American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) hosted the organization’s 120th annual state convention at the Embassy Suites & Conference Center – Norman Feb. 21-23. The event features educational speakers and entertainment, the annual business meeting of Oklahoma Farmers Union and American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company, discussion and adoption of AFR legislative policy and officer elections. This year’s convention theme is “R.A.I.L.S.”
Celebrating 120 years of AFR, we proudly embrace the theme R.A.I.L.S — Responsibility, Accountability, Integrity, Loyalty, and Service — as the guiding principles that have shaped our legacy and continue to drive us forward into a future of excellence.
“This year’s convention theme speaks to our history as an organization, always doing what we can to help rural people during troubled times,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh.
This year, member delegates voted on one contested seat on the AFR Board of Directors—District 3 Northeast Independent Director. Two additional seats were up for reelection, with candidates running unopposed—District 2 Southwest Agent Director and Statewide Independent Director. In addition, AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh, Tonkawa, ran unopposed and will retain his current position for a three-year term.
In the race for District 3 Northeast Independent Director, incumbent Jim Shelton, Vinita, was defeated by challenger Raymond Schiltz, Ponca City. Schiltz will begin his first three-year term.
Schiltz is a life-long farmer and rancher from Kay County, managing a diverse cow-calf operation with sheep, hay, and small grains. A graduate of Ponca City High School and Oklahoma State University, he holds a degree in mechanized agriculture. Schiltz worked for Conoco in Ponca City for 30 years before retiring in 2013.
District 2 Southwest Agent Director Dustin Tackett, Fort Cobb, was renewed for a three-year term. Tackett has been an AFR Insurance agent since 2004, raises commercial Red Angus cattle and grows wheat, hay and pumpkins. Tackett was a member of Class 12 of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program and holds an agricultural economics degree and an MBA from Oklahoma State University. In addition to his service to AFR, Tackett has served on the Caddo Kiowa Technology Center Board of Education since 2004 and has been board president since 2009. He has also served as president of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association Board of Directors and was selected to the OSSBA All-State Board of Education in 2015.
Ron Ramming, Warner, was elected AFR Statewide Independent Director and will serve a three-year term. Ron Ramming was raised on a diversified farm in Hinton, Okla. Ramming was named the 17th president of Connors State College by the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents in April 2017 after serving as interim president for the 2016-2017 academic year. He began his career at Connors in August 1990 in the agriculture faculty. Before assuming his present responsibilities, he held several administrative positions in CSC Enrollment Management, Student Services and Academic Affairs.
In addition to elections, 2025 AFR State Convention attendees learned about rural economic and environmental issues, connected with the next generation of AFR members during the youth program, learned about new opportunities available through the Oklahoma Certified Beef Association and much more.
This year’s three-day event features speakers like Oklahoma Rep. Frank Lucas (R-03); Rep. John Pfeiffer (R-Mulhall); Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready; National Farmers Union President Rob Larew; DVAuction Livestock Market Analyst Corbitt Wall; National Farmers Union Vice President Jeff Kippley; OSU Department of Ag Economics and Professor of Ag Law Dr. Shannon Ferrell; Justin Boots Content Manager Taylor McAdams; Dairy MAX Director of Issues and Crisis Communications Jayce Winters; and more. Convention attendees will learn about timely legislative issues, such as inflation in agriculture, industry economic trends and much more.
During this year’s convention banquet, AFR Youth Advisory Council member and National FFA Prepared Speech winner Coy Davidson addressed the crowd with his speech titled “Securing the Future of American Agriculture.”
AFR Cooperative is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industry and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voice in support of AFR principles.
