Winter 2026 The magazine of Oklahoma Farm Bureau
An
award rooted in tradition Oklahoma Farm Bureau recognizes nine farm and ranch families who embody Oklahoma's agricultural heritage. Tending to the roots Meet Kay County farmer and new OKFB President, Stacy Simunek
Elevating agriculture
Recapping the 2026 OKFB convention with awards, recognition and more
Insurance matters Through storms and uncertainty, OKFB Insurance stands strong for our members
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Volume 79 No. 1 Winter 2026 (ISSN 1544-6476)
Oklahoma Country is published four times per year in January, April, July and October by Oklahoma Farm Bureau, 2501 N. Stiles, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126. Telephone: (405) 523-2300. ADDRESS CORRECTIONS Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Oklahoma Country, PO Box 53332, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3332. ON THE COVER
DIRECT ADVERTISING INQUIRIES TO: Oklahoma Country Attn: Casey McNeal (800) 798-2691, ext. 334 or email casey@iafalls.com ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising is subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers assume all liability for content of their advertising. Publisher does not guarantee advertiser service or products, and assumes no liability for products or services advertised. TO SUBSCRIBE Oklahoma Country subscription rate is $1 per year for members as part of the dues, and $15 for non-members. WEBSITE www.okfarmbureau.org
OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Stacy Simunek | President David VonTungeln | Vice President Gary Crawley | Secretary Leon Richards | Treasurer Jimmy Taylor | Director Kerry Givens | Director Roger Moore | Director Terry Graham | Director Mike Leverett | Director Macy Strom | Director Thad Doye | Executive Director
Photo by Dustin Mielke
(L to R) Rebecca, Chet and Ashlee Purvine stand on their Dewey County farm. The Purvine family was recognized as OKFB’s 2025 District 1 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition recipients EDITORIAL TEAM Dustin Mielke Vice President of Communications and Public Relations
Rachel Havens Assistant Director of Media Relations and Advocacy Communications
Mickinzi Ferguson Communications Specialist
Kate Jackson Publications Specialist
ABOUT OKLAHOMA COUNTRY MAGAZINE Oklahoma Country magazine is the official magazine of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, mailed to Farm Bureau members four times a year. Oklahoma Country magazine shares the story of Oklahoma agriculture and our rural communities through the eyes of Farm Bureau members, programs and activities. ABOUT OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU Oklahoma Farm Bureau is Oklahoma's largest general farm organization, dedicated to supporting the agriculture community to improve the lives of Oklahomans. As a grassroots, member-led organization, OKFB gives a voice to family farmers and ranchers through advocacy, outreach, leadership development and supporting the future of agriculture. Oklahoma Country
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Oklahoma Country Contents Winter 2026
Featured stories
10
An award rooted in tradition
OKFB's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition recipients continue Oklahoma's agricultural heritage.
30 Tending to the roots
Get to know Kay County farmer and new OKFB President Stacy Simunek.
Columns
6 8
Presidentially Speaking
34 Elevating agriculture
Celebrating Farm Bureau achievements during OKFB's 2025 annual meeting.
Sections
Stacy Simunek, President
Bureau 40 Farm Advocacy
Bureau 45 Farm Photos
Insurance Matters
Bureau 41 Farm People
Around 46 All Oklahoma
Bureau 42 Farm Events
50 Oklahoma Gardening
Gary Buckner, Executive Vice President and General Manager
Bureau 43 Farm Outreach 4
Oklahoma Country
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Oklahoma Country
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Presidentially Speaking Insights from Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Stacy Simunek
Keeping our focus on the future with our feet firmly planted in agriculture
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Stacy Simunek President Oklahoma Farm Bureau & Affiliated Companies
“My heart is in family agriculture, and I will work to ensure that we are representing farmers and ranchers first.”
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Oklahoma Country
t is an honor to serve, and a special honor to serve my fellow farmers, ranchers and rural residents as your next president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau. While I may be new to the OKFB presidency, I am proud to say I am no stranger to Farm Bureau and the grassroots achievements our members accomplish as one. As a third-generation farmer from northern Oklahoma and a Kay County Farm Bureau leader for more than 20 years, I am honored to represent Oklahoma Farm Bureau members as your president. As a family farmer myself, I am taking the reins of Farm Bureau alongside my fellow state board members with the understanding that this is our members’ organization, and as leaders, we have a responsibility to guide Oklahoma agriculture forward as we address the challenges of today while ensuring our kids and grandkids have the same opportunity that many of us had to return to the farm or ranch. As we begin a new year of blazing a trail for agriculture and our rural communities, I hope you are as excited as I am – not only for what the future holds, but also because the way of life we represent is worth fighting for. My heart is in family agriculture, and I will work to ensure that we are representing farmers and ranchers first. Our organization has developed amazing programs and great opportunities to serve our members and our fellow rural Oklahomans during our more than 80 years of history. My vision for Farm Bureau is to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, serve as their voice and work together with fellow agriculture groups to defend agriculture and make sure agriculture is heard and understood in both the state
legislature and the public. Already in my time as president, OKFB has stood up for poultry producers in the Illinois River watershed as the state of Oklahoma’s proposed settlement and the later federal court judgement in the decades-long lawsuit against poultry companies threatens to put family poultry farmers out of business. We have also been in touch with state leaders as we make plans for the rapidly approaching 2026 legislative session. I have had the opportunity to speak personally with Farm Bureau state presidents and leaders from around the nation to discuss how we as Farm Bureau leaders can work together to represent agriculture across the country while working toward a new, full farm bill. All of this comes back to making sure that the agricultural producers who work daily to keep their family farms and ranches viable can continue doing what they know best: stewarding their land, caring for their livestock and actively participating in their local agricultural communities while feeding, clothing and fueling us all. As grassroots Farm Bureau leaders, we can make big things happen starting right on the farm or ranch. After all, that is the foundation of our organization: taking the best ideas that are formed right from the tractor seat or the feed truck and bringing them to life to help each and every agricultural producer. I hope you are as excited as I am to focus on advancing Oklahoma agriculture, protecting our way of life from those who do not understand the vitally important role we play and working together to make our communities, our state and our nation a place where future generations will be proud and excited to forge their own futures.
Insurance Matters Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance news and updates from Gary Buckner
Weathering storms the Oklahoma way
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klahomans are no strangers to weathering storms, and as we look back at the past year, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance has proudly stood alongside our policyholders in the face of unprecedented adversity and challenges. Our OKFB Insurance board, leadership and staff are dedicated to serving our Farm Bureau members, even though the last 12 months have proven to be difficult across the insurance industry as a whole. From 2017 through 2021, OKFB Insurance experienced relatively normal storm seasons, which allowed us to make significant progress as a company. During that period, we paid off $36.2 million in debt and increased policyholder surplus from $50 million to $160 million — an alltime high for OKFB Insurance. We addressed and updated antiquated systems across the company, corrected rating issues and began to grow our business again after a difficult period that included multiple non-renewal cycles, a halt in new business sales and nearly five years of dormancy. These accomplishments, combined with proper rate increases, deductible changes and disciplined underwriting initiatives, positioned us to withstand the challenges of the past four years, which included storms, inflation and rising costs. Unfortunately, the insurance industry has experienced a notable increase in severe convective storms, and this past year we also experienced historic wildfire losses. When we hosted our annual policyholders meeting at the OKFB annual convention in November, policyholder surplus stood at $104.4 million. As I am writing this, our surplus has improved to approximately $120 million. As we closed out the month of December 2025, our goal was to reach a minimum of $126 million, which is where we began the year. I recognize that the last four years have not unfolded as we had hoped or planned. However, I am extremely grateful for what has been accomplished over the past decade: progress that has allowed us to continue to serve our members as OKFB Insurance, which is one of only eight Farm Bureau insurance companies nationwide that remain independent. In contrast, several other state Farm Bureaus were forced to merge with larger organizations in 2025. We are still standing strong as we serve our members and policyholders, and we must remain focused on the five- to ten-year horizon. There will be good years, great years, and inevitably, challenging years. Our long-term success depends on discipline, focus and continued investment in the future. Despite these challenges, we have stayed on track with system modernizations and memberfocused enhancements. Looking ahead to 2026, we plan to deploy a Farm Bureau Insurance mobile app while improving payment plan options by adding services such as Venmo, Cash App and other digital payment solutions. Thank you for your continued commitment and dedication to OKFB Insurance. What we have built together has positioned us to move forward into the future with confidence. 8
Oklahoma Country
Gary Buckner Executive Vice President and General Manager Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance
Your future self will thank you. When it comes to planning for the future, sometimes getting started is the hardest part. That’s where we come in. From life insurance and annuities to retirement planning and more, we’ll help you get started and stay with you every step of the way. Contact your local Farm Bureau agent, and together, we’ll make your future self proud.
Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company/West Des Moines, IA. Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company/Oklahoma City, OK. LI218-OK (6-25)
Oklahoma Country
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10 Oklahoma Country
A message from the author:
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hroughout the past few months, I have had the opportunity to travel around the state of Oklahoma to visit with our nine Farm and Ranch Family Recognition recipients and hear their stories of perseverance, tradition and dedication. From traveling near the Talimena Byway to the flatlands of western Oklahoma, our state becomes a quiet, moving backdrop to the stories that shape who we are. Sitting down with each recognized farm and ranch family allowed me the opportunity to learn of the diverse directions each family went with their operation. From agritourism to rebuilding a generational ranch to utilizing their operation as an opportunity to be an agricultural ambassador, each family finds a strong passion that keeps their eyes set on farming and ranching. While each family may go different directions with their operation, for all, family is at the center of their operations. Whether that is to continue what those have done before them, or to leave a lasting legacy for those who come next, each generation continues to build on the foundation of continuing the family legacy. It was a privilege to sit down with all nine of our Farm and Ranch Family Recognition recipients to hear their stories and what drives them to continue, and it is my honor to share their stories with you. Each story shows why this award is rooted in tradition.
About the Farm and Ranch Family Recognition program OKFB’s Farm and Ranch Family Recognition program is a project of the OKFB Women's Leadership Committee that celebrates nine farm and ranch families from around the state who carry on the best traditions of Oklahoma agriculture and our rural communities. “Our family farmers and ranchers across Oklahoma work each and every day to feed and clothe our state and country while caring for the land and natural resources that we all depend on,” said Mignon Bolay, OKFB WLC chair. “Our Women’s Leadership Committee is honored to recognize these nine farm and ranch families and share their stories of agricultural achievements and service to their local, rural communities.” As part of their recognition, each family received a cash award and a custom sign to hang at their farm gate. Each family was also recognized at the 2025 OKFB convention with a video sharing their agricultural operation and heritage.
WATCH OUR FARM AND RANCH FAMILY VIDEOS In addition to reading about each 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition recipient, you can watch videos featuring each family by scanning the QR Code.
