Oklahoma Farm Bureau recognized outstanding members, county organizations, and local families for their advocacy and contributions to agriculture during its 85th annual meeting, held Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Omni Hotel in Oklahoma City, okfarmbureau.org reported.
The statewide gathering serves as the organization’s largest annual event, bringing together farmers and ranchers from across all 77 Oklahoma counties to vote on grassroots policy, elect leaders, and celebrate community achievements. County Farm Bureaus received recognition through several honors, including the Presidential Star Awards, the John I. Taylor Award, and the Lewis H. Munn Award.
Payne County Farm Bureau received both the John I. Taylor Award and the Lewis H. Munn Award during the banquet. In the Young Farmers and Ranchers categories, the Charles L. Roff Award went to Mayes County, while Logan and Brittany Hukill of Caddo County earned the YF&R Achievement Award.
Tim Taylor of Craig County received the YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award, and Comanche and Ottawa counties collected the County Excellence Awards.
State leaders also received recognition for their support of the agricultural community. Gov. Kevin Stitt received the Distinguished Service to OKFB Award, while the OKFB Champion Award was presented to Sen. Tom Woods, Sen. Casey Murdock, Rep. David Hardin, and Rep. Brad Boles.
County organizations earned Presidential Star Awards across four tiers based on their advocacy and organizational performance. Cherokee, Custer, Haskell, Mayes, Okmulgee, Ottawa, and Payne counties received Six-Star Presidential Awards.
Alfalfa, Caddo, Comanche, Craig, Creek, Grant, Hughes, Kay, LeFlore, Love, Noble, Nowata, Washington, and Washita counties earned Five-Star Presidential Awards. Four-Star recognition went to Garfield, Jackson, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Major, McClain, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Seminole, and Tulsa counties.
Three-Star Presidential Awards were presented to Adair, Beckham, Cleveland, Coal, Cotton, Greer, Harper, Kiowa, Latimer, McCurtain, Osage, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Roger Mills, Sequoyah, Stephens, Texas, Wagoner, Woods, and Woodward counties.
Nine farm and ranch families were honored as District Farm and Ranch Families of the Year for upholding the state’s agricultural traditions:
- District 1: Meredith LeMaster and Bob Colburn, Beaver County
- District 2: Perry and Debbie Matz, Custer County
- District 3: Mike and Sharon Gorrell, Logan County
- District 4: Adam and Rachel Bohl, Comanche County
- District 5: Phil and Donna Cantrell, Haskell County
- District 6: Danielle and Nickolas Marlin, Mayes County
- District 7: Clint and Angie Mack, Garfield County
- District 8: Bennie and Valerie Cope, Pontotoc County
- District 9: Nancy and Mick German, Payne County
Photos of the award winners are available on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Facebook page, okfarmbureau.org noted.
