Pottawatomie County’s Jeff and Sarah Weeks were recognized with Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award Nov. 20 at the 69th annual convention in Oklahoma City. The award recognizes successful young people 35 or younger who are involved in farming but whose primary occupations are not farming or owning an agricultural business. The award is based on their involvement in agriculture and participation in Oklahoma Farm Bureau and other community organizations. The couple received a four-wheeler ATV courtesy of Farm Credit, plus a trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Atlanta, Ga., to represent Oklahoma in the […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau honored a trio during its 69th 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 OFB Executive Director Monica Wilke. For the first time since the award has been presented, a husband and wife were joint recipients of the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Agriculture Award. And, a former OFB state director was honored with the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Farm Bureau Award. Wallace and Doris Lee Howard of Woodward became the first couple to […]

LeFlore County’s Brian and LaSheil Knowles were named Oklahoma Farm Bureau YF&R Achievement Award winners Nov. 20 at the 69th annual convention in Oklahoma City. The YF&R Achievement Award honors the state’s top young farmer or farm family for their achievements in the farming business and their leadership in the agricultural community. The Keota couple received an expense-paid trip to the 2011 American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Atlanta, Ga., to represent Oklahoma in the national contest, where they will compete for Dodge pickups and Arctic Cat four-wheelers. As the Oklahoma winner, the Knowles received a year’s use of a […]

Jackson County’s T.J. and Diane Beach were named Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year Nov. 20 at the 69th annual state convention in Oklahoma City. A panel of judges selected the Elmer family from 13 entries in the annual contest, which honors the farm family who best represents farming and ranching and the spirit of Oklahoma agriculture. The farm couple received use of a new Dodge pickup for a year, an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga., and other gifts in recognition of their accomplishments. The couple has four children, including […]

Voting delegates to the 69th annual meeting of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau said they want the federal government to continue direct assistance payments in the next farm bill.  The meeting was held Nov. 19-21 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. “Our top priority is the continuation of direct payments and revenue assurance programs,” said OFB President Mike Spradling.  “The payments provide producers flexibility to grow various crops while providing income support.” The resolution stated: “We support a program or policy tool, like direct payments, that continues to provide a fixed share of the federal budget allocation for agriculture, […]

Former legislator and Oklahoma Farm Service Agency director Jim Reese’s appointment as the new secretary of agriculture is receiving support from the state’s largest farm organization. “We respect and support Governor-elect Mary Fallin’s appointment of Jim Reese as agriculture secretary,” said Mike Spradling, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. “The governor-elect was fortunate to have a large pool of dedicated Oklahoma agriculture leaders to choose from, and we are looking forward to working with Jim,” Spradling said. “We had a good working relationship with Jim when he was in the statehouse and when he was serving as FSA director,” Spradling said. While […]

More than a 1,000 Oklahoma agricultural leaders are expected to fill the Cox Convention Center Nov. 19-21 in downtown Oklahoma City for the annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention. “This is our most important meeting of the year,” said OFB President Mike Spradling. “This is when our leaders decide policy for the organization to follow in the coming year.” The convention kicks off Friday, Nov. 19, with contests for the young farmers and ranchers followed by the opening session. Governor-elect Mary Fallin will address the group via a videotaped presentation from Washington, D.C. where she is completing her duties as Fifth […]

Tyler Norvell has been named Vice President of Public Policy for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Norvell most recently has served the organization as director of national and state affairs and first joined OFB as a legislative specialist in 2006. Norvell replaces Lori Peterson, who will be taking over as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Railroad Association. “We are extremely pleased and excited to have someone of Tyler’s abilities ready to step into this critically-important position,” said Monica Wilke, executive director, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and affiliated companies. Norvell is a graduate of Amber-Pocasset High School and received his Bachelor of Science […]

The strong willingness to stand up for personal convictions by thousands of rural Oklahomans contributed to the defeat of State Question 744, claimed Mike Spradling, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president.   Passage of State Question 744 would have forced the state of Oklahoma to increase educational spending by an estimated $1.7 billion, much of it coming from possible increases in property taxes.   “Our people got out and fought against this issue beginning as early as last spring,” Spradling said. “We knew it was going to be a long, uphill battle as early polling showed the majority of voters supported the […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Executive Director Monica Wilke has been named 2010 Woman of the Year in Agriculture by the Diamond Hats organization. The prestigious award is presented to a woman in agriculture who has worked tirelessly to promote Oklahoma’s agricultural industry as well as offering support to those involved in the industry. She accepted the honor Oct. 30 at the Diamond Hats Ball in Oklahoma City at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. “I am humbled and honored to have received this award,” said Wilke. “Agriculture has been a part of my family’s life for generations. Therefore, to have […]