AFR Cooperative now has an even larger presence at the Oklahoma Capitol. On Nov. 18, 2022, the Oklahoma State Capitol Art Collection unveiled “Cottonwood Band,” a painted depiction of the first band to play at the then new state capitol building in 1917. As with many other historic moments in Oklahoma history, Oklahoma Farmers Union was key to this appearance—all the players were OFU members. They were in Oklahoma City for nothing less than the OFU State Convention.

About the Artwork

Throughout more than a century of service, the Oklahoma Capitol has hosted countless events and musical performances. According to the 1917 article, published in The Oklahoma Times, the first music to have filled the corridors and rotundas of the newly completed Capitol came from The Cottonwood Band of the Farmer’s Union, a brass band that hailed from the western Oklahoma town of Weatherford. Harold Wright, a descendant of the band members, served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2017-2021. In commissioning the painting that depicts the day The Cottonwood Band performed at the Capitol, Representative Wright provided artist Robert Marsee with old family photographs to use as reference material. Primarily comprised of members of the Wright and Witzel families, the band was headed by Harry Wright (pictured in the back row, far left, with the trumpet) who lead rehearsals for the band every Monday in the Cottonwood rural schoolhouse. Family patriarch P.W. Wright, Chet Wright and G.G. Witzel—Harry Wright’s father-in-law are depicted in the painting among various in-laws.

About the Artist

Robert “Bobby” Marsee is an award-winning painter and artist from Weatherford, Oklahoma, who specializes in creating portraits in oil. Marsee studied under renowned artists Hollis Howard and Angus “Kent” Lamar at the University if Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha. He has been a featured artist at festivals and events throughout the state and has created works for prominent clients such as former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Bon Jovi. Maree operates a fine art and framing shop out of his studio in Weatherford where he also teaches several weekly oil painting classes.

The tale of the Cottonwood Band is a fascinating walk through OFU history. Attend this year’s AFR State Convention to learn more about the painting and the band that played for a brand new building 106 years ago.

LOYAL, OKLA.—It seems you can’t pick up a farm publication or listen to the agriculture news without reading or hearing something about soil health and regenerative agriculture. More and more, farmers and ranchers are undertaking practices such as improved pasture management, no-till crop production and planting cover crops in an effort to improve the health of their soil, better prepare for droughts and floods and help reduce input costs. They are experimenting with different plant species mixtures in their covers, working in some cases to incorporate more livestock to graze cover crops and looking at new marketing opportunities like carbon credits. But with all this energy and focus, one thing often gets over looked by even many of the long-term early adopters of these soil health practices—they never think about the importance of reporting any of their cover crop acres to the USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA).
That needs to change.
If you follow the ag news, you probably know by now that earlier this summer USDA announced a new crop insurance premium assistance program for farmers who planted fall cover crops and were in the process of insuring their spring planted program crops (cash crops), called the Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP). This program was an effort to help those producers who undertook the sustained, long-term investment required to plant cover crops during the challenging economic times created by the COVID-19 pandemic with a one-time crop insurance premium support of $5 per acre. The trick was that those cover crop acres that qualified for this program were those that producers reported to FSA using the Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) at the local USDA service center.
Many summer crop producers who wanted to take advantage of this initiative were put in a bind trying to meet an accelerated deadline of turning in previously unreported cover crop acres to FSA. While the deadline for the initial rollout of this program has passed, there has been some discussion on extending it this fall for crops such as winter wheat. Whether or not this happens, the only way a farmer who plants cover crops can take advantage of this or any other potential new program to reward soil health practices is to make sure they have all their information turned in to FSA. That’s why it is so important that, if you do use soil health practices on your land, you make sure to take the additional step of enrolling your cover crop acres using form FSA-578. You need to contact your local USDA service center to make an appointment as soon as you get your covers planted this summer. You can find a list of local and state FSA offices here: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=us&agency=fsa
Please keep in mind, the deadline for the initial rollout of the Pandemic Cover Crop Program has already passed. That horse is out of the barn. And if you grow winter wheat, rye or other fall planted crops that you follow with summer covers, you weren’t eligible for this first roll out. That said, I would STRONGLY encourage producers who are planning to plant summer covers to report their cover crop acreage to FSA once these covers are in the ground. If this program continues into the fall to cover winter cash crop acres, producers will want to be sure that all of their reporting requirements are covered.
The talk of rewarding and incentivizing soil health and regenerative agriculture practices continues to float around USDA headquarters and the halls of Congress. The last thing you want to do is get caught flat-footed by not having your information turned in to USDA.