Oklahoma Country
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THE PURVINE FAMILY
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efore the sun crests the wide Oklahoma horizon, the land in southeastern Dewey County is already telling its story. For Chet Purvine, farming and ranching is not just an occupation, but a legacy shaped by hard work, resilience and a deep respect for the soil and livestock entrusted to him. Each acre he tends and every calf he raises carries the weight of three generations before him, and the hope that what he builds today will help grow the foundation for the generations to come. As a fourth-generation farmer and rancher, Chet operates Purvine Farms and Purvine Cattle Company on 5,560 acres in southeastern Dewey County. Running the primarily commercial cow-calf operation, he also grows wheat along with the recent additions of rye, soybeans and sorghum. After graduating from college in 1991, Chet returned to the family farm where he was raised and took on the primary responsibility for adding stocker cattle while continuing the farming operation. By his second year back, the family was managing more than 7,000 head of stockers, with over half owned by the operation. “It's just the ability to work, day in and day out, with my hands and with crops and livestock,” Chet said about farming and ranching, “to see your hard work eventually develop into something that's beneficial to the rest of the world.” By the early 2000s, Chet was focusing on expanding and developing his cow herd using good quality black
Angus and black-baldy females. After seeking out and using high-quality cattle genetics, and with the help of artificial insemination, he had his first cattle production sale in June 2004. These sales featured either fallor spring-calving bred heifers, bred cows, show cattle and herd sire prospects. Chet moved on from hosting production sales after eight sales within four years. By 2009, he finished with a dispersal sale to shift the family’s focus to developing a seedstock cattle herd with a focus on producing Simmental-Angus bulls and replacement females that help fellow cattle producers increase the quality of their own herds. While the Purvines' crop production has focused mainly on wheat, in recent years, Chet has introduced rye under irrigation for grazing and silage, double-cropped soybeans behind wheat and hybrid sorghum for silage. Beyond raising cattle and crops on the land that has been in his family for generations, Chet has also raised his two daughters, Ashlee and Rebecca, on the same soil that shaped him, watching them develop their own connection to the family ranch. “It’s rewarding that they've taken an interest in the family farm and particularly on the cattle,” Chet said. “More importantly, they also have an understanding of it first-hand because they've been involved and the experiences and the knowledge that they've got, whether they decide to
come back here or not, I feel will benefit them going down the road in life.” The Purvine family remains deeply committed to their community, with Chet dedicating more than 20 years of service as a board member for Dewey County Farm Bureau while also contributing his leadership on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Simmental and Simbrah Association. Ashlee is a sophomore at Northern Oklahoma College where she is a member of the livestock judging team and has started the collegiate Farm Bureau program on campus. Rebecca is a freshman at Connors State College where she is a member of the livestock judging team and serves on the Oklahoma Junior Cattleman’s Association board and Oklahoma Junior Simmental and Simbrah Association board. “I'm proud of both of them and the things that they've accomplished thus far,” Chet said. “The fact that they show an interest out here and that they want to come back here, for me, it makes it to where I feel like that I need to work a little harder to provide them a place that they can come back to when that time does come around.”
Scan to watch the Purvine family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 13
THE COOK FAMILY
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n Washita County, Nocona and Jordan Cook are carrying forward two lifelong paths that eventually became one. Their partnership is rooted in a shared love for agriculture and an unshakable belief in its purpose. Together, they are growing more than crops and cattle; they are raising a family, serving a community and nurturing a way of life they hope will endure for generations to come. Today, Nocona and Jordan manage 2,700 acres of wheat, alfalfa, millet and grain sorghum while also raising stocker cattle and a registered Angus cattle program. “I grew up on the west side of the county and Nocona grew up on the east side of the county,” Jordan said. “My family grew up raising registered Angus cattle and showing cattle, and then Nocona grew up farming and raising stocker cattle.” After graduating college, Nocona returned to the family farm to take over most of the rented acres that his father previously managed, and by 2017, he had nearly doubled in acreage. “The fondest memories I have, I was a little kid riding in the floor of the combine or in the tractor with my grandpa or my dad,” Nocona said. “I wanted to be a farmer.” The Cooks run an 800-head stocker cattle operation, feeding them out until they are ready for a processing facility. They analyze the carcass data received from the processor and through real-life customer feedback, with the purpose of continually adjusting their management practices
to raise cattle that will best meet the needs of their customers. “We're in the cattle industry, we like to say, from conception to consumption,” Nocona said. As Nocona focuses on the farm and stocker cattle, Jordan manages their registered Angus cattle operation. Jordan plays a key role in the operation, handling artificial insemination, assisting with embryo transfer work, raising calves, retaining heifers and marketing bulls that have been sold in more than 15 states and two countries. “I've had other jobs, and they don't compare to this,” Jordan said. “I don't want to do anything else, really.” The Cooks raise their two sons, Denton and Baylor, on their Washita County farm and ranch. Denton assists the family with various farm tasks while also caring for his show cattle, and Baylor has set his eyes on farming. “Denton is wanting to start in the cattle business and wanting to take over some of it, and Baylor is just ate up with farming.” Nocona said. “Baylor just like me — he wants to be a farmer.” With their hands full as full-time farmers and ranchers, the Cooks continue to stay heavily involved through numerous volunteer opportunities within their community and across the state. Nocona serves on the Oklahoma Board of Agriculture in addition to serving as Cloud Chief Rural Volunteer Fire Department chief, Cordell United Methodist
Church council member and Washita 4-H Shooting Sports coach. Jordan serves as president of the Oklahoma Angus Association along with positions on the Oklahoma Beef Council, Washita County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, the Product Safety and Innovation committee and is a past southwest district director of the Oklahoma Cattleman’s Association. Understanding the value of agricultural education, the Cooks also collaborate with their local agriculture education instructor to assist kids who want to show cattle but lack the means to purchase and house an animal. The family also operates with an “open-door policy,” allowing local schools to tour their farm and ranch. “Farming is a tough way to make a living,” Nocona said. “But there's nothing more rewarding than knowing that you're going out there and you're planting the seed or you're breeding the cow that's going to feed somebody one day. I just hope that our families can continue doing that for the future.”
Scan to watch the Cook family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 15
THE LAWSON MOONEYHAM FAMILY
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or Whitney Lawson and Robert Mooneyham, coming home was not the easy choice. It meant leaving corporate careers, returning to worn pastures and choosing to rebuild something deeply rooted in family history. What they found was more than a farm to restore; it was a chance to reconnect with the land, their values and a legacy worth carrying forward. The pair each come from a typical farm and ranch family upbringing. However, both Whitney and Robert moved away from the family farms where they were raised to pursue individual corporate careers in large cities around the United States. They have now seized the opportunity to return to the Yukonarea family farm and ranch where Whitney grew up with the goal of revitalizing the operation. Throughout the generations, Wah Wah ranch has carried a proud legacy of raising cattle, running a dairy and producing wheat and crops. Today, the two are committed to restoring and improving the homestead, raising American Quarter Horse prospects for barrel racing, growing a black Angus cattle herd and producing high-quality hay. “What I think is so different about Robert and I is the choice to come home and revitalize the farm and lean in and make a life of it,” Whitney said. “It's a lot of work to come home and try to revitalize a farm.” Utilizing her background in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals,
Whitey blends modern business and scientific principles with their handson ranching. Whitney manually inputs and analyzes multiple qualitative data sets, developing a predictive crossanalysis model to help identify the best animal pairs to maximize potential, marketability and value. While Whitney focuses mainly on their horse operation, Robert oversees the cropland and hay production in addition to managing building projects and day-to-day manual labor that keeps the operation running smoothly. The couple is also focused on introducing a black Angus cattle herd to the farm. “I think what brought us back to the farm and ranch life, country life, are the values and the morals that are taught in a farm and agriculture community are a little bit different than like a city,” Robert said. “You can always move away, but you know, the old saying is, ‘You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy.’” Even with the constant demands of working full-time on the farm and ranch, they continue to maintain fulltime jobs while balancing the responsibilities of their operation. “Robert and I made the decision to move back, revitalize the farm, and we have full-time jobs in addition to taking on everything that we do on the farm, so a lot of people think we are crazy, but we absolutely love it,” Whitney said. “We have full-time jobs and take on full-time farming, and we are full-time happy.”
Whitney and Robert raise their daughter, Stella, on their farm and ranch, and, she herself balances the farm with her high school and musical theater schedule. “We love seeing how happy it's made Stella being able to come out to the farm, to be stewards of the land and teach her something that she may not have ever thought about or seen,” Robert said. “From being in the city most of her life, it’s something that hopefully we can instill in her to carry on.” The two still make the time to stay plugged in and serve their local communities. Whitney serves as a board member for the East Canadian County Conservation District and was recently appointed to the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture board. She also is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the American Paint Horse Association. “There is no closer front seat to God than being on the farm, and agriculture forces a person to stay in the moment and to stay close to their faith and relinquish control,” Whitney said. “Being on the farm is just extraordinarily grounding to me.”
Scan to watch the Lawson Mooneyham family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 17
THE JOHNSTON FAMILY
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n the quiet rhythm of pasture grass and cattle moving, Mike and Shelly Johnston have built a life defined by faith, family and stewardship. Their ranch is more than a place to raise cows, it is where generations have worked side by side, where lessons are passed down and love endures even through loss. Rooted in tradition and strengthened by community, the Johnstons’ story is one of resilience, gratitude and a deep belief that caring for the land — and each other — is both a responsibility and a blessing. Mike and Shelly have dedicated themselves to being careful stewards of the land. Following in the footsteps of generations before them, they embrace the responsibility of tending to the farm and ranch with care. Their hope is to preserve and strengthen the family operation, ensuring that it will continue to thrive and provide for future generations. Mike’s parents raised hogs and cattle, introducing him to showing livestock and FFA. The Johnstons started their ranch operating sale cows and running yearling cattle for other ranchers. Today, they run a heard of 110 cows on B-Dahl bluestem, keeping calves on wheat for replacement heifers. “The reason that we do what we do is because that's what my parents did and my grandparents,” Mike said. “Just being out in the environment, having the struggles, it's just part of life, but it's also a place that you can see God's hand, and I like that.”
Mike and Shelly found deep pride and lasting joy in raising their two daughters, Tayna and Shytana, on the family farm and ranch, where long days, shared responsibilities and a love for the land shaped their childhoods. Today, that same pride continues as they work side by side with their grandchildren, Braden, Brecken and Cooper, watching another generation learn the values of hard work, faith and family that have defined their way of life for decades. “Growing up, Mike and I worked our parents’ cattle all the time,” Shelly said. “Then we were blessed with our two daughters, and they were raised doing the same thing, and then now our three grandsons. I think it's just been something the Lord's blessed us with and allowed us to enjoy his creation and to be able to do together as a family.” The Johnstons’ younger daughter, Shytana, passed away in 2016. Today, her love for cattle and working on the ranch can be seen in her son, Cooper. “My daughter that passed away, she loved cattle,” Mike said. “She showed steers, and her boy kind of likes the same thing. He loves cows and he wants to be a part of that.” The Johnstons’ grandsons are deeply involved in every part of the farm and ranch, learning firsthand what it takes to care for the land and the animals. Whether they are driving through the pastures to check on the cattle, assisting with pregnancy checks, or helping administer vaccinations, each task becomes a
lesson in responsibility, patience and teamwork. “It's just the joy of being together and being able to see God's creation and work outside,” Shelly said. “Rarely now do I send a cow down the alley to the chute or vaccinate because we were blessed with the three grandsons, along with a few others, that enjoy helping Mike do what he loves to do, and what they love to do. I just count it as another blessing from the Lord that we are allowed to have family work alongside family.” Mike and Shelly stay involved within their community, where Mike serves as a pastor at the Milo Baptist Church, and they both are active with their grandsons’ school programs. “Community is important because it's just like when we go through hard times, they're always there for us, and when they go through hard times, we're there for them,” Mike said. “It’s just rural community is the best place to be because everybody knows everybody. And whether you have competition out there with them, they're still your friends and they still have your back when things are not like they should be.”
