Okfbspring06cover 11

SPRING 2006

THE MAGAZINE OF THE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

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Oklahoma Country

Contents

12

Features 12 – Attitude for Excellence. . .Continues Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company celebrates its 60th anniversary.

BY TRACI MORGAN

18 – Fire Wars Rain may not even wash away the charred memories of the devastating wildfires sweeping across Oklahoma since November.

BY MIKE NICHOLS

Columns

Departments

2 – Presidentially Speaking 4 – Executive Outlook 6 – Country Gardening 8 – Insurance Matters

24 – All Around Oklahoma 36 – Country Kitchen 37 – Country Classifieds

18 Hidden number worth $50! ne member family’s Oklahoma Farm Bureau membership number is hidden somewhere in this issue of OKLAHOMA COUNTRY, and could earn that member family $100 since the owner of the hidden number in the winter issue did not claim the $50 prize.

To claim the cash prize, the member family must finds its hidden membership number and contact Mike Nichols before the last day of the month Monday through

O

Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 405-523-2300.

The OFB membership number hidden somewhere in OKLAHOMA COUNTRY must match the number on the face of your OFB membership card for you to claim the cash prize.

The membership number that appears on your magazine’s mailing label is not the hidden number, but must match the hidden number for you to claim the cash prize.

Cover Image The 1947 International KB2 pickup featured on the cover represents the first vehicle insured by Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. The beautifully-restored truck belongs to Don Martens of Fairview.

Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006 • 1

Presidentially

Speaking

BY STEVE KOUPLEN President, Oklahoma Farm Bureau

W

hether you agree with the WTO or not, the fact remains that trade is vital to the success and profitability of the American agricultural sector. The importance of global trade to agriculture can best be illustrated with three points.

First, 96 percent of the world’s population lives outside the borders of the United States. The four percent of the world’s population made up of Americans can only consume so much food, fuel and fiber. American agriculture must sell some of its production to foreign consumers.

Second, the productivity of American agriculture is growing. In fact, American agricultural output has grown at an average rate of 1.89 percent annually for the last 50 years. However, this productivity is growing faster than domestic food and fiber demand.

Therefore, farmers rely heavily on export markets to sustain prices and revenues.

And finally, U.S. agricultural exports are important to farm income. American agricultural export revenues have accounted for 20 to 30 percent of U.S. farm revenues during the past 15 years. In 2004, 24.8 percent of farm cash receipts came from the export market.

Agricultural trade is not just vital to the American agricultural sector. According to the Agriculture Department, every dollar of agricultural exports creates another $1.47 in supporting economic activities, such as processing, packaging, shipping and financing. In 2004, the $62.3 billion of agricultural exports generated $162 billion in total economic activity.

So, as you can see, increasing the exports of American agricultural products is vital to the whole of U.S. economic activity and U.S. agriculture has been very successful in growing export markets. The $62.3 billion of U.S. agricultural products exported in 2004 was the highest year on record. As the world’s largest agricultural exporter, the United States would benefit from reduced tariffs, expanded tariff rate quotas, elimination of direct export subsidies and reduced trade-distorting domestic supports. The WTO, and the negotiations therein, provide the greatest opportunity for the United States to expand export markets on a global scale.

2 • Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006

Spring 2006 Volume 58 No. 2 Oklahoma Country (ISSN 1544-6476) Published four times per year in April, July, October and January by Oklahoma Farm Bureau, 2501 N. Stiles, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126, Telephone 405-523-2300.

Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Additional Mailing Offices.

Postmaster: Send address corrections to: OKLAHOMA COUNTRY, P.O.B. 53332, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3332.

EDITORIAL TEAM Sam Knipp Vice President Corporate Communications/ Public Relations Mike Nichols OKLAHOMA COUNTRY Editor and Senior Writer Traci Morgan PERSPECTIVE and Online News Editor DIRECT YOUR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES TO: OKLAHOMA COUNTRY Attn: Mike Nichols 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105 405-523-2300, Ext. 2345 ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising is subject to publisher’s approval.

Advertisers assume all liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising. Publisher does not guarantee advertiser service or products, and assumes no liability for products or services advertised in OKLAHOMA COUNTRY. TO SUBSCRIBE OKLAHOMA COUNTRY subscription rate is $1 per year for members as part of the dues, $15 for non-members.

