about 2,400 operations in order to measure trends in beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop and cattle operations.”

Producers selected for the survey will have the option of responding via telephone, mail, Internet, or personal interview with a local NASS representative.

“However producers choose to respond, they are providing an important service to the cattle industry and to U.S. agriculture as a whole,” Hundl said. “Their responses will be compiled with those of their fellow producers nationwide, providing the only accurate and comprehensive estimate of the state of U.S. cattle production.”

The information is a critical decisionmaking tool for the cattle industry, he explained.

“For instance, it helps producers make informed marketing decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction. It also helps packers and government evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine potential supplies for export,” Hundl said.

The published report will provide nationallevel estimates of total inventory, beef cows, milk cows, bulls, replacement heifers, other heifers, steers, calves, and number of calves born during the previous year.

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law.

NASS safeguards the privacy of all survey responses and publishes only state and national-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified.

SCHOOLING THE CANDIDATES

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20 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2008

klahoma Farm Bureau’s board room was filled by office holders and those hoping to win political office for the Dec. 4 and 5 Campaign Management Seminar. The seminar was a two-day program for candidates running for public office at any level. Spouses and campaign managers also were welcome.

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American Farm Bureau’s Cody Lyon, standing in the center, led participants through case study exercises including a computer simulated campaign. The seminar took the candidates through all aspects of a political campaign, including selecting issues, handling interviews, budgets, campaign workers and even election day activities.

FOUR IN A ROW

ashen Urban of Roosevelt, Okla., poses with family and purchasers of his reserve grand champion market lamb at the 2007 North American International Livestock Expo in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 15. “This whole experience has been pretty exciting. It definitely was a surprise,” Kashen said. The 21-year-old has a lot to celebrate with 2007 marking his final appearance in the junior sheep show ring. It was

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his fourth appearance in the prestigious Sale of Champions. His lamb, a 146-pound crossbred wether, brought $11,000 at the sale. Kashen is the son of Comanche County Farm Bureau members Riston and Melody Urban. He plans on using the money to fund his college education.

He is currently a junior at Oklahoma State University and is majoring in animal science and ag education.

Program to inventory state’s forests is underway statewide inventory of Oklahoma’s forest resources that is expected to take five years to complete began recently.

Oklahoma State Forester John Burwell said data generated by the project will help manage forestlands for economic as well as environmental benefits.

“Timber production and other forest products have an economic impact of more than $2.3 billion annually to the state’s economy and 98 percent of the forestland is privately owned,” he said. “The inventory will give us some valuable information about the health and sustainability of this resource but it will also provide information about air and water quality as well as wildlife habitat.

“It’s going to help quantify how important our private landowners are to us in terms of providing the benefits we all receive from

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having healthy forests,” Burwell adds.

The inventory – called the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program – is being made possible by a grant to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry from the USDA Forest Service. Bill Burkman, program manager for the Southern FIA program, said his agency was anxious to begin work on the project.

“Nationally, Oklahoma is one of five states not yet participating in the national inventory plan,” he said. “We’re anxious to get started and will bring in federal crews to re-measure plots that were inventoried in 18 eastern Oklahoma counties in the early 1990s. We’ll be working with ODAFF Forestry Services to initiate the program statewide.”

The field inventory consists of on-theground measurements of trees and other

NEW

SPORTS

vegetation on plots located roughly every three miles, Burkman said. Exacting statistical measurements and grids are used to select precise locations for ground crews to inventory.

“Because most of these plots are located on private lands we want landowners and the public to be aware that inventory foresters will be working in the area and not be alarmed,” he said. “We always obtain landowner permission before visiting a plot and we also promise that individual plot and ownership data will be kept strictly confidential.”

Information from the inventory will be summarized in data tables providing statistics on tree volumes, species, quality, distribution, health and other characteristics.

Counties inventoried this year will all be in the eastern portion of the state.

TECHNOLOGY

New golf ball may fly too far; company keeps name a secret.

Ball exceeds regulation weight; out-hits 7 of golf's best.