Scan to watch the Johnston family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 19
THE WILSON FAMILY
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or Vernon and Shauna Wilson, the ranch is not just land, it is a living memory of generations who came before them. Here, on the rolling pastures of Pushmataha County, calves are raised, hay is baled and children grow up learning the value of patience, responsibility and love for the land. Every quiet moment in the field carries the weight of a legacy nearly 80 years in the making, reminding the Wilsons that their work is more than a livelihood. Vernon and Shauna run a 215-head cow/calf operation in Rattan on 1,055 acres on their Pushmataha County farm and ranch. Although this plot of land became home to the Wilson family in 1979, the ranching legacy runs generations deep. “Our part of the ranching started when my grandfather was a young man,” Vernon said. “He drove cattle from west Texas to Oklahoma, and that’s how we got started. It has been a family business for about 75-80 years, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Throughout those 80 years, the Wilson family focused on creating their cow-calf herd. Today, Vernon and Shauna continue that operation, raising calves until they are 500-700 pounds when they then market and sell them. In addition to the cattle, they also bale around 800 bales of hay a year, which helps feed their cattle through the winter. “As his wife, watching him, he’s in his element,” Shauna said. “It’s his passion, what he loves, what he enjoys.
He just seems like he’s at peace when he’s out there.” Wilson Ranch stands as a living example of a multi-generational family farm, with several generations of Wilsons still actively involved in its operation. Vernon and Shauna raised their two children, Vernon Jr. and Nikki, on the ranch, and today, both continue to contribute to running the family’s farm and cattle operation. Nikki and her husband, Weldon, along with their two children, Riley and Clara, assist with working cattle, feeding, maintenance, equipment operation, medications and various other chores. Vernon Jr., now living in Payne County, still helps with the operation when asked and is always looking into innovations that the family could implement into the farm and ranch. “I enjoy being around here with my grandchildren, watching them grow up and be raised on a farm to where they know a little bit about life,” Shauna said. “They just learn so much more.” For years, the Wilson family has run their farm and ranch as a multigenerational operation in partnership with Vernon’s parents. In early 2025, Vernon’s father, Jim, passed away, leaving behind a rich agricultural legacy for the family to uphold. The Wilsons have embraced the responsibility of carrying forward the traditions of hard work, dedication and strong family bonds that Jim instilled in both his children and his grandchildren.
“He was a great loss for us,” Vernon said. “We’re all going to miss him, and it’s all on our shoulders to take care of it now.” The Wilsons take pride in being involved with their community. Both have been members of OKFB for approximately 36 years, and Vernon currently serves as board president for Pushmataha County Farm Bureau. They have also served in various roles with the Pushmataha County 4-H and FFA organizations, Pushmataha County Livestock board as well as the local booster club going back three generations. Nikki and Weldon are currently members of the local livestock booster club, and Nikki serves on the Pushmataha County Farm Bureau board. Vernon Jr. and his wife, Kimberly, are the current owners of Bad Brad's BBQ in Stillwater, where they stay involved with their local community sponsoring multiple fundraising events through the year. “Being involved in the community is very important to me,” Vernon said. “I think it is good for these kids to be in FFA and 4-H because it helps them grow and be prepared for life.”
Scan to watch the Wilson family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 21
THE PIGUET FAMILY
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n the Piguet's Vinita family ranch every field, every herd, and every meal tells a story of generations bound by a love for the land and a passion for agriculture. For Carolyn Piguet, carrying on the legacy she and her late husband, Jerry, created has become more than raising cattle, it is about sharing their story, their food and their love for agriculture with their community. The Piguet family’s farm and ranch operation began in 1985 when Jerry and Carolyn married. Early on, they raised registered Limousin cattle and successfully marketed several exceptional animals through artificial insemination and embryo transfer before eventually transitioning their herd to registered Angus cattle. Upon the passing of Jerry, Carolyn perused a path for her husband’s love of good food and entertaining people with her passion of being an agricultural ambassador, creating Piguet’s Prime Time. A farm-to-fork restaurant, Piguet’s Prime Time serves as an avenue for Carolyn to share her love of cooking and agriculture with her customers. Set on her 80-acre Vinita ranch, the restaurant allows her customers to enjoy a fine dining experience while also being able to see where their food comes from. “By me being in this scenario, that people are coming out for fine dining, I can talk to them about how things are grown, how we local source and try to use the best clean practices,” Carolyn said. “That gives me an
opportunity to teach people accurate agricultural facts.” With the implementation of the restaurant, Carolyn had the opportunity to modify her cattle herd genetics to produce for her new consumer base. She introduced Wagyu cattle to her herd, creating firstgeneration Wagyu-Angus cross cattle that are utilized in the restaurant. From the utilization of the land to place the restaurant to breeding, growing and marketing her own beef, the restaurant truly epitomizes farmto-fork. Operating on Fridays and Saturdays by reservation only, Carolyn has also expanded the restaurant beyond its location, bringing Piguet’s Prime Time on the road through their catering services. Jerry and Carolyn raised their two children, Kelli and Casey, on the family farm and ranch, instilling a deep passion for agriculture that they have carried into adulthood. Kelli now raises her own cattle, with her two children actively showing livestock, while Casey manages his own cattle herd alongside his horses. “That links us all together and is something that each one of us really considers to be who we are,” Carolyn said. “They both help me in the restaurant and with catering whenever I've needed help. My family is very close and they're just very strong, and I equate it to a lot of our interests being the same.” Amidst the demands of running her restaurant and managing her cattle
herd, Carolyn places great value on staying actively involved within her local community. “I taught agricultural education for 10 years and that was probably the pinnacle of my education career,” Carolyn said. “I loved it the most out of any because through that, I got to help nurture other agricultural ambassadors.” Carolyn currently serves as a co-leader for local Prime 4-H club, providing agricultural opportunities for 40 4-H members and families. She also serves on various groups in the Vinita community and around Grand Lake. She hosts several groups at her restaurant that support agriculture leadership and commerce as well as health and wellness. Carolyn also serves as a Craig County Farm Bureau board member. “I am a fifth-generation agriculturalist who genuinely believes in the true value of agriculture,” Carolyn said. “I have been involved in all aspects of crop production, livestock production, marketing and now, merchandising. Agriculture is my passion and my heritage is a love of the soil.”
Scan to watch the Piguet family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 23
THE CAMPBELL FAMILY
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or Troy and Amy Campbell, farming is more than planting crops or managing livestock, it is about raising a family, passing on values and preparing the next generation to carry the family’s traditions forward. Every acre they cultivate and each calf they raise is a testament to their love for the land and the commitment to the legacy they continue to build. Troy and Amy’s farming history leads back to the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893, where Troy’s great-greatgrandfather established the Campbell name in Oklahoma. Today, the Campbells continue the multigenerational family farm as they continue working to preserve and build upon the family legacy. Troy’s dad and uncle established Campbell Brothers in the early 1970s, continuing their Shorthorn herd, bringing in stocker calves and planting wheat to graze and harvest. Graduating from college in 1995, Troy returned to the family farm and ranch with new ideas, transitioning the farm into a no-till operation with crop diversification and moving away from Shorthorn cattle to SimmentalAngus cattle. Today, the Campbells farm 4,500 acres of cropland with 1,500 acres of grass hay. Additionally, they utilize their wheat and soybeans for grain and graze cattle over the winter while also using oats and alfalfa for forage. Along with their crop production, the family manages 450 home-raised cow/calf pairs and maintains a 50-cow
artificial insemination herd. “What I enjoy most about farming is you plant a seed, you see it grow and then you harvest it, and it's the unknown of what's it going to do this year,” Troy said. “We keep saying we’ll never top this harvest, but we're currently cutting the best soybean harvest we've ever cut in my life.” The Campbells have taken pride in raising their four children, Taryn, Nathan, Caedyn and Logan, on their farm and ranch, with each playing a vital role in their family’s operation. Taryn and her husband, Jordan, help with daily chores from meal prep to checking cattle, while Caedyn assists wherever needed, from feeding steers to working cows. Logan has found his part on the operation, handling the grain cart and reviewing sale catalogs with Troy and Amy. JJ, the Campbells' hired hand of nearly 10 years, is integral to all aspects of the operation, where he runs the spray rig and drives the semi during harvest. The Campbells’ eldest son, Nathan, plans to join the Campbells back on the family’s Jet area farm and ranch full-time after graduating from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in May. Nathan plays an essential role in the farming operation, from setting up the GPS globes and monitors to running the tractor and combine during harvest. “We are very blessed to be able to have raised our family amongst generations and to have instilled them in a love for the farm and a desire to come back and continue growing the
next generation,” Amy said. Troy and Amy continue to be involved within their local community where Troy serves a member of the Alfalfa County Fair Board as well as serving with Amy as the co-secretary and treasurer of the Timberlake Fair Board. Logan and Caedyn are members of Timberlake FFA. The family also finds a place in their church, Faith Center Fellowship, where Troy serves as an elder and board member, while Amy hosts an at-home adult bible study, Nathan volunteers on the technology team, Caedyn volunteers in the children’s department and is on the media team, and Logan serves in the children’s departments and assists the technology team. “We have an eye for stewarding the land that God has given us and the family that He's given us,” Amy said. “We love the Lord, and we are blessed through the hard work and dedication of the generations that have come before us to be able to continue to grow crops and children and then welcome in the next generation.”
