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Adair County Farm Bureau members Scott and Lisa Baird stand in front of the family’s country store, which was opened in 1961. The Bairds have been selling fresh market produce since opening. In addition to strawberries, the family grows blackberries, pumpkins, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, corn and other fresh market produce.

They also raise cattle on their Stilwell farm.

Jessika Baird works in her family’s country store, pricing fresh flowers for market. As the fifth generation, all three of the Baird children enjoy working in the family business.

Steven Baird loads freshly picked strawberries into a pickup truck to take to his family’s local country store to sell. The Bairds employ locals to help harvest their crop each year.

24 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2008

opened a country store selling strawberries, other farm produce and a few antiques. Since then, the Baird family has produced a strawberry crop nearly every year and has continued to keep their store open six days a week, Monday through Saturday. he Bairds are hopeful their children will continue their legacy for years to come. The fifth generation of Bairds – Steven, Jessika, and Emily – all are involved in the family business.

Steven, 22, Jessika, 17, and Emliy, 15, enjoy helping their parents on the farm.

The Bairds love their lives as strawberry producers. “Life is what you make it,” Scott said. “This is what we are making of it.”

In addition to strawberries, the family grows blackberries, pumpkins,

beans, potatoes, tomatoes, corn and other fresh market produce. They also raise cattle on their Stilwell farm.

According to Scott, strawberries are planted in late February or early March and are allowed to grow. More than one year later, in May the strawberries are picked. The Bairds grow five varieties of strawberries including Chandler, Darselect, Clancy, L’Amour and Bish, which are more suitable to Oklahoma’s climate and soil.

The Bairds use a matted-row method to grow their strawberries.

They move their patches every three years to avoid weeds, disease and fungus. The Bairds are not permitted to use herbicides, but they can use fungicides. “I don’t think you could grow an organic strawberry,” Scott said jokingly.

At one time, the Baird family sold and shipped their produce across America and even to foreign countries. Now the Bairds see mostly local traffic and a few guests from Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

The Bairds not only give back to Oklahoma agriculture, but also to their local economy by providing job opportunities.

“We rely on local people to help pick our strawberries,” Scott said. “We don’t advertise for help. Many of our employees have done it for years, and I think they look forward to it.”

After five generations of farming, the Bairds intend to continue their tradition of adding to the diversity of Oklahoma agriculture. Strawberries and other crops make Oklahoma agriculture more than just golden wheat fields and grazing cattle.

Oklahoma Country • Summer 2008 • 25

All Around

Oklahoma

Jackson County FB loses longtime leader Known as ’Mr. Farm Bureau’ to many, Sam Howard gave 100 percent to the organization for more than 60 years.

Sam Howard sits on a hill near the family ranch in the Navajoe Community outside of Altus. Most people who were acquainted with Howard remember his typical daily garb as overalls and a hat, like he wore for this photo taken a few years ago.

ackson County Farm Bureau lost a pillar of the organization May 14 when 94-year-old Sam Howard passed away.

Howard’s family homesteaded in Jackson County in 1884, and he farmed and ranched the original family homestead up to the time of his death. He was a charter member of Jackson County Farm Bureau and served

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some 60 years on the county board, where he was president many, many years.

“He was Mr. Farm Bureau in Jackson County,” said Glen Winters, a veteran insurance agent with the county. “Sam sold the community on Farm Bureau.

“Sam just kind of took me under his wing when I started. He was a great friend and a great mentor. He would help you in any way,

shape or form,” Winters added.

“I used to call him Mr. Farm Bureau,” said county Director Martin Caldwell, who served with Howard on the board.

“He was just really a good man,” Caldwell continued. “He really was a fine guy. He cared about his community and was willing to put in time and work towards making it better.”

“He was 100 percent Farm Bureau,” said

state Sen. Mike Schulz, who also served with pocket to buy land and build the first Jackson Howard on the county board. “Sam was always County office,” he said. one that always approached all decisions with Winters says flatly that Howard bankrolled Farm Bureau’s best interests. He always went the construction of the first county office. from that angle.”

“He started Jackson County Farm Bureau.

Schulz said he remembers He literally bought the land and when he was first seated built the building and then on the county board went to the state office that Howard handed and talked to Russ him a county board Fletcher,” he said. manual and told him “He was “you need to read instrumental in the this. He was a great first county Farm board member. He Bureau building,” always wanted to said Schulz. “He said make sure board ’If I have to do it members understood myself, I will’.” their roles.”