WEB SITE www.okfarmbureau.org OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Steve Kouplen, President Bob Drake, Vice President Larry Boggs, Treasurer Donna VonTungeln, Secretary Ervin Mitchell, Director Merle Atkins, Director Charles Sloan, Director Roland Pederson, Director Billy Gibson, Director Mike Spradling, Director Matt Wilson, Executive Director

Oklahoma’s Pork Producers . . . creating opportunities, caring for the environment, feeding the world, committed to Oklahoma.

Since 1998, six Oklahoma pork producers have been recognized as National Environmental Stewards by the National Pork Board and National Hog Farmer. So next time you bite into a juicy pork chop, remember from Guymon to Poteau, Hobart to Bartlesville, pork producers work hard every day to improve and maintain the land around their facilities.

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1-888-SAY-PORK • www.okpork.org

Executive

Outlook

BY MATT WILSON Executive Director Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Affiliated Companies

O

klahoma Farm Bureau celebrates a milestone with its mutual insurance company marking its 60 anniversary.

It was May 1, 1946, when the company began writing auto policies for the farmer and rancher members of the federation.

I can almost visualize a delegate at convention back then speaking in support of a resolution calling for the still-new farm federation to do something to help meet the insurance predicament faced by rural Oklahomans.

Our insurance company has grown dramatically since that day way back in 1946.

It’s now the largest domestic property and casualty insurer in Oklahoma, offering more than 15 lines of coverages from county Farm Bureau offices in all 77 counties.

We can be proud that Oklahoma Farm Bureau offers this outstanding service to its members. We can be proud of all the agents in our county offices that are dedicated to serving the insurance and financial needs of our members. And, we can be proud of all employees of our insurance company who work to provide this benefit to our 160,000plus member family organization.

Member service is the number one priority of Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Our insurance company is just one – albeit extremely important – service offered to our members.

Your annual Oklahoma Farm Bureau membership dues allow the federation to offer many services and benefits. Those dues all members pay – generally less than the cost of a dinner for two at your favorite restaurant – enable all of our counties to have offices near you. Those offices are the “front line” in the effort to serve our members.

Our county Farm Bureaus support their communities and members. Just go to about any worthwhile event in your community and you’ll see Farm Bureau’s presence. I’m

4 • Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006

particularly proud of the way many county Farm Bureaus have stepped up to the plate to support the local fire departments that have made heroic efforts during our state wildfire epidemic.

One of Farm Bureau’s most recognizable service to members is the strong influence its exerts in legislative affairs. Whether it’s a local, county, state or national issue – if it’s important to our members – you can rest assured that your best interest is looked out for by volunteer leaders or paid staff.

Our Safety Department could well be the most recognizable service we have. Its staff comes in contact with thousands and thousands annually through a variety of free programs designed to save lives and educate.

The Fire Safety for Kids program has reached more than 200,000 state school children, giving them a hands-on education in home fire safety plus emphasizing the importance of their family having a home evacuation plan.

The new DUI Prevention program is reaching young drivers, educating them about the dangers of alcohol and driving.

The Defensive Driving Course helps all of us become better drivers – plus save on our auto insurance premiums.

There are many other services Farm Bureau offers it its members. Women’s and YF&R reach out to serve and involve; we have a reward program to help fight crime; an accidental death and dismemberment program free to all member families.

M

any Farm Bureau services translate directly into money-saving benefits for our members. The FB Card program provides no hassle savings on a variety of goods and services.

If you purchase about any new Dodge

vehicle, you’ll get a $500 rebate simply because you are a Farm Bureau member. It’s on top of your best deal with your dealer.

Looking to make home improvements, or to build a new home?

Farm Bureau members save 33 percent with the M. Rhodes Company, which has siding, windows, etc. Need some paint? Go to any Sherwin-Williams store and get 25 percent off list prices simply because you’re a Farm Bureau member.

If you want a new log home, AmerLink gives members 25 percent off.

Want to protect your home? TSC Security will install a complete home security system in your home for free simply because you’re a Farm Bureau member. And the company also will give you a $200 rebate. Not a bad deal – free plus $200 in your pocket!

Grainger and Atwoods stores give discounts to Farm Bureau members.

A dozen or so hotel-motel chains give discounts to our members. 000336458 The ScriptSave prescription plan is free to our members. You can save at your favorite pharmacy by taking advantage of this memberonly program. There are two money-saving programs for those needing eyeglasses, and one with a major hearing aid company.

I’ve really just scratched the surface. It would take more space than I have here to fully describe all of the services and benefits Farm Bureau offers to its members.

Rest assured that we constantly seek ways to improve our existing services and look at new ways to offer additional services and benefits.

I’m proud to offer congratulations to our insurance company on 60 years of service, and I’m even prouder of Oklahoma Farm Bureau for making this service and all the others available exclusively to its members.

