Farm Bureau leaders are gearing up for a critical stretch at the Oklahoma Capitol, with a renewed focus on grassroots engagement and policy advocacy as the legislative session ramps up. Speaking at the recent leadership conference, Stacy Simunek, president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, emphasized to Ron Hays that the timing is right to prepare members across the state to effectively share agriculture’s story with lawmakers.
Simunek said the goal of the leadership training is alignment and readiness ahead of county visits to the Capitol. “This is the time to get everybody lined up, get them on the same page, tell them what’s going on, what’s coming at them at the Capitol,” he said, adding that Farm Bureau needs broad participation because “there’s not very many of us in ag, we need everybody.” He described the effort as activating rural Oklahoma and ensuring members are confident in telling their stories.
When it comes to legislative priorities, Simunek said this year’s agenda has been somewhat lighter than usual, but still includes key issues to monitor. “We’ve got a water bill that we got going through that we’ve been working on for it seems like for a lifetime,” he said. Property tax proposals are also high on the watch list, with Simunek noting, “We all know they’re not done. They’re going to change multiple times,” which creates uncertainty for farmers and ranchers.
He acknowledged that tax discussions have shifted over time, from sales and income taxes to the current focus on property taxes. While Farm Bureau continues to oppose tax increases, Simunek said the organization also recognizes the need to fund essential services. “We are normally sitting here saying, ‘Hey, we ain’t for any more taxes,’” he said, but added that rural infrastructure depends on adequate funding and “we’re just not willing to lose those infrastructures for our people.”
Looking ahead to budget negotiations and follow-up issues from past sessions, Simunek said Farm Bureau remains concerned about how funding decisions could impact priorities like providing resources to accommodate relocating the new Vet Teaching Hospital onto land where wheat research is happening. He says there will be money needed to relocate and modernize the Greenhouses- and fundraising has been happening for that. “We’re very interested in watching where they come up with that money to make that all work,” he said, stressing that cuts to research would be unacceptable. As the session unfolds, Simunek said Farm Bureau will stay engaged, watching lawmakers closely and offering help where possible to protect agriculture’s interests in Oklahoma.
