PERSPECTIVE July 10, 2026
OKFB Women’s Leadership Committee members travel to Rhode Island for National Ag in the Classroom conference even members of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee traveled to Providence, Rhode Island, June 22-25 for the 2026 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference. WLC members were part of a group of 35 Oklahomans who attended the conference to learn how classroom educators and agricultural leaders can help spread agricultural literacy through classroom lessons and by sharing agriculture information within their local communities. The members enjoyed a wide array of workshops to learn how educators can implement agricultural lessons and curriculum in their classrooms to bring
farm, ranch and food lessons to life. The attendees also heard from keynote speakers, networked with educators and had the opportunity to learn about Rhode Island’s unique agriculture industry through tours in the Providence area. The OKFB WLC is a longtime supporter of the Oklahoma Agriculture in the Classroom program, and the WLC sponsored a trip to the national conference for Oklahoma’s AITC teacher of the year, Jennifer Meyer, who is a first-grade teacher at Grove Elementary School in Shawnee. The 2027 National AITC conference will be held in Oklahoma City June 28 through July 1.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
SHOTGUN
SHOOT
FUNDRAISE
R
Silverleaf Shotgun Sports Guthrie Register online today at
okfb.news/shotgun26
OKFB YF&R to host 2026 Shotgun Shoot Fundraiser Aug. 21 in Guthrie he Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee will host their annual Shotgun Shoot Fundraiser Friday, August 21, at Silverleaf Shotgun Sports near Guthrie. Registration is now open through Friday, August 7, on the OKFB website for sponsors, teams and individuals who will compete in one of three divisions for youth shooters, collegiate shooters and an open division. Prizes will be awarded in the three divisions along with a prize for the overall high shooter. The annual event features a sportingclays-style shoot that tests the shotgun skills of teams of four competitors at stations that mimic real-world hunting scenarios. The event will begin with registration at 8 a.m. followed by a mandatory safety meeting at 9 a.m. Shooting will start immediately following the safety meeting, and ammunition will be provided to shooters. Sponsorships are available for organizations, companies and individuals at three levels including $1,000 title sponsorships, $750
platinum sponsorships and $500 gold sponsorships. Title sponsors receive two four-person teams along with sponsor signs and logo recognition; platinum sponsors receive one four-person team along with sponsor signs and logo recognition; and gold sponsors receive one four-person team in addition to a sponsor sign. Four-person teams can register for $450, and individual shooters can register for $125 per person. Registration fees are due the day of the event. Each registration includes a lunch for each registered shooter, and additional lunch tickets can be purchased for $10 each. Golf carts can be reserved for the day of the shoot for $100 on a first-come, first-served basis. Proceeds from the event benefit the OKFB Foundation for Agriculture to help the foundation educate the public about agriculture and support Oklahoma’s agriculture community through a variety of programs. Registration for sponsors, teams and individual shooters is available on the OKFB website at okfb.news/shotgun26.
Shotgun Shoot Fundraiser Divisions
Youth Division Collegiate Division Open Division Prizes will be awarded in each division
Sponsorship levels Title Sponsor – $1,000 Includes two four-person teams, sponsor signs and recognition
Platinum Sponsor –$750 Includes one four-person team, sponsor signs and recognition
Gold Sponsor – $500 Includes one four-person team and a sponsor sign
Non-sponsor registration Single Team – $450 Individual Shooter –$125 Register online today
okfb.news/shotgun26
Grunewald nominated to serve on federal Farm Credit board ongtime Oklahoma Farm Bureau friend and current OKFB Foundation for Agriculture board member John Grunewald was recently nominated by the Trump administration to serve on the Farm Credit Administration board. Grunewald spent 43 years working in the Farm Credit system, including serving more than three decades as president of Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma, a post from which he retired in 2023. The FCA board is a three-person body that oversees the policies, regulations and activities of the Farm Credit System. Board members serve six-year terms. Grunewald’s nomination has been sent to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.
John Grunewald
Gibson joins OKFB staff as northeast field representative klahoma Farm Bureau recently named Brooke Gibson as the organization’s northeast field representative. In her position, Gibson will work alongside local Farm Bureau members and county Farm Bureaus in 13 northeastern Oklahoma counties to promote Farm Bureau programs and activities. She will also serve as a liaison between county Farm Bureaus and the state Farm Bureau organization to ensure grassroots Farm Bureau voices are represented at every level of the organization. Gibson is a third-generation rancher who was raised on a cattle ranch raising Hereford cattle near Morris. She earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at Oklahoma State University. Prior to joining the OKFB staff, she worked three years as a high school agricultural education instructor. “As a fellow agriculturist with roots that run deep in both the cattle industry
Brooke Gibson
and FFA, I am excited to work alongside the members of northeastern Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau team,” Gibson said. “The agricultural industry has shaped who I am today, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to give back to the people, communities, and way of life that have had such a lasting impact on me.”
