Karen Krehbiel and her daughter Brittany, along with Karen’s mother-in-law, Fern, and father-in-law, Wayne, were named the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year during OKFB’s 73rd Annual Meeting Nov. 15 in Tulsa.
The Krehbiels, one of six OKFB district farm family finalists, were chosen for their ability to best represent farming and ranching and the spirit of Oklahoma agriculture.
“It is truly an honor to represent Oklahoma agriculture and represent all of the families that farm in Oklahoma,” Karen said.
The Krehbiel family farm has a rich history in Oklahoma agriculture, which includes five generations of dedicated farmers. Karen and Brittany farm approximately 2,300 acres of land near Hydro. Karen’s husband, Jeff, also was an active member of the farm family until his death in 2011.
The Krehbiel family raises wheat, grain sorghum, peanuts, canola and alfalfa on their operation along with 250 head of commercial Dorset ewes. Besides production agriculture, the family also sells and services center-pivot hydraulic drive systems.
Karen and Brittany are lifelong Oklahoma Farm Bureau members. Both have been active with the Caddo County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, where Karen served as the vice chair for two years. Karen has also served on the American Farm Bureau Federation Commodity Advisory Board and attended the OKFB Commodity Advisory Organization meeting.
Karen and Brittany have both attended AFBF annual meetings and traveled to Washington, D.C., with the OKFB Congressional Action Tour to lobby to members of Congress on behalf of Oklahoma agriculture.
“Farm Bureau has been that catalyst that has helped us to promote agriculture and be able to tell our story to consumers,” Karen said. “Farm Bureau has given us the training, the courage and the passion to do this.”
The Krehbiel family is also very active in their community and the agricultural industry. Karen currently serves on the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Board of Directors and previously served on the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association Board. Wayne was inducted into the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2011. Brittany is continuing on with agriculture by majoring in agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University.
As state winners, the Krehbiel family received the use of a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab pickup for one year, a trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting next January in San Diego and other prizes.
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