Another year of August Area Meetings has come to a close. Farm Bureau members from every corner of the state gathered for a total of 11 districtwide meetings during the weeks of August 8 and August 15. August Area Meetings serve as the beginning of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s grassroots policy development season where members bring forth top issues facing farmers and ranchers. Members who attended the 2022 meetings discussed a variety of topics, including medical marijuana, private property rights, agriculture labor, school vouchers, climate issues, the 2023 farm bill and more. Members will now take what they discussed to their […]

Nearly 70 FFA and 4-H members descended on the Oklahoma state Capitol for the inaugural Oklahoma Farm Bureau Youth Legislative Experience July 12-13 in Oklahoma City. The first of its kind for OKFB, the Youth Legislative Experience was an immersive two-day event for high school juniors and seniors to learn about Oklahoma’s legislative process and how a bill becomes law through a mock legislature held on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Each student arrived at the state Capitol with legislation in hand that they crafted in the weeks prior to the conference. Delegates had the opportunity to […]

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation is pleased with the Supreme Court of the United States decision in State of Oklahoma v. Victor Manuel Castro-Huerta, announced Wednesday, June 29, nearly two years after the 2020 ruling in Jimcy McGirt v. State of Oklahoma. The 5-to-4 decision affirmed the state of Oklahoma has concurrent jurisdiction with the federal government to prosecute crimes committed by non-Indians against Indians on Muscogee (Creek), Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Seminole or Quapaw reservations in Oklahoma. “This ruling is a significant legal victory for all Oklahomans and will set the stage for other legal matters stemming from the […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Treasurer and District 9 Director Jim Meek was recently elected as vice-chair of the newly formed Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. A rancher from Okmulgee County, Meek was one of two individuals appointed to the board by Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall. “As a third-generation rancher, Jim Meek will be an effective advocate for making sure the broadband office prioritizes Oklahoma’s unserved and underserved rural areas first,” McCall said. “I’m thrilled he is bringing his experience and the voice of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau to the table for this transformational opportunity for rural Oklahoma.” The Oklahoma Broadband Governing […]

After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions, lawmakers were back to business as usual in 2022 during the second regular session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature, running from the first Monday in February to the last Friday in May. With restrictions lifted and long-awaited building renovations complete, the marble floors of the state Capitol played host to a seemingly endless stream of foot traffic from legislators, staff and visitors from around the state. Oklahoma Farm Bureau and its members had a strong presence at 23rd and Lincoln throughout the 2022 legislative session. In addition to the […]

Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry took the state by storm after the passage of State Question 788 in 2018. With more than 8,000 medical marijuana grows in Oklahoma, the industry has had a significant impact on agriculture and rural Oklahoma. Concerns around medical marijuana and the impact it has or will have on Oklahoma’s agriculture industry were on the top of Farm Bureau members’ minds during the 2022 legislative session. From illegal activity to concerns with herbicide spray drift, Farm Bureau members sought clarity on potential liabilities and improved communications with medical marijuana growers around them. Oklahoma Farm Bureau began the […]

State lawmakers wrapped up the bulk of their work last week ending with a rare Friday legislative day. While the majority of the work is now complete, both chambers have signaled that they plan to return to the Capitol on Thursday and Friday to consider any overrides of potential gubernatorial vetoes before adjourning sine die on Friday, May 27. Last week, the budget for fiscal year 2023 was approved by both the House and Senate and now awaits consideration by Gov. Stitt. The 2023 budget included funding for a variety of Oklahoma Farm Bureau interests. Lawmakers allocated just over $10 […]

Oklahoma Farm Bureau recently partnered with the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association to send a letter to Congress in opposition of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act and the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act. The letter – sent to United States Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman – urged the recipients to oppose and prevent further action on both measures. OKFB and OCA support portions of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act, but do not support the legislation in its entirety. In […]