All Around Oklahoma Farm Bureau news, events and programs from around Oklahoma
OKFB Foundation for Agriculture awards two rural schools with $10,000 greenhouse grants The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture recently selected Roland Public Schools and Navajo Public Schools to each receive a $10,000 Growing with the Foundation grant. The grant program is designed to help students learn about agriculture through assisting schools with the purchase of a teaching greenhouse. “We are proud to award Roland and Navajo Public Schools with the Growing with the Foundation grant,” said David VonTungeln, OKFB Foundation for Agriculture president. “As our society becomes further removed from the farm, we appreciate the commitment these schools have to teaching their students about where their food comes from.” Typically awarded to one school per year, this year’s grant was presented to two schools thanks to the generous contributions of OKFB members during fundraising events at the organization’s 82nd annual meeting in early November.
Roland Public Schools
Navajo Public Schools
OKFB hosts booth, members-only lunch at Tulsa Farm Show
Drummond creates organized crime task force to combat illegal marijuana grows
Oklahoma Farm Bureau shared the Farm Bureau story with farmers, ranchers and members of Oklahoma’s agriculture community at the Tulsa Farm Show held Dec. 7-9 at Expo Square. OKFB showcased the organization’s activities and benefits at the OKFB booth during the entire event. A special luncheon for OKFB members was provided on Friday, Dec. 8, featuring Wes Nofire, Oklahoma’s Native American Liaison along with staff members from Oklahoma’s congressional delegation. Wes Nofire
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has created an Organized Crime Task Force to combat the rise of illegal marijuana grow operations across Oklahoma and added a resource for citizens to report suspicious activity related to unlicensed operations. The task force investigates all crimes related to illegal grow operations. Oklahomans can report an illegal marijuana grow operation online at oag.ok.gov under the Illegal Marijuana Tipline tab or by sending a tip by email to illegalgrow@oag.ok.gov.
48 Oklahoma Country
Mullin introduces Black Vulture Relief Act Sen. Markwayne Mullin co-sponsored the Black Vulture Relief Act in Congress to allow farmers and ranchers to protect their newborn livestock from black vultures. The legislation provides regulatory relief by allowing farmers and ranchers to take black vultures any time the birds threaten their livestock without a depredation permit. Despite being listed as a species of lowest conservation concern, black vultures are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, making it illegal to take one without a depredation permit from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Many Oklahoma Farm Bureau members have long faced extreme challenges with black vultures and the devastating effects they can have on livestock herds,” said Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel. “When these birds attack cattle and other livestock, ranchers are rendered helpless without first engaging in the lengthy process to obtain a depredation permit. We have heard countless stories from our Farm Bureau members about the threat vultures pose specifically to newborn livestock, and as caretakers of our herds and flocks, agriculturalists need appropriate measures to protect our animals. The Black Vulture Relief Act is a welcome sight for our members affected by these predatory birds, and we applaud Sen. Mullin for his work to help ranchers protect their livestock and their livelihoods.”