putting that farm together and keeping that farm together.” Mary Jo was the farm’s combine operator in 2009, and it proved to be a chance to teach one of her grandchildren even more about agriculture. “The oldest granddaughter rode around on the combine three days with me this summer for my first summer combining,” Mary Jo said. “She enjoyed that.” While the farming operation demands most of their time, both Joe and Mary Jo are active in other organizations and their community. Mary Jo is in her 32nd year of teaching at Drummond. She is enjoying an active retirement of working half days as a librarian and working with students as the school’s yearbook adviser. “It worked in so well with the farming,” Mary Jo said of her teaching career. “It was a little busy at the first and the end of it, when we’re trying to get ready for harvest or when we’re sowing wheat, but most of the time it’s worked out really well.” Mary Jo said she enjoys being involved with kids at the rural school and helping with 4-H, in which the Peepers’ grandchildren participate. Mary Jo also has served on the Garfield County Women’s Committee for 12 years and on the county’s resolutions committee for 23 years. She has represented her county as a delegate to the FBW meetings at state convention for 15 years. She has attended three AFBF conventions. Joe has served on the Garfield County Farm Bureau board some 25 years, and served many years as president and vice president. He has served numerous times on the resolutions and membership committees,
and also has represented the county as a delegate to the state convention many times. He also has attended three AFBF conventions. They have served as ushers in their church as well as Eucharistic ministers and lectors. Joe has served as a director of the local Conservation District.
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or winning Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s top award, the Peepers received the use of a new Dodge pickup for a year, an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting in Seattle, Wash., and other gifts in recognition of their accomplishments. “Oklahoma agriculture is about hard-working families feeding America on less land each year,” they wrote in their application. “If we are not careful, there will not be enough land left to produce what we need.” The Peepers agree the best part of farming is nurturing the plants and animals and seeing nature in action. “You’re involved in every season throughout the year,” Joe said. “You watch nature in action. You’re out there doing things that many people just don’t have the chance to do. “There’s never a dull moment – there’s always something to do and something to see and be involved with. It’s exciting and it’s a lot of work, but it’s what we love to do.”
Oklahoma Country • Winter 2010 • 13
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ith as much floor space as an entire football field plus nearly half of another, shoppers might think they’re entering just another club or discount chain when the automatic doors under the arched entryway slide open. Any such thoughts quickly disappear with the first sight of the different sizes and shapes of shopping carts that wait for customers before the second set of automatic doors open revealing a grocery store like no other in Oklahoma. “It’s just like a typical supermarket,” says Steve Lahto, vice president of marketing for Reasor’s, “but it’s not.” This new flagship store for northeastern Oklahoma’s oldest grocery concern provides a shopping experience unequaled by the clubs or discount chains. Located just east of the Oklahoma Aquarium off the Creek Turnpike’s
Peoria/Elm Exit in Jenks, Reasor’s newest grocery puts the ‘super’ in supermarket. Reasor’s management traveled across the United States to visit different grocery stores to glean ideas and “added to that” before the first shovel of dirt was turned on this 82,000 square foot supermarket extraordinaire. The automatic doors opened to customers last June, affording a grocery shopping experience like nothing else in Oklahoma. Jim Brooks, manager of the Food and Agriculture Products Center at Oklahoma State University, is no novice when it comes to food products and outlets in the state. “The new Reasor’s store stands alone when you consider all the thought and planning that had to happen to develop a new type of shopping experience for their customers,” Brooks said following a pre-grand The newest of 15 stores, this Reasor’s in Jenks opened in mid 2009. The building covers some 82,000 square feet and is home to thousands of items. “You almost forget you’re actually in a grocery story,” said OSU’s Food and Agricultural Products Center Manager Jim Brooks after a pre-grand opening tour. Paul Roach, vice president of meat operations for Reasor’s, displays one of the thick CAB Prime Natural steaks from the meat department in the Jenks store. Paul also is vice president of the Cherokee County Farm Bureau board of directors. The Reasor’s Jenks store features a drive-thru pick-up area for shoppers. After checking out, customers can get a number and stay seated in their vehicle while an employee loads their groceries in their automobile.
