Mother Nature and the farm economy have dealt farmers and ranchers a tough hand. Many are finding themselves facing financial ruin. Mike Mayberry, director of the Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, explains how he can help.
What did your Governor do that was interesting this week? In Oklahoma, Gov. Stitt drove a tractor to the Capitol to kick off Ag Day at the Capitol events. On this edition of the AFR Country Journal podcast we talk to the Governor, and others, including AFR President Scott Blubaugh, that made the event a great success. You will especially want to hear from the Oklahoma and National Ag in the Classroom Teachers of the Year, which were introduced during this week’s event.
On this edition of AFR Country Journal we talk with Bray Haven, AFR contract lobbyist, about several property tax bills working through the legislative process at the Capitol this week.
AFR Women’s Cooperative blood drive drives saved 5,292 lives in 2018 with a total of 59 blood drives held across the state. This announcement was made February 16th during the 2019 AFR Convention at the Embassy suites Hotel and Conference Center in Norman.
“This is simply amazing,” said Pam Livingston, 2018 AFR Women’s Cooperative Chair. “We are grateful for our blood drive hosts and donors who made this happen.”
The AFR Women’s Cooperative elected to partner with Oklahoma Blood Institute to increase awareness for the need of donating blood as their 2018 initiative. As the nation’s 9th largest non-profit blood center, Oklahoma Blood Institute relies solely on 1,200 volunteer blood donors a day to meet the needs of patients at more than 160 hospitals and medical facilities statewide. This was made possible by AFR agencies, counties and locals hosting blood drives across the state.
At the Women’s Cooperative awards program the following agencies, counties and locals were recognized for their outstanding efforts.
Most New Donors: 1st – Coweta Insurance Agency, 2nd – Cherokee Farmers Union, 3rd Hofschulte Insurance Services
Most Total Participants: 1st – Coweta Insurance Services, 2nd Cherokee County Farmers Union, 3rd – Ellison Group – Watonga OFU Local 504
Most Young Donors: 1st Cherokee County Farmers Union, 2nd Coweta Insurance Agency, 3rd tie – Haskell Insurance Agency and Detrick Insurance Agency
In addition to agency, county and local blood drives, the AFR Women’s Cooperative hosted blood drives at the AFR Convention, the Oklahoma Youth Expo, Oklahoma State FFA Convention and the Tulsa State Fair.
Serving rural communities is a cornerstone of AFR.
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Voting delegates representing all Oklahoma AFR/OFU groups elected a new president and three board of directors during the business session Feb. 16 during the 114th annual AFR/OFU convention in Norman, Okla.
Elected to serve a 3-year term as President was Scott Blubaugh, Tonkawa, Okla.
“I want to continue the great tradition of AFR/OFU being the voice of family farmers and be an advocate for farmers and ranchers throughout the state and nation,” Blubaugh said.
Blubaugh is a lifelong resident of Kay County where he and wife Lisa operate a family ranch near Tonkawa. Each year they host an annual Registered Angus production sale in the heart of their diversified 3,500 acre farm and ranch, which encompasses Osage, Kay and Noble counties.
Dustin Tackett, Ft. Cobb, Okla., was elected to the board of directors. Tackett farms the land his grandfather bought in 1913. They raise commercial Red Angus cattle and grow wheat, hay and pumpkins. He has served as an AFR Insurance agent since 2004.
Also elected to the board was Jim Shelton, Vinita, Okla. His family operates a 3,500 acre commercial cow/calf and stocker business. He has also had a successful banking career with the Oklahoma State Bank of Vinita.
Re-elected to board of directors was Mason Mungle, Norman, Okla. He was a partner in a family dairy farm in Atoka, Oklahoma, and is still involved in the operation of a cow/calf operation on the family farm in Atoka.
Rural voters should have more input on education funding, there should be a better definition of what constitutes meat, and support for a robust animal identification system for livestock were among the key resolutions passed during the business session.
Other resolutions passed include:
- Better access for rural healthcare, especially keeping rural hospitals functioning in a challenging environment.
- Support for farmers’ “right to repair” modern machinery and equipment.
- Urge the Oklahoma Legislature to preserve current property tax system without adding additional financial burden for agricultural landowners.
- Support an increase in state funding to retain quality staffing at the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
- The Legislature should address legal uncertainties with both medical marijuana and industrial hemp.
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Scott Blubaugh, Tonkawa, Okla., was elected AFR/OFU president by voting delegates during the organization’s annual business session, Feb. 16, in Norman.
Blubaugh is taking over the reins from Terry Detrick who retired after 10 years at the helm. The Ames, Okla., farmer and rancher had served the organization for over 30 years in various leadership roles.
“I want to continue the great tradition of AFR/OFU being the voice of family farmers and be an advocate for farmers and ranchers throughout the state and nation,” Blubaugh said.
Acknowledging this is a tough economic time for agriculture producers, Blubaugh offered some words of encouragement.
“Keep fighting, keep producing food and fiber and we’ll work on getting the market turned around,” Blubaugh said.
He pledged to spend time at the capitols in Oklahoma City and Washington, D.C., working and representing rural and agriculture issues.
Blubaugh is a lifelong resident of Kay County where he and wife Lisa operate a family ranch near Tonkawa. Each year they host an annual Registered Angus production sale in the heart of their diversified 3,500 acre farm and ranch, which encompasses Osage, Kay and Noble counties.
Scott has an extensive AFR/OFU background, working as OFU field representative and he and Lisa own an AFR Insurance agency in Tonkawa. He has also served on the Board of Directors for AFR Insurance.
The northern Oklahoma rancher took a one year leave of absence to serve as an Agricultural and Rural Community advisor for U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt.
Other leadership positions held by Blubaugh include serving on the Farmer’s Cooperative board of directors, Northern Oklahoma College Agricultural Advisor committee, Kay County AFR president and is a graduate of the OSU Agricultural Leadership Program Class XI. He holds membership in the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, American Angus Association, Oklahoma Angus Association and Oklahoma Ag Credit.
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On this edition of AFR Country Journal our guest is Terry Detrick, Ames, Okla., farmer and retiring President of the AFR/OFU. His last official duty will come this weekend at the annual AFR/OFU convention in Norman, Okla. Terry talks about why he is retiring and what his plans are for the future.
On this edition of AFR Country Journal we talk with Steve Thompson, AFR director of government relations, about some of the key rural and ag issues that will be important during the 2019 Oklahoma legislative session which started this week.
Rural voters should have more input on education funding, there should be a better definition of what constitutes meat, and support for a robust animal identification system for livestock are among the key resolutions up for adoption by voting delegates at the 2019 AFR/OFU annual business session, Feb. 16 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Norman, Okla.
The issues were pared down from the more than 30 resolutions submitted by county AFR/OFU organizations across Oklahoma. The process was completed by the AFR/OFU Policy Committee which wrapped up their efforts Jan. 23 in Oklahoma City.
“This is true grass roots policy development,” said Wayne Herriman, Tulsa, policy committee chairman.
“All of these proposed policies came from county AFR/OFU organizations and brought to this committee to work on prior to our annual business session in February,” Herriman said.
Other policies up for discussion include:
- Support for rural healthcare, especially keeping rural hospitals functioning in a challenging environment.
- Support for farmers’ “right to repair” modern machinery and equipment.
- Urge the Oklahoma Legislature to preserve current property tax system without adding additional financial burden for agricultural landowners.
- Support an increase in state funding to retain quality staffing at the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
- Keep medical marijuana separate from recreational marijuana.
“At the end of the business we will have our “bible” representing what we will stand for and will be our marching orders for the coming year,” said Terry Detrick, AFR/OFU president.
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