SPORTS TECH NEWS — 2006

New lure’s catch rate may be too high for some tournaments.

Out-fishes other bait 19 to 4 in one contest.

Uses aerospace technology to mimic a real fish.

ORLANDO, FL— A small company in Connecticut has developed a new lure that mimics the motion of a real fish so realistically eight professionals couldn’t tell the difference between it and a live shad when it “swam” toward them on retrieval. The design eliminates wobbling, angled swimming and

by Charlie Allen other unnatural motions that problem other hard bait lures. It swims upright and appears to propel itself with its tail.

Curiously, the company may have designed it too well. Tournament fishermen who have used it said it’s possible officials will not allow it in contests where live bait is prohibited. They claim it swims more realistically than anything they have ever seen. If so, that would hurt the company’s promotional efforts.

Winning tournaments is an important part of marketing a new lure.

Fish would probably prefer to see it restricted. I watched eight veteran fishermen test the new lure (called The KickTail®) on a lake outside Orlando FL for about four hours. Four used the KickTail and four used a combination of their favorite lures and shiners (live bait).

The four using the KickTail caught 41 fish versus 14 for the other four. In one boat the KickTail won 19 to 4. The KickTail also caught bigger fish, which suggests it triggers larger, less aggressive fish to strike.

You can see why the company needs to Inventor Scott Wilson get it into tournalands a 10-pounder. ments. An almost 3 to 1 advantage can mean thousands of dollars to a fisherman, and hundreds of thousands in sales to the company.

The KickTail’s magic comes from a patented technology that breaks the tail into five segments. As water rushes by on

Swims with its tail.

New lure swims like a real fish--nearly triples catch in Florida contest. retrieval, a little-known principle called aeronautical flutter causes the tail to wag left and right, as if the lure were propelling itself with its tail. Unlike other hard baits, the head remains stationary—only the tail wags. A company spokesman told me this.

“Fish attack live things, and they determine if something is alive by watching its movements. Marine biologists will tell you that the more a lure swims like a real fish, the more fish it will catch. Well, the only live thing the KickTail doesn’t do is breathe. It’s better than live bait! It lasts longer and it never hangs half-dead from a hook. It’s always swimming wild and free. Fish can’t stand it. We’ve seen fish that have just eaten go for the KickTail. It’s like having another potato chip.

Increases catch almost 3 to 1.

“To make the KickTail even more lifelike, we gave it a natural shad color and shaped it like the most prevalent bait fish of all, the threadfin. Game fish gobble up more threadfin shad than any other baitfish.

“We knew the KickTail would out-fish other lures. It had to. Other lures wobble their heads and swim on an angle. But 41 fish to 14? That’s huge! I tell you, in ten seconds anyone who has fished a day in his life knows this little swimmer’s a home run. Fishermen reserved thousands of KickTails before we produced it! Here, reel it in and watch it swim toward you.

Can you tell the difference between it and a live fish? (I said no.) Neither can the fish.

“The flutter technology also allows the KickTail to swim at the water’s surface.

Other top water lures must be worked to have any live action, or have a bill that makes them dive on retrieval. Our diver version is the only deep crank bait that let’s you do tricks like ‘walk the dog.’

Twitch it at deep levels and it gives an irresistible, lifelike action. Other lures ‘dig.’ And there’s no need for rattles. The five tail segments click together as you pull it through the water, calling fish from a distance.”

Whether you fish for fun or profit, if you want a near 3 to 1 advantage, I would order now before the KickTail becomes known. The company even guarantees a refund, if you don’t catch more fish and return the lures within 30 days. The lures come in sets of two, a floater and a diver.

You can choose natural shad or chocolate shad (great for overcast days). One set costs $19.90; both cost $39.80. There is also a Super-10-Pack of five floaters and five divers that includes these colors and three others for only $79.95. You save $19.55! S/h is only $6.00 no matter how many you order.

To order call 1-800-873-4415 or click www.ngcsports.com anytime or day or send a check or M.O. (or cc number and exp. date) to NGC Sports (Dept.

KX-95), 60 Church Street, Yalesville, CT 06492. CT add sales tax. The KickTail is four inches long and works in salt and fresh water.

