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OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

September 20, 2013PERSPECTIVE

Rep. Jon Echols explains Shelter Oklahoma Schools’ purpose during a press conference, Sept. 4, at the state Capitol.

Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation donates $100,000 to help protect students during severe weather

The Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation, in conjunction with Oklahoma Farm Bureau, announced a $100,000 dona-tion to help install storm shelters in Oklaho-ma schools during a press conference at the state Capitol, Sept. 4. Rep. Mark McBride and Rep. Jon Echols accepted the donation on behalf of Shelter Oklahoma Schools, an Oklahoma charity established to build storm shelters in schools in the aftermath of the devastating May 2013 tornadoes in central Oklahoma.

“The foundation commends Shelter Oklahoma Schools for developing a private sector solution to install storm shelters in our schools around the state,” said Jeramy Rich, president of the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation. “Keeping our schools and communities safe is so critical, and we are honored to be able to assist in the effort.”

The donation was made possible by farmers and ranchers from across the state and country who generously donated to a tornado relief fund established by the Okla-homa Farming and Ranching Foundation.

“The level of support we have received from fellow Oklahomans and from across the country has been extremely humbling,” Rich said. “The farmers and ranchers who made these contributions have suffered their own natural disasters at some point, and it says a lot that they stepped up to assist in our state’s time of need.”

Friend Public Schools is the first recipient of funds from the donation. The school, located about four miles northeast of Chickasha, will receive $25,000 to help with the cost of installing a storm shelter. Students at Friend Schools have raised more than $25,000 on their own this past year, and Superintendent Alton Rawlins said the Oklahoma Farm-ing and Ranching Foundation donation through Shelter Okla-homa School allows the district to begin work on the shelter im-mediately. Friend Public Schools broke ground on the new shelter Sept. 13.

“We were waiting to reach the $50,000 mark in our fundraising efforts to begin construction on the shelter,” Rawlins said. “This donation means we can move for-ward with our plans and hopefully complete the project before storm season next spring.”

The Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation was established to improve lives of rural Oklahomans through educa-tion and outreach. The severe storms are a reminder of how important it is to help others when tragedy strikes.

Emily Ortega, a kindergartner from Chickasha, assists with the ground-breaking ceremony at Friend Public Schools, Sept. 13. Pictured with Ortega are (from left) OKFB President Mike Spradling, Rep. Scott Biggs, Sen. Ron Justice and Rep. Mark McBride.

OKFB Convention set for Nov. 15-17Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s 72nd Annual

Meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15-17, at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Cen-ter in Norman. This year’s theme is “Deep Roots, New Heights.”

Farm Bureau members from across the state will meet to conduct annual business activity and vote on policy issues for the next state legislative session. Convention

highlights include county and state awards presentations, a presidential election, the election of three district directors and selec-tion of delegates for the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention.

Watch for more convention details in up-coming issues of Perspective and on OKFB’s website and Facebook page.

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Oklahoma Farm Bureau OnlineMonitor the latest Farm Bureau

and agricultural news and information online at okfarmbureau.org.

Currently online:

• Agricultural News – Oklahoma Farm Bureau features a new agriculture-related story every day on its site. Read about both AFBF and state Farm Bureau news by visiting the homepage.

• OKFB Harvest Watch Blog – The second annual OKFB Harvest Watch blog season is underway. Visit www.okfarmbureau.org and click on the OKFB Harvest Watch link to follow the six farm families.www.okfarmbureau.org

OKFB Calendar

• Alamo Rent-A-Car offers OKFB members up to a 20 percent discount and other additional coupons. Call 1-800-462-5266 and reference contact ID 7016208. Visit the OKFB Member Benefits page for more details.

Member Benefits

OKFB highlights a benefit in each issue of Perspective as a reminder of the savings available to OKFB members. Find a complete list of savings online at www.okfarmbureau.org/benefits.

YF&R Awards DeadlineOctober 1 • Oklahoma City

Contact: Holly Carroll, (405) 301-6610

Resolutions DeadlineOctober 11 • Oklahoma City

Contact: Sara Drozdowski, (405) 530-2681

State Resolutions MeetingOctober 22-23 • Norman

Contact: Sara Drozdowski, (405) 530-2681

New $1,000 GM truck incentive available for OKFB members

Effective immediately and continuing through April 1, Chevrolet and GMC are offering exclusively to Farm Bureau mem-bers in participating states an additional $1,000 incentive on the acquisition of any new 2013 or 2014 regular cab, heavy duty (2500/3500 series) truck. This is in addition to the standard $500 Farm Bureau incentive, which brings the total Farm Bureau incen-tive on Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra HD models to $1,500.

The $1,500 Farm Bureau discount can be added to Chevrolet and GMC retail and Business Choice incentives that are available at time of purchase.

“The end of one year and the beginning of the next is when farmers, ranchers and other business owners are managing their taxes,” said American Farm Bureau Federa-tion President Bob Stallman. “The timing of new equipment purchases—including trucks—can be an important tool in an ef-fective tax management strategy,”he added.

