At the OCA Convention, Intern Kate Munson caught up with Cheyenne Sparks, Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program Officer Manager, to talk about what she does and the importance of ag mediation in the industry today.
The program, started in the 1980s, during the agricultural crisis of that era to help lenders, USDA, and producers be successful in their operations. “We are a nonprofit organization, so you will never get a bill from us. We help to resolve conflicts and create a perfect relationship moving forward so that everybody is profitable in the end,” Sparks explained.
Organic discussions, lease agreements, and family farm transitions, are just a few of the situations that are mediated by the program. “Anything that can cause conflict on your operation is something that we are going to discuss. If you have an ag conflict, bring it to us,” Sparks offered.
The Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program is a part of the Coalition of Ag Mediation Programs, which provides an environment to discuss conflicts that may arise in the future on agricultural operations.
“Our goal is to minimize litigation,” Sparks said. While legal representation isn’t required in mediation, if a person is already working with a lawyer, the lawyer is welcome to attend.
“Courts can be very expensive,” Sparks cautioned. “So that is something that we are trying to minimize. So hopefully mediation will allow you to work everything out before heading to that venue.”
Mediation services through the Oklahoma Ag Mediation Program are open to all Oklahomans with any type of agricultural operation in the state, from a farm stand to acres of wheat fields to a small or large herd of cattle, and anything in between. Services may also be requested by the USDA or a lender. More information can be found at oklahoma.gov/oamp.html.