Ag Advocacy Awards were presented to State Senator Eddie Fields and USDA Risk Management Regional Director Francie Tolle. Special recognition was given to FFA Executive Secretary Kent Boggs and former FFA Foundation Director Kendall Brashears.
Sam Knipp
The 2018 Oklahoma legislative session convenes Feb. 5 and it will be a critical session for Oklahoma agriculture.
Abundant production in 2017 coupled with good demand has kept Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in the economic game. As we look ahead to 2018, economic analysts expect more of the same economic fundamentals with hints of optimistic gains.
During the recent AFR Leadership Summit, youth participants worked on service projects that benefitted children less fortunate than themselves.
According to the United States Department of Labor, twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year. Many of these workers are farmers and ranchers. We interviewed Dr. Wayne Staab, Ph.D., an internationally recognized authority in hearing aids and consults on issues related to hearing protection.
Hurricane disaster relief funds, federal trucking regulations and the farm bill were hot topics for AFR leaders during a four-day lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., Sept. 10-13.
State Sen. Paul Scott (R-43), recently received the AFR Legislative Advocacy Award from American Farmers & Ranchers.
Supporters of agriculture and the military raised more than $11,000 on Aug. 17 during the annual AFR LEAD golf tournament. The event was held this year at Cherokee Hills Golf Course in Catoosa, Okla.
American Farmers & Ranchers announced its 2017-18 Youth Advisory Council at the organization's annual Senior Leadership Summit Reception July 28. The reception was held at the conclusion of the annual AFR Leadership Summit
Joel Heinzeroth always knew he wanted to farm. He also wanted to serve his country. After a 20-year career in the Army, Heinzeroth is retiring this summer at the rank of Major and will work full time on his farm and ranch near Mountain Park in southwest Oklahoma.
His “second” career as a farmer and rancher is made possible by assistance from the Famer Veteran Coalition.
American Farmers & Ranchers continued their legacy of strong support for the Oklahoma FFA this year as a Diamond level title sponsor of the Oklahoma FFA convention.
Storm debris littered the streets in all directions from Gary Paxson’s neighborhood on the southern edge of Elk City known as Fairway Estates Addition or the Golf Course. Paxson was stunned when he came out of his neighbor’s storm shelter and saw his house was destroyed by the May 16 tornado.
The AFR Women’s Cooperative has started an on-line registry at Amazon to collect items for the family of Caitlin Phibbs and Jacob Vandorn, who lost everything in the northwest Oklahoma wildfires this spring.
AFR President Terry Detrick offered the following response to the EPA decision to rescind the "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) rule.
American Farmers & Ranchers President Terry Detrick issued the following statement today, opposing federal budget cuts to agriculture programs.
Oklahoma fire departments that helped fight the early March wildfires in northwest Oklahoma were rewarded for their efforts May 20th when AFR Insurance presented $1,500 checks to each department involved.
The American Farmers & Ranchers LEAD program is sponsoring a one-day training program at the Noble Foundation Learning Center in Ardmore, May 19.
Enough blood was donated by Oklahoma FFA members and supporters during their state convention May 2-3, to save 201 lives. The blood drive was a joint effort between the AFR Women’s Cooperative and the Oklahoma Blood Institute.
K101 Farm Expo is one of the largest tri-state agriculture, farm and ranch trade shows, featuring over 180 commercial exhibitors, as well as arts and crafts.
A number of awards were handed out to rural women leaders and supporters during the recent American Farmers & Ranchers annual state convention. The Women’s Cooperative also handed out awards to the top participants in their annual Drive Away Hunger food drive campaign.
More than 4,000 Oklahoma elementary school students expressed their appreciation for farmers during the 2017 American Farmers & Ranchers poster contest.
Voting delegates at the recent 2017 AFR convention elected two new leaders and re-elected three current leaders for their board of directors and officers. The voting took place Feb. 18 during the second day of the three-day annual convention at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Norman, Okla.
Throughout 2016, AFR members, youth, agents and local volunteers gathered donations during county and statewide events. Members were asked to bring nonperishable canned goods to county annual meetings, county fairs, and other local events. Youth at the annual leadership summit played a major role in meeting the Women’s Cooperative goal.
Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis is the keynote speaker for Enid’s Agrifest Farm and Ranch forum, Jan. 13, Chisholm Trail Expo Center. The forum is part of the annual two-day KNID Agrifest, northwest Oklahoma’s largest farm show.
AFR President Terry Detrick issued the following statement on Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s nomination to head up the Environmental Protection Agency.