Your Typical Grocery Store Reasor’s new Jenks store puts the ‘super’ in supermarket. By Mike Nichols Oklahoma Country • Winter 2010 • 15
opening VIP tour of the supermarket. “Each department has its own unique identity, and. . .you almost forget you’re actually in a grocery store.” Thousands on top of thousands of items provide customers with mind-boggling choices including everything from traditional grocery products to today’s trendy natural and organic. Long shopping aisles wide enough for a car have passageways that allow customers to go from one to another without pushing their cart all the way to either end. ut the biggest difference is a tenet of the late founder, Larry Reasor, that is continued by Jeff Reasor, president and CEO, and the 3,000 employee-owners of the 15 Reasor’s stores scattered throughout Tulsa, Creek, Cherokee, Delaware and Rogers Counties today – service.
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Several unique shopping areas are available in the Reasor’s store in Jenks. The large photo below is the take and heat food line at the store, featuring all types of prepared foods ready to eat after a brief stay in your home oven or microwave. A salad bar, in the bottom left photo, inside the store rivals many restaurants with the selection offered customers. A truly unique olive bar, in the bottom right photo, is another of the unusual features awaiting customers. This unique display at Reasor’s Jenks store features a replica of a semi-trailer, which appears to have been backed through an exterior wall. It is realistic enough that one trucker actually was worried that a co-worker put the trailer through the wall.
“We’re Oklahoma friendly,” says Paul Roach, who has 36 years of service with Reasor’s. “There’s real friendliness in our service.” Paul is the vice president of meat operations for all Reasor’s stores. He resides in Tahlequah, where he began his career at the very first Reasor’s stores that opened there some 46 years ago. He also is vice president of the Cherokee County Farm Bureau board of directors, and has about 100 head of black cows as well as pecans on his ranch. Paul is excited about the new store. He’s proud when he strolls the store and sees dining areas with free wi-fi plus meeting rooms; a full service bank; “The Restaurant” which has a full-time chef; a Java Dave’s; a fresh deli also offering hot foods like burritos and pizza; a hot food buffet line; a full salad bar; a large olive bar; a sushi bar; a full pharmacy; a take-and-heat food line; a traditional bakery that also offers specially decorated cakes; a floral department larger than many stand-alone
florists; a large selection of Made In Oklahoma products; and all the other more traditional grocery departments plus general merchandise like mops and brooms, cosmetics, filters, detergents and much more. Paul is equally excited when he tells you about customer service personnel stationed in the store that will lead customers to specific items they’re looking for. He also points proudly to the display of natural and organic dairy products as well as other sections devoted to natural and organic products. And he’s not shy when showing off the huge frozen food section, which is contained in massive glass-doored units with walk-in frozen food storage in the center aisle between the appliances. Those units hold everything from traditional size packages to “club-pack freezers” filled with large volumes of chicken, vegetables and fruits plus many other favorites.
Oklahoma Country • Winter 2010 • 17
Paul can even relate a funny story of a trucker, who upon seeing a display featuring a replica of the rear of a semi-trailer with lights flashing jutting out on the inside of the store, worrying that it was one of his co-workers who backed the rig through the wall. He also points proudly to the exterior’s covered, drive-thru bag loading station. After checking out, customers can get a number for the drive-thru and stay seated inside their vehicle while employees load their groceries. But there’s no other area in the supermarket that has the special aura of the meat department for this one-time meat market manager, who now oversees the meat marketing for all the stores. Steve will tell you that Paul sees the whole store operation but the meat department is forte. It is, after all, Paul’s bailiwick and responsibility, and his pride and joy. Most of Paul’s career with Reasor’s has been devoted to meats, and his influence is prominent in every cut sold whether it’s pre-packaged or plucked from the attractive display in the refrigerated cases by one of the white-coat clad meat market workers after the customer’s selection. Paul managed the meat markets in the two Reasor’s stores in Tahlequah for about 15 years, going through three remodels. Nearly 22 years ago, he moved to the corporate offices as a vice president. His influence in the meat markets shines at all the stores but is brightest in the new Jenks store. Paul aligned Reasor’s as a charter member with the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) program about 20 years ago, introducing the premium beef in the stores at Tahlequah.
