www.okfarmbureau.org Farm Bureau Perspective March 20, 2015

Hole Sponsorships

Platinum - $1000 Includes green fees for 4 players, meals, door prizes, 2 free mulligans per player and a sponsored hole named for your team.

Gold - $750 Includes green fees for 4 players, meals, door prizes, 1 free mulligan per player and a sponsored hole named for your team.

Silver - $500 Includes green fees for 4 players, meals, door prizes and a sponsored hole named for your team. YF&R Golf Classic to be held May 8 in Enid klahoma Farm Bureau’s Young with lunch at 11 a.m. and tee-off at noon. companies, organizations or individuals Farmers and Ranchers Committee will Registration is now open for both teams who wish to support the tournament hold their 13th annual Golf Classic May 8 and individuals. The cost is $350 for a team beyond the standard team or individual rate. at Pheasant Run Golf Course in Enid. The of four, or $90 per individual. Teams must To register, sponsor a hole, or for more scramble-style event is held to benefit the be registered and pay by May 1. Spots will information, call Holly Carroll, OKFB OKFB Legal Foundation. fill up quickly, so be sure to register early. vice president of field services and YF&R Check-in will be at 10:30 a.m. on the 8th Hole sponsorships are available for coordinator, at (405) 523-2307.

OKFB to explore northeast Oklahoma on commodity tour

Oklahoma Farm Bureau will be holding the 2015 Commodity Tour March 25-27 in northeast Oklahoma. The theme for this year’s tour is “Osage to the : A Journey through Northeast Oklahoma.” Those attending the commodity tour will participate in a variety of tours including the Port of Catoosa, Natural Falls State Park, the Pensacola Dam and Will Rogers Museum. Legislative Update: Our Right to Farm By John Collison OKFB Vice President of Public Policy and Media Relations okfbyf&r hope most of you were question a reality. This bill now goes to the oklahomafarmbureau able to enjoy your Senate Rules Committee and, if passed, on youngfarmers&ranchers spring break. If you went to the full senate. If we can get the required to the mountains, I know 25 votes on the floor you will see this you had good snow, and if you were able to question on the November 2016 ballot. go to the beach, it looks like you had good This is where you come in. By now you weather. If you stayed around Oklahoma, are well aware that agriculture as a whole YF&R scholarship I know you were able to enjoy some nice is under attack and will continue to be weather and into the future. applications due hopefully take in Call your senator ... and ask for This question the Oklahoma of whether we April 10 Youth Expo. their support of HJR 1012, and need to protect Do you know a graduating high school One group of we can take this question to our industry individuals who constitutionally senior from a Farm Bureau family did not take a the people with overwhelming is now up to who will be studying agriculture at an spring break were support. This bill is just one the senators. I Oklahoma college or university next the members at am asking all year? They can apply for the OKFB the Capitol. As I more step in the fight to protect of you to call Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship have said before, agriculture, and with your help, it’s the minute you which awards nine $1000 scholarships. once session gets a fight we can win. read this and To learn more and apply, check out the up and running ask your senator — John Collison YF&R Scholarship Application posted on they do not quit to vote yes on our website’s Applications Center page. until the end of May. I tell you the truth HJR 1012. Legislative members do listen Applications must be postmarked by when I say not many things get in the way. and they do need you to call them and let April 10. As we have passed the half-way point in them know you will support them when the session and the House bills have now they vote in favor of this bill. Without your moved to the Senate, and vice-versa, your assistance, this vote will be very close. Call priority legislation is alive and kicking. You your senator at the number listed below and told us last year that you wanted to make ask for their support of HJR 1012, and we Right to Farm a constitutional question, can take this question to the people with Ask your senators to and we are one step closer to making that overwhelming support. This bill is just one vote in favor of a reality. Rep. Scott Biggs was able to pass more step in the fight to protect agriculture, Right to Farm in the house with a number and with your help, it is a fight we can win. HJR 1012! of co-authors by a margin of 90-6. I want Members can call the Senate switchboard to thank him publicly and personally for at 405-524-0126 any weekday between 8:30 making this cause his own and working a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 405-524-0126 with us for two yeas to try and make this Oklahoma Farm Bureau Online

New OKFB Insurance Commercial @okfarmbureau We are proud to share with you the latest TV ad from With the legislative session in full swing, the OKFB Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance! It will begin appearing on TV in communications staff has been working hard to keep members up- various outlets in our state within the coming weeks. The concept, to-date concerning OKFB-supported and -opposed bills via Twitter. Be visuals, script and editing were all completed in-house by OKFB and sure to follow the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Twitter account and use the OKFB Insurance staff. We hope you enjoy it! hashtag #okfb15 when engaging with us!

www.okfarmbureau.org facebook twitter pinterest instagram flickr wordpress soundcloud youtube 2 | perspective Beckham County Farm Bureau’s legislative dinner on March 12 brought Oklahoma Attorney General spoke to the OSU animal science Sen. Jech and Rep. Russ to Sayre to visit with Farm Bureau members capstone class on March 9 about the efforts his office is making to stand about the Oklahoma legislative session and issues. Water was a hot topic up for agriculture. OKFB and the OSU Collegiate Farm Bureau club for agriculturalists bracing for an unknown future. hosted lunch for Attorney General Pruitt after his lecture.

