Oklahoma's Latest Farm
And Ranch News
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Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Thursday, December 24, 2020
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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
- Christmas is Here- We Pause and Celebrate
- ICYMI- State Vet Approves Health Papers and WILL Allow Santa and His Reindeer Into Oklahoma Tonight
- No Grinching Allowed- KC Sheperd Reflects on Her 2020
- Charlie Amos Offers a Cattle Country Version of Twas the Night Before Christmas
- Forty Five Years of Country Memories Compiled By Sam Knipp
- From Bob Funk- A Reminder of WHY Christmas
- The "Factory" Farm Connected to That First Christmas in Bethlehem
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Watch Us on This Week in Agri Business This Weekend
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Christmas is Here- We Pause and Celebrate |
What a year 2020 has been. At this time in 2019- we were gearing up for a busy new year- our first full year as a part of the Bob Funk Companies and things were going to be full speed ahead. Earlier in the fall, I had hired an incredible young lady who will hopefully be your source for farm and ranch news for years to come, KC Sheperd.
Jan and I were making plans to travel with Class XIX of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program to Chile in February- and my number one task was to get our new Associate Farm Director KC Sheperd up to speed to handle things while I was several thousand miles away.
The new year began- the mentoring began- we covered the Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio- KC was a rockstar and took on the challenge to handle things while I traveled with OALP from Mid February to the first of March- then KC and I jumped into the coverage of the OYE as Pandemic fears were rising- and then EVERYTHING just stopped.
WOW- we all thought- well, this will all be over by early summer or thereabouts- but here we are, December 24th- and we still wear masks and wait on our turn to get a vaccination.
Add to the Pandemic the crazy election cycle and 2020 has flat out worn a lot of us slick.
BUT- we have arrived at the most hopeful of holidays- Christmas- and today, we leave behind all the regular farm and ranch news stories- they will return next Monday(or jump back one day to our Daily Email of 12/23 and there is plenty of info to check out there).
Today- we celebrate Christmas- the fun and the spiritual- the love of family and the love of our God for us who gives us John 3:16 in the form of a baby who offers us salvation and reconciliation with the Father.
One of my traditions is to go back and read some of my previous Christmas Eve emails that I have shared with you- one that got my eyes moist was the one I penned in 2010- I would invite you to check it out- it's available here- as we reflect on the good and the bad in agriculture for December of that year- I mention folks like Gina McCarthy at EPA as well as our friend we lost too soon, Jeff Krehbiel. It also has a Max Lucado story and my thoughts of a John Deere B Christmas that I experienced in my home state of Kentucky.
Here in 2020- We have gathered several stories from colleagues and friends today- and share them with you on this Christmas Eve Special Email.
Enjoy!!!
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ICYMI- State Vet Approves Health Papers and WILL Allow Santa and His Reindeer Into Oklahoma Tonight |
In Case You Missed It- this past week, Santa and his reindeer got their health papers in order and Oklahoma State Veterinarian, Dr. Rod Hall, has cleared them to enter the state. He released the following statement that children of all ages may be very interested in:
“I have worked diligently with Dr. Robert Gerlach, State Veterinarian of Alaska, to ensure that Santa’s reindeer have been inspected, meet Oklahoma’s entry requirement and are properly documented on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection in anticipation of their trip across Oklahoma on Christmas Eve."
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No Grinching Allowed- KC Sheperd Reflects on Her 2020
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This picture of my family pretty much sums up 2020. It's been an amazing year, filled full of blessings, and my return to radio.... but there was a big, Green, Covid 19 Grinch in the year too!
When Ron and Tim asked me to come in and talk about this job, the job with the legendary Ron Hays, I was beyond humbled and so excited. I feel like God had been preparing me my whole life for this moment. Not only to be back on the radio, but to be back into AG radio, which is such a big part of my family, and has been for many years. My husband, Jordan even asked when I told him the job requirements (Ag background, radio background, extroverted, have to be able to write, etc) "Is that even a real job because It sounds like they just made it up for you?".... So I was beyond excited to leave the corporate world and get back to my radio roots..