–Clay Pope, Loyal, Okla.
Southern Plains Climate Hub

OKLAHOMA CITY—American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) hosted National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew on a tour of Oklahoma Nov. 10-12. The tour showcased Oklahoma agriculture through a variety of farms, ranches and agribusinesses and provided AFR/OFU leadership and Larew an opportunity to visit one-on-one with the state’s agricultural producers.

“We are thrilled to be able to host NFU President Rob Larew this week in the great state of Oklahoma,” said AFR/OFU President Scott Blubaugh. “A showcase of Oklahoma agriculture is really a showcase of the best America has to offer. We’re proud of everything our state has to offer the industry.”

The Oklahoma agriculture tour was a chance to introduce Oklahoma to the national organization president, but also an opportunity for Larew to interface with local farmers and ranchers as NFU ramps up for a new legislative session under a new administration.

“Farmers Union is really proud of our grassroots, producer-driven policy,” said Larew. “Being out here, talking directly to farmers, and finding out exactly how policy concerns are translated on their operation really helps tell the story.

“It helps us more effectively push for issues when we know them really well. I can talk to members of Congress, but when I can tie an issue back to a real farm example it’s just all the more valuable in selling that message. For me, this has been an invaluable experience.”

While in Southwest Oklahoma, the tour focused on seed, cotton and peanut production with visits to Apache Seed & Supply, Farmers Cooperative Mill and Elevator, and Lasley Family Farm.

Apache Seed & Supply is a diversified crop operation near Apache that produces forage and cover crop seed, as well as commodity and contract grains. The no-till operation uses no irrigation and relies on capturing and retaining rainfall to provide moisture for crops. While touring the facility, owner Alan Mindeman, Larew and Blubaugh discussed issues surrounding seed production in southwest Oklahoma, such as potential regulatory concerns and the increasing need to control feral hog populations. They also talked about the seed operation’s noticeable increase in demand, as well as the demand shift to cover crop mixes as regenerative agriculture grows in popularity.

The Farmers Cooperative Mill and Elevator is a cotton gin built in 2017 near Carnegie. The modern facility handles double the capacity of older gins and has proven to be an incredible asset to area cotton producers. The appearance of a new gin of any size is rare; the last one built in Oklahoma was more than 20 years ago. Barry Squires, president of the gin’s board, led tour attendees through the plant, covering changes over time and improvements in efficiency when compared to older cotton mills.

Lasley Family Farm, a fourth generation peanut operation near Eakly, markets value-added products to consumers. The Lasley operation is fully integrated; it grows, shells, roasts and packages the peanuts that go into the farm’s sweet treats and peanut snacks. The family farm operation also raises peanut seed for Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks (OFSS). Tour attendees were saw the Lasley kitchen in full operation as employees prepared candy for consumers. Owner Dale Lasley also taught them about different generations of peanut harvesting equipment, including a discussion on the shift from solar drying to heat drying peanuts.

While in Southwest Oklahoma, tour attendees also visited the Fort Cobb Locker Plant, a small-scale state-inspected meat processing facility. While in Fort Cobb, the group met with area producers. Larew spoke to the farmers and ranchers about the continuing need for friends of agriculture in government. He voiced concern over in-fighting in the agriculture community and addressed the ever-present industry consolidation question. In addition, he covered more specific issues such as pesticide application and direct marketing opportunities and concerns.

The southwest portion of the Oklahoma agriculture tour ended with the Oklahoma Rural and Small-Town Table of Common Interests “Consolidation in the Beef Industry” issues forum at Redlands Community College in El Reno. Speakers at the event were Larew, Blubaugh and beef market analyst Corbitt Wall. Former Oklahoma Governor David Walters and Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey also addressed the group.

While in Northern Oklahoma, the tour focused on purebred and commercial beef production and no-till agriculture with visits to Blubaugh Angus Ranch and Shelton Family Farm.

Blubaugh Angus Ranch is a sixth-generation farming operation near Tonkawa that specializes in purebred Angus breeding stock and direct-to-consumer Angus beef. The Blubaugh family also produces wheat, alfalfa, milo and soybeans. During the visit, Blubaugh and Larew discussed challenges and opportunities in the purebred cattle sector, cattle industry concentration concerns, and future conservation opportunities for Oklahoma’s producers.

Shelton Family Farm near Vinita is home to Sara’s Grassfed Beef. AFR/OFU Board Member Jim Shelton and his wife Sara own the operation, which provides direct-to-consumer quality grassfed beef products while limiting environmentally-negative inputs. The Sheltons also raise commercial crossbred cows and crossbred stocker cattle. During the visit, the group toured various pasture locations and discussed grass-fed beef production and pasture and resource management.

