More than 50 Oklahoma Farm Bureau members descended on Washington, D.C., to share the story of agriculture during OKFB’s 2026 Washington, D.C., Summit, March 23-26.
Members kicked off the trip on Monday evening with a reception and a spectacular view of the Potomac River, where they were joined by several legislative staffers from Oklahoma’s congressional delegation.
Tuesday included a morning of briefings from industry experts from American Farm Bureau, like RJ Layher, who visited with members about several top policy issues for AFBF, including a new poultry insurance pilot program, the New World Screwworm threat, and the potential impacts of California’s Proposition 12. AFBF’s Brian Glenn gave an update on the farm bill and E15 fuel, and Dave Salmonsen gave members an agricultural trade update.
Jimmy Emmons, OKFB member and assistant chief of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, visited with members at the USDA office about his time with NRCS and some of the organization’s top initiatives.
After the briefings, Farm Bureau members had the opportunity to sightsee in the nation’s capital before enjoying a group dinner at Carmine’s Italian Restaurant.
The third day of the trip was highlighted by visits to Capitol Hill from all seven members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation. Farm Bureau members heard updates from each lawmaker on top agriculture issues in Washington, including farm bill progress, government appropriations and spending, crop insurance and disaster relief, voter identification, the impacts of the conflict in Iran, and more.
Members also had the pleasure of meeting Oklahoma’s newest member of the delegation, Sen. Alan Armstrong. Armstrong, who was appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt to fill Markwayne Mullin’s unexpired Senate seat after Mullin was appointed as Homeland Security secretary, spoke with members about his top legislative priorities only hours after being sworn in to the United States Senate.
The day was capped off by a once-in-a-lifetime evening tour of the U.S. Capitol by Sen. James Lankford. Lankford led members through the building and shared its rich history, which has been central to America’s history for more than 200 years.
Farm Bureau members also had the opportunity to tour the AFBF office on the last day of the trip and visit with AFBF staff about the resources the national organization has to offer state and county Farm Bureaus.
OKFB’s Washington, D.C., Summit serves as the organization’s annual fly-in held each spring to provide OKFB members with the opportunity to share their agricultural perspectives with Oklahoma’s congressional delegation while learning more about agricultural issues working through Congress and regulatory agencies.
