The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee provided meals to more than 400 legislators, staff and visitors at the Oklahoma State Capitol Tuesday, March 21, during the committee’s annual Farm City Festival.
The event serves as an opportunity for state WLC members and county Farm Bureau women from across the state to connect with legislators and share the importance of agriculture while providing a meal to highlight the importance of agriculture.
“It’s very important that the producers come to the Capitol and some times educate the legislators to let them know how legislation affects people on the farm,” said Karen Dodson, OKFB WLC Secretary and family farmer from Caddo County. “We are less than one-and-a-half percent of the population. We are the experts, we are the environmentalists taking care of the land, and they need our input.”
WLC members took the opportunity to visit with legislators and public officials as they discussed issues that impact them on their own farms and ranches and thanked elected officials for their service and dedication to the state.
A full meal along with homemade desserts prepared by Farm Bureau members was provided, served by Farm Bureau women from across Oklahoma. Homemade bread was prepared by David VonTungeln, district 3 OKFB state director, and served alongside a menu of ham, green beans and potatoes.
The 2023 Farm City Festival marked the event’s return to a group gathering format, with the second floor of the Capitol rotunda serving as the event’s location. During Capitol renovations that spanned several legislative sessions, WLC members hand-delivered meals to legislators in their offices.