James L. Lockett, “He was one of a who served eight kind,” said Matt consecutive terms as Muller, county board Oklahoma Farm vice president and Bureau president former state Young from 1977 to 1993 and Farmers and Ranchers sat on the state board chairman. “Very few people for three years previously, are as committed to Farm remembered Howard.

Sam Howard Bureau as Sam Howard was.

“That sounds like Sam Everything centered around Farm Bureau.

Howard,” said Lockett, when asked about the “I haven’t met anybody like him,” Muller construction and financing of the first Jackson added. “He wasn’t ambitious. He was always County office. looking forward to promote Farm Bureau and “He was just a nice guy,” said Lockett. “He agriculture for the next decade down the road. was a died-in-the-wool Farm Bureau person.

You listened to what he said.

He had a big heart.”

“I don’t know of anybody as dedicated to Ken McFall, who spent 40 years with Farm Bureau over a long span of time (as Oklahoma Farm Bureau and retired in 1991 as Howard),” he continued. the executive secretary, said he did not know Caldwell remembers Howard’s involveHoward well. ment with Jackson County’s very first Farm “But, I do remember that he was the only Bureau office. guy we had down there working for us.”

He said Howard “went out on his own and Jack Givens, who served as OFB state bought the land” to get the process started. director for district two from 1988 to 1997 Some believe Howard even bankrolled the and won the OFB state president’s office in construction of that first office.

1999, called Howard a “strong advocate for State Director Tom Buchanan is one.

Farm Bureau.

“I think he took money out of his own “He was a strong Farm Bureau person. He

was a longtime Farm Bureau member. All the ideals we had, he tried to follow.

“He was quiet in public,” Givens continued.

“But, he was real strong in Farm Bureau beliefs. He helped make it grow.”

“Sam Howard was the Mr. Farm Bureau in Jackson County,” Buchanan said, who has served about 15 years on the county’s board.

“Up until his death, he was Mr. Farm Bureau for Jackson County,” he added. “When I got started, he was the guy. He was the county leader.”

Muller remembers when the county board began discussing a new office building not that long ago.

“Back when they were talking about moving, he was against it,” he said. “But when the vote was taken and the majority wanted to, he got behind it and supported it wholeheartedly. That’s pretty rare. That really impressed me about him.”

Howard was on the county board when the new office was opened in Altus in 2002.

Howard left the board not long after the move, but it was not because of his initial opposition to a new building.

Buchanan said Howard and some of the other 000260586 veteran board members decided not to seek new terms so “the next generation” of leaders could become involved.

“He had dogged determination to see the county succeed,” said Schulz. “He was going to make it happen.”

“He was just a guy that was a visionary,” said Winters. “Anything that happened, he was in a position of leadership to make it happen.

Anything he did, he did well. He was a leader among leaders. He had big dreams and could follow through.”

“He was sold on Farm Bureau and the influence Farm Bureau had on agriculture,” Caldwell said. “If it was Farm Bureau, he promoted it. He definitely believed in Farm Bureau as an organization to benefit farmers and worked toward that end.”

Oklahoma Country • Summer 2008 • 27

daughter, two sons, a grandson, three stepgrandchildren, one sister-in-law and many nieces and nephews. ayton, 67, who resided in Claremore, was employed by the insurance company for 33 years.

He joined the Claims Department June 26, 1969, as an adjuster after working as an independent adjuster. During his long career with the insurance company, Payton worked as an adjuster, Tulsa District Claims manager, regional claims manager and associate claims manager.

Payton was born July 22, 1940, in Jay, where he was reared and educated. After graduation from Jay High School, he continued his education at Northeastern State University before entering the work force.

As the associate claims manager, he oversaw property claims. He also was the company’s property specialist and had an associate degree in Special Investigations Unit.

He commuted from his Claremore home to the Oklahoma City office several days each week the last several years of his career. He was an avid golfer, and played on many of the country’s premier golf courses.

Payton was married to Shirley Lewis in 1991, and the couple reared three daughters.

He also is survived by two stepchildren, seven grandchildren, three brothers and one sister.

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Jim Ditmars

Bob Payton

Two longtime employees pass away wo former Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Affiliated Companies employees passed away in March.