Ron and I had a whole list of things we were going to tackle in 2020 and ways he was going to teach me and mentor me, but the Grinch (Covid 19) came along and tried to ruin all those moments.. but he did not succeed. Even with Covid, I have learned so much in my first year, and I'm so grateful to all the new colleagues and friends I now have!
I'll be looking forward to new Adventures as we get into 2021, and I just want to say thank you to all those who have endured my first-time interviews, listened to me cry about trying to teach my kids math, (I was not successful by the way) having covid tests tickling my brain, and just the overall craziness of 2020. Our listeners and Ag Partners are some of the coolest people to be around, and I'm so grateful to know all of you. Thank you for what you do, and for continuing to support us at the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, all you do for the Oklahoma Youth, and always showing what it means when we say #agdoesntstop. Praying for an Amazing Holiday season for all of you, and Looking forward to a brand new 2021! God bless you all and Merry Christmas! Onward and Upward!
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For our farmers who have either- always have had cotton on their farms- or those who have more recently have added the fiber crop to their operations- we have a new daily report starting to be heard on several of our Radio Stations- It's Called Cotton Talk- and we appreciate the Oklahoma Cotton Council for their support in making this a reality.
Click on the Button below to listen to our most recent report
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Was the Night Before Christmas- and that Darn Heifer is Ready for Birth |
Courtesy of Charlie Amos, who co-hosts the Farm to Market Podcast with Dr. Derrell Peel- we have a Christmas Poem that follows the path of a classic- but is distinctively different. Without further comments, here's a Cow-Calf Version of the Night Before Christmas.
Was the night before Christmas, all through the house, no one was stirring, cause the rancher was out.
See, a heifer was in trouble, with a calf on the way, with snow so deep it covered the hay.
The mercury fell, to way down below, the heifer she turned, circles in the snow.
When all of a sudden some headlights appeared, the rancher was there and the calf was near.
The rancher climbed out. His Stormy Kromer socked down. He pulled on his gloves, dreaming of a job in town.
The calf was head first, the natural way, just a leg turned back, blocking the way.
A little assist was all the heifer would need. Soon both feet emerged, plum to the knees.
The rancher he pulled. The heifer she strained. A nose appeared, and then the calf came.
The heifer swapped ends, measuring the task. Motherly skills set in against the cold blast.
From the bed of the truck came a small square. The Rancher busted hay, the heifer just stared.
Then all at once, as quick as an an asp. The heifer she knocked, the rancher on his ass.
You’re welcome he said, leaving the fight. Merry Christmas to you, now have a good night.
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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network weekdays-
if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click below for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays and KC Sheperd on RON.
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Sponsor Spotlight
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau - a grassroots organization that has for its Mission Statement- “Improving the Lives of Rural Oklahomans." Farm Bureau, as the state's largest general farm organization, is active at the State Capitol fighting for the best interests of its members and working with other groups to make certain that the interests of rural Oklahoma are protected. Click here for their website to learn more about the organization and how it can benefit you to be a part of Farm Bureau.
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Forty Five Years of Country Memories Compiled By Sam Knipp |
Our friend and colleague Sam Knipp has been an invaluable part of our team over this past year- and I asked Sam to reminisce about Christmas stories he has told in his role as a writer and reporter working over the years for Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the American Farmers and Ranchers- and he shares these thots- some of which are here and all are on our website- click on the button at the bottom of this story to read and hear Sam tell the story.
"Christmas Eve spent far away from home in South Viet Nam. A horse-drawn wagon full of kids beneath warm blankets on a snowy Christmas Eve in northwest Kansas. Feeding cattle on a cold, clear Christmas morning.
"A search of my Christmas in the country memories compiled from more than 45 years of telling the story of agriculture revealed many of my memories are actually your memories."
Sam mentions some names...
"Most gifts took on a utilitarian function. Clothes, socks, books, things I could actually use.
"Which is exactly what Freda Biddle of Okmulgee, Okla.., told me was special for her growing up on the Oklahoma farm. She specifically remembered the peacefulness, gentleness and joy of Christmas.
"Billie Gibson was flying combat missions in South Vietnam on Christmas Eve 1968, far from his home on the Ada, Okla., ranch. After delivering a load of hams and turkeys to hungry troops he remembers sitting down to a festive meal prepared by nurses at Cam Ranh Bay in what was then South Vietnam."
