2018 Board Candidates

One Officer’s position, one Independent District Board of Director seat and two Agent Director’s Board seats will be decided during this 113th Convention. The Officer and Board of Directors’ seats up for election are: Vice President, Independent Director District 2, Agent Director District 1, and Agent Director District 4.

Convention Information & Schedule

Southeast Agent Director, District 4

Randy Gilbert

Randy Gilbert is an AFR agent from Tecumseh, OK. He and his wife own and operate Gilbert Insurance Agency. They also operate a cow/calf operation and Crossing Hearts Ranch, an agri-tourism venue as an added value to their cattle operation.

Gilbert graduated from Tecumseh High School and then attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in 1983 with a B.S. in Agriculture Education. Gilbert began his career as an Ag-Ed/FFA Instructor in Lawton, OK for 5 years. He enjoyed teaching and all the agriculture students. In 1988 he returned to Tecumseh to run the family trucking business. He has been involved in business management for over 30 years. He has also devoted countless resources and volunteer hours to promote agriculture youth.

Gilbert has served on several boards and understands how they function. He serves on the Arvest Bank Board, Oklahoma Youth Expo, State Board of Career and Technology Education, Chairman of the Oklahoma FFA Foundation, President of the Southwest American Livestock Foundation and has been Chairman both of the Shawnee and Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce. Gilbert has been a consistent supporter of AFR activities including serving as Chairman of the AFR policy committee, Co-chair of the AFR PAC committee, AFR/OFU Washington DC Fly In and serving as a speech judge at both District and State Speech Contest.

He is very passionate about the AFR Mutual Insurance Company and the AFR/OFU youth programs. Randy and Suzanne have two daughters, Annie Jo and Dustie, Son-In-Law Jordan and three wonderful grandchildren.

Roy Perryman

Roy Perryman, Stigler, was named to the AFR/OFU Board of Directors in 2012, filling a vacancy left by the passing of Harry Jordan.

Perryman has a wealth of experience and knowledge that will serve the organization well. He has previously served on the AFR/OFU Board of Directors from 1992 to 2003.

Perryman was first appointed as an agent with Oklahoma Farmers Union in December 1973 and started the Perryman Insurance Agency in 1974. He was named the AFRMIC Commercial Lines Top Producer in 2002. He sold the agency in May 2011, but retains his agent status with AFR.

Perryman earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University. Prior to becoming an OFU agent, he worked as an agricultural education instructor in Ames, Okla., and Paden, Okla. He has also worked in sales and public relations for the Shawnee Milling Company in Shawnee, Okla.

In addition to his AFR/OFU leadership roles, Perryman served on the Haskell County Hospital Board from 1990 to 2002. He has also served on the Haskell County Fair and Show Committee and the Eureka Free Will Baptist Executive Board. He is a member of the Stigler/Haskell County Chamber of Commerce, the Stigler Lions Club and the Ringwood Masonic Lodge. He is also the owner-operator of Perryman, Inc.

Roy has been married to his wife, Judy, for 49 years. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Southwest Independent Director, District 2

Joe Ed Kinder

Joe Ed Kinder grew up on a farm near Chattanooga in Tillman County and graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1960. He has been a member of Oklahoma Farmers Union since the late 1950s and has had Oklahoma Farmers Union or AFR Insurance since that time.

Joe Ed and his wife, Jo Ann, were married in 1961 and have lived in the Chattanooga and Frederick area since then. The Kinder farming and ranching operation consists of wheat, cotton and cow/calf pairs on 3,000 owned acres and 320 rented acres. The Kinders have two children, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Kinder has served on the AFR/OFU Policy Committee and Bylaws Committee, the NFU Policy Committee and the NFU Policy Working Group twice. He has also participated in the organization’s legislative action “ y-ins” to Washington, D.C., was an NFU national delegate and has served the last 7 years on the AFR/OFU Board of Directors, working with the rest of the board to rebuild the AFR Insurance surplus to over $72 million, the highest and most sound level ever in our history. In addition to service to AFR/OFU, Kinder served on the Tillman County Rural Water District #1 for 12 years, with 9 years as president, and on the Chattanooga Town Board for 18 years, with 12 years as mayor. He was chairman of the Chattanooga Public Works Authority and chairman of the Chattanooga Airport Board. He was on the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association Board and chaired the Red River Terrace Water Authority.

Brett Morris

Brett Morris and his family have been involved in farming and ranching in the Ninnekah community for almost 90 years. A former dairyman, he and his Dad currently run a diversified operation which includes 1,000 acres of alfalfa, wheat and grassland, 125 beef cow/calf pairs and 200 stocker calves as well as the Washita Fertilizer Company.

