Tulsa County farmer-rancher Mike Spradling was re-elected president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau Nov. 7 at the organization's 68th annual meeting at Oklahoma City's Cox Convention Center.

Spradling won his second two-year term as the president of the state's largest general farm organization. He was first elected to the office in November 2007.

Delegates attending the annual meeting also re-elected three members of the state board of directors - Tom Buchanan of Jackson County, Larry Boggs of Latimer County and Billy Gibson of Pontotoc County.

And Farm Bureau Women caucusing at the convention in Oklahoma City re-elected LoWayne Piercey of Washita County, Nadine Butler of Atoka County and Roberta Hughes of Seminole County.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau held its reward and recognition program Friday, Nov. 6, during its 66th annual convention in Oklahoma City. The organization recognized outstanding achievements from the past year.

More information about the awards and recipients can be found at the following links.

• Wilson, Boggs honored for distinguished service
• Garfield County couple named Farm Family of the year
• Leeds win YF&R Achievement Award
• Bolay wins Excellence in Agriculture Award
• Sneary wins YF&R discussion meet
• Full list of OFB awards handed out Friday night

Considering water as a valuable, natural resource should remain as a major priority for the state’s largest farm organization in 2010. This was one of 625 resolutions proposed during Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s statewide resolutions committee meeting Oct. 20-21 in Oklahoma City. The resolutions will be voted on during the annual OFB convention Nov. 6-8 in Oklahoma City.

The committee will submit a resolution to the convention’s voting delegates to make protecting agriculture’s sales tax exemption a priority issue in 2010.

There also were resolutions proposed on international food safety standards, opposing federal climate change legislation and asking the news media to use scientific terminology on health issues. Rural health care, support for a farm tire recycling program, improved infrastructure in rural Oklahoma and animal health issues all drew discussion from committee members.

Approximately 60 county Farm Bureau leaders invested the better part of two days pouring over resolutions proposed by county Farm Bureaus.

“This is one of the major things that makes me so proud of our grassroots policy development process,” said Mike Spradling, OFB President. “Any individual can submit a resolution for consideration. Our members thoroughly study and research these resolutions before voting at our state convention.”

Farm Bureau leaders from across Oklahoma literally threw their hats in the ring to show support for a national campaign fighting federal climate change legislation. During an Oct. 20 gathering in Oklahoma City, they signed “well-worn” caps with a sticker on the bill stating “Don’t Cap Our Future” referring to the damage expected if Congress passed the legislation.

“We’re concerned the legislation would dramatically increase our fertilizer and other energy costs,” said Mike Spradling, OFB President. “The legislation could lead to higher food costs and increase fuel taxes for all Americans without significantly improving our environment.”

The legislation, called cap-and-trade, would “cap” or limit so-called greenhouse gas emissions and allow companies that exceed federal emission standards to trade for credits with entities who are below the standards. The Senate currently is working on the legislation and debate is expected to carry into 2010.

Spradling said he will deliver the caps to Oklahoma’s senators.

“Our senators, Inhofe and Coburn, agree with us and we want to show support for them,” Spradling said.

Oklahoma was the first state Farm Bureau to initiate the campaign against climate change legislation.

Nationwide, American Farm Bureau is hoping to collect approximately two percent of its membership’s signatures, which would amount to more than 100,000 individuals showing opposition to the legislation.

“This is a true grassroots campaign with individual involvement,” Spradling said.

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau is encouraging all Farm Bureau members in the state to join together in a unified request to federal lawmakers: Don’t Cap Our Future. The appeal is directed to members of Congress who are addressing restrictive climate change legislation that could hurt agriculture, consumers and the national economy, according to, Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling.

“Don’t Cap Our Future” is a grassroots campaign involving Farm Bureau members from across the nation. Farmers and ranchers are speaking out against congressional climate legislation. Playing off the cap-and-trade climate change bills in the House and Senate, Farm Bureau is encouraging members to participate in the campaign by signing their name to an item very common in farm country – the farm cap. By signing a new “farm cap,” including a message sticker that reads, “Don’t Cap Our Future” and hand-delivering the item to one of the state offices of their U.S. Senators, farmers and ranchers can send an effective message against climate change legislation.

Read more »