Hughes, Pontotoc Counties visit Capitol Farm Bureau members from Hughes and Pontotoc Counties traveled to on March 10 to visit the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Headquarters and the Oklahoma State Capitol. The visit at OKFB featured topics including wild hogs and water with OKFB Vice President of Public Policy John Collison. The group had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Susan Paddack, Sen. Larry Boggs and Rep. Todd Thomsen during their Capitol visit to talk about issues in their area of the state.

Member Benefits Calendar Choice Hotels OKFB Commodity Tour Choice Hotels are giving their Choice Privileges members an opportunity March 25-27 — Northeast Oklahoma to stay two separate times now to April 22 and earn a free night at more Contact: Marcia Irvin (405) 523-2405 than 1,500 hotels. Ag Day at the Capitol

April 1 — Oklahoma City OKFB highlights a benefit in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of Contact: Marcia Irvin (405) 523-2405 the savings available to OKFB members. You can find a complete list of savings on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau website. Deadline for YF&R Scholarship Applications April 10 — Oklahoma City www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits Contact: Holly Carroll (405) 530-2307 oklahoma farm bureau | 3 Published by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Oklahoma Farm Bureau PublishedPostmaster: by Send Oklahoma address correctionsFarm Bureau to: 2501 N. Stiles Non-Profit Postmaster: Send address corrections to: U.S. Postage Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126 Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332 PAID Permit No. 131 STAFF DIRECTORY Okla. City, OK. Executive Director Monica Wilke 405-523-2303 VP of Public Policy and Media Relations John Collison 405-523-2539 Directors of Corporate Communications Sam Knipp 405-523-2347 Dustin Mielke 405-530-2640 Communications Specialist Samantha Smith 405-523-2346

Rural Oklahoma remains a priority at the State Capitol By LeeAnna McNally OKFB Director of National Affairs

pring has sprung and or thereby substantially reducing the fair for individuals who are currently out of state it is hard to believe market value of the mineral estate, or to move to rural Oklahoma.” we are more than a month 3) prohibiting access to develop the House Bill 1747 by Rep. Tom Newell and into the 2015 Oklahoma mineral estate, it shall be considered Sen. Mike Schulz of Altus provides a tax Legislative Session. Many late nights have a taking pursuant to Article 2 of the exemption for a period of five years, of 100 ensued at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma Constitution and relevant percent of income, received by a person especially last week being a deadline week statutes.” who becomes a resident of a county within in both chambers. Although last week When asked why Sen. Marlatt thought the state that has had a population decline. seemed like it would never end, it is evident this was important legislation he stated, The bill currently has 14 co-authors in production agriculture is still a priority in “Oklahomans should not be prohibited the House of Representatives, including the minds of many respected Oklahoma from reaping the benefits of their property, Oklahoma Speaker of the House, Jeff legislators. We have seen legislation including Hickman. authored by both the Senate and House of mineral Oklahoma Farm Bureau members This week bills Representatives dealing with many aspects estates.” will swap chambers of agriculture and rural Oklahoma. He added, continue to be the voice for rural and the House of Senate Bill 468, authored by Sen. Bryce “Private Oklahoma. Thank you to our Representatives Marlatt, affirms private property rights are property will begin hearing still a top priority in Oklahoma. The bill rights and the membership for continuing to be Senate bills, while in part states: “Whenever a municipality, energy sector engaged in moving Oklahoma the Senate will begin county, or other political subdivision, other are still a high foward. hearing House bills. than the Corporation Commission, adopts priorities in The Oklahoma — LeeAnna McNally or implements an ordinance, resolution, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Public rule, regulation, or other form of official State Senate.” Policy Department will continue to monitor policy concerning oil and gas operations Although populations have declined bills and explore ideas which align with that has the effect of: in many parts of rural Oklahoma, it is OKFB policy. Please contact our office with 1) interfering with the use and enjoyment not because of the quality of life. Rep. any questions or concerns you may have of the mineral estate, as defined in Section Tom Newell from Seminole knows the regarding legislation. 802 of Title 52 of the Oklahoma Statutes importance of attracting people to rural Oklahoma Farm Bureau members 2) imposing or enforcing a limitation that Oklahoma. “Oklahoma is a great place to continue to be the voice for rural adversely impacts the use and development be right now, especially rural Oklahoma. Oklahoma. Thank you to our membership of minerals by substantially increasing I want to be sure people know what a for continuing to be engaged in moving the costs of the oil and gas operations, wonderful place it is, and offer an incentive Oklahoma forward.

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