KX-1

© NGC Worldwide, Inc. 2006 Dept. KX-95

Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006 • 5

Country

Gardening

BY JOE BENTON OSU Extension Director Pottawatomie County

Editor’s Note: Welcome Joe Benton, Oklahoma Country’s new columnist. Joe has been employed with the OSU Cooperative Extension Service for the last 26 years. He has worked in Hughes, Seminole and Cleveland counties, and has been in the Pottawatomie County Extension Office for the last two years. He has led and worked with Master Gardeners, and given countless consumer horticulture seminars on a variety of subjects in all the counties where he has served. He is a writer for the Oklahoma Home and Garden Magazine and authors four weekly news columns for five newspapers. Benton resides in northern Pottawatomie County with his wife Katherine. They have four children and three grandchildren.

Lawn management in Oklahoma

T

he home lawn is an integral part of the total landscape. It provides a setting for trees and ornamentals, as well as the home. The lawn also provides a setting for outdoor family activity.

A well-maintained lawn increases the value of residential property.

Successful home-lawn management begins by growing a turf grass adapted to the wide fluctuations in temperature and moisture found in Oklahoma. It should also be suited to your personal need and interests, as well as any physical or environmental limitations of the site, such as shade, no supplemental water, or poor soil conditions.

In Oklahoma, the majority of the lawns are Bermuda. This grass is a native of Africa, holds up well to heat and can tolerate droughty conditions waiting for that next shot of moisture to take off again.

Alternative warm season turf grasses include: Buffalo grass, best suited to western Oklahoma. Zoysia, a slower growing grass, that requires a bit more maintenance and costs three to four times more to put in. However, when established it can make an excellent turf. St. Augustine is another grass that is grown in far southern Oklahoma and is not very cold tolerant.

Cool season grasses include the fescues and ryes. In Oklahoma, these grasses are often used in shadier areas. However, there is 6 • Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006

no such turf grass capable of withstanding full shade and in those areas will die out over a few years.

The warm season grasses would prefer full sun, with the cool season grasses needing at least six to eight hours of sunlight, depending upon individual conditions. Fescues and ryes can even be put into full sun, but normally the water requirements are so high that it’s not efficient in water usage and time for most homeowners. Because of the time of year and the popularity of Bermuda as an Oklahoma lawn, I am going to address a Bermuda grass lawn maintenance program.

A soil sample is critical to start your fertilizer program. Knowing the phosphorus and potassium needs is critical as it is first limiting to your nitrogen application. Meaning, if phosphorus and potassium are not adequate, nitrogen applications may not give you the desired results. All County Extension offices offer this service, as well as private labs.

I

n late April to the first of May, your phosphorus and potassium should be applied according to test results, along with one pound of actual nitrogen. For a dense lawn with rich color, one pound of actual nitrogen should be applied alone in June, July and August with moisture. Often September fertilizer applications are again made identical as the May 1 application with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If using slow release nitrogen fertilizer, applying at twice the rate but half the applications spaced out is advisable. Do not apply nitrogen after mid September.

Common mowing heights from May to August for Bermuda are one-half to threequarters of an inch. Cool season grasses mowing height ranges from two and one-half to three inches. You should not cut more than one-third of leaf material at any one cutting.

Knowing this determines how often you should mow.

Moisture should only be applied when needed, not by a timer or certain day of the week. During the summer, approximately one

inch of moisture is required per week depending on soil type. If you’ve received an inch of rain, turn off the sprinkler that week.

Irrigation should be applied when grass just starts to leave an imprint if stepped on. When irrigating, moisture should dampen soil to at least a six-inch depth. When first starting to irrigate, you will probably need to check depth of dampness to see how long that takes. Also, measuring a few locations when irrigating, to measure how long it takes to apply one inch of moisture is recommended. Tuna cans placed in a few spots will show you how long it takes to apply one inch of moisture, as this is what they measure approximately. Midnight to 8 a.m. is the best time to water, allowing for efficient water usage and is less prone to create disease conditions.

Weeds interfere with the beauty and function of turf grass areas. However, a small number of weeds in a lawn is tolerable. Weeds may indicate the turf grass community has been weakened by some environmental condition, pests, and or improper maintenance activities. A healthy turf grass is the best defense against weed infestation.

Herbicides are important tools for controlling weeds in turf, but repeated severe occurrences of weeds may reflect underlying problems that are not correctable with herbicides. The first step in weed control is a management program that produces a dense, vigorous, healthy turf of an adapted turf grass variety by mowing, watering, and fertilizing properly. There are specific herbicides to be used on specific unwanted plants. They should be correctly identified and the application time and herbicide to be used.

Homeowners may contact their county Extension Office for help in this area. Fact Sheet #6420, Lawn Management in Oklahoma, may be picked up at any Extension Office across the State of Oklahoma.

