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 to focus on issues and project management.
“We completed an extremely successful legislative session this year,” Peterson said, “ and we want to build on that success for the future.”
Farm Bureau’s legislative accomplishments include passage of the livestock pre-emption bill and stronger no trespassing laws.
“When things are going great, that is not the time to sit back and relax,” said OFB President Mike Spradling. “This is a great opportunity to improve, expand and make things even better. We’ve grown in membership strength and political clout, and both are important in helping advance our mission to improve the lives of rural Oklahomans.”
Norvell said he looks forward to the challenge of keeping agriculture and rural issues on the legislative front burner.
“I want to pursue our current successful strategies, emphasizing the protection of private property rights and our livestock producers’ freedom from burdensome government regulations,” Norvell said.
Peterson emphasized the public policy team will continue to take the agenda as set by the OFB membership and work to improve Oklahoma’s law with regard to agriculture and private property rights.
“We’re a strong grassroots organization and well respected in both Oklahoma City and Washington, D.C.,” Peterson said. “We believe this restructuring will make our reputation even stronger.”
Other members of the public policy team will continue to work in their respective areas. Ericka McPherson, director of national affairs, focuses on federal legislation and political education. Marla Peek, director of regulatory affairs and the OFB Legal Foundation, focuses on agency rule makings and implementation as well as management of cases, issues and outside legal counsel for the Foundation.
