Oklahoma Farm Bureau members today approved changes to the organization’s water policy at its 74th Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City.
“Water is the most important asset to the state of Oklahoma,” said Tom Buchanan, OKFB president.
The delegate body, made up of Farm Bureau members from all 77 Oklahoma counties, approved suggestions with moderate changes from OKFB’s 21-member water committee, which was created at OKFB’s 2014 annual meeting at the request of the organization’s delegates. The committee spent the last year discussing water policy and learning from water experts around the state and the nation in an effort to understand Oklahoma’s water needs and resources.
The water committee’s suggestions modernized OKFB’s water policy, allowing OKFB leaders to work toward the development of all Oklahoma’s water.
“Water is a very important resource for all Oklahomans,” said Matt Muller, OKFB water committee member and Jackson County farmer. “We wanted to start healthy discussions around the state on how we can best advance good utilization of the water resources we have in this state that would benefit all of Oklahoma.”
Muller said the changes in water policy place the grassroots organization in a position to consider all sides of the water conversation.
“If you’re only known as the party of no on something, then it’s hard to be involved in something that could be beneficial,” Muller said. “I think this better positions us to look at opportunities to raise revenue, to help Oklahoma infrastructure, and utilize a source that we currently are not utilizing.”