Scan to watch the Campbell family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 25
THE ODELL FAMILY
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outh of the Canadian River, where sky frames sunrises and the sun sets over the pasture, the Odell family farm and ranch has been shaped by generations of steady work and determination. For Leroy and Karen Odell, this land is more than acreage, it is home. As their farm approaches centennial recognition, its story reflects a lifetime spent learning from the land, caring for livestock and building a legacy rooted in family, faith and community. Leroy and Karen farm and ranch on their Byars area farm south of the Canadian River. Leroy has always called this ground home. Growing up milking cows, growing hay and operating a 5,000-laying-hen operation, Leroy’s vision for what he would turn the farm into began in the 1970s. While working full-time as a carpenter, Leroy took the next step in securing the future of the family operation by purchasing the farm from his parents. With a vision for what the land and herd could become, he began carefully building his MaineAnjou cattle program, attending artificial insemination school and studying embryo transplant techniques to strengthen and improve his genetics. Alongside those efforts, Leroy and Karen expanded their operation by raising show cattle prospects and by producing hay and pecans. Having been called named a student of people, land and animals, Leroy has always taken an interest in observing
and learning new information. He sought knowledge and attended various classes to help improve their herd’s genetics and pasture quality. Using the breeding techniques learned, Leroy produced prizewinning cattle, processed beef for sale, created his own feed mixes and improved his crops. Additionally, he attended school, learning grafting techniques for pecan trees and increasing crop quality and production. “We showed cattle all over the United States,” Leroy said. “We had the grand champion bull in Columbus, Ohio, and then we took the same bull and showed it all the way to Phoenix, Arizona, and won the bull show there. We’ve had good success with our show cattle and have met a lot of good people. We have farmed, baled hay, cut firewood - we’ve done it all just trying to make a living.” Today, although partially retired, the two continue to raise Maine-Anjou cattle, where Leroy helps AI and check the herds in addition to keeping the pecan grove free of debris and keeping the farm in order. “We harvested pecans probably for 25 years,” Karen said. “I was the stick picker, and he was the harvest man. As we grew and planted trees, we ended up harvesting for ourselves and other people, too.” The Odells raised their three children, Tammy, Brett and Laura, on the family farm and ranch, where chores and long hours helped shape strong work ethics and lasting family
bonds. Today, their son Brett, living just east of the Odells’ farm, has taken on an instrumental role in the operation by managing livestock and equipment and helping carry on the farm’s legacy. “Brett is the one who keeps us together now,” Karen said. “As we’ve gotten older, he runs the cattle and hooks up the equipment.” The Odells take pride in being involved through their church and community. The two have spent over 60 years supporting their local FFA and 4-H chapters, the Pottawatomie and Pontotoc County Junior Livestock shows, and the Oklahoma MaineAnjou Association. Leroy has served on the Pottawatomie County Farm Bureau board for the past 21 years, where he and Karen have also visited Washington, D.C., and the Oklahoma state Capitol as OKFB representatives. “Living on the farm is like living in God’s country,” Karen said. “People don’t appreciate how much beauty there is in the world. Where we live here, we can see the sun go up in the morning and the sun go down in the evening, and there is nothing more beautiful than that.”
Scan to watch the Odell family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 27
THE ULLRICH FAMILY
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ucked between Tulsa and Bartlesville, the Ullrich family farm and ranch is a place where tradition meets possibility. Clayton and Leslie Ullrich have built their lives around this land, nurturing not only crops and cattle, but also a deep sense of family and purpose. What began as a generational farm, the family now shares with their community. Clayton and Leslie operate their multi-generational farm and ranch focused on crops, hay, cattle and agritourism. They farm 900 acres of soybeans and wheat; 2,500 acres of native bluestem and Bermuda; custom bale 2,000 acres of pastureland; and run a 700-head cow/calf operation. “We run mainly Angus-influenced crossbred cattle, but one thing we do here is we put our Piedmontese bulls on them, which is a breed that are double-muscled,” Clayton said. “People seem to really enjoy them, and we sell to specialty places up in Nebraska.” In 2016, the Ullrich family transformed Clayton’s home farm into Oklahoma Heritage Farm. What began as familiar ground soon became a place of discovery, where slides, a pumpkin slingshot, a petting farm and an 11-acre corn maze now invite visitors from nearby cities and local schools to experience and understand life in agriculture. “You don't realize how many people aren't fortunate enough to live the life that we live, and just that small part brings so much joy to them,” Leslie said. “I know Clayton loves it more
than anything to see people get to enjoy it and get a small taste of what farm life is like while they're also enjoying the festivities.” The Ullrichs’ farm and ranch has embraced a mix of time-tested and modern practices to enhance productivity, sustainably and quality. The family introduced IMI third-party verification for their Certified Piedmontese beef program, ensuring transparency and trust in the quality of their grass-fed calves. They also strive to improve pasture health and cattle well-being by practicing rotational grazing. In crop production, they balance traditional tilling with no-till farming to optimize soil health and reduce erosion. The family also uses prescribed burning as a strategic tool to maintain pasture quality and encourage growth of native grasses. For the Ullriches, their greatest pride has come from raising their four children, Colten, Michaela, Lane, and Landon, on the farm and ranch, a place where family life and work are inseparable. Today, each carries on the family’s legacy, playing an active role on the farm and ranch. Landon, a Bartlesville firefighter, works alongside Clayton across the operation, with his wife, Kelli, helping in the field. Colten contributes during hay season, helping with equipment and field work. Lane, a middle school STEM teacher, returns each summer to assist with haying, while Michaela, assistant head of admissions at a nearby Christian school, supports the
beef program’s IMI third-party verification with her husband, Luke, lending a hand whenever needed. “I grew up in a ranching family, and Clayton grew up in a farming and ranching family, and it’s everything for our kids to get to live the same life that we grew up in,” Leslie said. “It brings a closeness to you and your kids, and your kids amongst each other, that I don't think you get anywhere else. We’ve had some of our best times and conversations in a feed truck or in a tractor, and I absolutely love that part of it.” Clayton and Leslie are actively involved within their community both in and out of the field. Clayton serves on the Caney Valley School board, and Leslie is active in the American Women’s Auxiliary. Both are involved with their local church and are always looking for ways to support and serve those around them. “I’m honored to get to live this life,” Leslie said. “I feel like you can take it for granted when you do it day in and day out, and you don't realize how fortunate you are that other people may not get to see the things we see every day. I just can't imagine doing anything else.”
Scan to watch the Ullrich family's 2025 Farm and Ranch Family Recognition video. Oklahoma Country 29
Stacy Simunek
Oklahoma Farm Bureau President
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Tending to the
roots Stacy Simunek, Oklahoma Farm Bureau's new president, shares his hopes to protect agriculture and create a better future for rural Oklahoma through farm bureau.
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tacy Simunek understands the importance of strong roots. As a third-generation farmer in northern Oklahoma’s Kay County, he has spent a lifetime in his family’s fields and pastures ensuring both the crops they grow and the grass they graze cattle upon have the nutrients and care needed to flourish in Oklahoma’s red soil. As Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s newly elected state president, Stacy continues his family’s legacy of growing strong, deep roots as he draws from decades of personal experience as a grassroots Farm Bureau leader to help the organization stand strong for agriculture. “Protecting agriculture is job number one for me,” Stacy said. “I don’t think there’s any job for Farm Bureau bigger than that. “Farm Bureau is who protects what you eat. Whether you’re a farmer or not, we help protect agriculture and the food that you eat.” Stacy and his wife, Debbie, farm near Blackwell where they grow a variety of crops, which in any given year might include wheat, soybeans, grain sorghum and more. They also raise cattle with a commercial cow/calf herd. The Simunek family also sells and services farm equipment for farmers and ranchers with their Vermeer farm equipment dealership, which the family has operated since 1996. Stacy said the family sells equipment all across the state of Oklahoma and has even sold balers, rakes and other implements to agricultural producers in other states including Texas, Nebraska and Utah. The family works together on the farm with Stacy and Debbie handling day-to-day
management of the operation. Their three adult children, Lauren, Kody and Kristen, each pitch in at various times through the growing season. The family’s generational roots continue to deepen with five grandchildren – and one more on the way — who are farmersand ranchers-in-training — as they soak up every minute of farm life. Three hired hands help keep all the enterprises running smoothly, ensuring crops and livestock are all tended to and cared for. Stacy’s own story of Farm Bureau leadership began when a friend and neighbor invited him to a Kay County Farm Bureau meeting. While Stacy was initially hesitant to take the time to be involved as a leader in the organization due to his already-hectic schedule of farming and running a farm implement sales business, Stacy said he soon realized the importance of taking an active role in Farm Bureau and developing his own roots in the organization. “If you really want to just farm and be left alone, you have to be involved in politics,” Stacy said of the organization’s advocacy work. “Otherwise, someone else is going to make the decisions that will tell you what to do day-to-day. And those ‘someones’ need to be ag people. I know we’re busy out there farming, and we think we don’t have time to put anything in, but if you don’t put that time in, you won’t get to farm the way you need to.” Stacy dedicated himself to advocating for fellow farmers and ranchers as a Kay County Farm Bureau board member. In total, he served on the county board for 24 years with 14 of those years at the helm as president. Oklahoma Country 31
“It’s our members, it's our boards that drive me. I won’t have 77 counties to visit; I’ll have 77 families.” — Stacy Simunek
Get to know stacy Hometown
Blackwell Years farming full-time
32 years County of Farm Bureau membership
Kay County Time served on county Farm Bureau board
24 years Year first elected to OKFB state board
2020 32 Oklahoma Country
Stacy’s transition to state-level Farm Bureau leadership started with fellow grassroots Farm Bureau members tapping him on the shoulder when the OKFB district seven director position came open in 2020. Farm Bureau members from his area teamed up at their district Farm Bureau August Area Meeting and asked him to represent them on the OKFB state board, a proposal that Stacy initially dismissed. “I told them, ‘I’m just as busy as you are,’” Stacy said. “‘I understand what you are wanting, but I’m just as busy as you are.’ “I went home, and later that weekend, two of my grandkids were visiting, and they always want to get in the tractor with grandpa and go feed. We were out feeding and one of them said, ‘You know, grandpa, in a few years we can go out feeding, and you can sit in the barn.’ “And then it hit me just like a rock – it was meant to be said in the way he said it – if we don’t stand up, these boys may never have that opportunity.” Having decided to throw his hat into the ring to serve on the OKFB state board, Stacy ran for the position of district seven director and was elected by fellow Farm Bureau members from his area in 2020. After serving five years on the state board and feeling rooted in state-level leadership, he decided to continue the fight to advocate for future generations of agriculturalists by running for president of the organization. He was elected as the organization’s 12th president by Farm Bureau members at the 2025 OKFB annual meeting in Oklahoma City. Stacy said his excitement that drives him to
serve the state’s largest general farm organization as president is fueled by the grassroots members who gave him the opportunity to be the president of OKFB. “Hands down, it’s the people,” Stacy said. “It’s our members, it's our boards that drive me. I won’t have 77 counties to visit; I’ll have 77 families.” As he begins his first two-year term as president, Stacy said he is focused on working in Farm Bureau just the way he works on his farm – by focusing on stewarding a fertile environment for the organization to deepen its own roots and elevate its reach. “Farm Bureau has always been from the grassroots up, but every now and then you have to re-test the soil,” Stacy said. “We need to test the soil, make sure every county has what they need and figure out how we can help. We may not be able to solve every problem or situation, but if we are not at least trying, nothing will grow.” As president, Stacy said he intends to visit each of OKFB’s 77 county Farm Bureaus during his initial two-year term of service. He said his aim is not solely to meet fellow farmers, ranchers and organizational leaders, but he plans to bring ideas back from counties to strengthen the organization at every level. “I honestly feel that the strength of this organization is our counties, and the stronger we make the roots in those counties, the stronger our whole organization is to fight for us,” Stacy said. Stacy said that in order for OKFB to accomplish its mission of supporting Oklahoma’s agriculture community, every
member needs to take an active role in the organization to make their voices heard as Farm Bureau members advocate together for agriculture and our rural way of life. While farmers and ranchers have no shortage of tasks, chores and jobs to tackle on any given day, Stacy said that the time needed to represent agriculture as an OKFB member is well worth it. “You have to think of it just like if your tractor broke down and you were out of the field for an hour and a half,” Stacy said. “That’s all the time it will take to attend a Farm Bureau meeting. And if it costs you $40 or a little more each year for a membership, you can’t even go to the parts store for that, but being a member is worth so much more than that at the Capitol.” Stacy said that as OKFB president, he wants to strengthen OKFB’s presence at the state Capitol, build stronger connections with fellow agriculture groups and speak as one voice for the farmers and ranchers who have their hands in the soil and their eyes on the horizon each and every day. “What makes me the most excited about what we can accomplish is when I think about a member telling me, ‘I knew you’d come – I knew you’d be here,’ knowing that they can depend on us.” Stacy said. “Some of our issues that we deal with might stir up some opposition from people who don’t understand the importance of agriculture and our way of life, but if it’s what our members need or what agriculture needs, we will step up.” Stepping up is exactly what Stacy has chosen to do as a Farm Bureau leader. That same mindset of advocacy is one he encourages fellow Farm Bureau members and Oklahoma agriculturalists to adopt in an effort to grow OKFB’s roots even deeper to advance agriculture. As he takes the helm of OKFB and continues to lead the grassroots tradition of farmers and ranchers working to protect and grow agriculture, Stacy said he is excited for the work that Farm Bureau members can accomplish as one. “If I can look back and know people are proud and excited that you’re coming to help them because you built something strong for them, that will make my day right there.”