OKFB Ag Fund issues additional endorsements, financial support for candidates in upcoming elections he Oklahoma Farm Bureau Ag Fund endorsed an additional 12 candidates and added additional financial support for four candidates ahead of Oklahoma’s Aug. 25 runoff primary election. The new endorsements issued by the Ag Fund committee are: Statewide races Jon Echols – Attorney General Cindy Byrd – State Treasurer Oklahoma Senate Bryan Logan – SD 8 Justin Freeland-Wood* – SD 17 Kristen Thompson – SD 22 Jean Hausheer* – SD 32 Oklahoma House of Representatives George Phipps* – HD 1 Bob Ed Culver – HD 4 David Smith* – HD 18 Michael Brittingham* – HD 19 Carl Newton – HD 58 Teresa Sterling* – HD 91
The Ag Fund awarded additional financial support to four previously endorsed candidates for their respective runoff races, including John Pfeiffer*, Labor Commissioner; Jessica Winegeart*, Senate District 26; Crystal Campbell*, House District 9; and Madison Bolay*, House District 38. The OKFB Ag Fund board will meet after the Aug. 25 runoff primary to discuss additional candidate support before the Nov. 3 general election. Candidates with an asterisk (*) by their name will appear in the Aug. 25 runoff election. The OKFB Ag Fund is supported by voluntary financial contributions from individual OKFB members. Donations must be made from personal funds in the form of a check. To make a donation, contact OKFB’s Gage Milliman at (405) 523-2300. To view the full list of Ag Fund endorsed and supported candidates, visit okfb.news/vote26.
OKFB appreciates SCOTUS ruling upholding federal supremacy in pesticide labeling klahoma Farm Bureau President Stacy Simunek issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Monsanto Company v. Durnell that federal pesticide labels preempt state pesticide labels: “Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are relieved that the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that federal pesticide labels preempt any attempt by states to issue additional pesticide labels or warnings. “The court’s ruling helps ensure there is a single, consistent, scientifically determined pesticide label that governs the use of each crop protection product across our nation. Creating a patchwork of various pesticide labels on a stateby-state basis would have created unnecessary confusion and burdens for agricultural producers. “Crop protection products, including glyphosate, are an important tool that American agriculture uses to produce food safely while limiting the impact on our natural resources. Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers are committed to using pesticide products, including glyphosate, responsibly. In fact, agriculture producers actively work to limit the amount of pesticides they apply to only what is absolutely necessary to safely grow our crops and care for our land. “Farmers and ranchers will continue to follow EPA’s approved pesticide labels and use pesticides in a careful and measured way to ensure a safe and affordable food supply.”
PUBLISHED BY OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
Oklahoma Farm Bureau 2501 N. Stiles Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3126
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 131 Okla. City, OK.
Postmaster: Send address corrections to: Perspective P.O. Box 53332, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3332
STAFF DIRECTORY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Thad Doye
(405) 523-2438 VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Dustin Mielke
(405) 530-2640 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS AND ADVOCACY COMMUNICATIONS
Rachel Havens
(405) 523-2346
OKFB sets kickoff to grassroots policy development process with annual August Area Meetings klahoma Farm Bureau will host a series of 11 August Area Meetings around the state for grassroots Farm Bureau members to discuss issues facing agriculture and kickstart discussions to find policy solutions the organization can implement. The series of meetings will be held from late July through late August and serve as a launchpad for OKFB’s
grassroots policy development season. Each meeting will include updates about the organization’s numerous programs and activities along with an open discussion time for Farm Bureau members to share what is impacting them most as agricultural producers and rural Oklahomans. One meeting will be held in most OKFB districts, and two meetings will
be held for members in OKFB districts one and four. Each meeting begins at 6 p.m., and OKFB members can attend whichever meeting is most convenient for them. A meal will be provided. OKFB encourages members to use ideas discussed at the meetings to draft resolutions to update the organization’s member-written policy beginning at the county Farm Bureau level.
2026 OKFB August Area Meeting dates by district District 1 West – Guymon Monday, August 24 Hunny’s BBQ • 103 N Main St
District 1 East – Woodward Monday, August 31 Red Prairie Steakhouse • 3113 Williams Ave
District 2 – Elk City Tuesday, August 18 Simon’s Catch • 19565 E 1140 Rd
District 3 – El Reno Monday, August 17 Redlands College • 1300 S Country Club Rd
District 4 West – Lawton Monday, August 3 Comanche Co. Fairgrounds • 920 SW Sheridan Rd
District 4 East – Ardmore Tuesday, August 4 Murray Events Center 108 E Main St
District 5 – McAlester Thursday, August 20 Southeast Expo Center • 4500 West US-270
District 6 – Pryor Thursday, August 13 Moore Farms Events Barn • 9353 W 500 Rd
District 7 – Enid Thursday, August 6 Crosspoint Church • 2500 N Van Buren St
District 8 – Purcell Thursday, August 27 McClain Co. Expo Center • 1715 Hardcastle Blvd.
District 9 – Kellyville Thursday, July 30 Creek Co. Fairgrounds • 17808 W OK-66
All meetings begin at 6 p.m.