Oklahoma Farm Bureau presented six Oklahoma legislators with the organization’s Champion Award during OKFB’s annual leadership conference on Tuesday, Feb. 18, for their commitment to agriculture and Oklahoma’s rural communities during the 2024 legislative session.

OKFB’s Champion Award recognizes legislators who served as exemplary advocates for Oklahoma agriculture, going above and beyond for the state’s farmers and ranchers during Oklahoma’s 2024 legislative session.

OKFB’s 2024 Champion Award winners included Speaker of the House Rep. Kyle Hilbert, Bristow; Rep. David Hardin, Stilwell; Rep. John Pfeiffer, Orlando; President Pro Tempore of the Senate Sen. Lonnie Paxton, Tuttle; Sen. Brent Howard, Altus; and Sen. Adam Pugh, Edmond.

“We are proud to recognize the hard work these six legislators invested during the 2024 legislative session to ensure the voices of Oklahoma agriculturalists and our rural residents were represented at the state Capitol,” said OKFB President Rodd Moesel. “Each of our Champion Award winners went the extra mile to ensure that our family farmers and ranchers can continue to feed our world while keeping rural Oklahoma a vibrant place to live.”

The Oklahoma Pork Council, a farmer-led organization, represents the interests of all Oklahoma pig farmers. From large-scale commercial operators to first-time 4-H and FFA exhibitors, our mission is to positively impact every Oklahoman who raises pigs.

At Oklahoma Pork, we focus our efforts within four strategic intentions to serve our farmers: foreign animal disease preparedness, workforce at all levels, image enhancement, and freedom to operate. Learn more by visiting okpork.org.

At CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays had the chance to talk with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall. The two men covered many topics including the new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the repeal of the Packers and Stockyards Act proposal, and anti-animal agriculture groups.

Coverage of CattleCon 2025 is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater, Oklahoma.

“She’s a fellow Texas and a fellow Aggie,” Woodall said. “We think she’s going to do a fantastic job. The thing we like about Brooke is she knows policy issues, and which end of the animal does what. That is a great thing to be Secretary of Agriculture. I think she’s going to be a tremendous advocate for everybody in ag, but especially for the cattle business.” Rollins’s own children show cattle.

During all 12 years of former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s two terms in office, NCBA has battled his desire to implement a Fairness Rule which would remove premiums on higher-quality cattle and carcasses to create a level playing field for cattlemen. While it may sound like a noble endeavor at first glance, it would remove all incentives to produce a high-quality product for consumers. Vilsack backed away from this pursuit in the time leading up to the 2024 election season.

Another COLD Morning- But Winds are Easing Helping With Wind Chills

Despite diminishing wind speeds this morning, wind chill values remain as low as -10 to -15 degrees this morning. As temperatures warm, these values will increase to above zero today. The Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect until noon.

The coldest spot in Oklahoma this morning is Miami- two below air temp and 18 below for a wind chill.

One casualty from the cold is the sale planned for today at the Woodward Livestock Auction. Seth Hale writes on their Facebook page "Due to frigid cold and extremely slick roads, we will not have a sale Thursday, February 20th. Stay safe and warm. We will see everyone next week."

The hints of a warm up start today with partly to mostly sunny conditions- Broken Bow will break above freezing with a predicted high of 35 while most of the state will top out in the high teens to mid 20s.

Friday morning lows will see a lot of single digits for the third morning but wind chills won't be quite as a big of a factor.

Much of southern Oklahoma will be up close to freezing by Friday afternoon- and warmer yet by Saturday and Sunday- Monday many parts of the state will get close to or above 70!

Our thanks to Edmond Bonjour, the Director of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program at Oklahoma State University. He is allowing us to share with you his daily thoughts from the Capstone experience in Kenya for Class XXI. Day two was all about the Safari.

“The OALP had a stop in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy where they described the rhinoceros rescue. Baraka is a blind black rhino. The Conservancy also operates a livestock program that serves to benefit local pastoralists and wildlife. Through the conservancy’s community development program, it provides funding to surrounding communities to aid health, education, water, and infrastructure projects. They also support the provision of agriculture and livestock extension services and the development of community-based conservation tourism venture."

The class learned a lot about the efforts of the Conservancy in protecting the many different species that can be found on the African plains. After this day of safari- the class is now in the midst of a multi stop day looking at some of the different types of farms that are common to Kenya- more on that in tomorrow's email.

Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension cotton specialist Jenny Dudak recently returned from the Southwest Cotton Physiology Conference in Lubbock, Texas, and shared insights into the discussions and concerns of cotton producers across the region with Oklahoma Farm Report’s KC Sheperd.

“It was a joint conference that’s put on by the cotton specialists in Texas, myself, and Kansas Extension Specialist Ken Lege,” Dudak explained.

The conference had a wide array of speakers and good attendance with nearly 150 registrants. Topics ranged from industry updates from companies like FMC, BASF, Bayer, NexGen, Phytogen, and Americot, to discussions on nematodes, cotton growth, development, and maturity.

A highlight of the conference was the consultant panel, featuring representatives from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. OSU’s Brian Arnall was one of them. He discussed soil microbial project findings.

The Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee approved Senate Bill 939 on Monday. The measure, by Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, aims to expand opportunities for producers to sell homemade goods and farm products.

Senate Bill 939 ensures that the provisions of the Homemade Food Freedom Act will not prohibit the sale of homemade food for home consumption from a retail space at the ranch, farm, or home where it is produced. The measure also aims to enhance producers’ ability to deliver their products or sell their goods at farmers' markets.

“This measure will ensure Oklahoma producers are able to market, sell, and deliver their products in areas outside of the farm or home where they are produced or made,” Frix said. “By providing producers with greater freedoms and more flexibility, more Oklahomans will have access to local products. I look forward to continuing to work on this measure that will create new opportunities for producers, allowing them to grow their small businesses and reach more consumers with high-quality, locally made goods.”

Under the provisions of SB 939, retailers selling homemade or farm products must display signage indicating to informed end consumers that the products are homemade and have not been inspected.

Senate Bill 939 is now eligible for consideration by the full Senate.

OYE Entry Deadline is Friday, February 21st

The entry deadline for the world's largest Junior Livestock show is tomorrow- Friday, February 21st.

Entries must be completed by the extension agents and ag teachers only using their club login.

Click here for the Entry page on the OYE website-

The 2025 OYE is set for March 10-21, 2025- it will be the last OYE to be held in the "Big House" as the Jim Norick Arena will be torn down later this year- making way for the new OG&E Coliseum that is nearing completion.