Oklahoma Farm Bureau has named Steve Thompson an assistant director of public policy in OKFB’s public policy division. Thompson was raised on the Lincoln County farm his family settled in the land run of 1891. After studying agricultural education and agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University, he worked for nine years at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, first as legislative liaison, then as associate commissioner. During his time with ODAFF, their team at the state Capitol helped to secure historic funding for rural fire departments and a new $12 million agriculture laboratory. Thompson owned and operated an agribusiness policy consulting […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members recently honored members of the Oklahoma Legislature with its 100 Percent Club Award for a 100-percent voting record with the organization during the 2018 legislative session. The lawmakers were scored on a handful of legislation important to Farm Bureau policy.  “Accomplishing our mission of improving the lives of rural Oklahomans wouldn’t be possible without the support of these legislators who stood for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers,” said Rodd Moesel, OKFB president. “We’re thankful for the work of our 100 Percent Club Award recipients who supported sound agriculture and rural policies throughout last year’s legislative session.” Senators […]

Fifteen of Oklahoma’s top advocates for agriculture and rural Oklahoma were honored with the 2018 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Champion Award during the organization’s leadership conference held Feb. 18-19 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City.  The award is presented to state leaders and lawmakers who went above and beyond in 2018. “By standing up for the best interests of our state’s family farmers and ranchers, these 15 Oklahomans have supported policy to better our great state,” said Rodd Moesel, OKFB president. “We’re pleased to honor them for their service to agriculture and rural Oklahoma.” The 2018 Champion Award […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau has named Robyn Matthews an associate director of public policy in OKFB’s public policy division. In the position, she will work alongside other members of the public policy division advocating for OKFB’s grassroots policy at the state Capitol.  “I look forward to working at the Capitol helping promote what the Farm Bureau members want and believe in,” Matthews said. “I hope to educate legislators on how certain policy might affect agricultural producers and to be a source of information as to why these topics are important to Farm Bureau members.” A native of Oklahoma City, Matthews attended […]

Four leaders of the Oklahoma Legislature are scheduled to appear on a panel during the 2019 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Leadership Conference on Monday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel near downtown Oklahoma City. House Speaker Charles McCall, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, House Minority Leader Emily Virgin and Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd will discuss leading agriculture and rural issues in a forum led by OKFB President Rodd Moesel.  The legislative leaders join a lineup of other speakers including Gov. Kevin Stitt, Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, Solicitor General Mithun […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members will hear remarks from Gov. Kevin Stitt during the organization’s 2019 leadership conference to be held Feb. 18-19 in Oklahoma City. Stitt is scheduled to speak on Monday, Feb. 18 at 1:45 p.m. He will be joined at the conference by Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur and state legislative leaders. The annual conference provides OKFB leaders an opportunity to discuss important agriculture and rural policy issues, meet with state leaders, and develop leadership skills within the organization. A conference agenda may be found on the OKFB website. For information about attending the conference, […]

Farmers and ranchers gathered at the 2019 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Leadership Conference on Feb. 18-19 will have an opportunity to hear from Oklahoma’s newly-appointed Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. Arthur was appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in mid-December. A Payne County Farm Bureau member, she most recently served as Oklahoma 4-H Foundation executive director. She previously served as deputy commissioner of agriculture from 2012 to 2016. Alongside her husband and children, Arthur runs a cattle business providing show cattle for FFA and 4-H members. “We’re excited to have someone who is directly involved in agricultural production and who works tirelessly […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau today praises U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue for his work to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers by reopening Farm Service Agency offices across Oklahoma. Secretary Perdue today announced in a press release that all FSA offices nationwide will reopen on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 24 to provide additional services to farmers and ranchers during the government shutdown.  “The FSA provides vital support for farmers and ranchers and they count on those services being available,” Perdue said. “We want to offer as much assistance as possible until the government shutdown […]

Following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to reopen several Farm Service Agency offices across the country, Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel shared with FOX 25 News in Oklahoma City on Jan. 18 how the government shutdown – and the closure of FSA offices – has impacted farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma. “Imagine you’re a young farmer with a wife and a couple of kids and you’re holding a $15,000 to $30,000 check for your crops and you know you have bills to pay and money in hand but can’t turn the check into money to use to pay […]