18 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2010
He first met with a small packer in Illinois and contracted with that firm for CAB beef for Reasor’s. Entire carcasses arrived in the stores, where butchers prepared them for customers. Two major packers supply CAB to Reasor’s today since demand outgrew the small Illinois firm. Today, the meat arrives as boxed beef in stores rather than as carcasses. “I wanted something different for our customers out of that counter. CAB was an almost instant success by its quality standards. It’s the finest we can buy for our stores,” he said. Vice President Paul Roach proudly uses point of purchase information proclaiming the commitment to offering customers the best beef available today. These rib eye, strip, t-bone and porterhouse steaks are Certified Angus Beef Prime Natural, the Cadillac of beef today. The steaks are the top 0.1 percent of beef sold. Reasor’s is the only 100 percent Certified Angus Beef grocery chain in Oklahoma, and the first in the U.S. to sell only CAB Prime Natural. Thick cut pork chops plus other pork products sit in the refrigerated meat counter at Reasor’s. All fresh meat products sold in the store are hormone and antibiotic free. Supermarket Guru® Phil Lempert, who works closely with food giant ConAgra Foods, says people want to know where their food is coming from, especially in the meat case where labels often list multiple countries of origin. All Reasor’s fresh meat products are produced in the U.S.A. Gigantic salmon fillets are prominent in the fresh seafood display at Reasor’s. Fresh seafood is flown in regularly, and a specialist is on hand to offer buying and preparation tips to customers. Seafood recipes appear weekly in Reasor’s newspaper ads. The customer response has been significant.
CAB Choice is offered customers in the Jenks’ store food service areas. But that’s the only place the Cadillac of beef, CAB Prime Natural, doesn’t fill the cases. “We’re the only 100 percent CAB grocery chain in Oklahoma. . . and we’re the first company in the U.S. to offer totally CAB Prime Natural. It’s been a good move for us.” CAB Prime Natural meets nine more quality specifications than USDA Prime. Animals are never given hormones or antibiotics and are fed 100 percent vegetarian diets. The product is minimally processed and contains no artificial ingredients. CAB Prime Natural is the top 0.1 percent of the finest quality, natural beef. It is the most flavorful, juicy and tender beef sold. “It sells on quality and taste,” said Paul. “People enjoy both.” The CAB Prime Natural is more expensive than cuts displayed in most stores. But the price hasn’t stopped customers from filling their baskets. “We are bringing our customers the finest beef in the country,” said Paul. “Grocery stores like Walmart are all about price. We’re about service, quality and price. If we weren’t priced right, we wouldn’t stay in business.” ll fresh products in the meat department also are products of the U.S.A. That fact is important to consumers today, according Supermarket Guru® Phil Lempert, who works closely with food giant ConAgra Foods. He says people want to know where their food is coming from, especially in the meat case where labels often list multiple countries of origin. “We feel that’s a very strong commitment to the grassroots of where we are with our suppliers and the people we do business with,” said Paul. The natural, no additive trend also carries over into the pork and poultry sections. “All of our meats and poultry are all natural with no hormones or antibiotics. It’s the only kind of fresh product we have. And there are never any solutions added to our meats.” A massive fresh seafood section also falls under Paul’s purview as meat operations vice president. Supplies are flown in regularly to offer customers the freshest selection available. “We’ve seen a significant response from customers. It’s additional sales, not taking away from other purchases. We’re very happy with the lift we’re seeing.” Customers at the Jenks store also will find special assistance at the seafood counter. Reasor’s hired a seafood specialist who can help customers with their selections as well as provide information on the correct ways to prepare seafood. New seafood recipes also appear in the store’s weekly newspaper ads. “We recognized a lot of people like seafood, and we’re helping to educate customers on how to cook and prepare it. We work daily along those lines. We also do employee training. . .because the more knowledge they have the more comfortable they are at the counter.” The number of Oklahoma grocery stores and supermarkets with 50 or more employees has dropped in the past 10 years. With Walmart selling about 60 percent of the groceries in the state, other chains and independents have found rougher sledding. But Reasor’s has thrived with its friendly service and outstanding selection plus competitive prices. “We’re always looking for new opportunities,” said Paul. And both he and the marketing vice president grin when asked about the possibility of expanding further west in Oklahoma. “We think of it everyday,” said Paul. Oklahoma Country • Winter 2010 • 19
Convention
Roundup
Delegates want agricultural sales tax exemptions kept in place