Above Stacy Simunek receives the presidential gavel from outgoing Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel at the 2025 OKFB Annual Meeting.
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Elevating Agriculture Leaders elected
klahoma Farm Bureau members from across the state gathered Nov. 7-9 at the Omni Hotel in Oklahoma City for the organization’s 84th annual meeting where they elected new leaders, set organizational policy for the coming year, recognized outstanding members and learned from speakers. “It’s been a tremendous convention,” said outgoing president Rodd Moesel. “We’re all busy out on our farms or ranches – or in my case, a greenhouse – and there is something special that happens when we all get together and get to visit with one another. You realize you are not alone in the battles you are fighting. It’s a very renewing and inspiring experience, and it helps us know what issues we need to be addressing as an industry, as friends, and as fellow Oklahomans.” 34 Oklahoma Country
Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting Nov. 7-9, 2025
OKFB members elected several new and returning leaders throughout the weekend, including Stacy Simunek of Kay County, who will serve as the organization’s new president. Simunek has served on the OKFB board of directors since 2020. “I am very excited to get started,” Simunek said. “I’m excited to continue to build up our grassroots and get out and meet people around the state, find their needs and start filling those needs.” Terry Graham of Alfalfa County was elected to fill Simunek’s unexpired term as District 7 director. He will serve a one-year term representing Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant, Kay, Major, Noble and Woods Counties. Macy Strom of Washington County was elected to serve as the new District 9 director, filling the shoes of longtime board member Jim Meek, who recently completed his final term after serving OKFB members for nearly a decade. Strom will represent Creek, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Tulsa and Washington Counties. David VonTungeln was re-elected to serve another three-year term as District 3 director. He will represent Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Grady, Kingfisher, Logan and Oklahoma Counties. Roger Moore was re-elected to serve another three-year term as District 6 director representing the northeastern Oklahoma counties of Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Ottawa, Rogers, Sequoyah and Wagoner Counties. Sue Beets of Okfuskee County was elected to represent District 9 on the OKFB Women’s Leadership Committee. OKFB Young Farmers and Ranchers elected Alison Theis of Comanche County to serve a one-year term as YF&R chair. Megan Hankins of Oklahoma County was elected to represent District 3, Nick and Dani Marlin of Mayes County were elected to represent District 6, Kody and Shelby Leonard of Payne County were elected to represent District 9, Tim Taylor of Craig County was elected as the at-large representative, and Peter Littlefield of Oklahoma State University was elected to serve as the Collegiate Farm Bureau representative.
Members set 2026 grassroots policy
Farm Bureau voting delegates considered more than 100 grassroots policy resolutions throughout two business sessions, including resolutions on renewable energy, eminent domain, private property rights, groundwater and more. The policy resolutions presented on the floor in Oklahoma City began as county-submitted positions and advanced through the state resolutions process in October. The policies adopted by OKFB members during the annual meeting will help to guide the work of the organization at the state Capitol for years to come.
2025 OKFB Legislative awards Oklahoma Farm Bureau recognized seven Oklahoma legislators during the organization’s 84th annual meeting for their commitment to agriculture and Oklahoma’s rural communities during the 2025 Oklahoma legislative session. OKFB’s Champion Award recognizes legislators who served as exemplary advocates for Oklahoma agriculture, going above and beyond for the state’s farmers and ranchers during the 2025 legislative session. Champion Award winners included Sen. Todd Gollihare (Kellyville), Sen. Grant Green (Wellston), Sen. Brent Howard (Altus), Rep. Trey Caldwell (Faxon), Rep. Mike Kelley (Yukon) and Rep. Mike Dobrinski (Okeene). OKFB also recognized Sen. Mary Boren with the Friend of the Farm Award for her work in defending private property rights through advocating for reforming and limiting the use of eminent domain.
Pitch the Plains
New for 2025 was the first-ever Pitch the Plains competition. The competition was a collaboration between OKFB and Launch Rural OK and gave youth and adults the opportunity to pitch a new or innovative idea in front of judges for the chance to win cash prizes. Bryce Everett of Canadian County won the adult division with his pitch for URMRKT, an online platform that brings together buyers and sellers of agricultural products and inputs. Greyson Anderson won the 1st-7th grade division with Rockin Knots, a product designed to keep shoes from coming untied, and Niann Moreno was the 8th-12th grade winner with GreenGrub Farms, which seeks to improve livestock nutrition while cutting back on waste.
Members learn from speakers, presenters
Farm Bureau members heard from Congresswoman Stephanie Bice, Congressman Tom Cole, American Farm Bureau’s Mike Sistak, Environmental Protection Agency’s Scott Mason, and Mike Sanders of the Oklahoma Broadband Office. Members also had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions on Friday, Nov. 7, including sessions on the New World Screwworm and Oklahoma royalty issues. Attendees enjoyed music and an inspirational message from gospel singer Ben Waites on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Sen. Todd Gollihare & Rep. Trey Caldwell
Sen. Grant Green & Rep. Trey Caldwell
Worked to control the abuse of eminent domain for renewal energy projects by authoring HB 2752.
Restored Oklahoma’s authority over the construction of high-voltage electrical transmission lines through HB 2756.
Sen. Brent Howard* & Rep. Mike Kelley
Sen. Grant Green & Rep. Mike Dobrinski
Ensured landowner consent plays a stronger role when municipalities annex private property by authoring HB 1166.
Authored HB 2155, which clarifies the permitting process for the construction of renewable energy facilities.
*Not pictured
Sen. Mary Boren Friend of the Farm Award Worked to defend private property rights through advocating for reforming and limiting the use of eminent domain.
Meet all of the 2025 OKFB award winners on the following pages. Oklahoma Country 35
Above: Comanche County Farm Bureau is recognized with the John I. Taylor Award during OKFB’s 2025 annual meeting.
Above: Payne County Farm Bureau is recognized with the Lewis H. Munn Award during OKFB’s 2025 annual meeting.
Comanche County named top county Farm Bureau
Payne County Farm Bureau wins OKFB Lewis H. Munn Award
omanche County Farm Bureau was presented with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau John I. Taylor Award on Saturday, Nov. 8, during OKFB’s 84th annual meeting. Named after OKFB’s first president, the award serves as the organization’s highest county honor, recognizing the county Farm Bureau with the most effective programs and activities. Comanche County was honored for excelling in the program areas of county stewardship, service to members, public relations, membership, Women’s Leadership Committee and Young Farmers and Ranchers. “Winning this award means a lot for our county because it recognizes all of the hard work that is being put into our county throughout the year, from our staff to our board of directors and from the Women’s Leadership Committee to our YF&R,” said Comanche County Farm Bureau Vice President Isaac Fisher. “We’ve got a wonderful board and a wonderful group of people who are involved in Comanche County.” Comanche County Farm Bureau sponsored Farm Field Days in September 2025, an agricultural education event for area fifth-grade students developed by a Comanche County Farm Bureau member. The event featured educational stations highlighting animal husbandry, farm equipment, aquaculture, grain commodities, forestry, equine, farm services and landscaping. More than 1,600 students attended the multi-day event.
ayne County Farm Bureau was honored with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Lewis H. Munn Award on Saturday, Nov. 8, during the organization’s 84th annual meeting in Oklahoma City. Also known as the Farm Bureau Builders Award, this award is presented each year to the county that conducts the strongest program in a chosen area. This year, the program area was Farm Bureau Promotion and Education. Payne County Farm Bureau developed the Payne County Youth Leadership Program for high school juniors and seniors to hone their leadership skills and learn more about agriculture. Students selected for the program have the opportunity to hear from area professionals and participate in industry tours in addition to attending regular program meetings throughout the late summer and fall each year. “It’s a huge highlight to get to the point where you’ve created a program and everybody thinks it’s the best one the state of Oklahoma,” said Payne County Farm Bureau President Nancy German. “It means a lot to know our hard work isn’t being overlooked.” The Lewis H. Munn award is named after the second president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, whose philosophy centered on building strong county programs.
OKFB Presents 2025 District Administrator of the Year Awards klahoma Farm Bureau recently presented its District Administrator of the Year awards at the organization’s 84th annual meeting. The District Administrator of the Year Award is presented to one county Farm Bureau administrator from each OKFB district for their contributions to the overall success of their county Farm Bureau organization. County administrators conduct the daily operations of the county Farm Bureau and help meet the needs of members. 36 Oklahoma Country
The 2025 District Administrator of the Year recipients are: April Griffith, Dewey County, District 1; Frances Rammage, Tillman County, District 2; Samantha Dowell, Kingfisher County, District 3; Stephanie Brown, Stephens County, District 4; Melissa Edwards, Haskell County, District 5; Pam Smith, Cherokee County, District 6; Katie Perks, Woods County, District 7; Carolyn Taron, Pottawatomie County, District 8; and Taylor Benson, Payne County, District 9.
County Farm Bureaus honored with Presidential Star Awards
Above: Cherokee County Farm Bureau is recognized with the County Excellence Award at OKFB’s 2025 annual meeting.
Above: Okmulgee County Farm Bureau is recognized with the County Excellence Award at OKFB’s 2025 annual meeting.