Jim Ditmars, who retired in 1983, died March 18. Bob Payton, who retired in 2002, died March 24.

Ditmars, 90, resided in Oklahoma City. He was employed by OFB & Affiliated Companies for 35 years.

He began his career in 1948 as a fieldman, and completed it as the assistant general manager and vice president of operations for the insurance company.

Ditmars was born Aug. 5, 1917, near Gotebo. He graduated high school at Gotebo in 1935 and enrolled at what is now Oklahoma State University. He left school to farm for four years before enlisting in the U.S. Army.

He attended officer candidate school and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was deployed with the U.S. Pacific 1st Mule Pack Artillery Company in New Guinea before joining the 6th Ranger Battalion in the Philippines with the rank of captain in World War II. Following his discharge, he returned to OSU and earned a bachelor degree. Ditmars met June while there, and they were married following their graduations in 1948.

He came to Farm Bureau in 1948. In 1950,

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28 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2008

he started his career with the insurance company as an adjuster. He became chief underwriter in 1952 and was promoted to assistant manager and operations vice president in 1957.

Ditmars is survived by his widow, a

OFB continues award-winning support of Youth Expo exhibitors he Oklahoma Youth Expo honored Oklahoma Farm Bureau for the seventh consecutive year with the Volume Buyer Award prior to the March 20 Sale of Champions.

Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling accepted the honor in the sale ring at the State Fairgrounds Arena from Melisa Eisenhauer, Expo show manager. The award honors the organization, business or individual that purchases the most animals during the Sale of Champions.

Farm Bureau has been the top volume buyer each year since 2001.

When the dust settled following the auction at the 93rd annual Youth Expo, Farm Bureau paid the premiums on 20 of the 195 animals making the sale.

About $800,000 came in during the Sale of

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Champions. That amount included actual bids and add-ons for the animals in the premium sale. The $800,000 figure was on top of the prize money and scholarships that were handed out during the week to those involved in the world’s largest junior livestock show.

Farm Bureau joined forces with Blue and Gold Sausage again this year to purchase the grand champion barrow. Stephanie Payne of Yukon FFA received a $25,000 premium for her 273-pound crossbred.

Farm Bureau also was a part of a consortium that made the top bid for the grand champion goat, which was exhibited by Tyler Boles of Asher FFA. Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Services of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Meat Goat Association and Oklahoma Youth Expo paid $10,000 for the 114-pound goat.

Farm Bureau also was the purchaser of the silver chalice going to the exhibitor of the grand champion steer, Morgan Winn of Pittsburg County 4-H, as well as the chalice for the bronze medallion meat goat exhibited

by Kent Stacy of Ottawa FFA. Other prize-winning animals Farm Bureau paid premiums on included: • The 153-pound breed champion natural colored lamb exhibited by Chase McGolden of Fairview FFA. • The 1,318-pound reserve breed champion Angus steer exhibited by Garrett Starks of Cherokee FFA. • The 280-pound reserve breed champion Chester White barrow exhibited by Brett Traxler of Tuttle 4-H. • The 165-pound reserve breed champion natural colored lamb exhibited by Jennifer Lawler of Elgin FFA. • The 89-pound fourth place meat goat exhibited by Taylor Lough of Hennessey FFA. • The 1,295-pound third place Chianina steer exhibited by Carson Horn of Yukon FFA. • The 260-pound third place Hampshire barrow exhibited by Andy Pfeiffer of MulhallOrlando FFA. • The 84-pound 14th place meat goat exhibited by Cody Slater of Fairview 4-H. • The 157-pound fourth place crossbred lamb exhibited by Julia Mason of Fairview 4-H. • The 1,195-pound sixth place Hereford steer exhibited by Rashelle Blakeley of Oolagah FFA. • The 168-pound sixth place natural colored lamb exhibited by Kylee Donaho of Sulphur FFA. • The 154-pound seventh place crossbred lamb exhibited by Trevor Julian of Mountain View-Gotebo FFA. • The 1,170-pound seventh place Angus steer exhibited by Andrew Mack of Waukomis FFA. • The 275-pound seventh place Yorkshire barrow exhibited by Justin Frailey of Mannford FFA. • The 1,224-pound ninth place Shorthorn steer exhibited by Steven Doyle of Elgin FFA. • The 1,295-pound 11th place crossbred steer exhibited by Hayden Heldermon of Sulphur FFA. • The 1,342-pound 14th place crossbred steer exhibited by Scott Harris of Hobart FFA. • The 131-pound 14th place crossbred lamb exhibited by Carson Vinyard of Altus 4-H.

Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) honored Oklahoma Farm Bureau for the seventh consecutive year with the Volume Buyer Award March 20. OFB President Mike Spradling accepted the award from Melisa Eisenhauer, OYE show manager, prior to the beginning of the Sale of Champions at the State Fairgrounds Arena. The award honors the organization, business or individual that purchases the most animals during the Sale of Champions. OFB has been the top volume buyer in the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 auctions.

Oklahoma Youth Expo is the world’s largest youth livestock show and celebrated its 93rd year in 2008.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Blue and Gold Sausage collaborated to offer the winning bid on the grand champion barrow at the March 20 Sale of Champions in association with the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

Stephanie Payne of Yukon FFA exhibited the 2008 grand barrow, a 273-pound crossbred. Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s board of directors joined the Yukon FFA group, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and a Blue and Gold representative for a photo in the sale ring.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau joined Farm Credit Services of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Meat Goat Association and Oklahoma Youth Expo to pay a $10,000 premium on the grand champion goat during the Sale of Champions at the Oklahoma Youth Expo March 20. Tyler Boles of Asher FFA lead his 114-pound goat to the grand championship honors at the 93rd annual show. OFB President Mike Spradling, second from right, is pictured with the other buyers.

Oklahoma Country • Summer 2008 • 29

Eight awarded $1,000 scholarships by OFB klahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies and its Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee awarded eight $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in May. The students, who must pursue a career in agriculture at an Oklahoma institution of higher learning and be a full-time student, filed applications with county Farm Bureau offices for the scholarships.

All applicants had to be from an OFB voting member family. One student in each of the nine state board of director districts was eligible to receive the $1,000 scholarship.

Texas County’s Coy Fischer received the scholarship in district one. He is the son of Clyde and Connie Fischer of Optima. He graduated from Guymon High School in May at the top of his senior class. Coy plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in agricultural engineering.

Kiowa County’s Chesca Pritchard received the scholarship in district two. She is the daughter of Don and Joan Pritchard of Mountain View. She graduated from Mountain View-Gotebo High School in May. Chesca plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in veterinary medicine.

Kingfisher County’s Jared Yost received the scholarship in district three. He is the son of Mike and Diane Yost of Kingfisher. He graduated from Lomega High School in May. Jared plans to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University and major in agri-business.

Choctaw County’s Jesse Price received the scholarship in district five. He is the son of Patrick and Rebecca Price of Valliant. He graduated from Wright City High School in May at the top of his senior class. Jesse plans to attend Oklahoma Panhandle State University and major in agri-business.

Adair County’s Travis Snyder received the scholarship in district six. He is the son of Bartley and Lori Snyder of Westville. He graduated from Westville High School in May. Travis plans to attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and major in agribusiness.

Garfield County’s Ryan Johnson received the scholarship in district seven. He is the son

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of Larry and Janice Johnson of Hunter. He graduated from Kremlin-Hillsdale High School in May at the top of his class. Ryan plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in agricultural engineering.

Garvin County’s Jonathan Temple-Lee received the scholarship in district eight. He is the son of Mary Temple-Lee of Maysville. He graduated from Maysville High School in May

at the top of his class. Jonathan plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in microbiology and pre-medicine.

Osage County’s Corbin Dewitt received the scholarship in district nine. He is the son of Craig and Lisa Dewitt of Hominy. He graduated from Hominy High School in May. Corbin plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in animal science.

Speech Contest winners share nearly $10,000 in Savings Bonds, scholarships inners in the 13th annual YF&R Speech Contest, held at the Oklahoma City campus of Oklahoma State University, were selected following the March 17 competition.

The contest offered $9,600 in prizes to the 70 young competitors in nine different categories and age groups. The top three finishers in each age group and category were awarded U.S. Savings Bonds or scholarships for their efforts.

The contest was divided into three age divisions: junior, 9 to 12 years old; intermediate, 13 to 15 years old; and senior, 16 to 18 years old. Speeches for the junior division were three to five minutes in length; and five to eight minutes for the intermediate and senior divisions. Participants were judged on speech presentation, content, response to questions and general poise and appearance.

