Matt and Kellie Muller of Altus, along with their children Taylor, Levi, Luke and Lincoln, were named the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year during OKFB’s 74th Annual Meeting Nov. 13 in Oklahoma City.
The Mullers, one of four OKFB district farm family finalists, were chosen for their embodiment of the best traditions of Oklahoma agriculture and rural life.
“It’s very humbling to be representative of all the many thousand neighbors we have across the state,” Matt Muller said. “It’s just very humbling.”
The Muller family grows cotton, wheat, grain sorghum, canola, soybeans, mungbeans, alfalfa and Bermuda grass hay on their southwestern Oklahoma farm. The Mullers’ diversified farm has included soybeans and peanuts in the past, changing to meet growing conditions and the agricultural economy.
“We want people to know their food supply is in good hands,” Matt Muller said. “We do due diligence to make sure not only are we taking care to produce a safe product, but we’re also doing it in a sustainable way to take care of the environment so that future generations will be able to do the same thing.”
Matt and Kellie served as the state Young Farmers and Ranchers chairmen in 2003-2004, and received the 2006 American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, the only Oklahomans to ever win the award.
Both also are active in the Jackson County Farm Bureau, where Matt serves on the county board and Kellie has served as Women’s Leadership Committee chair. The couple has attended AFBF annual meetings and served on numerous state Farm Bureau committees.
“We just feel honored to be able to tell our story,” Matt Muller said. “(It’s) the same story that other Oklahoma farmers and ranchers have about how we get up every day and work hard to provide the consumer with a good product that’s safe for them to eat that they can feel very happy putting on their plates at suppertime for their families.”
The Muller family is very active in their community, their church and the agricultural industry. Matt serves on the local school board and on the regional farmers’ cooperative board of directors, and has served in various leadership positions in their church. Kellie serves on the county Farm Service Agency committee, the county 4-H advisory committee and works with children at their church.
As state winners, the Muller family received the use of a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab pickup for one year and a trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting next January in Orlando, Florida.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Annual Meeting is the organization’s largest gathering of farmers and ranchers every year. At the event, members vote on grassroots policy, elect leaders and award outstanding individuals. OKFB has a presence in all 77 Oklahoma counties and serves as the voice of agriculture and the rural way of life. To learn more, visit www.okfarmbureau.org.
Photos
Suggested Caption
The Muller Family of Altus is presented with Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Farm Family of the Year award at the organization’s annual meeting in Oklahoma City Friday, Nov. 13. Pictured left to right: Tom Buchanan, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president; Kitty Beavers, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee; Luke Muller; Lincoln Muller; Taylor Muller; Levi Muller; Kellie Muller; Matt Muller; Cameron Colter, Vance Auto Group, Monica Wilke, Oklahoma Farm Bureau executive director.
Audio
Listen to and download our interview with the Muller family on our SoundCloud page.