Cherokee, Okmulgee County Farm Bureaus recognized with County Excellence Award klahoma Farm Bureau presented the OKFB County Excellence Award to Cherokee and Okmulgee County Farm Bureaus on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the organization’s 84th annual meeting. Modeled after the American Farm Bureau Federation’s County Activities of Excellence Award, this award recognizes county Farm Bureaus with the most outstanding or unique local program, activity or event. Cherokee County Farm Bureau teamed up with the Grand River Dam Authority to purchase more than 200 life jackets for public use on the Illinois River in May 2025, showcasing Farm Bureau’s commitment to Oklahoma’s natural resources and the organization’s impact beyond traditional agriculture. Okmulgee County Farm Bureau hosted a countywide ag tour, coordinated by the county’s Young Farmers and Ranchers committee. The tour included several stops in southern Okmulgee County, including a local feed distributor, a Christmas tree farm, a diversified ranch and agritourism destination, and a farmers market.
Arthur honored with Distinguished Service Award layne Arthur was recognized with the Distinguished Service to Oklahoma Farm Bureau Award on Saturday, Nov. 8, during the organization’s 84th annual meeting. The award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture and the Farm Bureau organization. Arthur has been a partner with Farm Bureau and a strong voice for Oklahoma agriculture on the local, state and national level since being appointed secretary of agriculture by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2019. “It was certainly a surprise to be recognized by Oklahoma Farm Bureau, a group of people I respect very much,” Arthur said. “I feel very humbled to be selected for the award, and I am appreciative of all of the Farm Bureau members and the work
Above: Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel (left) presents Blayne Arthur with the Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau Award at OKFB’s annual meeting.
Farm Bureau does, and I am just very honored to be recognized.” Arthur grew up in Chickasha, where she and her family raised cattle, horses, wheat, alfalfa and soybeans. She is a longtime Farm Bureau member, and she and her husband, Jerrod, raise show cattle alongside their two children.
everal county Farm Bureaus were recognized for their efforts to further agriculture and rural Oklahoma on Saturday, Nov. 8, during Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 84th annual meeting in Oklahoma City. Each year, OKFB recognizes the county Farm Bureaus that have excelled in program areas such as membership, public policy, local affairs, service to members, Women’s Leadership Committee and Young Farmers and Ranchers with a Presidential Star Award. The Six-Star Presidential Award was presented to Comanche, Haskell, Mayes, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Payne, Rogers, Texas and Washington County Farm Bureaus for excelling in six program areas. Caddo, Cherokee, Garfield, Grant, Hughes, Jackson, Kay, Kingfisher, Love, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Pottawatomie and Washita County Farm Bureaus each received the FiveStar Presidential Award for excelling in five program areas. Four-Star Presidential Awards were presented to Alfalfa, Choctaw, Craig, Creek, Custer, Jefferson, LeFlore, Lincoln, Logan, Major, McIntosh, Noble, Pontotoc, Seminole, Tulsa and Woods County Farm Bureaus. Cleveland, Greer, Kiowa, Latimer, McClain, McCurtain, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Pushmataha, Sequoyah, Stephens, Wagoner and Woodward County Farm Bureaus were awarded the Three-Star Presidential Award. OKFB also recognized 37 county Farm Bureaus for reaching their membership quotas, including Alfalfa, Atoka, Beckham, Caddo, Carter, Coal, Creek, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Haskell, Hughes, Kay, Kiowa, Latimer, LeFlore, Logan, Major, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McIntosh, Noble, Nowata, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Roger Mills, Rogers, Sequoyah, Texas and Washington County Farm Bureaus. Oklahoma Country 37
Above: McClain County Farm Bureau members Collin and Bayleygh Black (second and third from left) receive the 2025 OKFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award during the 2025 OKFB Annual Meeting.
Above: Nick and Dani Marlin (center) of Mayes County are presented with the 2025 OKFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award during the organization’s 2025 annual meeting.
McClain County Farm Bureau members win OKFB YF&R Achievement Award
Mayes County Farm Bureau members win OKFB YF&R Excellence in Ag Award
ollin and Bayleygh Black of McClain County were honored with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award on Saturday, Nov. 8, during the organization’s 84th annual meeting. The Achievement Award recognizes Young Farmers and Ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operation and have honed their leadership abilities through Farm Bureau and other organizations. “Winning this award means a lot to us,” Collin said. “We work really hard to do what we do and to keep things going, and it’s nice to be recognized for it.” The Blacks help manage their family’s third-generation farm, where they raise cattle, wheat, soybeans, corn and hay. They also operate a farm of their own in addition to owning and operating a small custom spreading business to provide fertilizer application and land management services to local farmers in the area. As Achievement Award winners, the Blacks received a John Deere gator, courtesy of P&K Equipment. The Blacks also received an expense-paid trip to the 2027 AFBF Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will compete on a national level for the AFBF YF&R Achievement Award.
ick and Dani Marlin of Mayes County were honored with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award at the organization’s 84th annual meeting. The award is presented to young farmers and ranchers who do not derive a majority of their income from a farming or ranching operation for excellence in agriculture and Farm Bureau. “Winning this award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication we put in every day,” Dani said. “It’s fun to take it home to our kids to show them that hard work pays off.” Nick and Dani help operate Dani’s family’s cattle and hay operation in northeast Oklahoma in addition to owning a small herd of dairy cattle with a self-service market for local consumers to purchase milk from their herd. They also raise broiler chickens, laying hens and hogs. The Marlins received a Polaris Sportsman 450 HO ATV, courtesy of Oklahoma Ag Credit and Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma. They also earned a trip to the 2027 AFBF Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will compete for the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award.
Oklahoma State University recognized as top Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter he Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter at Oklahoma State University was honored with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Moesel Award on Friday, Nov. 7, during the organization’s 84th annual meeting in Oklahoma City. The Moesel Award recognizes the top Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter that works to improve their local 38 Oklahoma Country
chapter while strengthening the Farm Bureau organization. The OSU Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter was active throughout the 2024-2025 school year, participating in several activities around the OSU campus, attending YF&R summer conference, hosting industry tours, attending American Farm Bureau’s FUSION conference and more.
Above: Oklahoma State University students receive the 2025 YF&R Moesel Award at OKFB’s annual meeting.
Left: Members of the Payne County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers committee receive the 2025 Oklahoma Farm Bureau YF&R Charles L. Roff Award during OKFB’s annual meeting.
Payne County honored as top county YF&R program he Payne County Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee was honored with the 2025 Oklahoma Farm Bureau YF&R Charles L. Roff Award on Saturday, Nov. 8, during the organization’s 84th annual meeting. Presented to the state’s top county YF&R committee, the Charles L. Roff Award encourages YF&R members to improve their local committees while strengthening the Farm Bureau organization. “Winning this award is really exciting because we host five major programs in our county each year,” said Payne County Farm Bureau YF&R Vice-Chairman Austin Jackson. “We are super busy all year, and it’s just really fun that we get to hone in on giving back to youth in our community; that’s really what our goal is. Winning this award really shows that our hard work is paying off, what we’re doing for youth in our community is paying off, and that we are giving back to Farm Bureau and Payne County.” The Payne County YF&R committee hosted a number of events in 2025, including a bucket calf show for children ages 5-12 to show a calf at the Payne County Fair after months of record-keeping and journaling their progress over the summer. The YF&R committee also developed the Heart of Payne County Bucket Calf Buddies program held in conjunction with the bucket calf show, where Payne County students with special needs are paired with bucket calf participants to have the opportunity to experience showing an animal. The committee also coordinated an elder tree to provide gifts to elderly Payne County residents around the holidays, hosted an annual cattle showmanship clinic for 4-H and FFA students, assisted with Payne County Farm Bureau’s block party and more.
Above: Steve Shaw (right) of OETA receives the 2025 Journalist of the Year Award during OKFB’s annual meeting.
Shaw named OKFb Journalist of the Year teve Shaw of OETA was presented with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Journalist of the Year award on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the organization’s 84th annual meeting. The award honors a journalist for their contributions through accurate and regular reports about Farm Bureau news, agricultural issues and the importance of these issues to Oklahoma and the nation. Shaw has shown a commitment to covering Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers, agricultural issues and rural views for OETA’s statewide Oklahoma News Report audience. He produced numerous stories featuring agriculture throughout the year, including stories on Farm Bureau members and events.
OKFB YF&R names discussion meet winners klahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers named four discussion meet competitive event winners during OKFB’s 84th annual meeting. Celine Walker of Comanche County was named the 2025 winner of the YF&R Discussion Meet, Ryne Crosthwait of Oklahoma State University was named the 2025 Collegiate Farm Bureau Discussion Meet winner, and Katelee Martin of Alva was named the High School Discussion Meet winner. YF&R competitors faced fellow participants in a panel-style discussion where each competitor’s performance was evaluated on the exchange of ideas and information on predetermined topics. Participants were judged on their ability to offer constructive input, cooperation and communication while analyzing agricultural problems and developing solutions. As the YF&R Discussion Meet winner, Walker received a John Deere lawnmower, sponsored by P&K Equipment. She also won a trip to the 2026 American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California. The collegiate winner received a cash prize and an expense-paid trip to represent Oklahoma at the 2026 AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Portland, Oregon, and the high school winner received a cash prize.
Celine Walker, YF&R
Ryne Crosthwait, Collegiate
Katelee Martin, High School Oklahoma Country 39
Farm Bureau Advocacy
Poultry producers call on Stitt to battle reduction of Oklahoma poultry operations during Adair County town hall
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klahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt joined more than 200 poultry producers Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Double R&P Grill in Adair County to visit with them about possible solutions to the ongoing State of Oklahoma v. Tyson Foods, Inc., lawsuit. Stitt’s comments were focused on solutions to help poultry growers after a recent announcement by Tyson Foods that the poultry company plans to reduce poultry operations in the Illinois River watershed in light of the state of Oklahoma’s proposed settlement, written by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. The move by Tyson comes after Drummond asked the judge in the case to fine the poultry companies, who were deemed liable for high levels of phosphorous in the Illinois River, hundreds of millions of dollars in retribution for their actions. During the meeting, Gov. Stitt, members of his cabinet and several elected officials heard stories from poultry producers as they shared the wide-reaching impact that the reduction of poultry operations would have on their families and livelihoods. Stitt assured attendees that he made his administration’s stance on 40 Oklahoma Country
the issue clear with Drummond from the beginning. “I sent a formal letter to the attorney general urging for a common-sense settlement that protects our environment and our Oklahoma food producers,” he said. Stitt said he believes the parties can find a solution that benefits the interests of both sides. “This isn’t an either/or,” he said. “We can protect our water, and we can protect our family farms.” In a direct address to the media present during the event, Stitt explained how poultry producers diligently follow their state-approved nutrient management plans to manage the disposal of poultry litter. “Every single person that you guys are seeing, they have permits,” Stitt said. “They go through all the trouble to follow those permits, because there are fines. If they don’t follow the permit, if they don’t apply the fertilizer accurately and according to the permit, then they are going to be fined for that.” Stitt also echoed poultry producers’ concerns about Drummond’s proposal to end the spreading of poultry litter in the watershed entirely. “(Drummond) wants to ban all
poultry litter application in eastern Oklahoma,” Stitt said. “Anybody with common sense knows that’s going to destroy not only farming in eastern Oklahoma, but hay farmers, cattle farmers, everything.” In addition to the blow to the state’s poultry industry that would come from a reduction in operations, Stitt also expressed his concern for the effect it would have on local government and local school districts when a large portion of the ad valorem tax base would essentially be removed. Attendees urged Stitt and state leaders to work on behalf of poultry producers in the watershed to find a solution to the state’s lawsuit and settlement that protects family farmers and ensures a bright future for all Oklahomans. Stitt offered a note of encouragement to the producers in the room, urging them to continue speaking up and advocating for their industry. “We want you to know that we’re with you,” Stitt said. “The Stitt administration is with you. So, don’t be afraid, and let’s keep speaking up.”