In the agricultural production, junior division, Garber’s Tyler Schnaithman finished first and received a $400 bond. Sarah Garvie of Burlington was the second place winner and received a $200 bond. Finishing third and earning a $100 bond was Gatlin Squires of Noble.

In the agricultural policy, junior division, Bolton Ferda of Medford was first and earned a $400 bond. Second place and a $200 bond went to Katelyn Garvie of Burlington.

Paige Garza of Yukon took third place and a $100 bond.

Colton Budy of Alva was the first place winner in the environment and natural resources junior division. He received a $400 bond. Taking second and a $200 bond was Jane Robertson of Edmond.

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The intermediate division of the agricultural production contest title and a $500 bond went to Chacey Schoeppel of Fairview. Micaela Danker of Wellston took second place and earned a $200 bond. Kelsie Williams of Gould took third place and won a $100 bond.

In the agricultural policy, intermediate division, Amorita’s Samantha Smith took first place and won a $500 bond. Katie Lippoldt of Kingfisher won second place and a $200 bond.

Third place and a $100 bond went to Carissa Neufeld of Fairview.

The intermediate division of the environment and natural resources division title was earned by Tara Newton, who won a $500 bond.

Second was Tanner Allread of Union City, who won a $200 bond. Laverne’s Tyler Price was third and took home a $100 bond.

In the senior division, Amy Peel of Wetumka won first place in agricultural production. She received a $1,000 scholarship. Brenna Cary of Hollis finished second and received a $500 scholarship. Hardesty’s Madison Martin took third and earned a $200 scholarship.

Clairissa Craige of Bokchito won the senior division in agricultural policy, and received a $1,000 scholarship. Lawton’s Katie Smith was second, taking home a $500 scholarship. Third place, and winner of a $200 scholarship, was Ben Hudgens of Byron.

In the environment and natural resources senior division, Sarah Reasnor of Fletcher won first place and a $1,000 scholarship. Bonnie Murphy of May was second and won a $500 scholarship. Finishing third was Blake Jackson of Hartshorne. He earned a $200 scholarship.

Food prices rise, but farm share lower than in ’80 ood costs are up 4.5 percent and energy costs are up a whopping 17 percent compared to a year ago.

Like everyone else, farmers are concerned about higher food prices because they’re paying them, too.

Famers take pride in providing consumers with a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply.

It is costing farmers a lot more this year to

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put their crops in the ground, till and harvest.

Higher energy costs are the biggest single factor contributing to the rising cost of food because it takes energy to process, package and transport everything consumers eat, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Consumers are noticing food price increases more these days because prices are rising at a faster rate than they have in the klahoma Farm Bureau’s Lindsey Childress, Burton Harmon and Micah Martin were on hand to greet visitors at the Southern Plains Farm Show at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City April 17. The show had more than 300 exhibitors with about 1,000 product lines on display. Farm Bureau had an informational booth inside and Safety Services had the Kids Fire Safety Trailer on display outside. The show ran from April 17 to April 19.

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FARM SHOW

past 15 years, due to several complex economic factors.

The major reasons are record energy prices; a weak U.S. dollar; higher labor costs; and strong international demand brought about by improved diets in developing nations.

For the record, the farmer’s share of the food marketing bill at the grocery store or restaurant is 19 percent on average, smaller for more highly processed items. That means farmers receive 19 cents from every dollar consumers spend for food at home and away from home, according to the latest USDA Economic Research Service report. In 1980, farmers received 31 cents of every food dollar spent.

Off-farm costs, including marketing expenses associated with processing, packaging, wholesaling, distributing, transporting, and retailing of food products, account for 81 cents of every food dollar spent on food eaten at home and away from home.

he Kids Fire Safety Trailer was a big hit with this youngster who is ready to descend the ladder.

Justin Grego and Micah Martin were on hand at the trailer to guide youngsters through and teach about fire safety in the home. The trailer drew much interest from visitors to the Southern Plains Farm Show in Oklahoma City April 17 to April 19.

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Oklahoma Country • Summer 2008 • 31

Milk really does a body good ater this year, supermarkets across the country are expected to post signs on aisle shelves ranking each food, drink or product by a number.

