Keith Kisling of Burlington and Jimmy Kinder of Walters will be honored with Governor’s Excellence in Agriculture Awards April 10, as announced today by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
The awards will be presented during a special ceremony hosted by ODAFF and sponsored by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives April 10 at 2 p.m. in the state Capitol. The public is invited to attend the ceremony held as part of the state’s annual Oklahoma Ag Day celebration.
Kisling, OKFB District Seven Director and Alfalfa County Farm Bureau member, will be honored with the Governor’s Outstanding Achievement in Agriculture Award. The prestigious award honors leaders in the agricultural industry who exemplify personal values, performance and achievement. Recipients are recognized for having high standards of conduct, leadership, innovation and accomplishments in agriculture and as serving as a role model for Oklahoma agriculture’s young people.
As full-time farmers and ranchers, Kisling and his wife Marlene have built a thriving agricultural operation growing wheat, wheat pasture, cattle, irrigated corn, soybeans, alfalfa hay, grass hay and sorghum. The couple also operated a feedlot for stocker cattle.
Kinder, OKFB District Four Director and Cotton County Farm Bureau member, will be presented with the Governor’s Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Award. The award recognizes Oklahoma agriculturalists who are leaders in developing and adopting outstanding environmentally innovative agricultural practices. This award highlights the efforts of an Oklahoma agricultural producer who is a steward of the environment and is dedicated to conserving the natural resources of Oklahoma while helping to ensure a continued supply of food and fiber.
Kinder is a fourth-generation farmer and rancher from Cotton County and an early innovator in Oklahoma agriculture. His family farms 5,500 acres of wheat, canola, sesame and grain sorghum. They grow 2,500 acres of grass and run stocker cattle.
Other award recipients include Randy Gilbert of Tecumseh, honored with the Governor’s Outstanding Public Service in Agriculture Award, and Larry Watkins of Stillwater will posthumously be recognized with the Governor’s Outstanding Legacy in Agriculture Award.