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oting delegates at the 68th annual meeting of Oklahoma Farm Bureau reaffirmed the organization’s longstanding position on sales tax exemptions for agriculture, and declared that keeping those exemptions should be a priority. OFB, just a year after it organized in 1942, began working to obtain sales tax exemptions for agriculture. Success was slow to come, but exemptions were granted on feeds and the trade value of machinery in 1957. Fertilizer was added in 1965 and in 1967 all farm machinery purchases were exempted. Machinery repairs were exempted in 1969 and poultry stock exemptions came in 1973 with a 1976 senate bill exempting seed, repair parts and ag chemicals. And, in 1978 and 1989 more exemptions were granted. With the state facing economic shortfalls and searching for revenue sources, delegates re-emphasized the longstanding support for the exemptions for agriculture and said that “protecting existing sales tax exemptions for agricultural uses should be a top priority for Oklahoma Farm Bureau.” “I think in the upcoming legislative session protecting agriculture’s sale tax exemptions and defending against proposed property tax increases will require diligence on our part. It will certainly be our top legislative priority,” said Lori Peterson, OFB public policy vice president. The delegates also adopted the recommendations of a water policy study committee established at their request at the 2008 annual meeting. The committee met twice during 2009, and made recommendations to remove inconsistencies and clarify current
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policy and proposed three new water policies. One of the approved recommendations reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to protecting groundwater as a private property right. OFB will protect that position in the development of the statewide water plan. Also adopted was a committee recommendation that OFB does not support selling of water out of state. However, if water is sold funds generated should go toward the state water and wastewater infrastructure.
Bob Drake and Mike Spradling presided over resolution sessions during the 68th annual convention in Oklahoma City. Delegates used two different sessions to debate and enact policy recommendations that will guide Farm Bureau’s path during 2010.
Another water issue approved endorsed New Mexico’s law on interstate water issues, a version of which was passed in 2009 by the Oklahoma Legislature. Delegates said such legislation should protect the state’s water interests in the ongoing litigation against Oklahoma by the City of Hugo and the Tarrant County (Texas) Water District. Because of the organization’s concern about private property rights, the delegates endorsed a committee recommendation to better protect landowners in eminent domain actions to take land for the water rights. The delegates also approved policy to deal
with animal agricultural issues. A newly approved policy states: “All traditional animal husbandry practices shall be at the discretion of the animal’s owner.” A second related action, also dealing with animal agriculture, stated: “Equine dentists, chiropractors and farriers are trained professionals who provide essential services to the horse industry. They should be recognized as such and allowed to continued to practice.” That recommendation came after state lawmakers made those performing animal care services like “teeth floating” lawbreakers if they were not licensed veterinarians. Another notable policy decision made by the voting delegates dealt with used farm tires. That adopted policy said: “Producers who choose to leave their used tires at the business where they purchased the new tires should pay a reasonable fee to have the used tires become part of the Waste Tire Management Fund. This should be a voluntary program.” Lt. Gov. Jari Aksins made an unscheduled stop at the convention during the Nov. 6 opening session. During her address to the Farm Bureau group, she said a strong rural economy is needed. “We can’t have a strong Oklahoma without being strong border to border.” Immediately following, American Farm Bureau’s Director of Public Policy Mary Kay Thatcher updated OFB members on some of the current issues lawmakers are tackling in Washington, D.C. She predicted funding for the farm bill will be hit hard in the actual payments for commodities. Two out of every three dollars in
farm bill spending goes for nutrition programs, with one in eight Americans now receiving food stamps. She said lawmakers will not cut any funding for those nutrition programs. “When talking about a bloated farm Lt. Gov. Jari Askins bill, it really isn’t agriculture you’re talking about.” Thatcher was critical of climate change legislation, the so-called cap and trade measure, now being considered. The measure seeks to reduce reliance on coal and oil for fuels. “Climate change is not a short-term bill,” she said. She said everyone should be weary of the legislation, noting that families could expect energy costs to go up $1,870 per year with foods costs also rising $2,300 per year. Thatcher said refiners predict gas prices will increase 77 cents a gallon if the current climate change measure is approved. “Our biggest concern with the climate change bill is the fact that farmers will suffer higher input costs and food prices will go up.” She said it would put between 40 to 60 million acres of productive farm land in trees while the United Nations predicts farmers will have to produce 70 percent more food by 2050 to feed an ever-growing world population. The American Humane Certified Program® was explained by manager Tim Amlaw during a
breakout session. It was established in 2002 to guarantee to consumers that products bearing its labels are from animals that were raised and treated humanely.
