Oklahoma Farm Bureau history

OKFB President John I. Taylor and Secretary Dan Arnold made the organization’s first legislative effort to removed sales tax from feed, seed and fertilizer in 1943.

In 1945, OKFB had expanded enough to outgrow their small office in the Livestock Exchange Building.

In 1946, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Casualty Company was launched with four employees and one line of coverage.

In 1957, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company affiliated with the Western Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company in Denver.

Ora J. Fox, a leader of the welfare lobby, circulated a petition to call for a statewide vote on the new law, but the courts declared the Fox petition invalid in 1959, when the sales tax exemptions went into effect.

In 1963, more than 50 bills that affected agriculture were enacted by the legislature, including land titles, predator control, water and water rights, brands, migrant labor, welfare and annexation sales tax.

In response to resolutions from the previous year, OKFB launched a tire-and-battery service in 1964, offering all types of tires and batteries at considerable savings over regular, retail prices.

With OKFB leading the discussion, fertilizer was added to the list of items exempted from state sales tax in 1965.

In 1966, OKFB hired Jim Williams to organize a safety unit in the information division to promote general farm and household safety as well as highway laws and safe driving tips.

In 1968, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company reached 10 million in direct written premiums.

OKFB hired Bob Barr as the first legislative specialist in 1970.

The idea was adopted at the OKFB convention in November 1973 and signed into law by Oklahoma Gov.

Farm Bureau began its reward sign program in 1974, offering $500 rewards for information on crimes committed on Farm Bureau members’ property where the signs were posted.

In 1977, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company reached 10 million in surplus.

After a 35-year-long effort, OKFB finally achieved a blanket exemption of farm inputs from sales taxes in 1978.

In 1982, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company reached 50 million in direct written premiums.

The decade began with the success of recalling State Question 614 in 1989, which contained controversial changes in the state’s property tax system, including 100 percent assessment rates.

Growth was evident with OKFB membership reaching 100,000 for the first time in 1993.

In 1994, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company reached 100 million in direct written premiums.

In 1995, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company reached 50 million in surplus.

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation got its start in 2001 for the purpose of entering the legal arena to protect private property rights and production agriculture.

In 2003, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company achieved more than 200 million in direct written premiums.

In 2004, the OKAgFund reported a 97 percent success rate in backing candidates for public office during primary elections.

In 2005, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company reached more than 100 million surplus.

In 2006, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company celebrated 60 years of service.