By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
EL RENO – More than 2,400 farmers and ranchers across Canadian County were celebrated this week for their work putting food on people’s tables.
Canadian County Commissioners have proclaimed Feb. 20-24 as “Farm Bureau Week” in Canadian County.
“This is our week when we promote rural America, agriculture and the values they stand for,” said David VonTungeln, a Canadian County family farmer and rancher for more than 40 years.
VonTungeln accepted the Farm Bureau Week proclamation during the county commissioners’ Feb. 21 regular meeting.
The proclamation recognizes the non-profit Farm Bureau’s federation, which is separate from its insurance company.
The Farm Bureau has served Canadian County’s farmers and ranchers since 1953.
“The federation was established to further the efforts, and build welfare and benefits, of rural Oklahoma,” VonTungeln said. “Canadian County has roughly 2,400 members.
“This is an organization located in every county in the state, 80,000 members strong.”
VonTungeln is secretary of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau board of directors, representing District 3 on the 10-member board since 2017.
“We do community service work and are big on supporting youth in 4-H and FFA,” he said. “We also have a large public policy entity.”
VonTungeln farms on his family’s centennial farm that produces cattle, wheat, alfalfa, milo, soybeans, and forage crops in Calumet. He also works as a veterinarian.
VonTungeln has served as president of the Canadian County Farm Bureau, chairman of the Heaston Community Church board of directors and member of the Redlands Community College board of regents.
Canadian County Commission Chairman Dave Anderson read aloud the Farm Bureau Week proclamation at the Feb. 21st meeting. Among highlights:
- The Canadian County Farm Bureau, through its concern for both agricultural producers and consumers, helps develop a basic understanding of the complex structure that puts food on the table of all Americans and most of the world.
- The Canadian County Farm Bureau has dedicated itself and its members to maintaining agriculture as an honorable and respected profession, which has been the basis for much of the economic prosperity in Canadian County and the state of Oklahoma.
- More than 2,400 families in Canadian County are members of the Farm Bureau.
The “timing was perfect” for the Farm Bureau Week proclamation leading up to the Crossroads of Oklahoma Farm Show presented Feb. 23-25 at the Canadian County Expo & Event Center, District 1 County Commissioner Tom Manske said.
ODDS ‘N ENDS
In other business at its weekly meeting Feb. 21, Canadian County Commissioners approved:
- Engaging Turner & Associates PLC to provide fiscal year 2024 budgeting services to Canadian County for the county’s budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
- Awarding a $203,500 bid to Robinson Bros. Construction for a double-sided lean-to at the District 3 shop. Robinson Bros. had the lower price among two vendors.
- Resolutions to declare county equipment as surplus for District 3: 2014 Ford Expedition, 2018 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup, John Deere tractor, Link Belt truck crane, pile-driving hammer, Butler insulted tank trailer, 9-foot skirted flat bed with toolboxes, two John Deer flex-wing mowers, MBW Rammer/4HP Robin Engine, and a road groom. The pile-driving hammer was junked.
Canadian County Undersheriff Kevin Ward presented the weekly county jail report showing 214 inmates in custody, with 174 prisoners at the El Reno detention center and 40 others in contracted counties.