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OKFB names Saunders economic development special programs manager
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klahoma Farm Bureau recently named Garrett Saunders as the economic development special programs manager working with OKFB’s Oklahoma Grassroots Rural EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS and Ag Business Accelerators Program. Saunders joined OKFB in early November, and he will work with rural business owners and innovators * PLUS FARM BUREAU across the eastern part of the state. ® In his new position, Saunders will EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS DISCOUNT** on all new Farmall series tractors provide technical assistance, coaching • Farmall utility A series • Farmall utility C series PLUS • Farmall utility U series and networking for rural Oklahoma Print your certificate today!† Visit http://www.okfarmbureau.org/ • Farmall 100A series • Farmall Farmall utility utility A series • Vestrum series innovators. He will work to connect * PLUS • Farmall • Round Balers utility C series Farmall utility FINANCING AVAILABLE FARM BUREAU • Disc Mower Conditioners U series • Farmall Farmall utility utility entrepreneurs with Oklahoma-based • Small Square Balers ** PLUS on all new Farmall series tractors Farmall • DISCOUNT Farmall 100A 100A*series series business resources while also series • Vestrum® Vestrum® series your certificate today! Visit http://www.okfarmbureau.org/ * PrintPLUS promoting the accelerators program • Round Round Balers Balers FARM BUREAU ** • Disc Disc Mower Mower Conditioners Conditioners ® throughout the state. on all new* ForFarmall series tractors Small Square Balers Small Square Balers commercial use only. Customer participation • subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating Case ** ® “I’m excited joinFarmall the economic requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through December 31, 2026. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industr on all to new series tractors EXCLUSIVEDISCOUNT terms and conditions will apply. FOR This transaction will be unconditionally interestMEMBERS free. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. DISCOUNTS FARM BUREAU † development team and see how I can Available on new Case IH Farmall tractors. This offer may be combined with other offers, but is not valid on prior purcha ** Offer available through December Print your certificate today! Visit31, 2026. http://www.okfarmbureau.org/ • Farmall utility A series † Membership Certificate is required, which may be obtained at fbverify.com/case. See your participating Case IH dealer for details and eligibility requirements. N Print your certificate today! Visit http://www.okfarmbureau.org/ • Farmall utility C series play a role in further connecting rural cancellation without notice. FARM BUREAU, the letters FB, the•FBFarmall National Logo, andKREMLIN the State Farm Bureau Logo are service marks of the A utility U series CLINTON subject to change or FAIRVIEW KINGFISHER used under license by Case IH. • Farmall 100A series Oklahomans growing small ROTHER BROS.†INC. ROTHER BROS. INC. certificate ROTHER BROS. INC. ZALOUDEK series • Case Vestrum PLUS A current Farm Bureau membership verification must be presented to the IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the incentive discou * • Round BalersMACHINERY CO. 580-323-1981 580-227-2547 405-375-5349 businesses in a place that matters,” FINANCING AVAILABLE FARM BUREAU • Disc are Mower Conditioners Case IH and CNH Industrial Capital trademarks registered in the United States and many other countrie ©2026 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. www.rotherbros.com www.rotherbros.com www.rotherbros.com 580-874-2211 • Small Square Balers owned byseries or licensedtractors to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.** Saunders said. DISCOUNT on all new Farmall www.fwzaloudek.com A native of Binger, Saunders grew your certificate Visitparticipation http://www.okfarmbureau.org/ * ForPrint commercial use only.today! Customer subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating Case IH dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through December 31, 2026. Not up heavily involved in FFA, serving as * For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval CNH Industrial Capital LLC.participation See participating Case IH dealer forCapital detailsand and approval eligibility customers or applicants may qualify for your this rate or term.to CNH Industrial America LLC standard terms andCapital conditions will apply. This your participating Case IH dea *allForby commercial use only. America Customer subject credit qualification by CNH Industrial America LLC. See requirements. area Down payment may bepresident required. Offer good through December 31, 2026. Not all customers or may qualify for rate or Offer term. CNH Capital standard transaction willapplicants be unconditionally free. subject to change or America cancellation without requirements. Down payment mayinterest bethis required. Offer goodIndustrial through December 31, LLC 2026. Not all notice. customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Ca the southwest vice terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. ** Offer available through December 31, 2026. Available on new Case IH Farmall tractors. This offer may be combined with other offers, but is terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. on new Case offervalid may on be combined with otherA offers, but isBureau® not valid Membership on prior purchases. A valid is Farm Bureau which may be obtained at fbverify.com/case. See your ** Offerthrough available through December 2026. Available prior purchases. valid Farm Certificate required, from 2016 2017.31, He earned hisIH Farmall tractors. This**not Offer available through December 31, 2026. Available on new Not Case IH available Farmall This Offer offer subject may be to combined with other offers, but is not valid on prior purchases. A Membership Certificate is required, which may be obtained at fbverify.com/case. See your participating Case IHIHdealer forfor details andand eligibility requirements. available in alltractors. states. Offer participating Case dealer details eligibility requirements. Not in all states. change or cancellation without Membership Certificate is letters required, which may bemarks obtained atAmerican fbverify.com/case. See yourare participating Case for details and eligibility requirements. Not ava bachelor’s degree in agricultural notice. FARM theare FBservice National Logo, and the StateFarm Farm Bureau Logo service marks of IH thedealer American Farm Bureau subject to change or cancellation without notice. FARM BUREAU, the letters FB, the FB National Logo, andBUREAU, the State the Farm BureauFB, Logo of the Bureau Federation subject to used change or cancellation without Federation under license by Case IH. notice. FARM BUREAU, the letters FB, the FB National Logo, and the State Farm Bureau Logo are service marks of the Americ used under license by Case IH. education at Oklahoma State under license Case delivery IH. verification current Bureau membership certificate be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery † A current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate must be presented to the Case†AIHused dealer inFarm advance ofby product to receive the incentive must discount. to receive the incentive discount. † A current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate must be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the incentive discount. University. ©2026 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. Case IH and CNH Industrial Capital are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, ©2026 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. Case IH and CNH Industrial Capital are trademarks owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. Case and Industrial are N.V., trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, ©2026 CNH registered in the United States and many other countries, ownedIHby or CNH licensed to CNHCapital Industrial its Saunders joins OKFB from Herc owned by ororlicensed subsidiaries affiliates.to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. Rentals with a background in business operations. He also served as an agriculture educator at Moore and Sentinel High Schools.
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* For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating Case IH dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through December 31, 2026. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. ** Offer available through December 31, 2026. Available on new Case IH Farmall tractors. This offer may be combined with other offers, but is not valid on prior purchases. A valid Farm Bureau® Membership Certificate is required, which may be obtained at fbverify.com/case. See your participating Case IH dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Not available in all states. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. FARM BUREAU, the letters FB, the FB National Logo, and the State Farm Bureau Logo are service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation used under license by Case IH. † A current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate must be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the incentive discount. ©2026 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. Case IH and CNH Industrial Capital are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
Oklahoma Country 41
Farm Bureau Events
Spencer Smith • 4Ag Manufacturing
Ryan White • SkyReach
Kelly Campbell • Whoa Netty
Molly Moore • CommonWall
Matt Stenger • Stenger Jugheads
Terence Ransom • Ransom’s BBQ
Jeejo Pallayi • Foviio
Logan Miller • LL Implement
Crystal Glass & Erin Ogee • Sober Sally’s
Nine rural entrepreneurs pitch innovative ideas at OKFB’s Demo Day
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ine innovators from rural Oklahoma pitched their business ideas in front of a group of investors and guests at Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Oklahoma Grassroots Rural and Ag Business Accelerators Demo Day on Thursday, Oct. 9, in Oklahoma City. Demo Day served as the capstone for the 2025 Activate Oklahoma and AgCelerate Oklahoma program cohorts, which featured innovators with business ideas to benefit both agriculture and rural Oklahoma. Each participant had five minutes to present their business venture or innovation to Demo Day attendees, and they also visited one-on-one with potential investors and other event attendees from the business community at individual booths after the program. “The vision behind the Oklahoma Grassroots Rural and Ag Business Accelerators program has always been 42 Oklahoma Country
to support rural Oklahoma through elevating and equipping rural innovators to grow their businesses,” said OKFB President Rodd Moesel. “These individuals worked tirelessly in the months leading up to Demo Day, and it was a privilege to hear each of them get to share their unique ideas and showcase their hard work.”
AgCelerate Oklahoma
AgCelerate Oklahoma participants included 4Ag Manufacturing, an agricultural company from Elk City that specializes in no-till farming equipment; LL Implement of Skiatook, which developed a variable no-till drill for two-wheeled tractors; and Whoa Netty, a Tahlequah-based company that upcycles hay net wrap into highend flower pots.
Activate Oklahoma
Activate Oklahoma participants were CommonWall of Holdenville, a
platform to connect rural residents with housing and maintenance services; Foviio of Bartlesville, a client management platform for professional photographers; Ransom’s BBQ of Tuttle, which has developed a line of signature BBQ sauces and rubs; SkyReach of Spencer, which flies drones for local emergency services; Sober Sally’s of Choctaw, a rideshare service that transports impaired drivers and their vehicles; and Stenger Jugheads of Wagoner, which specializes in fish harvesting using jugline methods. The nine businesses will now be considered for possible capital investment by investment partners who attended Demo Day. A graduation ceremony was held for the nine businesses at the conclusion of Demo Day, marking their completion of the accelerator program’s comprehensive, hands-on business curriculum.
Farm Bureau Outreach
(Above) Cindy Schoenecke, Dist. 9 WLC member (left) presents a bushel basket to Megan Polly of All Saints Catholic School.
(Above) Madison Allen of Hall-Halsell Elementary School poses proudly with her Bushels for Books basket.
(Above) Karen Dodson, Dist. 3 WLC member (left) presents a bushel basket to Michell Bugg of Crescent Elementary.
