News Stories

Electing rural-friendly candidates to public office is the focus of a two-day campaign management seminar Dec. 1-2 at the Best Western Saddleback Inn, Oklahoma City. The seminar is sponsored by Oklahoma Farm Bureau. “It’s important we elect people who understand the unique issues of rural Oklahoma,” said OFB Public Policy Director Lori Peterson. A majority of Oklahoma’s legislators represent at least a portion of rural voters. Out of a total of 149 state lawmakers in the current legislature, 84 are considered “rural.” The campaign seminar will include sessions on candidate evaluation, campaign issues, raising campaign funds, working with the news […]

Oklahoma farms are not hazardous waste dump sites subject to Superfund regulations simply because farmers spread animal manure on their land, said Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Steve Kouplen in testimony before Congress Nov. 16. “Farm Bureau firmly believes Congress never intended animal manure to be considered a hazardous waste and regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA Superfund),” Kouplen said. “Congress needs to reaffirm this now to protect us from unnecessary and burdensome litigation.” The Farm Bureau leader knows something about litigation. The industry he represents is under fire from Oklahoma’s attorney general who filed a […]

 Delegates to Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 64th annual convention set the organization’s policy for 2006, taking strong stands on issues pertaining to eminent domain, energy and farm programs. With the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Kelo v. City of New London (Connecticut) fresh on their minds, the delegates from 77 county Farm Bureaus made reform of eminent domain laws a top priority during the Nov. 12-14 meeting in Oklahoma City. The Supreme Court ruling said state and local governments can take private property for economic development projects, but also said states can enact laws disallowing the taking of private property for […]

Eminent domain, protection of private property rights and skyrocketing energy prices top the list of issues farmers and ranchers will discuss during the 64th annual convention of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Nov. 12-14 at Oklahoma City’s Cox Convention Center. “Taking care of the business of the state’s largest voluntary farm organization and setting policy to help mold the future of the state and nation is the primary focus of our convention,” said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. This year’s theme, “We Belong To The Land,” sets the tone for the three-day event. Several top-notch speakers and some of the […]

 Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Affiliated Companies was the major buyer at the 2005 Tulsa State Fair Junior Livestock Premium Auction Oct. 7. The state’s largest farm organization purchased the grand champion lamb and 19 other prize-winning animals that made the annual premium auction. Farm Bureau was recognized prior to the auction with the 2004 Frank Sanders Memorial Award for last year’s premium auction, marking the fifth consecutive year for Farm Bureau to be recognized for purchasing the largest number of animals in the sale. The exhibitors of the prize-winning animals Farm Bureau purchased were: • Kari Wendt of Kingfisher FFA […]

 The single largest state agricultural youth judging contest will occur Friday, Sept. 16 when Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the State Fair of Oklahoma hosts the 15th annual Young Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Judging Contest. "We expect participation from about 750 students who will be competing for Farm Bureau jackets, plaques and prize money," said Todd Honer, contest chairman. "We’re again sponsoring those prizes this year, which makes this contest one of the best prize offerings for state youth." The Oklahoma City contest will include three classes each of cattle and hogs, and two classes of sheep. All contestants will be […]

 OSU International Student Tour Sponsored by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Tentative Schedule Monday, October 17 7:30 a.m…………….Leave OSU 8:00 a.m…………….Tour Barta Dairy and Farms, Perkins 9:30 a.m…………….Tour Tidal School Winery & Vineyard, Drumright 11:00 a.m…………..Tour Mid-America Livestock Sales/ V & V Custom Buying, Bristow Noon………………….Lunch – Provided by Creek County Farm Bureau/ Farm Credit speaker 1:30 p.m…………….Tour Fisher’s Feed Mill and Egg Production & Grading, Slick 3:00 p.m…………….Tour Holcomb’s Hog Operation & Hay Production, Kellyville 4:30 p.m…………….Tour Enlow Ford & Kubota Dealership, Sapulpa 6:00 p.m…………….Arrive Brewster Ranch, Slick/ Cutting Horse, Roping and Cow Dog Demonstration Supper provided […]

 Attention: Oklahoma Media YOU ARE INVITED TO A MORNING WITH American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2005 Please join us at the OFB State Office at 2501 N. Stiles Ave. in Oklahoma City from 9:30 a.m. through lunch. 9:30 a.m. ………………………… Eminent Domain Legislative Task Force Hearing in Senate Chamber, Fourth Floor. Testimony by AFBF President Stallman 10-11 a.m. ………………………. “Town Hall” Meeting with County FB Presidents 11 a.m. …………………………… Press Conference with President Stallman 11:30 a.m. ……………………….. Lunch RSVP by Aug. 24 with Director of Corporate Communication Sam Knipp at (405) 523-2347. All media are […]

U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Gale Norton has announced a grant totaling $160,000 to the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation under the Private Stewardship Grant Program. The Oklahoma grant will involve eight landowners in western Oklahoma with funding to control the invasive salt cedar and eastern red cedar along the Canadian River and its tributaries in western Oklahoma to restore and improve habitat for the Arkansas River shiner and interior least tern. “The Private Stewardship Grants Program encourages citizens to take conservation into their own hands by providing incentives for and flexibility in the development of on-the-ground solutions for the […]

 Attorney Ryan Jackson has joined the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation as the associate director. For the last two years, Jackson has been working in Washington, D.C., as the majority counsel for the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, working on issues for Sen. Jim Inhofe, who chairs the committee. In this role Jackson assisted Sen. Inhofe in drafting legislation, planning and conducting committee hearings, leading oversight activities of federal agencies under the committee’s jurisdiction, and other general legislative counsel. As the associate director for the OFB Legal Foundation, Jackson is the chief counsel and litigator. He will research […]