Mark Gold
He said the program is good for people who buy food and good for farmers. The organization works with agricultural interests in a voluntary program, not mandated by outsiders. The program now covers more than 500 farming operations and more than 60 million farm animals. Mark Gold, Top Third Ag Marketing manager partner, told another breakout session
his firm was dedicated to helping farmers manage risk to reduce stress. “Our goal is to help farmers market their crop and livestock products in the top third of prices available to them during the Mary Kay Thatcher marketing year. We don’t speculate. We don’t predict prices. We manage risk.” During caucuses, delegates in districts two, five and eight re-elected sitting directors to threeyear terms. In district two, Tom Buchanan of Jackson County won his second three-year term as that district’s Tim Amlaw representative on the state board of directors. Buchanan produces cotton and grows wheat for pasture for his cattle herd. Latimer County rancher Larry Boggs won his third threeyear term as district five representative on the state board of directors. He is a cow-calf rancher and also raises hay on his operation, which has been in his family since 1951. In district eight, Pontotoc County’s Billy Gibson won his third three-year term on the state board of directors. He has a large cow-calf operation and pecan orchard in addition to producing hay and wheat. He also operates a seed and feed store in Allen. Convention delegates also re-elected Mike Spradling of Sand Springs to his second twoyear term as president of the farm organization. Oklahoma Country • Winter 2010 • 21
Indiana farmer Ed Bell, who has been permanently paralyzed since a violent criminal attack in 1982, sewed the seeds of hope, humor, faith and perseverance when he spoke to the opening session of the 68th annual OFB convention.
Garvin County Farm Bureau President Dale Schauer accepted the John I. Taylor Award from Mike Spradling Nov. 6 during the awards program at the Cox Convention Center. Garvin County earned the award, topping all counties in all of OFB’s program areas. It was the third consecutive year Garvin County earned the honor.
Garfield County Farm Bureau President Gary Johnson accepted the Lewis H. Munn Award from Mike Spradling Nov. 6 during the awards program at the Cox Convention Center. Garfield County excelled in membership to earn the honor.
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He and his wife own and operate a ranch with cattle and pecans as the primary agricultural enterprise. District representatives on the Women’s Committee in regions two, five and eight also re-elected incumbents. Lowayne Piercy of Dill City retained her district two seat; Nadine Butler of Atoka retained her district five seat; and Roberta Hughes of Konawa retained her district eight position. YF&R members attending the annual convention selected their representatives for the state committee for 2010. They were Tyler and Naomi Mayer of Texas County in district one; Brent and Amie Straub of Kiowa County in district two; Jeffery and Sarah Weeks of Pottawatomie County at large members; Amber Furhmann of Comanche County in district four; Brian and LaSheil Knowles of LeFlore County in district five; Jodi Simmons of Adair County in district six; Adam and Nicole Martens of Major County in district seven; Joshua and Letisha Miller of Garvin County in district eight; Will and Jennifer Cubbage of Osage County in district nine; and Bill and Cristin Shelby of Muskogee County as at large members. The Cubbages were elected as chairmen of the YF&R committee with the Knowles winning the vice chairmen office. During a special breakfast the final day of the convention, five volunteer leaders were honored with FB Champion awards for exceptional governmental relations efforts. The honorees included Ada Hill of Garvin County; Karla Boggs of Latimer County; Tim Taylor of Payne County; Norita Morgan of Seminole County; and Macy Strom of Washington County. In the county president’s breakfast, also held on the final day of the convention, 15 counties were honored with Rocket Club Awards. The award recognizes county Farm Bureaus with 15 years or more of continuous membership growth. Leading the way was Canadian County Farm Bureau, which recorded an amazing 41 consecutive years of membership growth. Cotton County Farm Bureau earned the award, marking its 25th consecutive year of attaining membership quota. Bryan, Comanche, McClain, McCurtain, Seminole and Sequoyah County Farm Bureaus received Rocket Club Awards for 22 consecutive years of making membership quota. LeFlore County Farm Bureau took home a Rocket Club Award for 21 years of attaining membership quota while Grady County earned the same award for 20 years of growth. First time 15-year winners included Carter, Cherokee, Jackson, Lincoln and Tulsa County Farm Bureaus.