The new system called the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI) was developed by an international team of top nutrition experts, led by Dr. David Katz at Yale University’s Griffin Hospital Prevention Research Center. The system uses a number score from one to 100 (with 100 being the best score) to indicate the nutritional quality of a specific food.

Skim milk joins spinach, strawberries and broccoli as one of the top ranked foods according to the ONQI. Skim milk scores a 91, which puts it right at the very top of ranked beverages.

According to the researchers, skim milk is one of the most nutritious beverages available at the supermarket with a 91. One percent milk receives 81, orange juice ranks 39, diet soft drink gets a 15 and regular soda receives a one rating.

Scientists say the new system does not characterize any one food or drink as bad.

What they hope to achieve with the ONQI is to increase public awareness about the need to make wiser food and drink choices. The ONQI hopes to make it easier for consumers to read and understand the nutritional value of products they’d hope to purchase at the supermarket.

“The ONQI does not tell anybody what food to choose or to avoid,” says Dr. Katz. “But it makes choosing on the basis of nutritional quality easy, at a glance. The high scores for milk, particularly skim milk, should encourage that choice for health-conscious consumers.”

The development of the ONQI dates back to 2003. Its goal is to improve the dietary intake of Americans and to curtail the spread of obesity in the United States.

While Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports that 66 percent of adults were overweight or obese in 2003-2004, such problems no longer pertain to just grown-ups.

A Mayo Clinic article published in 2006 reports that one-third of children in this country are overweight or at-risk of becoming overweight, totaling to about 25 million kids.

That number has doubled for children between the ages of 6 to 11 and has tripled for teenagers over the last two decades.

Skim milk is one of the most nutritious beverages available at the supermarket.

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32 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2008

“The epidemic of obesity, and related conditions such as diabetes, is already dire and will only get worse if people do not improve their food choices,” says Dr. Katz. “The good news is that diet and health can be improved – one well informed food choice at a time.”

Though the ONQI does not offer guidance as far as portion size is concerned, the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that kids and adults alike drink at least three to four glasses of non-fat or low fat milk daily.

director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

“The new rule strengthens existing safeguards.”

The materials that can no longer be used in animal feed are the tissues that have the highest risk for carrying the agent thought to cause BSE. These high-risk cattle materials are the brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older. The entire carcass of cattle not inspected and passed for human consumption is also prohibited, unless the cattle are less than 30 months of age, or the brains and spinal cords have been removed.

The risk of BSE in cattle less than 30 months of age is considered to be exceedingly low.

The removal of high-risk materials from all animal feed will further protect against inadvertent transmission of the agent thought to cause BSE, which could occur through cross-contamination of ruminant feed with non-ruminant feed or feed ingredients during manufacture and transport, or through misfeeding of non-ruminant feed to ruminants on the farm. The added measure of excluding high-risk materials from all animal feeds prevents any accidental feeding of such ingredients to cattle.

The regulation finalizes a proposed rule that the FDA issued for public comment in October 2005. The final rule is effective 12 months from April 24 to allow the livestock, meat, rendering, and feed industries time to adapt their practices to comply with the new regulation. Under the new requirements of the final rule, renderers that process cattle not inspected and passed for human consumption must make available for FDA inspection their written protocols for determining the age of cattle and Continued on page 34

FDA strengthens safeguards for beef consumers he U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a final regulation barring certain cattle materials from all animal feed, including pet food. The final rule further protects animals and consumers against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as “mad cow disease”).

“This FDA action serves to further protect the U.S. cattle population from the already low risk of BSE,” said Dr. Bernadette Dunham,

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The FDA has strengthened safeguards so the beef supply for consumers will continue to be safe.

Continued from page 32

demonstrating that the brain and spinal cords of cattle have been effectively removed.

Scientific studies have linked BSE to cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) in humans, an invariably fatal disease that most likely results from human consumption of infectious material from cattle with BSE. A 1997 rule prohibited specific risk materials

from use in the human food supply. There have been no vCJD cases linked to consumption of U.S. beef and the risk of BSE among U.S. cattle is low.

FDA regulates feed and drugs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and FDA together promulgate and enforce the regulations that ensure the exclusion of specific risk materials from the human food supply.

Country

Kitchen

APPETIZER BURGERS • 1 1/2 pounds Certified Angus Beef ® ground chuck • 1 head Bibb lettuce, washed and separated • 1 small red onion, sliced • 8 silver dollar buns 1.Form ground chuck into eight 3-ounce patties.

