The 2023 AFR Convention is scheduled for Feb. 17-19 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman– Hotel & Conference Center, 2501 Conference
Dr., Norman, Okla. The convention is held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance
Company and the Oklahoma State Union of the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, Inc. The cooperative officer and board of director seats for both corporations up for election for the 118th AFR Annual Convention were: Cooperative Officer Secretary, District 1 Northwest
Independent Director, District 3 Northeast Agent Director and District 4 Southeast Independent Director. The Secretary incumbent was unopposed and therefore re-elected. This position is held by Paul Jackson, Ringling. Filing for Northwest Independent Director District 1 are Larry DeWitt, Cherokee; Roger Edenborough, Goodwell; and Jordan Shearer, Laverne. Filing for Northeast Agent Director District 3 are William Lane, Jay, and John Ogden, Oktaha. Filing for Southeast Independent Director 4 are Loyd Steward, Shawnee, and Mike Goodwin, Roberta. County and local policy resolutions received by the office of State Secretary Paul Jackson are now being considered by the 2023 AFR Cooperative Policy Committee. The Committee will complete proposals onsite on Friday morning of the convention. This year bylaw proposals will be considered in the mutual business session only. A description of those proposed changes can be found on page 18 . A full description of each bylaw to be considered can be found on the AFR Convention webpage at www.afrmic.com/convention.Both dues-alone and policyholder members are eligible to attend the convention as delegates, but dues-alone members will only be allowed to vote on matters of the cooperative; policyholders are eligible to vote on both cooperative and insurance matters. Different-colored badges will distinguish between the two categories. Delegates to the National Farmers Union (NFU)
Convention in San Francisco, Calif., March 5-7, 2023, will be elected at the state convention on the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 18. NFU delegate candidates must provide a biographical paragraph reflecting AFR activities to be given to the state delegates during the NFU delegate
election. Delegate cards and biographical information must be received by the AFR Cooperative State Secretary no later than noon, Saturday, Feb. 18. NFU bylaws changes require delegates to be currently or formerly “actively engaged in farming” definition as defined by USDA and further described by NFU. A signed representation of eligibility is required. The names of deceased AFR policyholders/OFU members who have passed away since
our last convention will be remembered in the printed Memorial Roll and during a special video presentation at the Sunday morning worship and memorial service Feb. 19.