While in Tonkawa, the tour group met with area producers over lunch. Larew spoke to local farmers and ranchers about the continuing need to work together, especially in light of the bipartisan nature of agriculture issues. He also talked about the next Farm Bill and how Americans want solutions now more than ever. He reminded producers of their ability to influence legislation and pushed them to never miss an opportunity to voice which policies are working or not working for their farm or ranch.

Larew also talked at length about the current farm stress issue and emphasized his belief that America’s farmers and ranchers are resilient and can rise to meet current challenges. He assured producers that Farmers Union would be there to help wherever possible, saying “When times are difficult and challenging, that’s when Farmers Union is at its best.”

While in Vinita, Larew and Blubaugh addressed local farmers and ranchers. The leaders highlighted the lack of rural representation in Congress. The message was consistent and clear from both men—agriculture must find allies, even if those allies are urban lawmakers. Also, the industry’s issues are significant enough that bipartisanship is a must. As Larew put it, “In agriculture, we can’t afford to not work across the aisle.”

While in Northeast Oklahoma, the tour focused on large-scale produce production and small-scale beef processing with visits to J-M Farms and Quapaw Cattle Company.

J-M Farms is a family-owned mushroom producer near Miami that provides 25 million pounds of fresh mushrooms to the Midwest and Southwest. At the facility, the tour group learned about the composting process and how the farm maximizes its yield with careful management. They also discussed how Covid-19 shifted demand and caused labor, time and packaging issues.

Quapaw Cattle Company’s new meat processing facility near Miami provides a place for Quapaw Cattle Company and other local cattle producers to process their beef for direct sale to consumers. The facility is known for its transparency and is an excellent example of how small-scale meat processing can thrive, provide jobs for area residents and contribute to the surrounding economy. As expected, discussion at the facility centered on the current need for additional processing capacity and the direction of the industry as a whole.

The Oklahoma agriculture tour wrapped up in Oklahoma City with a dinner celebrating a successful week. Larew and Blubaugh summarized the week’s discussions with Oklahoma producers and pointed out that the number one issue over the last few days has been concentration, both in beef processing specifically and agriculture as a whole. They also spoke on the current lack of rural representation in Congress and the upcoming change in administration.

In addition to the agricultural tour stops during the week, attendees also visited historic sites such as Cattlemen’s Steakhouse in Oklahoma City and the Pawhuska area, which is a relatively new intersection of agriculture and American popular culture. AFR/OFU leadership and Larew also met with Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., and Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner in Tahlequah and with Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur in Oklahoma City.

AFR/OFU Cooperative is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR/OFU provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industy and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voice in support of AFR/OFU principles.

###

OKLAHOMA CITY—In partnership with National Farmers Union (NFU) and American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) Cooperative, the newly-formed Oklahoma Rural and Small-Town Table of Common Interests will host its first issues forum to discuss the consolidation of packing plants in the beef industry Nov. 10, 5-8 p.m., at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla.

The event will highlight a major issue effecting the economic health of one of rural Oklahoma’s largest economic drivers—the beef industry.

“For years, the beef industry has wrestled with the issues of packer concentration, price discover and fair markets,” said Rural and Small-Town Table’s chairman, Clay Pope. “Now, with the pandemic shining a light on the vulnerability of the industry to processing bottlenecks, we feel that it’s important to further educate Oklahomans on this critical issue.”

Scheduled speakers at the event are NFU President Rob Larew, AFR/OFU Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh, and beef market analyst Corbitt Wall. Former Oklahoma Governor David Walters will also address the group on rural issues. All presentations will be made during the in-person, limited capacity event and streamed through live video to alleviate COVID-19 concerns.

“With pandemic restrictions on the number of folks who can attend the event in person, we will be livestreaming this event on the internet,” Pope said. “We can only have 40 people in attendance at the school, so we are allowing seating on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Nov. 1 by contacting Clay Pope at 405-699-2087 or claygpope@gmail.com. There is no charge to attend the forum. Registration will begin at 6 p.m. at the Redlands Community College Conference Center, 1300 S. Country Club Rd., El Reno, Okla.

The live stream can be accessed through the Oklahoma Rural Small Town Table of Common Interest YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/channel/UCHsBXmtjL10iAAXgXLAAUpA. The meeting will also be recorded and made available for future viewing.

For more information on the beef industry concentration issues forum or the Oklahoma Rural and Small-Town Table of Common Interests, contact Clay Pope at 405-699-2087 or claypope@pldi.net.

AFR/OFU Cooperative is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR/OFU provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industry and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voice in support of AFR/OFU principles.

###