Unfair advantage or just longer shots?

by Mike Butler

SOUTHPORT, CT - A small golf company in Connecticut has increased the fly-power of a new ball so dramatically that it decided to conceal the ball's name from everyone but buyers, and let them decide if they want to reveal why they're hitting longer shots.

The ball's extra distance comes from a new core with a higher atomic weight than those used in other balls. This pushes the ball's total weight over the limit set by officials to keep golf balls distance-neutral.

The extra weight is too small to feel, but it makes a huge difference aerodynamically.

According to an independent testing laboratory, the ball out-distanced seven of the best balls on the Tour by as much as 13 yards.

The extra weight also makes it putt with a steadier roll and bite the green more firmly on approach shots. The ball

is normal size, has a virtualonly another buyer will recly cut-proof Surlyn® cover, ognize the name on the ball. a two-piece construction We're so confident it will and 432 dimple design to help golfers cut strokes, help it sail longer. they can play the ball for 30 A spokesman for the comdays 'on us'. We'll give a pany claims the high atomic prompt refund of its price, if weight of the core will help it doesn't cut 4 or 5 strokes weekend golfers play a draand the balls are returned -matically better game. “It new or used,” he said. will not only To try it, you have to call put their the company direct at 1-800drives farther 285-3900 anytime or day down the and ask for the “A” Ball fairway, it (mention Item # abwr). Or will improve click on www.ngcgolf.com.

Secret ingre- their accuraYou can also mail your dient in core cy by letting name, address and a check has higher atomic weight of (or cc number and exp. date) them use an Higher atomic core increases distance, weight than easier club on steadies putts, adds bite to NGC Golf (Dept. AB-93), up 60 Church Street, Yalesville, other balls. follow to approach shots. shots. Add in CT 06492. steadier putts and firmer bites on the A dozen “A” Balls costs $24.95, two to green and the occasional golfer has a real five dozen are only $22.00 each, six chance for a better game,” he said. dozen cost $109.00, for a savings of over The company recognizes that the ball $40.00. S/h is only $7.00 no matter how is a maverick, even controversial, which many you buy. CT must add 6% sales tax. is why it reveals its name only to buyMike Butler is a freelance sports writer. ers. “They can tell or not tell, but AB-16 © NGC Worldwide, Inc. 2008 Dept. AB-93 Oklahoma Country • Winter 2008 • 21

Lessons abound on animal welfare issue s the farm animal care debate ensues, the American Farm Bureau Federation thought it was time to check in with consumers to measure their opinions on the issue. In cooperation with Oklahoma State University, more than 1,000 individuals across the U.S. were contacted by telephone and asked questions about farm animal welfare.

Containing almost 50 questions, the survey produced a wealth of information to better help the industry understand its customer.

While there are many lessons to take away from the survey, three are particularly important for the livestock industry.

The first lesson is that the public cares far more about human welfare and farmers than they do farm animals. As a social issue, the financial well being of U.S. farmers was found to be twice as important as the well being of farm animals. Human poverty, the U.S. health care system, and food safety were found to be more than five times more important than

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22 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2008

— by Bailey Norwood, Assistant Economics Professor, Oklahoma State University

farm animal well being.

Through an innovative survey question, the suffering of one human was found to be equivalent to the suffering of 11,500 farm animals, and a majority of respondents felt that farmers should be compensated if forced to comply with higher farm animal welfare standards.

While this does not imply that farm animal welfare is not important, it does imply when forming public policy, the interests of farm animals take a backseat to the interest of humans. Proposed policies that raise food costs leave consumers with less money for funding programs benefiting humans. For example, with rising health care costs, every extra dollar spent on food is one less dollar for doctor visits and surgeries. Given that the welfare of humans is of far more concern than the welfare of animals, such tradeoffs should be seriously weighed by policy makers.

The second lesson is that consumers

understand animal welfare is a result of their shopping decisions, in addition to farmer decisions. A majority of consumers believe their personal food choices have a large impact on the well being of farm animals, and that if consumers desire higher animal welfare standards, food companies will provide it.

Thus, when consumers choose to purchase traditional meat instead of more expensive meat raised under alternative production systems (e.g. organic meat or free-range meat), they understand that their purchase directly determines the level of animal care provided. If consumers are happy purchasing traditional meat, this signifies they approve of the animal care provided on traditional farms.

