Oklahoma Wheat Growers Assocation Hands Out Awards to 3 Deserving Oklahomans

The Oklahoma Wheat Grower's association Held its annual Convention yesterday and was pleased to present awards to several individuals.



The Distinguished Service award went to United States Senator Jim Inhofe.

Sen. Inhofe is the ranking member on the armed services committee, a member of the environment & public works committee, and the small business committee. Sen. Inhofe is a committed supporter of our infrastructure as the committee's senior member on the environment and public works. Inhofe believes one of the inherent roles of government is to provide a safe and suitable infrastructure to allow our nation access to transportation and fully connect our national economy. Sen. Inhofe has a long history of public service, beginning with his service in the u.s. army. Before being elected to serve the people of Oklahoma in the u.s. senate in 1995, Sen. Inhofe served in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Oklahoma house and senate, and as mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma.



This past year Sen. Inhofe secured $500,000 for USADA’s ag research service in Stillwater. The genetics project received $125,000. This funding from Sen. Inhofe was vital to the research programs at USDA and is key to their survival.





Wheat Promoter of The Year went to Erich Wehrenberg.

Erich Wehrenberg is the senior station superintendent for the field & research services unit at Oklahoma state university. He is the former executive director of the Oklahoma wheat growers association. he does a tremendous job with our field and research station that are so vital to our wheat producers.



And the Mr. Wheat Award went to the Late Bob Howard.

Bob grew up on the farm, working with his dad and riding the ranch with his grandfather. Bob attended school at Friendship public school until it was destroyed by fire his junior year before becoming part of the first graduating class from Navajo public school, where he served as the 1964 class president. In 1986, Bob was elected as Jackson county commissioner for district 1, and again in 1994, the first Republican elected in Jackson county. Bob served on the Jackson county Farm Bureau board for more than 30 years, the Jackson county memorial hospital board of trustees for more than ten years, the Oklahoma cattlemen's board, a longtime state board member for the Oklahoma wheat growers association, and volunteering in about every position with the Altus first united methodist church.



Bob continued to farm and ranch in the Navajo community until he passed away on April first. He often stated his motto was "you should love life, raise good kids, and enjoy your family," which he did exceptionally well.