Farm Bureau women caucusing at the 68th annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention in Oklahoma City re-elected three members of the state Women’s Committee. Lowayne Piercey of Washita County, Nadine Butler of Atoka County and Roberta Hughes of Seminole County won new three-year terms on the state committee during district caucuses Nov. 6. Mrs. Piercey, who lives in Dill City, represents Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members in district two, which encompasses Beckham, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa, Roger Mills, Tillman and Washita counties in southwestern Oklahoma. She first won the district two position in 2006. Mrs. Butler, who lives in Atoka, […]

Farm Bureau leaders from across Oklahoma literally threw their hats in the ring to show support for a national campaign fighting federal climate change legislation.  During an Oct. 20 gathering in Oklahoma City, they signed “well-worn” caps with a sticker on the bill stating “Don’t Cap Our Future” referring to the damage expected if Congress passed the legislation. “We’re concerned the legislation would dramatically increase our fertilizer and other energy costs,” said Mike Spradling, OFB President.  “The legislation could lead to higher food costs and increase fuel taxes for all Americans without significantly improving our environment.” The legislation, called cap-and-trade, […]

Considering water as a valuable, natural resource should remain as a major priority for the state’s largest farm organization in 2010.  This was one of 625 resolutions proposed during Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s statewide resolutions committee meeting Oct. 20-21 in Oklahoma City.  The resolutions will be voted on during the annual OFB convention Nov. 6-8 in Oklahoma City. The committee will submit a resolution to the convention’s voting delegates to make protecting agriculture’s sales tax exemption a priority issue in 2010. There also were resolutions proposed on international food safety standards, opposing federal climate change legislation and asking the news media […]

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau is encouraging all Farm Bureau members in the state to join together in a unified request to federal lawmakers: Don’t Cap Our Future. The appeal is directed to members of Congress who are addressing restrictive climate change legislation that could hurt agriculture, consumers and the national economy, according to Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling. “Don’t Cap Our Future” is a grassroots campaign involving Farm Bureau members from across the nation. Farmers and ranchers are speaking out against congressional climate legislation. Playing off the cap-and-trade climate change bills in the House and Senate, Farm Bureau is encouraging […]

Ericka McPherson has been named assistant general counsel for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and affiliated companies. McPherson will assist the general counsel’s office on regulatory and legal matters impacting the corporate family, said Monica Wilke, OFB executive director. “She has a keen legal mind and acutely understands our needs,” Wilke said. McPherson started her Farm Bureau career as an attorney with the OFB Legal Foundation.  She has worked on both state and national Farm Bureau issues and most recently served as OFB’s director of national affairs. “This is a great opportunity for me to expand my legal work while continuing to […]

OFB PRESIDENT WANTS USDA TO FOCUS ON RURAL AMERICA                            A form of reverse osmosis is occurring in rural America today where agriculture producers are becoming more dependent on the health of the overall rural economy.      During a USDA rural development listening session in El Reno, Sept. 16, Mike Spradling, Sand Springs farmer and Oklahoma Farm Bureau president, told USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack he is concerned about this trend.      “American agriculture is a key component of rural communities, yet agriculture as an industry is becoming more reliant on the greater rural economy than rural communities are dependent on […]

Monica Wilke has been named executive director for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies. The Grandfield native has been serving as acting executive director since Matt Wilson’s retirement announcement in July. “The Board of Directors realized the challenges we faced with the announcement of Matt Wilson’s retirement, but at the same time recognized the opportunities that a search for a new executive director presented the organization,” said Mike Spradling, OFB president.  “Monica Wilke brings a new, fresh perspective, unique thoughts and ideas to move our organization forward.  The Board has the utmost respect and confidence in her ability to achieve […]

Maybe it was the weather. Maybe the rural crowds were inspired by the political town hall meetings sweeping across the country in August. Or, maybe Farm Bureau families were just carrying on with a long-held August tradition when they showed up in impressive numbers for OFB’s annual August area meetings. Regardless of the reason, the meetings provided a snapshot of rural attitudes going into the fall. "The numbers (of those attending) were tremendous and most were optimistic about the future," said Mike Spradling, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The OFB leader said he noticed a slight increase in rural […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s public policy team is undergoing minor adjustments to take advantage of staff strengths. Tyler Norvell has been named director of state affairs and will be the lead lobbyist at the state capitol. “Tyler is extremely knowledgeable about agricultural issues and the political process,” said Lori Kromer Peterson, vice president of public policy. “Members and lawmakers will see him on a daily basis during the legislative session, representing Farm Bureau interests.” Peterson said she will continue to use her experience as a lobbyist and attorney to benefit Farm Bureau but will now be able to expand her duties […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau and affiliated companies Executive Director Matt Wilson announced his retirement July 15, after 32 years of service to the Farm Bureau family. “On behalf of Oklahoma Farm Bureau and affiliated companies, the board of directors wishes to thank Mr. Wilson for his more than 30 years of dedicated work,” said Mike Spradling, president of OFB and affiliated companies. “His efforts have been instrumental in establishing OFB as a national leader in Farm Bureau and the agriculture industry.” The board appointed Monica Wilke, OFB and affiliated companies’ general counsel, as acting executive director.