The third lesson is that consumers are much more accepting of the use of gestation crates for sows if they are given a reason for the crates other than reducing production costs. For example, only 18 percent of consumers agreed with the statement,

“housing pregnant sows in crates is humane.”

However, when the statement is modified to, “housing pregnant sows in crates for their protection from other hogs is humane,” 45 percent agree with the statement.

Given the difficulty of educating consumers, the use of such crates may always present a public relations problem.

Plus, as this question shows, even when educated on gestation crates, they are still opposed by a majority of consumers.

However, what the survey does suggest is that efforts by organizations to educate the public are not in vain.

Every business must understand its consumer. This survey provides unique insights into the mind of our consumer: every American that eats food. Moreover, by injecting these three lessons into every farm animal welfare debate, we help policy makers understand their consumer: the American voter.

AFBF membership exceeds 6.2 million arm Bureau membership across the country has surpassed the 6 million mark for the second consecutive year – 6,231,176 member families. The milestone was passed as state Farm Bureaus reported 30,838 additional members registered for Farm Bureau membership in 2007.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said Farm Bureau’s growth was fueled by recognition of the organization’s strong record as an advocate of policy positions developed by its members at the local, state and national levels. The strength of Farm Bureau’s many outstanding programs and services designed to boost members’ families, businesses and standards of living is another key reason for continued growth.

“Last year Farm Bureau achieved a terrific milestone in its history by registering more than 6 million members for the first time, and this year we achieved even more by sustaining and building on that growth,” Stallman said.

“Prolonged dry weather and other challenging conditions made this a tough year for many of America’s farm and ranch families, but our membership strength will bolster Farm Bureau as we work with our members and for

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our members to surface new ideas and solutions in the year ahead.”

The membership gain of nearly 31,000 member families is due primarily to the growth of several state Farm Bureaus in the South. Other highlights of the latest membership report are below: The Tennessee Farm Bureau continues to claim the title of the country’s largest state Farm Bureau, with 629,027 member families.

Joining Tennessee in the 2007 “top 10” Farm Bureau membership states are: North Carolina, 492,755; Kentucky, 462,494; Georgia, 437,734; Alabama, 433,700; Illinois, 419,934; Texas, 404,735; Indiana, 283,483; Ohio, 230,968; and Mississippi, 227,741.

Following the “top 10” states in total membership for 2007 were nine other states with more than 100,000 members, including: Arkansas, 227,383; Michigan, 199,053; Oklahoma, 167,888; Iowa, 153,685; Louisiana, 147,860; Virginia, 146,934; Florida, 143,591; South Carolina, 130,569; and Kansas, 110,069.

A total of 30 states achieved membership quota increases during 2007.

“Across the board, Farm Bureau members need to be proud of the unified voice for agriculture they have formed across the country and in Puerto Rico,” Stallman said.

Oklahoma Country • Winter 2008 • 23

Convention

Roundup

Delegates elect new president; set OFB policy for 2008 Sand Springs rancher and pecan producer was selected as the new president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau by voting delegates at the 66th annual convention Nov. 10. to serve a two-year term as president.

Mike Spradling was elected to a two-year term as president, succeeding Steve Kouplen of Beggs. Kouplen had served the maximum number of consecutive terms as president and was prohibited by bylaws from running again.

Spradling first was elected to the Farm Bureau state board of directors in 1999. He has served the farm organization in numerous capacities at both the county and state levels for more than 30 years.

“I want to keep Farm Bureau headed in a positive direction, representing the state’s farm families,” Spradling said. “In addition, I want to look at a three- to five-year strategic plan, focusing on the future.”

Voting delegates also passed a many resolutions to guide the organization in 2008.

Some of the key policy recommendations were: • Reaffirmation that the Board of Regents at Oklahoma State University includes farmers and ranchers actually engaged in agriculture as their principal occupation.

• Promote an improved rural

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24 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2008

Bob Drake and Steve Kouplen presided over resolution sessions during the 66th annual convention in Oklahoma City. Delegates used two different sessions to debate and enact policy recommendations that will guide Farm Bureau’s path during 2008.

communications infrastructure including access to high speed Internet service.