And then there was the legendary George Stone- former President of the Oklahoma Farmers Union and National Farmers Union.
"Searching for the perfect Christmas tree was a family affair. A cedar tree was the choice for many High Plains country families. Believe it or not, cedar trees were hard to find in the 1920’s southern Oklahoma when the late George Stone and his family searched for a tree. That was a fact they were proud of as George said his dad hated cedar trees and considered them a weed."
You can check out Sam's report from three years ago with George Stone by clicking here.
Check out more of the memories shared by Sam at the link below.
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From Bob Funk- A Reminder of WHY Christmas |
Because of the continuing worries of COVID-19, we were unable to enjoy the Funk Companies Christmas Party for 2020- but I thought you might enjoy this December a poem from the 2019 party that Bob Funk shared with his employee family last December:
T'was the night before Christmas, God glanced over the earth. He looked to and fro, all over its girth.
They missed it again, He said with a sigh, A heavy heart and a tear in his eye.
I gave them my Son, so they could be free. My greatest gift... to them from Me.
They traded Me in for a man in red, A little tree and a horse-drawn sled.
How do I save them and make them see My love is complete, my grace is free?
How do I help them when all they know Is a talking snowman and a box with a bow?
Maybe next year, they will stop and see: The biggest gift of Christmas Is the little child from me
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The "Factory" Farm Connected to That First Christmas in Bethlehem |
Some of you may remember that I actually shared this story last year- but I got some really nice comments about it- and I thought it was worthy to share again here in 2020- to remind us of the connection that our dear Savior has with the agricultural community.
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I have always liked the Shepherds in the Luke version of the Christmas story the best. They heard the incredible story from the Angels- did not bat an eye- and decided they had to go right then and see this baby they were told about by the Angel.
Why did this story hit home with these first century farmers? Well, they were not country bumpkin sheep herders out in the wilderness- but rather the operators of what you might call one of the first Commercial Sized Farms in the world. The sheep herds that were within five miles of Jerusalem provided close to a quarter of a million lambs annually to the Temple.
How do we know that? Well, the Jewish historian Josephus writing in the first century records that at Passover up to 265,000 lambs would be sacrificed in the Jewish temple at Jerusalem.
These weren't your run of the mill lambs- those lambs had to meet the strict legal-religious regulations of the Jewish faith. They had to be no more than one year old, male and without spot or blemish. Therefore they had to be born in controlled conditions and inspected for birth defects before being raised in protected conditions.
The website patheos.com adds that "The law also said that animals to be sacrificed had to be born within five miles of Jerusalem. Bethlehem is just five miles from Jerusalem.
"The hillsides around Bethlehem, therefore were a first century lamb factory farm. When the lambs were born they were wrapped up in strips of cloth to protect them and placed in a stone feeding trough in the birthing barn until the priest could come by and inspect them."
Cue the Angel- Luke 2:12 finds that Angel giving these specific directions to the Shepherds- "You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." (Think- Stone feeding trough)
After the Shepherds saw and heard the Angels- They were excited about a Savior that would become THE Lamb of God- and would be the one and done replacement for all those perfect lambs grown on the hillsides around Bethlehem-
They went- they saw- they told everyone they could about this perfect Lamb of God-
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Watch Us on This Week in Agri Business This Weekend
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I have been a part of a professional group called the National Association of Farm Broadcasting since 1974- and one broadcaster friend that I have known and watched become a superstar in our business over the years is Max Armstrong.
Max was for many years the sidekick of Orion Samuelson, who is finally slowing down after an amazing career as America's Number One Farm Broadcast Journalist. Max was right there with the Big O on WGN Radio and on TV in various venues down thru the decades.
Most recently, Max is now the lead host on This Week in Agribusiness- owned by the Farm Progress company. In the video box below- we want to share their special Christmas edition from this past weekend- Orion joins Max talking about all the Country Churches that Orion has seen and visited over the years- and there are several more great holiday features as well.
THIS COMING WEEKEND- Max asked me to join him for a few minutes on their year end program as I share some of the highlights of farming and ranching here in Oklahoma and the southern plains from 2020- it will be seen this Saturday and Sunday- December 26 and 27th on RFD TV- 7 AM Central on Saturday and then again 9:30 PM Central on Sunday.