Eleven Oklahoma teachers receive accurate agriculture books through OKFB’s Bushels for Books
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leven Oklahoma educators were selected to receive a basket of accurate agriculture books as part of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Bushels for Books program. A collaboration between the OKFB Foundation for Agriculture and the OKFB Women’s Leadership Committee, Bushels for Books is designed to spread agriculture literacy to children around the state through providing a selection of books that accurately portray the agriculture industry. “As people become further removed from production agriculture, it is important for children to learn where their food comes from,” said Mignon Bolay, OKFB WLC chair. “We hope these books will provide a fun way for them to learn more about agriculture.”
Teachers who received bushel baskets are: • Sarah Singhisen, Woodward • Angela Espinosa, Cheyenne
• Michelle Bugg, Crescent • Jenna Bulling, Mulhall-Orlando • Traci Dragg, Thackerville • Tommie James, Bryan County OSU Extension • Ashley Collier, Oklahoma Union • Madison Allen, Hall-Halsell • Tammy Will, Morrison • Matina Hunnell, Evergreen Academy • Megan Polly, All Saints Catholic School The program is open to Pre-K through eighth-grade teachers, librarians and agriculture extension educators in Oklahoma. “We are proud to support Oklahoma educators and students through the Bushels for Books program every year,” said OKFB Foundation for Agriculture President Kerry Givens. “We appreciate these teachers prioritizing agriculture education in their classrooms.”
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OKFB Young Farmers and Ranchers to host “Fill the Sack” food drive
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he Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee is kicking off their second-annual “Fill the Sack” food drive, which is designed to fight hunger in Oklahoma beginning Jan. 1 and ending Feb. 17. The YF&R committee, alongside local county Farm Bureau members, is committed to making a difference in the lives of Oklahomans. This year, they aim to collect donations to help stock local food banks with the hope of ensuring that every family in need has access to nutritious meals during these challenging times. Each county Farm Bureau has been mailed two blue OKFB YF&R grocery bags. The committee encourages county board members, county YF&R members and county Women’s Leadership Committee members to fill the blue Farm Bureau bags with non-perishable food items to donate to Oklahomans in need.
How You Can Help:
1. Food Donations – Fill your blue bags with non-perishable food items such as canned goods, pasta, rice and cereal. 2. Monetary Contributions – Cash donations will allow the YF&R committee to purchase essential items for distribution. All food items and monetary gifts will be collected at the annual OKFB Leadership Conference in February. If you do not have anyone available to take the food to the conference, someone from the YF&R committee will gladly pick up the food from your county office. All donations will be given to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma after Leadership Conference. If your county has a local food pantry that you would prefer your donation be given to, please weigh your items, take a photo of your county donating the items and send both to Burton Harmon. Please contact Director of YF&R Burton Harmon at (405) 523-2300 with questions on how to contribute, to get extra bags or to pick up full bags.
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Farm Bureau Photos
OKFB selects favorite photos of 2025
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klahoma Farm Bureau has created an album for the favorite photos taken in 2025. These photos have been taken throughout the year on OKFB members’ farms and ranches and showcase the dedication and hard work of our Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. To view the whole album of photos, visit our Flickr account at okfb.news/favephotos25.
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Oklahoma Country 45
All Around Oklahoma Farm Bureau news, events and programs from around Oklahoma
Payne County Farm Bureau hosts safety event with local elementary school Payne County Farm Bureau taught the program “Deadly & Delicious,” to Highland Park Elementary School students. The program was based on a similar program created by OKFB Safety Services. Deadly & Delicious shows students everyday household items that
look identical. One of the two items is a poison, which shouldn’t be consumed, and the other is safe for consumption. Examples included showing students Windex compared to blue Powerade or rubbing alcohol versus water. Students were invited to look at the jars and guess
which substance was the poison and which was safe. The program allowed Payne County Farm Bureau members to have a safe and healthy conversation about using critical-thinking skills to keep students safe in and around their own homes.
OKFB YF&R members meet with International Visitor Leadership Program members
On Tuesday Oct. 21, U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program members joined with Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers members in Oklahoma City. “Young Farmers in the 21st Century: A Project 46 Oklahoma Country
for Germany”, invites young agriculturalists to the United States to explore U.S. policies aiming to revitalize rural America, examine U.S. regulatory policies and programs related to promoting agricultural trade; and create young farmer networks in the U.S. and Germany.
OKFB YF&R Committee Chair Jacob Beck and OKFB YF&R Vice Chair and American Farm Bureau YF&R Committee Member Tommy Salisbury met with the international visitors to share what they do on their farming and ranching operations.
OKFB hosts Generation Bridge tailgate Saturday, Oct. 11
Oklahoma Farm Bureau members gathered in Stillwater on Saturday, Oct. 11, for OKFB’s Generation Bridge tailgate. Farm Bureau members enjoyed visiting with fellow members for breakfast, laughs and mini golf on their way to the stadium to watch the Oklahoma State University Cowboys take on the University of Houston Cougars.
OKFB hosts booth during the 2025 Tulsa Farm Show Oklahoma Farm Bureau shared the numerous programs, activities and events of the statewide organization with attendees of the Tulsa Farm Show Dec. 11-13 at the SageNet Center at Expo Square. OKFB hosted a booth manned by OKFB staff members and insurance agents from around the Tulsa area. Staff and agents shared the
benefits of a Farm Bureau membership, discussed the organization’s programs and promoted OKFB Insurance products and services with attendees. OKFB President Stacy Simunek was interviewed by Ron Hays during the show about the work Farm Bureau does to represent agriculture and rural Oklahoma.
Noble County WLC engages in community activity, makes donations to local food pantry
F O U N DAT I O N
Oklahoma County makes $10,000 donation to Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
The monetary donation made to the Perry Food Bank helped families during the recent government shutdown.
The Noble County WLC also placed a Ronald McDonald tab receptacle in the Noble County Farm Bureau office to collect soda can pull tabs to help families with housing needs while family members are in the hospital.
FO R
AGRICULTURE
The Noble County Women’s Leadership Committee recently made a donation to the Perry Food Pantry, participated in “Reality Check” with local students and placed a Ronald McDonald House tab receptacle at the Noble County Farm Bureau office.
WLC members also participated in the “Reality Check” exercise with Frontier and Perry high schools. The exercise poses real-life scenarios to students with make-believe families and incomes to budget for.
OKFB Foundation for Agriculture awards local school with $10,000 greenhouse grant
Oklahoma County Farm Bureau presented a $10,000 donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Dec. 17 during their holiday match drive. The $10,000 donation will provide 60,000 meals for underserved Oklahomans.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture recently selected Classen Montessori School of Norman to receive a $10,000 Growing with the Foundation grant. The Classen Montessori school features a co-curriculum program known as the Farm School program, which educates students in grades from preschool through high school. The Farm School program teaches students about growing and cultivating their own food. The Growing with the Foundation Grant will allow the Classen Montessori Farm School program to purchase a greenhouse to have a year-round classroom space to educate students about horticulture, sustainable agriculture, botany and soil science. Oklahoma Country 47
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Registered Representative/Securities & services offered through FBL Marketing Services, LLC,+ 5400 University Ave., West Des Moines, IA 50266, 877/860-2904, Member SIPC. Advisory services offered through FBL Wealth Management, LLC.+ Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company/Oklahoma City, OK. Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company+/West Des Moines, IA. Individual must be a registered representative of FBL Marketing Services, LLC to discuss securities products. Individual must be an investment adviser representative with FBL Wealth Management, LLC to discuss advisory services. Individual must be licensed with issuing company to offer insurance products. +Affiliates. LI206 (12-25)
48 Oklahoma Country
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Oklahoma Country 49
Oklahoma Gardening
(Above) Houseplants bring life to indoor spaces during winter, but adjusting light, watering and humidity is key to keeping them healthy until spring. (Photos courtesy of David Hillock, OSU Agriculture)
Getting to the root of winter houseplant care By Trisha Gedon, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
W
inter can be a tough season – snow, ice, bitter winds and cloudy days send most people searching for a blanket and a warm, cozy place to hunker down. While your houseplants may not complain out loud, they do not have the option to fend for themselves, so it is essential to be on the lookout for plant stress. Less light, dry indoor air and fluctuating temperatures can take a toll on indoor plants unless they receive a little extra TLC, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulture specialist. “Most plants thrive in the bright sunshine, but an Oklahoma winter can be filled with cloudy days,” he said. “When sunshine is less than abundant, it can cause houseplants to become tall, lanky and small-leafed. But sunshine isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some plants do well when placed right by the window, while others do best when getting light from some distance away.” If a room doesn’t have much natural light, consider using artificial lights. A 100-watt table lamp, or equivalent LED bulb, can be used about 3 feet above plants. Fluorescent plant lights are another option. Watering habits will also need to be adjusted during the winter. Watering frequency depends on the potting medium used, season, amount of light, temperature, humidity, plant species and pot size. Hillock said the demise of most houseplants in the winter is improper watering. “Generally, houseplants need a thorough watering and then be allowed to dry out before the next irrigation,” he said. “Plant growth typically slows in the winter, so most plants will require less water. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Check soil moisture with your finger. If the top inch of soil is dry, go ahead and water.” Allow cacti and other succulents to remain dry for a few days before watering, even though the top of the potting medium feels dry to the touch. On the other hand, more delicate plants such as African violet and Rex begonia should be watered before the potting medium becomes completely dry to the touch. 50 Oklahoma Country
If plant tips start to turn brown and curl, the home’s heating system and low humidity can be the culprits. Increasing humidity by grouping plants together, placing pots on pebble trays filled with water or using a humidifier can make a noticeable difference. While misting plants provides short-term relief, this method is less effective than keeping a consistent humidity level. Just as irrigation is important, drainage also plays a key role in plant health. Ensure all pots have drainage holes. Although it sounds like a good idea, do not incorporate aggregates at the bottom of the pot to help with drainage. “Aggregates actually slow water’s movement through the pot,” Hillock said. “Water just sitting in the pot can lead to root rot. One reason root rot is so deceptive is that the main symptoms, such as yellowing leaves, loss of leaves, mushy roots or stunted growth, are often mistaken for other plant issues.” Houseplant enthusiasts should ease up on plant fertilization during the winter. With slower growth rates, additional nutrients are not necessary, and in fact, may do more harm than good. Resume a fertilization schedule in the spring when new growth starts. Homeowners may not want to think about it, but pests can be an issue for houseplants. Spider mites and scale insects thrive in dry, indoor environments. Be sure to inspect leaves and stems regularly to catch any pest issues early. Washing leaves with water or wiping them with a damp cloth can help reduce pest issues. A decorative pot can add to a room’s décor. If it does not have a drain hole, use the pot-in-a-pot method. Pot the plant in a container with a drain hole, then set it inside the decorative pot. Packing peanuts can be used to adjust the height of the pot within the decorative pot. “Houseplants are a great addition to the home, and with a few seasonal adjustments, they can stay healthy and beautiful throughout the winter,” Hillock said. “Being aware of light, water, humidity and temperature will help ensure plants weather the cold and will be ready to flourish when spring arrives.”
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