Jail birds? State Question 687 All-Around Service ® All Around Oklahoma does much more than ban cockfight- Oklahoma Farm Bureau ing in Oklahoma. Page 2 •••••••••••••••••••• Quota buyout The signup period for USDA’s peanut quota buyout runs journaljournaljournal through Nov. 22. Volume 54 No. 6(ISSN 1091-921X) October 2002 Page 7 Bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs will entertain at convention While Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 61st annual convention will began to bring country music back to its roots. He helped pull focus on taking care of business for the state’s largest farm country music out the its pop sound by blending bluegrass, organization, delegates and others attending will be entertained gospel, honky tonk and western swing with contemporary songs by one of the nation’s foremost bluegrass performers at the Nov. and state-of-the-art production techniques. 9 banquet. Now, Skaggs continues to pay his respects to country’s rich Ricky Skaggs, winner of eight awards from the Country history while nurturing it in the 21st century. Music Association and four Grammies, will take the stage at “I always want to try to promote the old music as well as trying 7:30 p.m. following the evening’s dinner in the Cox Convention to grow and be a pioneer, too,” he said. Center in Oklahoma City. Today, Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, have a string Tickets for the evening’s dinner and entertainment will be of successful album releases. The latest, “History of the Future,” available at the registration area of the convention. Cost is has one foot planted on the bedrock of traditional bluegrass and $25 each. one kicking open the door to new sounds and rhythms. With exposure spanning from Grand Ole Opry appearances While Skaggs will provide entertainment, delegates attend- to broadcasting on the Internet, Skaggs is one of bluegrass’ most ing the Nov. 9-11 meeting will set policy for 2003, elect three personable and effective ambassadors. He has had 24 singles on state directors and delegates for the American Farm Bureau Billboard’s Top 20, including 12 number ones. annual meeting, and hear from a variety of speakers. Skaggs began playing the mandolin at age 5, and soon Top state awards to counties and individual members will be developed into a young prodigy, learning guitar and fiddle as presented during the annual meeting. well. In 1970, he joined Ralph Stanley’s legendary bluegrass Competitions, such as the annual Discussion Meet, also will band, the Clinch Mountain Boys, and later moved on to Country be featured during the convention. Gentlemen, a progressive bluegrass band. After leaving that The list of speakers invited to the annual meeting includes band in the ’70s, he had three critically acclaimed albums and the U.S. Reps. J.C. Watts and Wes Watkins, Flashpoint’s Mike first of his many chart singles. Turpin and Burns Hargis, AFBF Women’s Chairman Terry The 1980s belonged to Skaggs. He joined the Grand Ole Gilbert, USDA’s Dale Moore, Bob Funk and the new governor- Opry, and then began racking up his chart-topping music and elect of Oklahoma. She loves them, and makes money By Mike Nichols The operation actually is Karon’s, but she says The PBS show that aired about 10 years ago didn’t “like anything else, it’s all ours. It was all my idea, but win an Emmy, but nonetheless proved to be a life- he likes them.” changing telecast for accidental viewer Karon Storm. Storm Haven Alpacas is secluded on a sandy-topped “I saw a show on PBS about 10 years ago and I was hill along Peebly Road in eastern Oklahoma County. thunderstruck,” she remembers. “I thought I have to Countless passersby zip past daily, unaware of the unique have one!” livestock operation hidden from view atop the hill where The telecast featured alpacas, domestic animals dat- the Storm’s home sits. ing back to the ancient Inca civilization in the Peruvian The virtual backyard operation covers about an acre Andes where only royalty was allowed to wear the fine or so, where the peaceful alpacas spend their days shaded cashmere-like clothing made from their fleece. by trees that hide a maze of misters and box fans used It took her nearly two years to find an alpaca to when Oklahoma’s summer temperatures swelter. purchase. Tall fences corral the alpacas, protecting the animals “At that time, there were only two breeders in Okla- against harm from dogs and other predators. A part Great homa. I found one in Gore. I quit a very stressful job, took Pyrenees dog also makes its home with the alpacas, money from my 401K and bought my first female. guarding them from unwelcome intruders. “You