• More funding for Oklahoma’s rural roads and bridges, and support for rebuilding railways in the state.

• Increasing the tax credit for poultry litter to the recipient above the current $5 per ton limit.

• Opposition to the super highway that would run from Mexico to Canada.

• Allowing a 100 percent federal income tax exemption on health insurance premiums for the self employed.

• Opposition to severing wind rights from the surface ownership.

• Opposition to the proposed consolidation of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

• Any consideration of selling Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company would require a two-thirds vote of consent from the board of directors and a two-thirds vote of consent from the policyholders.

• The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry should develop

a voluntary eradication program for persistently infected bovine viral diarrhea (BVD).

• Support for disaster assistance in the federal farm program.

• Encourage the American Farm Bureau Federation to develop a vigorous agricultural television educational campaign aimed at school-aged children.

In addition to adopting policy, the delegates elected leaders to serve their organization.

Spradling was re-elected as district nine state director prior to winning the president’s office, but vacated that office when he assumed the top office. District nine delegates, caucusing for the second time in less than four hours, selected Phyllis Holcomb of Kellyville as the new director.

District six delegates re-elected Sequoyah County farmer Charles Sloan as their director.

He won the seat in 2004, after serving in the same capacity from 1990 to 2001 when term limits forced him to leave office.

Donna VonTungeln won her second threeyear term on the board as the district three director. She was first elected to the office by delegates at the 2004 annual meeting.

County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members selected their representatives for the state Women’s Committee.

Lena Henson of Okmulgee County was elected to the district nine office left vacated when Mrs. Holcomb was the choice for the state board of directors.

Beverly Delmedico of Muskogee County was chosen by FBW district six as its new representative. She succeeds Marilynn Spence of Craig County. Mrs. Spence served the maximum number of consecutive terms allowable and could not seek re-election.

Mary Lou Roberts of Oklahoma was reelected as the FBW district three representative.

County YF&R members picked that group’s new state Committee members during district caucuses.

Jon and Natalie Leeds, Webbers Falls, were selected to lead the state Committee.

Others elected to the state committee are Chuckie Hurt, Taloga; Tamra Mann, Gotebo; Shannon Reuss, Medford; Amber Fuhrmann, Lawton; Brian and LaSheil Knowles, Keota; Joseph and Bobbi Tripp, Lamont; Tim and Sheila Taylor, Stillwater; Will and Jennifer Cubbage, Bartlesville; and Tyler and Naomi Mayer, Guymon.

Meet President Mike Spradling ulsa County farmer-rancher Mike Spradling was Program. OALP is open to Oklahoma men and women, 25 to 45 elected as the eighth president of Oklahoma Farm years of age, who are engaged in production agriculture or a Bureau Nov. 10, 2007, at the organization’s 66th related agriculture business. They must show a strong annual meeting in Oklahoma City. commitment to aspire to a leadership role to benefit Spradling won a two-year term as the president of the Oklahoma agriculture. It consists of a series of seminars and state’s largest general farm organization. He succeeds Steve study tours over a two-year period.

Kouplen of Beggs, who had served four consecutive two-year He has served on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau state board terms as president and was prohibited from seeking another of directors since 1999, when he was elected to fill an by term limits. unexpired term. Spradling was re-elected and has served “I’m humbled by the overwhelming support from the continuously since then, representing Farm Bureau members members of this great organization,” he said. “I want to from Creek, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Payne, continue the solid tradition of Farm Bureau speaking up for Pawnee, Tulsa and Washington counties as the district nine rural interests.” director.

