More than 800 delegates will gather Nov. 22-24 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City for the 62nd annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention to set organizational policy, elect leaders and hear from several top-notch speakers.
The delegates, representing all 77 county Farm Bureaus, will chart the future for Oklahoma’s largest and most influential farm organization during the three-day meeting.
“Cultivating Oklahoma’s Future” is the theme for our convention, and our delegates will enact policies that we believe will definitely have a positive impact on the future of our great state,” said Executive Director Matt Wilson.
“The policies our delegates adopt come from the grassroots level and not only represent the views of our more than 155,000 member families, but we believe the views of most Oklahomans,” said Steve Kouplen, a Beggs rancher who serves as president of Farm Bureau.
Some of the topical issues that will be addressed by delegates include water and water rights, the state’s Rainy Day Fund, Country of Origin labeling and education funding.
During the convention delegates will elect the organization’s president and three state directors. The convention also is the site where Farm Bureau’s top awards, including Farm Family of the Year and the Distinguished Service to Agriculture and Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau, will be presented.
Top-notch speakers are scheduled to be on hand for the various convention sessions to inform, motivate and entertain the more than 1,000 delegates, members and guests expected to attend.
The speakers include former Vietnam POW Lt. Col. Edward L. Hubbard, U.S. Congressman John Linder, Bob Farmer of the Farmers Almanac, U.S. Congressman Brad Carson, and Agriculture Commissioner Terry Peach.
Hubbard will convey a positive message to make convention goers feel good about their country, themselves and their own ability.
Linder, a Republican House member from Georgia, is a co-sponsor of the Fair Tax, which seeks to abolish individual income taxes in favor of a national sales tax. He will talk about that legislation and how such a tax would work.
Farmer, a noted storyteller, will entertain and motivate as well as talk about the Farmers’ Almanac.
Carson, a House member from Claremore, will update Farm Bureau about his efforts to reform the controversial Endangered Species Act.
Peach is expected to address the economic climate of agriculture in the Sooner State.
Ray Price, a 1996 inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame and one of country music’s living legends, will entertain during the Nov. 22 convention banquet.