can love and enjoy them and still make money “They are defenseless,” says Karon. “All they can do with them. They’re a livestock I can handle. I enjoy is spit, so you have to worry about predators. I worry raising them, and I enjoy my herd.” about dogs.” Karon and her husband, George, who works for the There is cause for concern, because the pint-sized, City of Oklahoma City, own Storm Haven Alpacas, one llama-looking critters are the “platinum” members of the of only 10 alpaca operations in the entire state. (Alpaca, Page 3) Proposed Oklahoma An Editorial NOTICE OF Farm Bureau ANNUAL MEETING State question is much more To all county Farm Bureaus of the Bylaw Amendment Oklahoma Farm Bureau. than just ban on cockfighting You are hereby notified that Okla- The Oklahoma Farm Bureau board homa Farm Bureau will convene in of directors voted unanimously at its ver the last few months we have heard lots of rhetoric about SQ 687, annual session Saturday, November Sept. 19-20, 2002, meeting to propose commonly known as the proposal to ban cockfighting. I am not 9, 2002, at 2:15 p.m. in the Cox Con- the following bylaw amendment to the O attempting to tell anyone how he or she should feel about the act of vention Center in Oklahoma City. delegate body at the Nov. 9-11, 2002, cockfighting. However, I do feel that we must all understand what the petition This is the annual meeting of the annual meeting: which creates SQ687 says and how it affects each and every one of us. delegate body. See that your delegates This petition certainly pertains to more than cockfighting. The petition makes are properly certified and in atten- NEW LANGUAGE: a number of statements that should concern all of us, not just cockfighters. This dance to represent your membership. Article III, Section II, Paragraph 1 question will ban ownership, possession, or caring for of any bird which could be This meeting will continue until all used for cockfighting. Many years ago in our state we banned the fighting of dogs. business is transacted. KEY: Hardly any of us would argue that we should have dog fights. Yet, did we ban the Board of Directors Such -- language to be deleted owning of a dog? Did anyone go to jail for 10 years for caring for their pooch? NOTICE OF Such -- proposed new language Critics argue that no one would have a fighting rooster for a pet. Aren’t they just as loving as a pit bull? ANNUAL MEETING At the first election of directors after This petition declares that any equipment that could be used for the handling OF OKLAHOMA FARM adoption of a 1961 amendment, the of a fighting bird is contraband and subject to seizure. Contraband is defined as BUREAU MUTUAL directors of Districts 3 and 9 were cages, pens, feeders and anything else that could be used to care for a chicken. INSURANCE COMPANY elected for one (1) year term; and the Are we really about to pass a law that says government can come on your private Notice is hereby given of the an- directors of Districts 1 and 7 were property and seize a chicken feeder? Does this border on fascism? nual meeting of the Policy holders of elected for two (2) year terms; and the Next the petition states that any person who performs any act or service that Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual In- director of District 5 was elected for a may be in the furtherance of a cockfight is guilty of a felony and subject to 10 years surance Company to be held in the three (3) year term. At the second elec- in prison and a $25,000 fine. What does “any act” include? Are we talking about Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma tion of directors after adoption of said feed dealers, veterinarians and farmers? If you help fix a flat tire of a man on his City on Monday, November 11, 2002, amendment, (1962), the directors of way to a cockfight are you a felon? commencing at the hour of 8:45 a.m. Districts 2 and 8 were elected for two Has the agenda of PETA, the Animal Liberation Front, the Humane Society at which time a report of the activities (2) year terms and the director of Dis- and others simply gotten out of hand, when we consider putting people in jail for of our company during the past fiscal trict 4 was elected for a one (1) year 10 years for growing chickens? year will be submitted together with a report of the financial position of the term; and the directors for Districts 6 The Oklahoma Department of Corrections recently announced major budget cuts and urged the legislature to take action before the state is forced to release, company; and at which time any and and 9 were elected for three (3) year all other activities of the company may terms.