The 59-year-old farmer-rancher along with his wife, Lotsee, The newly-elected Farm Bureau president has served as a own and operate the Flying G Ranch near Sand Springs. Cattle trustee for Indian Electric Coop and has been a representative and pecans are the primary agricultural enterprises. They also on the Oklahoma Association of Electric Coops. He also has have an equestrian complex for training, riding lessons, served as president of Oklahoma Pecan Commission and as boarding and trail rides. chairman of the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association. He Spradling has been active in Farm Bureau for more than also has been named an Honorary State Farmer by the 30 years. His first involvement came Oklahoma FFA Association. with the Young Farmers and Ranchers, Spradling is a 1966 graduate of Broken Moments after winning the OFB president’s office, Mike where he served on the state Arrow High School. He graduated from Spradling addressed the large annual meeting audience that Oklahoma State University in 1970 with a committee. He has been a longtime Tulsa County Farm Bureau leader and was assembled in the Cox Convention Center ballrooms. bachelor’s degree in business. He also has been earned an president of associate the board for degree in some 25 health years. following his Spradling graduation also was in from OSU. the first class Spradling of the and his wife, Oklahoma Lotsee, have Agricultural three adult Leadership children.

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Oklahoma Country • Winter 2008 • 25

etiring OFB President Steve Kouplen was joined on stage by grandchildren Blake and Sydni Gomez and his son, Sean, and granddaughter Kennedy Kouplen, to bid farewell during the 66th annual convention. Kouplen served four consecutive two-year terms as president of the state’s largest farm organization, and was prohibited from seeking another term by bylaws.

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John I. Taylor Award – Garvin County Farm Bureau President Dale Schauer accepted the John I. Taylor Award from Steve Kouplen Nov. 9 during the awards program at the Cox Convention Center. Garvin County earned the award, topping all counties in all of OFB’s program areas.

Lewis H. Munn Award – Alfalfa County Farm Bureau President Scott Cormack accepted the Lewis H. Munn Award from Steve Kouplen Nov. 9 during the awards program at the Cox Convention Center. Alfalfa County excelled in local affairs policy execution to earn the honor.

26 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2008

klahoma Commissioner of Agriculture Terry Peach presented Steve Kouplen a special plaque in recognition of his service to Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Oklahoma agriculture during his tenure as president of the state’s largest farm organization. The presentation was made during the opening general session of the 66th annual meeting Nov. 9 at the Cox Convention Center.

Meet Director Phyllis Holcomb reek County’s Phyllis Holcomb was elected to a threeLincoln, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Payne, Pawnee, Tulsa and year term on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau board of Washington counties, on the state board. directors Nov. 10.

Mrs. Holcomb is a 1963 graduate of Kellyville High School.

Delegates attending Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 66th annual She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in home economics meeting at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City in 1967 from Northeastern State University. Following elected Mrs. Holcomb to the board as the district nine director. graduation from college, she worked at Kansas State University She succeeds Mike Spradling of Sand Springs, who was elected until she and Tom married and returned to Oklahoma. president of the farm organization.

Both she and Tom taught at Beggs High School until 1976, She, along with her husband of almost 40 years, Tom, own when they purchased their land at Kellyville. She was home and operate a working ranch and hog operation south of economics teacher and Tom was vocational ag teacher there.

Kellyville. They run a commercial cowMrs. Holcomb later was named junior New District Nine Director Phyllis Holcomb calf, pre-conditioning and show pig high principal and transportation operation. She and Tom always have director for Kellyville, and served in been full partners in the ranch until that capacity until she retired. recently when their son joined them as She has been a 4-H leader for more they increased cattle numbers and the than 40 years and also is a member of size of the pre-conditioning lot. the Kellyville 4-H & FFA Booster Club.

Mrs. Holcomb just completed serving Mrs. Holcomb serves as president of two consecutive three-year terms as a the Creek County Water Board and is member of the OFB State Women’s a Sunday School teacher.

Committee, where she represented Son Thad, 34, is a partner in the district nine. She started the Farm ranching operation. Daughter Bureau Women’s Committee in Creek Shannon, 38, is employed by Bios County, where she served as chairman.

Company in Sapulpa as an area She now represents all district nine director. Mrs. Holcomb has two members, including those from Creek, grandchildren.

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Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett welcomed Farm Bureau members to his city for the 66th annual convention Nov. 9-11. Cornett, one of the nation’s youngest mayors, invited members to visit the many attractions in the city during their stay.

Oklahoma Centennial Territorial Governor Dennis Ochs, a Logan County Farm Bureau agent, invited Farm Bureau members to participate in upcoming state centennial festivities. He appeared at the opening general session of the 66th convention Nov. 9.

