AFR President Scott Blubaugh Discusses Farm Bill Challenges, Youth Achievement, and Banning Lab-Grown Meat
The annual American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) convention concluded with a focus on education, youth achievement, and the legislative battles currently facing the agricultural industry. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director KC Sheperd sat down with AFR President Scott Blubaugh to discuss the organization’s priorities as they transition from state-level discussions to national policy advocacy.
The Goal of the AFR Convention
For the leadership at AFR, the convention is about more than just business; it is a vital educational platform for its members.
“Education is a huge part of this, and we want to educate people on the issues that are out there,” Blubaugh explained. “We had a couple of state questions that we had speakers on both sides of those issues talk about. We really want our people to go home from here with more knowledge than they had when they got here.”
Sheperd noted that these discussions help demystify complex issues for those in farm country. Blubaugh agreed, adding that the organization prides itself on being bipartisan. “We want both sides of the issues to be aired out in the public, and then we let our members decide in what they believe and what they’d like to do after that.”
Farm Bill and Legislative Priorities
A significant portion of the conversation centered on federal and state legislation, specifically the Farm Bill and the rise of artificial meat products. When asked for his thoughts on the current Farm Bill markup, Blubaugh expressed significant caution.
“Let’s just say I’m not real optimistic,” Blubaugh stated. “I’m glad we’re making a little progress on it. It’s just been such a battle to get a farm bill done. In this election year, it’s going to be very, very difficult to get that to the finish line… It’s possible, but not likely.”
Closer to home, AFR is actively working at the Oklahoma State Capitol to protect the cattle industry from lab-grown meat. Blubaugh revealed that there are currently four bills in the legislature aimed at banning these products.
“Most people don’t want to buy their meat coming from a petri dish and the chemicals that it takes to make that happen,” Blubaugh said. “It’s just so many health unknowns in there and would be absolutely devastating to the cattle business… and our people don’t want it here.”
Investing in the Next Generation
Despite legislative hurdles, the convention celebrated the industry’s future through its youth programs. The Friday night youth session remains a highlight, featuring the winners of a statewide poster contest that attracts roughly 14,000 entries annually.
“For me, it’s about the most exciting night,” Blubaugh told Sheperd. “Seeing some of the really great young people that are moving into leadership positions all over the country… and then we had the little children here, like the first graders and the second graders, with their poster contest. They were just on cloud nine.”
Looking Ahead to National Policy
As the state convention wraps up, the focus shifts to New Orleans for the National Farmers Union (NFU) convention. AFR leadership intends to take the policy adjustments made during the state meeting and advocate for them on a national stage.
“We’re looking for solutions,” Blubaugh concluded. “That’s the thing I like about our group is they’re not just gripers and complainers. We actually look for solutions and make recommendations to Congress in how to fix some of these problems.”
