PERSPECTIVE
OKFB members kick of grassroots policy development process with August Area Meetings
klahoma Farm Bureau members gathered for a series of 11 August Area Meetings to discuss issues, challenges and opportunities facing agriculture and rural Oklahoma in preparation for the organization’s grassroots policy development season.
More than 450 members and guests attended the meetings where top issues raised by OKFB members included new
world screw worm, advalorem tax, the MAHA movement, energy policy, county road maintenance, black vultures and foreign land ownership.
OKFB members also heard organizational updates and reports from district Young Farmers and Ranchers representatives, Women’s Leadership Committee district representatives, various OKFB department staf and
organizational leaders.
Farm Bureau members will now take the ideas discussed during the meetings and craft policy resolutions to present at their county resolutions meetings.
Resolutions that are passed by county Farm Bureaus will be presented for consideration at the OKFB state resolutions meeting, which will be held Oct. 21-22 in Oklahoma City.
District Eight • Pauls Valley
District One • West Woodward
District Six • Pryor
District Three • El Reno
September 5, 2025
Two Farm Bureau members appointed to USDA state director roles
wo Oklahoma Farm Bureau members were tapped as Oklahoma’s United States Department of Agriculture state directors by President Donald Trump on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Eddie Fields of Osage County was named state executive director for Oklahoma’s Farm Service Agency, and Zac Swartz of Canadian County was appointed as state director for rural development in Oklahoma.
Fields is a third-generation cattleman and agricultural producer from Wynona. He has served as chairman of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and has served on the Oklahoma Mining Commission. He is also a former state senator and state representative, serving the people of Oklahoma from 2008-2018.
Swartz is a native of Sulphur and has worked as an advocate and a leader for rural Oklahoma in numerous capacities, including his time as the coordinator of OKFB’s Young Farmers and Ranchers program and as a member of OKFB’s public policy department from 2015-2023.
“We are thrilled to have two Oklahoma Farm Bureau members appointed as USDA state directors,”
“Farmers, ranchers and rural residents around the state rely on programs and services administered by FSA and rural development that enrich families and rural communities. The expertise these two leaders bring to their positions will be an asset to rural Oklahomans from every corner of the state.”
FSA state directors help implement
President Trump’s America First agenda and execute the USDA’s policies in planning, organizing, and administering FSA programs through state ofces across the country. Rural development state directors help afrm the mission of the Trump Administration by focusing on fnding ways to empower rural America and unleash economic prosperity.
Growing with the Foundation Grant applications now open through Oct. 1
he Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s Growing with the Foundation Grant application is now open through Wednesday, Oct. 1.
The grant program is designed to introduce students to horticulture.
One recipient will receive a $10,000 grant to help in purchasing supplies for a school greenhouse. By learning to grow their own food, students will be able to see sustainable models that they can implement in their homes and in their neighborhoods.
Applications for the Growing with the Foundation Grant can be found on online at okfnews/foundationgrantapplications. For more information about the grant, contact Holly Carroll at (405) 523-2300.
2023 Growing with the Foundation Grant recipient: Navajo Public Schools.
Eddie Fields
Zac Swartz
said OKFB President Rodd Moesel.
OKFB Foundation for Ag selling tickets for a chance to win a rife or a shotgun
WEATHERBY ORION I SHOTGUN
HENRY GOLDEN BOY LEVER-ACTION RIFLE
12-gauge over/under • 28” barrel • $1,199 MSRP or .22 LR Lever Action • 20” barrel • $648 MSRP
he Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is selling rafe tickets for a chance to win a Henry Golden Boy lever-action rife in .22 WMR or a Weatherby orion 12-gauge over/under shotgun.
Tickets are available for a donation of $20 each, and can be purchased from OKFB feld representatives or by contacting foundation Director Holly Carroll at (405) 523-2300.
The drawing for the rife and shotgun will take place at the OKFB annual
meeting in Oklahoma City in early November.
Ticket holders do not have to be present to win. By purchasing a ticket, the ticket holder is bound to the terms and conditions of the drawing, which are available on the reverse side of each ticket stub. The ticket purchase price is not tax deductible.
Funds raised will support the foundation’s educational and philanthropic eforts in the agriculture community and rural Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Generation Bridge program is hosting a tailgate during the OSU vs Houston game Saturday, Oct. 11.
All Farm Bureau members are welcome, come by and learn more about the Generation Bridge program and all things Farm Bureau as we cheer on the Cowboys!
County Farm Bureau convention committee assignments
he counties listed below will serve on one of the three member-led committees at the 2025 Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention Nov. 7-9 in Oklahoma City. The OKFB state resolutions committee will also serve at OKFB’s state resolutions committee meeting, which prepares policy for presentation at the OKFB annual meeting. The OKFB state resolutions committee meeting will be
held Tuesday, Oct. 21 and Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Oklahoma City Embassy Suites Downtown Medical Center.
For questions about the state resolutions meeting, please contact the OKFB public policy department at (405) 523-2300. For questions about the fnancials or credentials committees, contact Brittney Kragg at (405) 523-2300.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126
Postmaster:
Send address corrections to: Perspective
P.O. Box 53332, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3332
STAFF DIRECTORY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Thad Doye (405) 523-2438
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Dustin Mielke (405) 530-2640
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS AND ADVOCACY COMMUNICATIONS
Rachel Havens (405) 523-2346
PUBLICATIONS SPECIALIST
Kate Jackson (405) 523-2527
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Mickinzi Ferguson (405) 523-2343
YF&R achievement, excellence, Charles L. Rof award applications
open now through October 15
pplications for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, Excellence in Agriculture Award and the Charles L. Rof Award are now open through Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Achievement Award
The Achievement Award recognizes YF&R members who have excelled in their farm or ranch, and have taken an active role in Farm Bureau programs and activities. Applicants must be actively involved in production agriculture with a majority of their income derived from production agriculture.
Excellence in Agriculture Award
The YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes YF&R members who
have a passion for agriculture, but who do not earn a majority of their income from an owned agriculture enterprise.
Charles L. Rof Award
The Charles L. Rof Award recognizes the top county YF&R committee that works to improve their local committees while strengthening the Farm Bureau organization. Each county YF&R committee is encouraged to participate by describing the activities hosted or sponsored throughout the year, no matter how large or small the scope.
About the awards
Each of the award winners will be announced and prizes will be presented at the 2025 OKFB Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City in November.
Non-Proft U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.
Achievement and Excellence in Agriculture winners will compete at the 2027 American Farm Bureau convention, representing Oklahoma in the national YF&R competitive events.
How to apply
Applicants for both the Achievement and Excellence Awards must be no older than 35 by Jan. 1, 2027.
The electronic application forms can be found on the applications center page of OKFB’s website at okf.news/applications. Learn more about Achievement and Excellence awards on AFBF’s website at f.org/yfr
For more information on OKFB’s YF&R applications, contact Burton Harmon at (405) 523-2300.