I always enjoy the opportunity to brag a little about the amazing farm/ranch industry that we have here in our part of the country- hope you have a chance to see it right after the Christmas holiday.
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It's a little book that I have shared prayers from before- Samuel Guard lived almost a hundred years ago- and he was a giant in the world of agricultural journalism when no one really knew what that was- He worked as the Director of Information for the American Farm Bureau- and helped put one of the legendary radio stations on the air in the 1920s to help communicate to farmers across the midwest (WLS Radio- put on the air by the Sears Roebuck folks) and then later owned and served as publisher of the Breeders Gazette for years and years.
Along the way- he wrote a year's worth of prayers from a farm/ranch point of view- The Farmer Gives Thanks is a real treasure- and I wanted to share one of the prayers Samuel wrote for the Christmas season.
"Sore afraid, too, we who are wont to abide in the fields watching our flocks, come now to kneel as in a stable.
"Even a cow stable, Lord, back of an inn, just as the angel told us.
"And, lo, in a manger where we were wont to put hay for the kine, we found thine own begotten son.
"Given by our Father in Heaven that we other children should not perish from the earth.
"Immanuel!
"Prince of Peace!
"In a manger!
"A lowly manger. Might have been our manger. Where stood the star!
"For such is the Kingdom.
"Amen."
From my beautiful wife Jan and I- Merry Christmas and May you experience the Wonder the Shepherds Experienced that first Christmas with God's Gift to ALL People!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
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OKC West is our Market Links Sponsor- they sell cattle three days a week- Cows on Mondays, Stockers on Tuesday and Feeders on Wednesday- Call 405-262-8800 to learn more.
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Today's First Look:
Ron on RON Markets as heard on K101
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
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Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices went lower on Wednesday- Choice Beef was Off $3.13 while Select Beef went $1.66 lower.
Click on the Button below for the latest report from USDA Market News
By the way- there will be no Boxed Beef updates on Thursday the 24th or Friday the 25th.
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Weekly Cattle Auction Reports
The buttons below allow you to check out the weekly Cattle Auctions in the region that we post on our website and here in our daily email update-
PLEASE NOTE- All of these markets have finished selling cattle in 2020- and will resume their auctions the first full week of 2021.
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Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures - click below for the latest update on the Livestock and Grain Futures Trade..
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Okla Cash Grain:
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- as reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture- The report available after the close of the Futures Trade for that day.
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Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
KC Sheperd, Associate Farm Director and Editor
Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
Sam Knipp, Farm News Editor
Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager
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Rural Oklahoma is full of some of the greatest success stories throughout the entire state and is the main reason Oklahoma is on track to become a top 10 state.
The Road to Rural Prosperity will dive into these stories each week, bringing you insight into the great things happening in and to rural Oklahoma. We will bring you stories covering rural life, agriculture, energy, healthcare, tourism, and politics affecting rural America.
The Road to Rural Prosperity is here to tell stories about rural America, for rural America.
Congress has passed a 5,393-page Relief/Spending Omnibus Package- and Host Ron Hays Talks with Ethan Lane, Vice President for Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association about Pandemic Relief- more money in CFAP, Grants for RAMP UP, the establishment of the SALE Act and more. Lane also talks about the announcement by USDA to start the process of moving Gene Editing for animals away from FDA over to USDA, a look at the Climate Team for President-Elect Biden, a return to USDA by Tom Vilsack, and a look into 2021 from a DC Perspective.
Today's Podcast is powered by Banc First, Loyal to Oklahoma, and Loyal to You.
To find out more about our full series of Podcasts on The Road to Rural Prosperity- click or tap here.
To hear this podcast, you can click here or tap below:
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, AFR/OFU, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program, Great Plains Kubota, Stillwater Milling Company, Oklahoma Cotton Council, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association, and KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update.
For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!
We invite you to check out our website at the link below too that includes an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.
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God Bless!
Reach Out To Us:
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Tim West
President/General Manager
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
2401 Exchange Avenue,
Suite F
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405.317.6361
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Ron Hays
Director of Farm Programming
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
405.473.6144
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