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Sequoyah County couple named Farm Family of the Year equoyah County’s Jody and Paula Sloan were named Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year Nov. 9 at the 66th annual state convention in Oklahoma City.

A panel of judges selected the Vian family from 12 entries in the annual contest, which honors the farm family who best represents farming and ranching and the spirit of Oklahoma agriculture.

The Sloans received use of a new Dodge pickup for a year, an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting in New Orleans, La., and other gifts in recognition of their accomplishments.

The couple has three children, Seth, 19, Sydney, 16, and Sylas, 13.

Jody, 44, and Paula, 38, were married in 1987 and became the third generation of the Sloan family to farm in the Arkansas River Sandtown Bottoms near Vian.

“My grandparents moved to the Arkansas River bottoms in Oklahoma in the 1930s to an area known as Sandtown. Over the next 40 years, they survived floods and droughts.”

In 1968, the Army Corps of Engineers brought the land for flood control, and constructed a lock-and-dam system. The Corps gave the land to the Wildlife Department for a game refuge. A partnership was formed between the department and farmers with the agreement farmers would leave a quarter of their crops for the wildlife.

In 1976, Jody’s parents bought the 450-acre farm from his grandparents. When he finished college in 1982, Jody returned to the family farm and entered into a partnership with his parents.

He and Paula have continued and expanded upon that original partnership throughout their marriage. Their operation now totals 920 acres, with 300 acres in corn, 270 acres in soybeans and 60 acres of double-cropped wheat in the

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Sandtown Bottoms area. They also farm 175 acres of wheat and 175 acres of soybeans on upland prairie ground.

Because erosion was a problem on their upland land, the Sloans started a 100 percent no-till program some 15 years ago. In addition to alleviating the erosion problem, the no-till conserves fuel and reduces wear and tear on their farm equipment which prolongs its life.

They also practice crop rotation of corn, wheat and soybeans to guarantee an ample supply of organic matter and maintain a high level of fertility.

“My farming situation is unique because of farming in a National Wildlife Refuge. Most herbicides are restricted,” said Jody. “However, by planting Round-Up Ready soybeans, we maintain a clean crop and adhere to guideline restrictions.

“Due to deer and wildlife populations damaging our crops, we border our fields with black-eyed peas to provide an alternate food source,” he added.

Paula helps supplement the family’s farm income by working as an English teacher at

Vian Public Schools. She also serves as the school’s cheerleader coach.

“My father is still an equal and integral part of our farm operation,” adds Jody.

The couple’s oldest son, Seth, assists with field preparation and harvesting as needed.

The other two children help out by cleaning and maintaining equipment.

“Part of making our small family farm stay operating successfully has been the practice of no-tilling as much land as possible. I definitely feel that our farming operation is successful because it provides a living for two families,” said Jody.

The couple is active in Life Church, and involved in events such as dinners, fundraisers and church camps. Jody and Paula also are members of the Vian Community Charitable Trust, an organization which has been the catalyst for the development of a sports complex in the town.

In addition to their community activities, they both were heavily involved in the Farm Bureau YF&R program. Jody served as chairman, vice chairman and reporter and both were state YF&R Committee members.

They both are involved with events organized by the Sequoyah County Farm Bureau.

“Small family farming is the backbone of Oklahoma agriculture,” they said. “Family is why our farm continues to operate successfully.”

They hope their sons or daughter carry on the family farm tradition in the future.

“Our family has survived major floods, incorporation into a National Wildlife Refuge and severe droughts,” the Sloans said. “Throughout these hardships we have struggled to stay strong as a farm family, refusing to sell out because of our strong belief that what we are producing is important to the overall health and security of our country.”

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The Jody Sloan family of Vian was named Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 2007 Farm Family of the Year at the 66th annual meeting in Oklahoma City. Dodge assistant zone manager Sue Gillespie and John Vance, owner of John Vance Auto Group in Guthrie, on the left, were on hand to present the Sloans the keys to a new 2008 Dodge pickup. The family received a year’s use of the truck plus a trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in New Orleans. Jody Sloan holds the plaque naming his family the 2007 winner and his wife, Paula, holds the commemorative photo plaque contest nominees were presented. Two of the Sloan’s children, Sydney and Silas, joined their parents for the award ceremony.

