PRESIDENTIALLY SPEAKING A vision for the future By Tom Buchanan President, Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Affiliated Companies
ended as Oklahoma’s wettest year on record. After four years of record-breaking drought, the state was replenished with heavy rainfall. In May, we were fortunate enough to see one of the wettest months on record, followed by a wetter-than-normal summer, fall and winter. For those of us that rely on the water that falls from the sky, the abundance of water was great news. While it is easy to forget about the struggles that come along with drought when it rains, we as Oklahoma Farm Bureau members can’t forget. As an organization, we strive to be the ones looking ahead to the future, preparing for what we as agriculturalists may face. Water must be our priority at OKFB; our livelihoods absolutely depend on it. We can no longer sit back and wait for it to fall from the sky. Rather, we should be taking action into our own hands to see that it is properly managed within our state. At the OKFB 74th Annual Meeting in November, our voting delegates had a vision for the future when they approved changes to our organization’s water policy. The updated policies allow us to continue to be the state’s leader in agricultural policy. We at Oklahoma Farm Bureau always are working for you, the member. As a grassroots organization, your thoughts, ideas and
opinions are being put to work every day at the state Capitol through the policies you approved. Hand-in-hand, we are creating a better future for agriculture, as well as Farm Bureau. Speaking of the future, our most important step in protecting agriculture in the future is State Question 777, or the Right to Farm. This is our year! Oklahomans will head to the ballots in November to elect a new president, but we must ensure they’re educated as they vote on the state question. I cannot stress enough the importance of the right to farm; we must make sure our kids, grandkids and great-grandkids can enjoy our same rights and way of life. As always is the case heading into the legislative session, it’s important for you, as a member, to pay attention and — Tom Buchanan stay involved. Your legislator cares where you stand on an issue. We can’t afford to stand back and watch while the other side constantly attacks not only our industry, but also our livelihood. We’ll work our hardest to make sure you’re protected and informed. Finally, I appreciate your vote of confidence in electing me to my second term as OKFB president. It has been my honor and privilege to serve you over the past two years and I’m excited to see where we’ll go in the next.
As a grassroots organization, your thoughts, ideas and opinions are being put to work every day at the state Capitol through the policies you approved.
6 — Oklahoma Country