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Special discounts for Farm Bureau members
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Buck taken from a Plotmaster food plot.
Plotmaster units come in three foot and four foot widths. With an ATV or UTV, gauge wheels are controlled electrically from the driver’s seat for uniform depth control and plow transport. The driver also controls the broadcast seeder from the driver’s seat. Chisel point attachment, turning plow attachment, moldboard, landscape rake, row seeder and drag are all attachments which hook in a receiver hitch behind the second set of disk gangs. Tractor hook-up is category 1 3-point. Never has seeding been so easy and affordable.
Roundup Ready Forage Soybeans. Eagle Seed Company; Weiner, Arkansas Oklahoma Country • Winter 2010 • 23
Farm Bureau honors two with Distinguished Service awards possible. Simply put, Kent Boggs has dedicated his life to agriculture and preparing young people to be its future leaders.”
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Matt Wilson
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klahoma Farm Bureau honored two leaders during its 68th annual meeting in Oklahoma City with Distinguished Service Awards. The pair of awards is designed to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture and to Oklahoma Farm Bureau, according to OFB Executive Director Monica Wilke. Oklahoma FFA Executive Secretary Kent Boggs and former OFB Executive Director Matt Wilson were honored Nov. 6 during a special award’s program in the Cox Convention Center.
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oggs was presented with the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Agriculture Award while Wilson received the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Farm Bureau Award. Boggs has served agriculture for more than 30 years as an educator and motivator for young people. He began his career as an agricultural education instructor at Elgin Public Schools, where he spent eight years molding his students into successful competitors and leaders by helping them realize their potential. In 1985, he was named Oklahoma FFA’s 24 • Oklahoma Country • Winter 2010
Kent Boggs
executive secretary. He has served in that capacity ever since by working tirelessly and closely with all happenings of the Oklahoma FFA Association. Under his leadership, Oklahoma FFA has grown to the fifth largest in the nation with 355 chapters and some 24,000 members. Boggs is solely responsible for coordinating the Oklahoma FFA Convention, which is one of the largest and most impressive youth events in the state. He also manages all FFA Career Development Events, FFA Alumni Leadership Camp, and activities of the state officer team. He has led and advised 25 state officer teams during his tenure, helping to develop those young people into successful business men and women. In addition to his responsibilities as executive secretary, he also spends much of his time working at the Oklahoma Youth Expo and the Tulsa State Fair. He also is an active member of the Sirloin Club and Southwest American Livestock Foundation. “It is difficult to gather and put into writing all of the accomplishments of Kent Boggs,” said his nomination form. “He is professional in every sense of the word and exudes the highest standards of morality and integrity
ilson retired as the executive director of OFB last July, with more than 30 years service to Farm Bureau in Kentucky and Oklahoma. He came to OFB in 1990 as the field services director after spending almost 12 years as a field service representative for Kentucky Farm Bureau. As field services director, programs Wilson initiated assisted the organization’s staff and volunteer leaders as they moved the organization from about 80,000 to 100,000 members. He was responsible for instituting an exclusive program offering substantial discounts on goods and services for members only. During his tenure with Oklahoma he served under five different OFB presidents, and the organization grew to more than 172,000 member families. Wilson said he is most proud of the quality of staff, membership growth and enhancements to the image of the organization during his tenure. He instituted the county loan program in 1997, which has loaned more than $12.2 million to 54 county Farm Bureaus for building improvements. Contributions to youth livestock premium auctions, college scholarships, FFA and 4-H and the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association grew substantially during his tenure. The OFB Legal Foundation and OKAgFund also were established during his career. Wilson grew up on a farm near Georgetown, Ky. He graduated Georgetown College in 1976 with a degree in accounting. Immediately prior to coming to Oklahoma, he was executive director of the Kentucky College Savings Trust. He said Farm Bureau is a grassroots, family oriented organization and when people are searching for something to believe in that “they know Farm Bureau supports those values.”