OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

® ERSPECTIVE P February 22, 2013 OFB honors five legislators for supporting agriculture

Sen. Anthony Sykes Rep. Lisa Billy Rep. Tom Newell Rep. Mike Jackson Rep. Joe Dorman

Five state legislators received Oklahoma Sykes is chairman of the Judiciary com- Newell is vice chairman of the Appro- Farm Bureau’s Meritorious Service Award mittee and vice chairman of the committee priations and Budget Committee. He also Feb. 18, during the farm organization’s annual on Business and Commerce. He also serves serves on the committees for Agriculture and leadership conference at the Skirvin Hotel in on the committees for Agriculture and Rural Wildlife; Judiciary; and Long-Term Care and Oklahoma City. Development; and Appropriations, as well Senior Services. He represents House District The Meritorious Service award is pre- as the Appropriations Subcommittee on 28 in east central Oklahoma. sented to legislators who have a strong vot- General Government and Transportation. As Speaker Pro Tempore, Jackson plays ing record for Farm Bureau issues and show He represents Senate District 24 in south a major leadership role as he is an ex officio support for rural and agricultural issues. The central Oklahoma. voting member on all House Committees. awards are based on a county Farm Bureau’s Billy currently is Assistant Majority Whip Jackson represents House District 40 in north nomination and evaluation of the lawmaker’s and is chairman of the A & B Committee central Oklahoma. adherence to the values and issues important for Higher Education. She also serves on Dorman, representing House District 65 to rural Oklahoma. the committees for A & B Public Safety; in southern Oklahoma, is vice chairman of the Receiving the award were Sen. Anthony Energy and Aerospace; and Appropriations minority caucus and serves on the commit- Sykes, Moore, and Representatives Lisa Billy, and Budget. She represents House District tees for Appropriations and Budget; A & B Purcell; Tom Newell, Seminole; Mike Jack- 42 in south central Oklahoma. Public Safety; Government Modernization; son, Enid; and Joe Dorman, Rush Springs. and Rules.

Gov. Mary Fallin presents the 2013 Farm Bureau Week proclamation to OFB President Mike Spradling. Gov. Fallin helped officially kick off Farm Bureau Week Feb. 18, during the OFB Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City. In her remarks, she commended members for their dedication to protecting and advancing Oklahoma agriculture and thanked them for their hard work in producing food, fiber and fuel. More photos from the OFB Leadership Conference will appear in the next issue of Perspective. Member Benefits

• ScriptSave – Offers members and their families access to discounts on brand name and generic prescriptions. Call 800-700-3957. Use the group number 189A.

OFB highlights a benefit in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the By John Collison savings available to OFB members. Find OFB Vice President of Public Policy and Media Relations a complete list of savings online at okfarmbureau.org. We are now well under way at 23rd and to create chaos and violence. While this bill Lincoln. We have already seen a range of will be hotly debated, it is an unfortunate bills, including one giving teachers who are discussion the entire country is having. CLEET certified the ability to carry guns Two of the more visible bills coming out in the classroom, bills that deal with horses of the House and Senate deal with horse OFB Calendar when they reach their useful end and bills slaughter and the sale of horse meat. These aimed at drought relief. We have also seen two bills have been offered by Sen. Mark Congressional Action Tour Deadline some work on tackling the feral hog issue and Allen and Rep. Skye McNiel. While there March 11 the need to control workers’ compensation. are a lot of rumors around the Capitol Contact: Sara Drozdowski, (405) 530-2681 Rep. Mark McCullough introduced HB about the bills and their taboos, there has 1062. This bill allows teachers or adminis- been relatively little fuss. There was a hand- Oklahoma Youth Expo trators who have undergone reserve police ful (three) of anti-horse-killing people at March 16-26 • OKC deputy training to carry a loaded handgun both the House and Senate hearings, but Contact: Chris Kidd, (405) 523-2402 in public elementary and secondary schools. they didn’t really have a lot to say. Both of This bill has passed out of committee these bills made it out of their respective YF&R Legislative Day and will be headed to the House floor for committees in a matter of minutes and will March 19 • OKC debate. Rep. McCullough is looking for a go to both the House and Senate floor for Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 301-6610 way to keep teachers from being helpless debate. I encourage you to call your legisla- when someone decides schools are the place tors and remind them there is a useful end for horses when they have served their purpose here on Earth. OFB is a supporter of Rep. McNiel and Sen. Allen’s position. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online Rep. Don Armes and Rep. Dale DeWitt have authored bills discussing drought Monitor the latest Farm Bureau relief and funding for this great need we and agricultural news and information are facing. This will be the issue that defines online at okfarmbureau.org. who we are as an organization in the years Currently online: to come. We see that this is not a Demo- • Agricultural News – Oklahoma crat verses Republican issue at the Capitol, Farm Bureau features a new agriculture- but rather it is a rural verses urban issue. related story every day on its site. Read This truly will become a fight between the about both AFBF and state Farm haves and the have-nots unless something Bureau news by visiting the homepage. is done. If that were not enough, the courts have decided to let Dallas join in and really • OFB 2013 Calendar – Oklahoma mix it up. Now the battle turns to Okla- Farm Bureau’s staff is gearing up for homa verses Texas. As water is one of the a busy schedule in 2013. From the most precious resources we have in our upcoming legislative session to summer state, we at OFB are geared up and ready conferences, see our lineup of events! to fight for our members’ needs. This fight will not be won or lost in one session. It is a battle that will take place in meeting rooms, www.okfarmbureau.org legislative halls, court rooms and in the public forum. Please understand that your OFB stands ready.