Farm Bureau members are eligible for the added discount if they have been members for at least 60 consecutive days in a state that participates in the FB Member Advantage! program with General Motors. Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are eligible when the 60-day membership requirement is met.

To take advantage of the applicable Farm Bureau discount on these or any other new Chevrolet (except Volt), Buick or GMC ve-hicles, please log onto www.fbverify.com/gm and enter your membership number and zip code. If eligible, the information will be veri-fied and a certificate will appear that must be printed and taken to the dealership of choice for presentation to the sales person. There is no limit to the number of certificates that a member may print or use, although certifi-cates do expire after 60 days.

General Motors is the official vehicle sponsor of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

There is still time to enter your favorite pictures in the 2013 Farm Bureau photo contest, hosted by AFBF and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

The contest is open to all state and coun-ty Farm Bureau members and staff over the age of 18 at the time of entry, includ-ing professional photographers. Photos are being accepted in the following categories: Sharing the Story, Working on the Farm or Ranch and My Scenic Farm or Ranch.

All photos must be submitted by Oct. 15 and must exemplify safe practices in the farm or ranch.

Please visit www.fb.org/index.php?action=programs.photocontest2013 to see the full rules and learn how to enter the contest.

Farm Bureau photo contest ends Oct. 15

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Logan County FB Board member Paul Freundt (left), Caddo County FB Leadership Team member Karen Krehbiel (center)and Logan County FB Board member Tim Bartram participate in the second annual Southwest Ag Issues Summit, Sept. 8-10, at the Skirvin Hotel in OKC. Popular topics during the conference included the new farm bill, water, new technology, the Endangered Species Act, trade policies, global environment for agribusiness and crop insurance.

ABOVE – More than 35 youth participated in the Noble County YF&R Farmhand Olympics, Sept. 9, in Perry.

RIGHT – Mary Bugos, a senior from McLoud, throws her loop during the steer dummy wrestling event at the Pottawatomie County YF&R Farmhand Olympics, Sept. 4, in Shawnee.

Please excuse the error

The Tulsa County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee was inadvertently misidentified in the last issue of Perspective.

County YF&R committees busy hosting Farmhand Olympics events

FB members attend SW Ag Summit

YF&R Committee members to appear on upcoming episode of nationally televised news program

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee members Marty Williams (left), of Red Rock, and Mason Bolay (center), of Perry, discuss the need for young adults to pursue careers in production agriculture during an interview with Rob McClendon of the nationally televised news program Oklahoma Horizon. Williams and Bolay shared their personal farming experiences and talked about overcoming the challenges of entering the agricultural industry. The episode is scheduled to air Sunday, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m. on OETA.

OKFB tailgate set for Oct. 5

If you’re planning to be in Stillwater for the Kansas State University v. Oklahoma State University football game on Saturday, Oct. 5, be sure to stop by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau/Chisolm Trail Farm Credit tailgate. Look for the OKFB flag flying near the northeast corner of Knoblock and Ath-letic Ave. A time will be determined when kickoff is announced. Watch for more details on OKFB’s website and Facebook page.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau2501 N. StilesOklahoma City, OK 73105-3126

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 131Okla. City, OK.

Traci Morgan, 523-2346 Perspective/Online News Editor

Sam Knipp, 523-2347 Vice President of Communications/PR

Tyler Norvell, 523-2402 Vice President of Public Policy

Marla Peek, 523-2437 Director of Regulatory Affairs

Staff Directory

Published by Oklahoma Farm BureauPostmaster: Send address corrections to:

Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332

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Monica Wilke, 523-2303Executive Director

John Collison, 523-2539VP of Public Policy and Media RelationsMacey Hedges, 523-2346Director of Corporate Communications

Sam Knipp, 523-2347 Director of Corporate Communications

Dustin Mielke, 530-2640Director of Corporate Communications

Karolyn Bolay, 523-2320Communications Specialist

Staff Directory

Published by Oklahoma Farm BureauPostmaster: Send address corrections to:

Perspective, P.O. B. 53332, OKC, OK 73152-3332

Michele Calvo (third from left), OSU assistant professor of animal science, explains humane livestock handling techniques to a group of South Korean journalists, Sept. 4, at the OSU Willard Sparks Research Unit. The journalists spent three days touring Oklahoma agriculture in an effort to learn more about the safe and humane U.S. beef industry. The U.S. Meat Export Federation and Oklahoma Beef Council sponsored the trip to help educate South Korean consumers.

South Korean journalists tour OK agriculture

YF&R Committee hosts livestock judging contest during Oklahoma State Fair

Nearly 800 youth from across the state participated in the Oklahoma Farm Bureau YF&R livestock judging contest during the Oklahoma State Fair, Sept. 13.

YF&R Chairman Mason Bolay (left)presents plaques to Idabel FFA members who won the senior FFA division. More photos are available on the OKFB Flickr website.