Nearly 1,000 farmers and ranchers will converge on Tulsa Nov. 10-12 for the 65th annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention at the Southern Hills Marriott.
Taking care of business of the state’s largest voluntary farm organization and setting policy to help mold the future of the state and nation will be the primary focus of delegates attending.
The delegates will consider more than 100 policy recommendations during business sessions. Issues atop that list include the 2007 farm bill, eminent domain and renewable energy.
County Farm Bureaus submitted more than 600 policy recommendations, which were considered by the state Resolutions Committee.
Many recommendations were made regarding the direction farmers and ranchers want the 2007 farm bill to go. Eminent domain, specifically its use to take blighted areas, will be a prominent topic. Recommendations have been made and will be considered as to what constitutes a blighted area.
A recommendation has been made that OFB support policy to assure that 25 percent of Oklahoma’s fuel in the year 2025 comes from renewal sources.
Another issue concerning the farm and ranch members has been the lack of farmer-rancher members on the Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents. Policy will be discussed to ask that the constitutional requirement for farmer-rancher members be enforced.
Several notable speakers will address the convention. American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman, Miss America Jennifer Berry, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy David Fleischaker and the state’s new Lieutenant Governor-elect top the list of guest speakers.
Top awards, including the 2006 Farm Family of the Year, will be presented and several OFB state elective offices will be filled.
More than 30 vendors will promote agricultural business and associations during the trade show, which will be held in conjunction with the convention.
A highlight of the convention, the annual banquet and entertainment, is scheduled Nov. 11. The featured entertainment will be the Grand Ole Opry’s The Whites, a country music family act best known for its
Grammy Award-winning sound track from the movie, O Brother Where Art Thou?
The convention concludes Nov. 12 with the vespers and memorial program, which features noted author and war veteran Clebe McClary and the gospel group, The McGuires.