2 Loos shares ag advocacy message with OFB members

Trent Loos, Nebraska rancher, broadcaster and outspoken advocate for animal agriculture, addressed a group of Farm Bureau leaders and the general public Feb. 14, at the Noble County Fairgrounds in Perry. The meeting was sponsored by the Noble County Farm Bureau. “We have to stand up for agriculture and tell our story about animal agriculture,” Loos told the group. Loos, founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non- profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food, offered his definition for today’s farmer and rancher. “I define a farmer and rancher as someone tend- ing to the land and converting God’s gifts into consumable products,” Loos said. Loos stars in OFB’s “Pig to Plate” DVD spon- sored by the OFB Womens Committee. District 7 committee member Desdive Milacek, Enid, told the Perry gathering the committee is giving a copy of the DVD to every school district in Oklahoma. The Agricultural advocate Trent Loos speaks to Noble County Farm DVD is a series of nine separate segments aimed at Bureau members and guests during a recent trip to Oklahoma. explaining pork production to young school children. Earlier in the day Loos traveled to Pawnee and visited with rancher Gerald Turner, OFB’s Legacy Award winner. “It was wonderful to meet Trent and tell him a little bit about the history of this area,” Turner said. The 88-year-old Turner enthralled Loos with stories about growing up on the Oklahoma prairie and spending time with Pawnee Bill and Mexican Joe. “I knew both of them growing up, and in fact, Mexican Joe taught me how to rope,” Turner said.

OFB hosts legislative reception Farm Bureau remembers past board member RIGHT – OFB Director Jimmy Wayne Kinder The Oklaho- (right) welcomes Sen. ma Farm Bureau Larry Boggs and Rep. family is mourn- Kay Floyd to the OFB ing the passing legislative reception of former state Feb. 5, at the OFB State board member Office. Merle Atkins, who died Jan. 15, 2013, at his home near Davidson. Atkins farmed LEFT – OFB and ranched Director Rodd in the Tillman Merle Atkins Moesel (left) County area his visits with Rep. entire life. He was a Tillman County Farm Gus Blackwell Bureau board member for several years (right) and OFB and served on the OFB Board of Directors Director Tom from 1997 to 2006. Buchanan during Memorial contributions may be made the OFB legislative to the Davidson First Baptist Church or reception. the Tillman County Historical Society in memory of Merle Ray Atkins. 3 Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau PublishedPostmaster by: Send Oklahoma address corrections Farm Bureau to: Oklahoma Farm Bureau Non-Profit PerspectivePostmaster, P.O.: B.Send 53332, address OKC, corrections OK 73152-3332 to: 2501 N. Stiles U.S. Postage Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126 PAID Staff Directory Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK. MaceyS Panachtaff D, 523-2346irectory Perspective/Online News Editor MonicaTraci Morgan Wilke,, 523-2346523-2303 Executive Perspective/Online Director News Editor John Collison, 523-2539 VPSam of KnippPublic ,Policy 523-2347 and Media Relations Chris Vice KiddPresident, 523-2402 of Communications/PR VP of Organization and Membership SamTyler KnippNorvell, 523-2347, 523-2402 SeniorVice President Dir. of Corporate of Public Communications Policy Marla Peek, 523-2437 DirectorMarla Peek of Regulatory, 523-2437 Affairs Director of Regulatory Affairs

OFB kicks off 2013 growing season blog

The second annual Oklahoma Farm “We encourage teachers Bureau Harvest Watch blog season is under and their students to follow way. It will feature regular updates from six the regular updates on the farm families as they experience the every- website as a way to learn more day joys and disappointments of planting about our modern agriculture and harvesting a crop and feeding and production,” said Mike Spradling, Okla- “What is more relevant to children than caring for livestock. Updates will continue homa Farm Bureau president. their food, clothing, and shelter? All provid- through the fall and conclude with harvest. The Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom pro- ed by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. The The six farm families, each represent a gram is once again helping promote the blog. blog provided that connection first hand!” different region of Oklahoma, include Zac “When students can make a connection In addition to school children, the news and Amy Harris, Hobart; Brandon and from what is going on in the classroom to media and general public also are invited Cari Webb, Canton; Matt and Lisa Graves, what is going on outside the classroom, to join the farm families on their journey Gate; Kenneth and Debby Fisher, Bristow; learning takes place,” said Dana Bessinger, through the 2013 growing season. To read Brent and Myndi Bolen, Idabel; and Greg coordinator of teacher training for the the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Harvest Watch and Mary Leonard, Afton. Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom program. blog, please go to www.okfarmbureau.org.

Oklahoma Soybean Expo OFB sets dates for “Big Ag, Little Dixie” 2013 commodity tour

OFB members will have the opportunity to explore the history, culture and agricul- tural industry of “Little Dixie” during the 2013 OFB Commodity Tour, March 25-27, in southeast Oklahoma. The three-day tour will begin in McAlester and continue on to Sardis Lake, Idabel and Poteau. Limited space is available, so reserve your spot as soon as possible by contacting Kelli Beall at (405) 523-2470 or [email protected]. A more complete OFB field rep Robin Landrum (left) shows members Robert Ross and Bob Ross, agenda for the tour will appear in the next Webbers Falls, and Paul Freundt, Guthrie, OFB’s Facebook page on his iPad at issue of Perspective. the OFB booth during the Oklahoma Soybean Expo, Feb. 13, in Stillwater. 4