FALL 2013 THE MAGAZINE OF THE OKLAHomA FARM BUREAU INSINSIIDE:DE: TheThe MostMost ofof EEveryvery DDroprop AA FamilyFamily BusinessBusiness AfootAfoot TheThe FaithFaith ofof thethe FlockFlock THIS IS YOUR STORY. Your life is, your life. This is home. Maybe you grew up here. Maybe you moved here. Maybe you came back. But the point is, here you are. Now, you’ve got a lot at stake. The decision to insure it all is an easy one to make when you choose an Oklahoma company who has only one focus, serving Oklahoma. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance is the state’s largest domestic insurer that Oklahoman’s trust to protect them. THE SAME FARM BUREAU YOU’VE ALWAYS TRUSTED, NOW EVEN BETTER. HOME | AUTO | LIFE | OKFARMINSURANCE.COM With offices in all 77 Oklahoma counties, there’s an Oklahoma Farm Bureau near you. Oklahoma Country Contents THIS IS YOUR STORY. 8 Your life is, your life. Features 8 – The Most of Every Drop This is home. Maybe you grew up here. Maybe you moved here. Maybe you came back. BY MACEY HEDGES But the point is, here you are. Now, you’ve got a lot at stake. The decision to insure it all is Pat Long and his family are combining conservation methods and technology to protect an easy one to make when you choose an Oklahoma company who has only one focus, one of the state’s most precious resources. serving Oklahoma. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance is the state’s largest domestic insurer that Oklahoman’s trust to protect them. 14 – A Family Business Afoot BY SAM KNIPP THE SAME FARM BUREAU YOU’VE ALWAYS A strong desire to help people while crafting TRUSTED, NOW EVEN BETTER. 14 beautiful and functional footwear is at the heart of the legendary Loveless Custom Boots and Shoe Company. Customers include U.S. Presidents, a Saudi Arabian prince and U.S. soldiers, and there is a story behind every custom-made pair. 20 – The Faith of the Flock BY SAMANTHA SMITH With a love for the Lord and a passion for agriculture, Diane and Peter Dickinson are committed to sharing the farming story with all who visit their working sheep ranch. 20 Columns 2 – Executive Outlook 4 – Country Gardening Departments 26 – All Around Oklahoma 43 – Country Kitchen 44 – Country Classifieds 46 – Member Benefits Cover Image Hidden number worth $50! Texas County Farm Bureau member Pat Long ne member family’s Oklahoma hidden membership number and on the face of your individual OKFB stands in one of his family’s corn fields in the Farm Bureau membership contact Karolyn Bolay before the last membership card for you to claim the Oklahoma Panhandle. Onumber is hidden somewhere day of the month Monday through cash prize. The membership number Conservation measures in this issue of OKLAHOMA Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at that appears on your magazine’s have helped the Longs, as COUNTRY, and could earn that 405-523-2320. mailing label is not the hidden well as many Panhandle member family $50. The OKFB membership number number, but also must match the farmers, carefully To claim the cash prize, the hidden somewhere in OKLAHOMA hidden number for you to claim the preserve the groundwater resources that are vital to member family must find its own COUNTRY must match the number cash prize. HOME | AUTO | LIFE | OKFARMINSURANCE.COM DUSTIN MIELKE the high plains. With offices in all 77 Oklahoma counties, there’s an Oklahoma Farm Bureau near you. Oklahoma Country • Fall 2013 • 1 i Executive membership renewal form this fall, please take a moment to provide your email address so you don’t miss any exciting announcements or calls Outlook to action in the future. s you can see, we have quite a lot going on at Oklahoma Farm Bureau, BY MONICA WILKE A and one of the best ways to stay Executive Director connected is to attend our annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies meeting. This year’s program is full of informative, timely topics relevant to a wide range of ages and interests, and I think it is an event every member should experience. A schedule for the convention is available Deep Roots, New Heights on pages 26 and 27, but I want to point out a few features for this year. Our Young Farmers Farm Bureau Family, membership and organization division is and Ranchers Committee has been hard at working to provide something for everyone. work planning a leadership conference to all is upon us, and it’s certainly a You’ll continue to see even more benefits as we coincide with the annual meeting. YF&R time of year many of us at Oklahoma move forward, including new insurance members will arrive in Norman on Thursday to F Farm Bureau look forward to as we products to be announced soon (for a sneak hear from dynamic speakers, network with prepare for our annual meeting. This peek at one of the new insurance options, turn fellow producers and compete in the first two year promises to be another exciting weekend to page 30). rounds of the discussion meet. of education, fun and fellowship as OKFB Their conference will continue on Friday, as members from across the state gather in e continue to place an emphasis on OKFB members begin to arrive. Everyone will Norman, Nov. 15-17, at the Embassy Suites helping our fellow Oklahomans in come together for a general session that and Conference Center. The new location W need while telling the agriculture afternoon that promises to be one of the best offers a beautiful meeting facility and plenty story through the Oklahoma yet. Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim of on-site parking. Farming and Ranching Foundation. Our Reese and Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner This year’s theme is Deep Roots, New successful Beef for Backpacks program is now John Doak will be welcoming members, and Heights, and I think it says a lot about what in its second year, and we were able to add speaker Scott Klososky will be joining us to we’ve accomplished as an organization this Pork for Packs this past spring. The programs discuss emerging trends in technology and how year. It’s no secret Oklahoma Farm Bureau has provide nutritious beef and pork sticks for we can apply them to be better leaders. That established its roots as the state’s largest hungry Oklahoma students during weekends evening we are excited to welcome members to agricultural organization and has continued a and holidays, and we are so thankful for the the Denim, Diamonds and Desserts awards legacy of advocating for Oklahoma’s farmers animal donations we continue to receive. In program, where we will recognizing OKFB’s and ranchers and protecting the rural way of addition, through generous contributions from best and brightest. life. However, I think the remarkable strides Farm Bureau members across the country, the Saturday will be a busy day of policy setting, we’ve made in the past year are a testament to foun dation was recently able to donate $100,000 as you vote on the resolutions developed at the dedicated leaders and staff members who to Shelter Oklahoma Schools, an Oklahoma August Area Meetings, county resolution and serve day in and day out to make Oklahoma charity established to build storm shelters in annual meetings, as well as the state resolution Farm Bureau the strong, reputable schools in the aftermath of the devastating May meeting in mid-October. Saturday night will be organization it is. 2013 tornadoes in central Oklahoma. especially exciting, as country swing band A look at our many legislative victories this In an effort to educate the public about the Asleep at the Wheel performs after dinner. past session is just one indication of our sources of their food, fiber and fuel, the Sunday’s vespers service will be a special progress, as our public policy team maintains a Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation opportunity to give thanks for our many high level of involvement at the state Capitol. has also been working with the Noble Founda- blessings and remember those we’ve lost this Gov. Fallin signed several key pieces of OKFB- tion to create a commodity trailer that will be past year. Retired Lt. Col. Paul Metcalfe will supported legislation this year, including HB used to promote Oklahoma agriculture to all leave us with an inspirational message before 1999 and SB 965. Both of these bills were ages. We will be unveiling this exciting inter- we adjourn and head back to our respective highly debated on both sides, and I am proud active tool soon, so stay tuned for more details. areas of the state. to say our members and staff really stepped up With all of the activity going on around here, to the plate to communicate with lawmakers it is imperative we keep you – our valued t’s been a great year at Oklahoma Farm about the positive impact the bills would have members – up to date. Our communications Bureau, and I am looking forward to on the agricultural industry. staff has developed several new platforms to I building on the many successes we’ve In addition to representing your interests at share information and to make sure you are experienced this year to make 2014 even the state Capitol, we continue to look for ways aware of special events and important more productive and beneficial for our to add value to your Oklahoma Farm Bureau messages. From our redesigned website and members. I encourage you to make plans to membership.