Sequoyah County’s Jody and Paula Sloan were named Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year Nov. 9 at the 66th annual state convention in Oklahoma City.
A panel of judges selected the Vian family from 12 entries in the annual contest, which honors the farm family who best represents farming and ranching and the spirit of Oklahoma agriculture.
The Sloans received use of a new Dodge pickup for a year, an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting in New Orleans, La., and other gifts in recognition of their accomplishments.
The couple has three children, Seth, 19, Sydney, 16, and Sylas, 13.
Jody, 44, and Paula, 38, were married in 1987 and became the third generation of the Sloan family to farm in the Arkansas River Sandtown Bottoms near Vian.
“My grandparents moved to the Arkansas River bottoms in Oklahoma in the 1930s to an area known as Sandtown. Over the next 40 years, they survived floods and droughts.”
In 1968, the Army Corps of Engineers brought the land for flood control, and constructed a lock-and-dam system. The Corps gave the land to the Wildlife Department for a game refuge. A partnership was formed between the department and farmers with the agreement farmers would leave a quarter of their crops for the wildlife.
In 1976, Jody’s parents bought the 450-acre farm from his grandparents. When he finished college in 1982, Jody returned to the family farm and entered into a partnership with his parents.
He and Paula have continued and expanded upon that original partnership throughout their marriage. Their operation now totals 920 acres, with 300 acres in corn, 270 acres in soybeans and 60 acres of double-cropped wheat in the Sandtown Bottoms area. They also farm 175 acres of wheat and 175 acres of soybeans on upland prairie ground.
Because erosion was a problem on their upland land, the Sloans started a 100 percent no-till program some 15 years ago. In addition to alleviating the erosion problem, the no-till conserves fuel and reduces wear and tear on their farm equipment which prolongs its life.
They also practice crop rotation of corn, wheat and soybeans to guarantee an amply supply of organic mater and maintain a high level of fertility.
“My farming situation is unique because of farming in a National Wildlife Refuge. Most herbicides are restricted,” said Jody. “However, by planting Round-Up Ready soybeans, we maintain a clean crop and adhere to guideline restrictions.
“Due to deer and wildlife populations damaging our crops, we border our fields with black-eyed peas to provide an alternate food source,” he added.
Paula helps supplement the family’s farm income by working as an English teacher at Vian Public Schools. She also serves as the school’s cheerleader coach.
“My father is still an equal and integral part of our farm operation,” adds Jody.
The couple’s oldest son, Seth, assists with field preparation and harvesting as needed. The other two children help out by cleaning and maintaining equipment.
“Part of making our small family farm stay operating successfully has been the practice of no-tilling as much land as possible. I definitely feel that our farming operation is successful because it provides a living for two families,” said Jody.
The couple is active in Life Church, and involved in events such as dinners, fundraisers and church camps. Jody and Paula also are members of the Vian Community Charitable Trust, an organization which has been the catalyst for the development of a sports complex in the town.
In addition to their community activities, they both were heavily involved in the Farm Bureau YF&R program. Jody served as chairman, vice chairman and reporter and both were state YF&R Committee members.
They both are involved with events organized by the Sequoyah County Farm Bureau.
“Small family farming is the backbone of Oklahoma agriculture,” they said. “Family is why our farm continues to operate successfully.”
They hope their sons or daughter carry on the family farm tradition in the future.
“Our family has survived major floods, incorporation into a National Wildlife Refuge and severe droughts,” the Sloans said. “Throughout these hardships we have struggled to stay strong as a farm family, refusing to sell out because of our strong belief that what we are producing is important to the overall health and security of our country.”
Other families nominated for the Farm Family of the Year included:
• Ronald and Barbara Crain of Alfalfa County.
• Harold and Barbara Kachel of Beaver County.
• Marvin and Tricia Wyatt of Comanche County.
• Bill and Kathy Fansler of Craig County.
• Riley and Pamela Cabaniss of Custer County.
• Dave and Brenda Wingo of Hughes County.
• Joseph and Dana Crawford of Garvin County.
• Cody and April Smith of LeFlore County.
• Jack and Terry Roach of Muskogee County.
• Cody and Tiffany Frye of Pontotoc County.
• Rodney and Belinda Sutterfield of Seminole County.
