News Stories

World renowned rodeo star Shoat Webster, Lenapah, Okla., is featured on the cover of the summer issue of Oklahoma Country, the official publication of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Webster’s illustrious career spans 50 years in the saddle. This is one of several articles on rural Oklahoma featured in the magazine. Concerns over the explosion of meth labs in rural Oklahoma is also covered in this issue of Oklahoma Country. Illegal meth labs are an epidemic sweeping across the state, says Mark Woodward, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. The article focuses on the economic impact […]

In what appears to be a step backwards the U.S. House of Representatives has failed to fund Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), causing Oklahoma Farm Bureau leaders to voice concern this could delay implementing the program. "It will be difficult to implement COOL by September 2004 (as required by law) without adequate funding," said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. The Beggs rancher has just returned from Washington, D.C. where he lobbied extensively for the COOL program. Farm Bureau supports COOL because it gives consumers a choice between domestic and foreign produced beef, Kouplen said. "It appeared they (Congress) were […]

Young farmers, ranchers are invited to Summer Conference at Roman Nose July 18-20 Young agricultural producers as well as those interested in the agriculture industry are invited to attend Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 2003 Young Farmers & Ranchers Summer Conference which will be held July 18-20 at Roman Nose State Park in Watonga. Geared toward establishing a connection with other young people in the business, the three-day conference will focus on fun, food, fellowship and agriculture. Young farmers and ranchers will play golf at the Roman Nose Golf Course, tour the Watonga Cheese Factory, discuss safety issues and be briefed on […]

FARM BUREAU TESTIFIES IN SUPPORT OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is as much a consumer issue as it is a producer issue, Steve Kouplen, president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, said during a USDA committee hearing in Kansas City, May 6. Speaking before a standing-room-only crowd, Kouplen said consumers want to know if their food is domestically or foreign produced. "Research has shown consumers prefer products made in the U.S.," Kouplen said. Quoting a 2002 survey in Chicago and Denver, Kouplen said consumers were willing to pay a premium for steak labeled "Guaranteed USA: Born and […]

Young farmers, ranchers meet with legislators during leadership conference In hopes of keeping legislators aware of issues important to rural Oklahoma, young farmers and ranchers recently met with their elected officials while in Oklahoma City for Farm Bureau’s 2003 Young Farmers & Ranchers Legislative Leadership Conference. "It’s our duty as young producers and leaders to represent agriculture at the State Legislature," said Francie Tolle, state YF&R Committee chairman. "With increasing urban leadership at the State Capitol, we must make sure rural voices are heard." Each year young farmers and ranchers gather in Oklahoma City for a day of lobbying and […]

EVERYDAY IS EARTH DAY ON THE OKLAHOMA FARM Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are taking advantage of the annual Earth Day celebration by launching a major public relations campaign emphasizing their environmental stewardship. This year’s event is Tuesday, April 22. "We work with the earth’s natural resources every day," said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau President. "This is an excellent opportunity for us to connect with the urban audience and explain agriculture." The Beggs, OK rancher said producers are committed to protecting the environment. "We use sound science to make this a better place not only for us to produce our […]

FARM LEADERS LAUNCH MAJOR PROMOTION PROJECT Farm and business leaders in southwest Oklahoma announced this week the creation of a coalition of producers, business owners and others interested in promoting agriculture. The coalition is called the FAIR Project. The FAIR Project is an acronym for Farming And Irrigating Responsibly, said Tom Buchanan, Altus farmer. "It’s time to aggressively promote an industry (agriculture) that pours millions of dollars into our economy," Buchanan said. Specifically, the FAIR Project focuses on water conservation and related water issues for farmers in the Lugert-Altus irrigation district (LAID). "The water we purchase from LAID is one […]

OFB & Affiliates, YF&R to award college funds Nine $1,000 ag scholarships available to high school seniors Oklahoma’s next generation of agricultural leaders have an opportunity to further their agriculture education with nine $1,000 scholarships offered by Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Affiliated Companies and its Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. "Rural America has witnessed how difficult it has been to keep young people in their communities, and once they have gone, how hard it is to draw them back," said Chuck and Francie Tolle, chairmen of the OFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. "Oklahoma Farm Bureau has also seen the […]

Several Oklahoma youth recently competed for $9,600 in savings bonds and scholarships during the Eighth Annual Young Farmers and Ranchers Speech Contest sponsored by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The contest was held March 17 at the State Fairgrounds arena in Oklahoma City. The YF&R Speech Contest was broken up into three age divisions: Junior, nine-12 years old; Intermediate, 13-15 years old; and Senior, 16-18 years old. The youth gave speeches in three division categories, including Agricultural Production, Environment & Natural Resources and Agriculture Policy. Speeches for the Junior Division were three to five minutes in length; five to seven minutes […]

As National Agriculture Day approaches its 30th anniversary on March 21, Oklahoma’s farm and ranch families reflect upon the efficiency and productivity involved in providing consumers with a safe, abundant and affordable food supply. "National Agriculture Day serves as a special time to draw attention to the importance of agriculture," said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. "We should all remember agriculture is a part of our every day lives from the food we eat to the clothes we wear." In its 30th year, the National Agriculture Day program is committed to educating consumers on how food and fiber products […]