Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Affiliated Companies was the major buyer at the 2006 Tulsa State Fair Junior Livestock Premium Auction Oct. 6. The state’s largest farm organization purchased the reserve grand champion lamb and 21 other prize-winning animals that made the annual premium auction. Farm Bureau was recognized prior to the auction with the 2005 Frank Sanders Memorial Award for last year’s premium auction, marking the sixth consecutive year for Farm Bureau to be recognized for purchasing the largest number of animals in the sale. Oklahoma Farm Bureau also sponsored Tulsa State Fair FFA Livestock Judging Contest Oct. 6, and […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau stands commmitted to ensuring the safety of U.S. citizens and their food supply. It supports reasonable legislation to regulate the sale and distribution of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. "Regulations should allow farmers to purchase ammonium nitrate without acquiring a permit or undergoing criminal background checks,” said Lori Peterson, vice president of public policy for the state’s largest farm organization. “Regulations also should not discourage vendors from selling the product.” Farm Bureau does not object to any ID check requirement or a requirement that asks sellers to retain the names and addresses of purchasers of the product. With those […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee provided scholarships and awards for the top competitors in the Oklahoma State University Animal Science Field Days July 18-20. More than 1500 young livestock judgers from across Oklahoma gathered in Stillwater for the event. “OFB Young Farmers and Ranchers are proud to continue our support of Oklahoma youth through sponsoring this event,” said Ryan Wahl, Young Farmers and Ranchers state committee member. “FFA and 4-H members are the future of the agricultural industry, and we hope our support will help ensure their future involvement in farming and ranching.” This year marked the […]

Oklahoma farmers and ranchers put their money where their mouth is when the state’s largest farm group recently wrote out checks to political candidates totaling more than $80,000. The Oklahoma AgFund, controlled by farm and ranch families belonging to Farm Bureau, mailed the checks to candidates vying for the state senate, house or other statewide office. “We need to help candidates that are friends of agriculture and rural Oklahoma,” said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. “One of the best ways to help rural-friendly candidates is with our check books.” The OKAgFund was established in 2003 to support candidates who […]

Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members were recently entertained and educated as they gathered to discuss ideas and issues pertaining to Farm Bureau and Oklahoma agriculture at the annual FBW summer conference July 10 and 11. Monday’s conference sessions were held on the campus of Rogers State University in Claremore and included a variety of topics. Attendees learned about developing citizenship programs and activities from Marilynn Spence, Ruth Moeller and FBW Committee Chairwoman Clara Wichert. Merle Henderson and Desi Milacek gave the group a patriotic history lesson through a unique game of bingo. OFB Safety Division members Dusty Applegate, Justin Grego […]

Sam Knipp, vice president of Corporate Communications/Public Relations for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, has been awarded for producing the best radio programs in the nation. His work received top billing during the recent Farm Bureau Public Relations Conference in San Diego, California. Knipp, whose programs were up against those of the nation’s top broadcasters, won first place in the following categories: Best Audio News Report and Best Audio Commentary. Knipp also received an honorable mention for the Best Regularly Scheduled Audio Program or Service. To sample Knipp’s award-winning work, visit the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Press Pass website at https://www.okfarmbureau.org/press%5Fpass/radioTV/.  

OFB’s Corporate Communications/Public Relations department recently welcomed a new addition to its staff. Dustin Mielke assumed the role of Coordinator of Media Relations June 5. Mielke is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and a minor in agricultural economics. Mielke is originally from Conrad, Mont., where his grandparents operate a wheat, barley and polled Hereford cattle farm and ranch. “I enjoyed spending time on their farm, which is where I learned to love farming and agriculture,” he said. “As I grew up, I knew I wanted to be […]

Derrick Davies recently joined the Oklahoma Farm Bureau (OFB) Legal Foundation as law clerk, and will continue in the position until May 2007. Davies is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics. He will begin his third and final year of law school at Oklahoma City University this fall. Davies and his wife, Robyn, live in Stillwater, Okla. A native of Fletcher, Okla., Davies is the product of a Farm Bureau family. “My family have long been Farm Bureau members,” he said. “My great-grandfather, L.T. Hayes, was a Farm Bureau […]

In spite of recent rainfall across much of the state, the effects of a lingering drought leave Oklahoma land susceptible to wildfires. As Independence Day quickly approaches, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau (OFB) reminds citizens wildfire risk can quickly turn into reality if fireworks are used inappropriately. “All it takes is a spark and hundreds or thousands of acres can burn,” said OFB Safety Director Justin Grego. “We’re really concerned about the Fourth of July holiday as fireworks can get in the hands of somebody that doesn’t use them with caution.” According to the National Fire Protection Agency, on Independence Day […]

Environmental issues in agriculture are as diverse as the industry itself, and environmental regulation plays a critical role in the day-to-day work of farmers and ranchers. Farm Bureau staff from across the nation came together in Jackson, Miss., May 30-June 2 to discuss this key topic at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Environmental Issues Conference. Marla Peek, Oklahoma Farm Bureau (OFB) Director of Regulatory Affairs, joined other attendees at the conference, which focused on issues such as water quality, wetlands, CERCLA (Superfund act), the Food Quality Protection Act deadline, energy issues including the 25×25 Coalition and conservation titles as […]