Morris is deeply passionate about his agricultural community and volunteers to further its betterment both locally and nationally. He is currently the 2017 Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board that oversees an annual budget of $40 million. Since 2007, he has been involved with this Board holding the position of chairman for several program committees that manage the beef checkoff funds. He recently traveled to Japan and Korea promoting US beef internationally.

AFR was a natural choice for Morris as he joined in the early 1990’s. Additionally, he has attended the National Farmers Union Convention for the past four years. In 2017 he was an active member, a delegate in 2016, a Policy Committee member in both 2015 (chairman) and 2014. At the Oklahoma AFR Convention, he also served on the Policy Committee in 2014-2015 (chairman) and 2013-2014. As the development of youth through agriculture programs supporter, Morrisland has co-sponsored the Dairy Production Award at the State FFA Convention for the past 20 years.

Together with his wife, Jackie and their youngest of four children, Brett pursues the living legacy of caring for the land and the animals it supports on the family farm.

Monte Thompson

Monte J. Thompson was raised in Washington, OK, where he attended Washington Public Schools, kindergarten to graduation in 1980. He was active during his high school years serving as senior class vice president, sentinal and president of the local FFA chapter, student council president as well as a successful athlete in football, basketball, track and baseball. Thompson attended East Central University in Ada, Ok on an athletic scholarship where he played football and ran track. He received a Bachelor degree in 1985 and two masters in areas of K-12 counseling and administration. He finished his education at Oklahoma State University where he received his superintendent certification.

Monte is married to Shelly Holder Thompson of Pauls Valley for the past 27 yrs. They have two daughters, Jaylea Thompson, a graduate of East Central University and Jaycea Thompson currently attending University of Oklahoma Nursing School in Lawton, Ok.

Thompson is a retired public educator of thirty years, where he served as a teacher/coach for seven years, a building administrator for eight and he was superintendent for the final fifteen years. Thompson developed a unique ability to manage finances. During his career he was an active member, officer, or board member in several civic organizations such as Kiwanis, Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, Southern Mental Health, CREOKS Mental Health and Murray County Livestock Committee.

Thompson retired in June 2015 where he is settled back in Murray County where he runs the farm, raises cattle and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Northwest Agent Director, District 1

Kyndell Nichols

Kyndell J. Nichols has been a lifelong AFR/OFU member. After graduation from Oklahoma State University with a BS Degree in Ag Economics and Accounting, he returned to the family farm to work with his father and with his mother in the insurance and real estate business. Nichols has been an agent for AFR/OFU since 1985 and works with his mother. They have offices in Ringwood, Fairview, and Helena. He also runs the farming operation and has expanded a registered Hereford cattle herd with the help of his two sons, Levon and Lathan.

As an active AFR member, he has served on the Policy Committee, attended Washington DC fly-in and participated in a Special Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors. Nichols served on a special committee formed by then Governor Keating, to study the state’s ability to handle an infectious disease attack. He has served as a Local officer, County Board member and has been President of the AFR Northwest Area for over 20 years.

As an agent, Nichols served on the Agents Association Executive Council and served on a special committee appointed by the Board to review the agent’s contract.

Nichols has been an active leader in his community for 25 years serving on the County Fair Board and is a Charter Member of the Ringwood Lions Club. He was a member of the Oklahoma Hereford Association Board and served as President.

Kyndell was elected to the AFR Board of Directors last year for a one year term.

Vice President

John Porter

John Porter, a 3rd generation AFR agent, was raised on a dairy and beef farm east of Stillwater owned by his parents Charles Jr. and Alta Porter. He graduated from Quay High school. He was involved in sports and a member of the Quay FFA, judging beef and dairy cattle at state fairs. Porter attended Central State University in Edmond specializing in business administration. He was a member of the Oklahoma National Guard from 1965 to 1971.

In 1973, he was hired by Oklahoma Farmers Union to work insurance claims. Porter began in property losses and then became a multi-line adjuster. In 1980’s he became claims supervisor. During his 36-plus year career with AFR he worked directly with several company presidents in various capacities. In 2010 he was elected as AFR Vice President. Porter is an active insurance agent in Edmond and also serves as an officer for Oklahoma County Farmers Union.

With rich heritage in the company, his grandfather and parents were agents for OFU and AFR as well as his brother, who continues the family agency in Stillwater.

Porter’s community activities include membership at Sunnybrook Christian Church for 30 years; inducted member into the Oklahoma Softball Hall of Fame as a player; participant and member of the Player Youth Program; Lakeside Golf Course, Stillwater and retired Oklahoma High School Sports Referee for basketball and football.

John and his wife, Patti have two daughters, Shandra of Edmond and Tressa Diesselhorst, son-in-law Jacob Diesselhorst and three grandchildren.

Convention