Farm Bureau honors two with Distinguished Service awards klahoma Farm Bureau honored two leaders during its 66th annual meeting in Oklahoma City with Distinguished Service Awards.

The pair of awards is designed to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture and to Oklahoma Farm Bureau, according to Matt Wilson, executive director.

Texas County’s Joe Mayer and Noble County’s Scott Dvorak were honored Nov. 9 during a special evening award’s program in the Cox Convention Center.

Mayer was presented with the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Agriculture Award while Dvorak received the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Farm Bureau Award.

Mayer, 58, of Guymon, has served agriculture for more than 40 years while being active in cattle production, wheat, corn and feed grain production, conservation and commodity promotion.

He grew up on his family’s farm in the Oklahoma Panhandle, where his great grandfather settled in 1883. Mayer now has an extremely large operation of his own, with a cow-calf herd, yearlings and wheat being the primary enterprises.

Mayer has served on three statewide task forces for two different Oklahoma governors.

He was on Gov. George Nigh’s Task Force on County Government and Gov. Frank Keating’s Task Force for Ad Valorem Taxes and Water Quality as well as the Department of Agriculture Rules Review Committee.

He also has served on the Oklahoma FSA Committee at the pleasure of both Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush.

He also has served as a member of the State Regents for Higher Education, appointed to a nineyear term in 1995.

Mayer, who has been active in Farm Bureau for more than 35 years, was elected to the Oklahoma Farm Bureau board of

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directors for district one in the panhandle and northwestern counties. He served from 1993 until 2002, when term limits forced him to step down from the position. During his tenure on the board, Mayer was elected vice president several times by the members of the board.

After leaving the board, Mayer was picked to serve on the Farm Bureau Political Action Committee. He currently serves as chairman of the PAC, which has one of the most successful track records in the state.

He and his wife, Mary Anne, have three grown children, Katie, Margie and Paul.

Mayer is a 1968 graduate of Hardesty High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in speech and business administration in 1972 at Panhandle State University.

He has been awarded the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Service to Agriculture Award in the late 1990s and won the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Service To Agriculture Award in the late 1980s.

Dvorak, 51, a Noble County farmer and rancher, has been active in Farm Bureau for more than 29 years. He served as chairman and vice chairman of the county YF&R Committee; as a county board member 16 years; and as county president five years.

He grew up in Perry and graduated from high school there in 1974. After graduating

from Oklahoma State University in 1978 with a degree in agronomy, Dvorak began his farming and ranching career. He operates a diversified operation, with wheat and milo, stocker cattle and a cow-calf herd.

When Dvorak was elected to the OFB board of directors in 1996, he already had served six years on the Noble County board. He still holds a seat on that board today.

Dvorak served from 1996 to 2005 on the OFB state board as the district seven director, representing members in Woods, Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, Major, Garfield and Noble counties.

He left in 2005 after serving the maximum consecutive years of service allowable due to organizational term limits.

During his state board service, Dvorak was twice elected by his peers as board secretary and was a delegate to the AFBF convention three years.

He has attended the AFBF Leadership Conference four times, the OFB Congressional Action Tour 10 times and served six times on the state Resolutions Committee and represented his county 19 times as a delegate to the OFB annual meeting.

Dvorak currently serves as vice president of the Oklahoma Beef Council. He has served on the Noble County ASCS Committee nine years, and sat as chairman seven years.

He was named the Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer of Oklahoma in 1991 and also has earned two Outstanding Young Farmer/ Rancher awards.

Dvorak is an active member of the Perry Chamber of Commerce as well as the Perry FFA Parents’ Club and Livestock Booster Club.

He and his wife, Carol, have three children, Joe, Allison and Justin. Dvorak and his family are active in the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church were he has been an Eucharistic minister for 22 years.

d e h s i u g n i t s i D e c i v r e S Left: Steve Kouplen congratulates Joe Mayer for his selection as 2007 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award winner.

Right: Steve Kouplen congratulates Scott Dvorak for his selection as 2007 Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau Award winner.

Oklahoma Country • Winter 2008 • 29