Until next time, Happy Growing Season!

Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, state and Local Government’s cooperating. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran and is an equal opportunity employer.

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Insurance

Matters

BY PAUL THIEL Coordinator of New System Implementation OFB Information Systems Department

Web portal allows members to manage their insurance

O

klahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company has recently made it possible for members to work with their insurance policies via the Internet.

A new facility, known as the Insured Portal, may now be accessed via the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Web site (www.okfarminsurance.com) to view policyrelated information, make premium payments, report a claim and obtain copies of your policy documents.

One caution is that only policies written under the company’s newer computer system are available for access via the Insured Portal.

The SurePower 2000 System was installed to replace an aging computer system, and the company is in the final stages of converting all automobile lines to the new system.

Your auto policy is a SurePower policy if its policy number begins with three alphabetic characters (i.e., FLT, MCY, ORV, PAM).

To get to the Insured Portal, go to the OFBMIC Web site and click on the button on the left side of the page named “My Insurance.” You will then be taken to the Insured Portal page, where you will need to set up an account (Username and Password).

For security reasons, before you can set up your account you will need to know your SurePower Policy Number, plus any three of the following pieces of information which relate to your policy: • ZIP (5-digit Zip Code)

8 • Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006

• Member ID (Membership Number) • Premium Amount (Total premium on your policy) • Phone Number (if entered by Agent – must include Area Code) • Last Billed Amount (the Amount shown on your last policy invoice) • Date of Birth • Driver's License Number (if listed on your policy) Your policy Declaration or Invoice will contain enough of the above items to set up an Account.

A

t the Insured Portal “welcome” page, click on the “Sign up for new account” link (first time only) and just follow the instructions from that point. Once you have your account set up, you may log in to the Insured Portal. At this point, you may want to create a desktop icon or add “myins.okfb.com” to your Favorites, as you may return to the Insured Portal often.

The main page of your insurance account will show your account information, a summary of your policy information, both current billing information and the billing history for the policy, upcoming payments (if you are on an installment billing plan), a summary of claims against the policy, and a description of risks on the policy (in the case of auto policies, your covered vehicles).

To change or update your account information, click on the “My Account” button

at the top of the page.

While all of the SurePower policies under your membership number will be automatically included in your account, you may also add SurePower policies for other members (e.g., a son or daughter) to your account by clicking on the “Add Policy” button. For each policy added, you must answer the same questions about the policy as you did in initially setting up your account.

To make a payment on your policy via the Internet, click on the button at the top of the page named “Make Payment,” and you will be taken to a page, which will enable you to enter specific checking or savings account information (Note: presently, these are the only available payment methods).

The page has illustrations to help you locate the needed account information on your bank check.

You may file an initial report of a claim by clicking on the “Report a Claim” button. After you have submitted your claim, you will be issued a reference number for follow-up by the company. (Note: even though you file this notification, it is still a good idea to call your insurance agent and let him know that you have filed the claim.)

Finally, you can view or print copies of your most recent policy documents (Declarations, Invoices, Security Verification Forms, Policy Booklets, etc.) by clicking on the button at the top of the page titled, “Obtain Your Document Copies.”

Oklahoma Country 7.375"X9.625"

The owl’s eyes are shaped so it spends its entire life looking for ward.

We should all be so wise.

Here’s to a good life.

Farm Bureau for life . . .

Insurance. Annuities. Mutual Funds.

Securities & services offered through registered representatives of EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC,+ 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266, 877/860-2904, Member SIPC. Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company+/West Des Moines, IA. +Affiliated © 2006 FBL Financial Group, Inc. 017

Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006 • 9

Live

JUST REMEMBER, THE HORSES GO IN THE HORSE TRAILER.

10 • Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006

THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CAB NOW COMES WITH A $500 CASH ALLOWANCE FOR FARM BUREAU® MEMBERS > RAM MEGA CAB™ > It’s that big > More rear-seat leg room than anything in its class* > Rear seats that actually recline > Largest rear-door opening angle in its class* > Powerful Cummins® Turbo Diesel engine or 5.7L HEMI® V8 available > PLUS Farm Bureau members get an extra $500 cash allowance† > Contact your state Farm Bureau for details > For more info, visit dodge.com/mega_cab or call 800-4ADODGE. *Based on full-size, crew cab pickups. †Must be a Farm Bureau member for at least 30 days. Farm Bureau is federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Cummins is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc. Dodge and HEMI are registered trademarks of DaimlerChrysler Corporation.

Oklahoma Country • Spring 2006 • 11