2.Grill until no pink remains (160 ° internal temperature).

3.Build sandwich by layering lettuce, red onion and burger on a bun.

CAJUN-STYLE SPICED PORK CHOPS • 1 tablespoon paprika • 2 1/2 teaspoons salt • 1 teaspoon each onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne • 3/4 teaspoon each white pepper, black pepper, dried thyme, oregano • 4-6 center cut bone-in pork chops (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds) Mix all ingredients except pork and store in an airtight container. Rub chops with rub. Prepare medium-hot fire and grill chops over indirect heat for 5-6 minutes on each side.

34 • Oklahoma Country • Summer 2008

OKCRA displays new products, dishes at formal dinner meril Lagasse, Rachael Ray and Paula Deen have nothing on the members of the Oklahoma Culinary Research Alliance, or OKCRA. In fact, they would be jealous.

OKCRA, a joint collaboration between the Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology–Okmulgee Culinary Arts Program, unveiled new products and dishes during a formal dinner held on the Okmulgee campus.

The collaboration was designed to advance value-added products from processing to presentation, said Andrea Graves, FAPC business planning and marketing specialist and OKCRA chair.

“The dinner was a chance to showcase what the OKCRA team has been working on for the past several months,” Graves said. “The OKCRA team has worked extremely hard in developing new products from underutilized raw materials that are not yet available in the food industry.”

The first project addressed by OKCRA was to enhance and facilitate the movement from commodities to value-added products in the beef industry, said Jake Nelson, FAPC valueadded meat processing specialist.

“The beef industry, in part with the Beef Checkoff, is currently investigating methods to bring additional value to the beef chuck,” Nelson said. “Multiple sectors of processing industries could benefit from new or novel methods of fabrication, further processing and final preparation for the consumer.”

OSU Institute of Technology–Okmulgee developed a culinary class to fulfill the objectives for the beef project. Chef Scott Sherrill, culinary arts faculty member and instructor of the class, and his students — Kevin Sloan, Josh Lee, Danny Savala, Kelvin Williams and Kristen Anderson — applied innovative approaches to the beef chuck.

The top 10 culinary techniques applied during the semester were showcased on neverbefore-used beef chuck muscles during the dinner. Some of the methods included stewing, braising, roasting, broiling and smoking.

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Water safety stressed for summer season ach year, nearly 1,000 children ages 14 and under drown and another 16,000 are rushed to hospitals for near drowning.

“With summer upon us, parents need to be diligent at the lake or at the backyard pool to keep kids safe,” said Farm Bureau Safety Services Director Justin Grego.

He offered the following tips to keep kids safe: • If you have a pool, it should be surrounded on all four sides by a fence at least five feet high with gates that close and latch automatically.

“Studies estimate that this type of isolation fencing could prevent 50 to 90 percent of child drownings,” Grego said.

• Never allow young children to swim Profiles, will be developed as marketing tools in alone. Never leave your child alone in or near the food manufacturing and foodservice a swimming pool or lake. industries in Oklahoma.

• Be sure your family always wears U.S.

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This new corned beef dish was served to those attending the Oklahoma Culinary Research Alliance’s formal dinner in Okmulgee recently. The alliance unveiled new products and dishes during the event.

“Participants saw what we feel are the best and most innovative approaches to add value to a traditional commodity beef cut,” Sherrill said.

The students set up action stations for each of the products displayed. Participants had the opportunity to visit each station to fill their plate and discuss with the students the techniques used on the beef cuts.

Representatives from various sectors of the food industry attended the dinner to hear more about OKCRA and see the unveiling of the new products.

John Williams, president of Chef’s Requested Foods in Oklahoma City and participant of the dinner, said he was impressed with the beef cuts, and he believes that most of the other participants were impressed as well.

“The ability to take what’s developed at the FAPC, such as ingredients and processes, and execute them into presentation is a great way to expedite new products to foodservice,” Williams said. “The project is an intriguing brick that’s been laid for a brighter future for us in the beef industry.”

After attending the dinner and seeing the different beef cuts, Williams requested a beef cutting demonstration for his key employees who would benefit from this knowledge.

Even though the spring semester and the culinary class have concluded, the OKCRA team is still finalizing work on the beef project. Several information sheets, or Product

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