The Oklahoma Farm Bureau is encouraging all Farm Bureau members in the state to join together in a unified request to federal lawmakers: Don’t Cap Our Future. The appeal is directed to members of Congress who are addressing restrictive climate change legislation that could hurt agriculture, consumers and the national economy, according to Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling. “Don’t Cap Our Future” is a grassroots campaign involving Farm Bureau members from across the nation. Farmers and ranchers are speaking out against congressional climate legislation. Playing off the cap-and-trade climate change bills in the House and Senate, Farm Bureau is encouraging […]

Ericka McPherson has been named assistant general counsel for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and affiliated companies. McPherson will assist the general counsel’s office on regulatory and legal matters impacting the corporate family, said Monica Wilke, OFB executive director. “She has a keen legal mind and acutely understands our needs,” Wilke said. McPherson started her Farm Bureau career as an attorney with the OFB Legal Foundation.  She has worked on both state and national Farm Bureau issues and most recently served as OFB’s director of national affairs. “This is a great opportunity for me to expand my legal work while continuing to […]

OFB PRESIDENT WANTS USDA TO FOCUS ON RURAL AMERICA                            A form of reverse osmosis is occurring in rural America today where agriculture producers are becoming more dependent on the health of the overall rural economy.      During a USDA rural development listening session in El Reno, Sept. 16, Mike Spradling, Sand Springs farmer and Oklahoma Farm Bureau president, told USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack he is concerned about this trend.      “American agriculture is a key component of rural communities, yet agriculture as an industry is becoming more reliant on the greater rural economy than rural communities are dependent on […]

Monica Wilke has been named executive director for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies. The Grandfield native has been serving as acting executive director since Matt Wilson’s retirement announcement in July. “The Board of Directors realized the challenges we faced with the announcement of Matt Wilson’s retirement, but at the same time recognized the opportunities that a search for a new executive director presented the organization,” said Mike Spradling, OFB president.  “Monica Wilke brings a new, fresh perspective, unique thoughts and ideas to move our organization forward.  The Board has the utmost respect and confidence in her ability to achieve […]

Maybe it was the weather. Maybe the rural crowds were inspired by the political town hall meetings sweeping across the country in August. Or, maybe Farm Bureau families were just carrying on with a long-held August tradition when they showed up in impressive numbers for OFB’s annual August area meetings. Regardless of the reason, the meetings provided a snapshot of rural attitudes going into the fall. "The numbers (of those attending) were tremendous and most were optimistic about the future," said Mike Spradling, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The OFB leader said he noticed a slight increase in rural […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s public policy team is undergoing minor adjustments to take advantage of staff strengths. Tyler Norvell has been named director of state affairs and will be the lead lobbyist at the state capitol. “Tyler is extremely knowledgeable about agricultural issues and the political process,” said Lori Kromer Peterson, vice president of public policy. “Members and lawmakers will see him on a daily basis during the legislative session, representing Farm Bureau interests.” Peterson said she will continue to use her experience as a lobbyist and attorney to benefit Farm Bureau but will now be able to expand her duties […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau and affiliated companies Executive Director Matt Wilson announced his retirement July 15, after 32 years of service to the Farm Bureau family. “On behalf of Oklahoma Farm Bureau and affiliated companies, the board of directors wishes to thank Mr. Wilson for his more than 30 years of dedicated work,” said Mike Spradling, president of OFB and affiliated companies. “His efforts have been instrumental in establishing OFB as a national leader in Farm Bureau and the agriculture industry.” The board appointed Monica Wilke, OFB and affiliated companies’ general counsel, as acting executive director.

The leader of the state’s largest farm organization believes passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454) will cause great financial hardship for rural Oklahoma. “We are disappointed in the House passage of HR 2454 and urge the Senate to vote ‘no’ on the bill,” said Mike Spradling, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. “We are strongly opposed to the legislation because of its long-reaching impact on electricity generation.” Spradling said Oklahoma could be hit hard by the legislation because of the proliferation of coal-fired electrical generation plants in the state. “The rural electric cooperatives estimate this […]

The leader of the state’s largest farm organization believes farmers and ranchers harvested an overflowing bushel basket of victories from the 2009 Oklahoma legislative session. “This has been a great session for our farm and ranch families,” said Mike Spradling, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. The biggest highlight was passage of HB 2151, the livestock preemption bill. The bill requires the Department of Agriculture set the standard for care and handling of livestock in Oklahoma. It does not affect municipal zoning laws as some opponents had earlier feared. “This legislation has been a priority for our members and we want to […]

When Governor Brad Henry signed the livestock preemption bill (HB 2151) into law May 12, he protected animal agriculture and gained the praise of the state’s largest farm organization. “We are extremely pleased Governor Henry is supporting the animal agriculture industry by signing HB 2151,” said Mike Spradling, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. The bill directs the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and Forestry to be responsible for enforcing a uniform standard for the care and handling of livestock. It does not affect municipal zoning laws as some opponents had earlier feared. “This legislation has been a priority for our farmers and […]