We have compiled the following timeline of events, activities and achievements in Oklahoma Farm Bureau history. While no means exhaustive, this timeline provides a chronological guide to key moments in Farm Bureau history.
Our History
Pioneers make the Land Run
Half of the 50,000 pioneers who made the Land Run into the Unassigned Lands claimed a 160-acre farm.
Territorial Legislature creates Oklahoma A&M
On Christmas Eve 1890, the Territorial Legislature created Oklahoma A&M as a land grant college with a mission to serve..Read More
A boom in Oklahoma farming and ranching
A new cycle of above-average rainfall and higher crop prices on world markets combined with fresh soil and an expanding..Read More
Oklahoma becomes a state
On Nov. 16, 1907, Congress authorized the joining of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory to create the new state of..Read More
County Farm Councils organize in nearly every county in Oklahoma
During World War I, County Farm Councils were organized in nearly every county in Oklahoma. Shortly before the 1920s began,..Read More
Oklahoma State Farm Council forms
The Oklahoma State Farm Council formed as the state organization of the County Farm Councils. Although W.A. Conner began the..Read More
Ten states meet to discuss the possibility of a national Farm Bureau organization
On Feb. 12, 1919, ten of the eastern states that already had a statewide Farm Bureau organization met in Ithaca,..Read More
Farm leaders hold organizational meeting for the creation of American Farm Bureau Federation
After the first meeting in Ithaca, New York, farm leaders across the nation join efforts to create the American Farm..Read More
AFBF constitution and bylaws ratified at another meeting in Chicago
Shortly after the organizational meeting in November 1919, the constitution and bylaws of the American Farm Bureau Federation were ratified..Read More
First AFBF convention held in Indianapolis, Indiana
In December 1920, the first convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, with 826,816 members..Read More
The Great Depression
The Crash on Wall Street on Oct. 29, 1929, combined with a farm crisis, began what would become known as..Read More
Congress passes the Agricultural Adjustment Act
Congress passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, a more or less self-supporting law intended to provide parity prices. Click..Read More
The Rural Electrification Administration Act
The Rural Electrification Administration Act passed on May 11, 1935. At the time, one Oklahoma farm in eight had electricity...Read More
The U.S. Supreme Court declares the Agricultural Adjustment Act unconstitutional
When the U.S. Supreme Court declares the Agricultural Adjustment Act unconstitutional, the American Farm Bureau Federation pressures Congress to pass..Read More
Organization meeting held that led to the creation of the Oklahoma Farmers Emergency Association
With concern about the elimination of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, Clarence Roberts organized a meeting held on the balcony of..Read More
Roberts takes unofficial delegation to AFBF annual meeting
In December 1938, Clarence Roberts, editor of The Farmer-Stockman, took an unofficial delegation of observers to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s..Read More
Snapshot of the early 1940s
One farmer fed about 11 people. At the time, there were about 196,000 farms in Oklahoma with an average size..Read More
Congress enacts law to support cotton prices
In 1941, Congress enacted a law pushed by the AFBF to support cotton prices at 85 percent of parity.
OFEA dissolved
Clarence Roberts and other leaders of the Oklahoma Farmers Emergency Association decided to dissolve the OFEA and invite the membership..Read More
OKFB organizing committee meets
On Nov. 5, 1941, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau organizing committee of 45 delegates from 15 counties met in the public..Read More
Roberts sends letter to charter members
On Jan. 22, 1942, Clarence Roberts sent a letter calling charter members to organize for a February meeting, where the..Read More
Delegates meet to prepare constitution and bylaws; John I. Taylor elected president
On Feb. 2, 1942, delegates met in the Huckins Hotel to draft a constitution and bylaws in addition to electing..Read More
Charter members form OKFB
On Feb. 3, 1942, charter members met in the Hall of Mirrors in the Municipal auditorium to form Oklahoma Farm..Read More
First OKFB convention held; Dan Arnold appointed executive secretary
The first regular Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention was held Nov. 4-5, 1942, at the Huckins Hotel in Oklahoma City. During..Read More
OKFB board members attends AFBF convention
In December 1942, John I. Taylor, the first OKFB president, attended the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention as Oklahoma’s..Read More
First attempt to remove agriculture sales tax
During the 1943 legislative session, OKFB made first attempt to legislatively remove sales taxes from feed, seed and fertilizer. Although..Read More
Contract signed with KFBMIC to allow OKFB to serve as general agent
On May 3, 1943, a contract was signed with the Kansas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company to allow OKFB to..Read More
Women meet to discuss potential program
A small group of women met at the 1943 Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention to discuss a potential program of work...Read More
Associated Women of OKFB forms
After their first meeting a year earlier, a group of women met for a second time during the 1944 Oklahoma..Read More
Agriculture technology brings increased yields
In 1945, a revolution in agricultural technology began to bring greatly increased yields and more specialized, capital-intensive farms to the agricultural..Read More
First recorded OKFB newsletter
In July 1945, Oklahoma Farm Bureau published its first recorded newsletter, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau News, printed as a four- to eight-page..Read More
OKFB delegates discuss ad valorem taxes
At the 1945 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention, delegates took up the topic of ad valorem taxes for the first time.
OKFB moves to second office
On Jan. 1, 1946, Oklahoma Farm Bureau announced the home office was now located at 716 West Grand in order..Read More
OFBMIC’s charter campaign
On May 1, 1946, Oklahoma Farm Bureau launched a charter policy campaign for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company..Read More
Policy adopted at 1946 convention
At the 1946 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention, delegates asked for more rural Oklahoma representation through an eight-member highway commission and a..Read More
GATT established
In 1947, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was established to oversee postwar economic relations. The GATT established working..Read More
OKFB farmer initiates farm-to-market roads resolution
J.H. Cox, a Bryan County farmer, initiated the adoption of a resolution to ensure farm-to-market roads were built first along..Read More
Board approves Rural Youth Program
After 47 youth attended the 1946 OKFB annual convention in efforts to create their own organization with the support of..Read More
Oklahoma governor appoints committee to study taxes
In 1947, Gov. Roy J. Turner appointed a committee to study state taxes, especially estate taxes. The committee recommended a..Read More
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Fire Insurance Company created
With success selling car and truck insurance to members, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau created a mutual company to provide fire..Read More
Associated Women hosts 1st statewide public speaking contest
In October 1947, the Associated Women of Oklahoma Farm Bureau hosted the first statewide public speaking contest: the Junior Speech..Read More
1947 delegates determine new OKFB policy
At the 1947 Oklahoma Farm Bureau Convention, delegates recommended the study of state water resources and wanted farm gasoline exempted..Read More
Associated Women sponsor first queen contest
In May 1948, the Associated Women of Oklahoma Farm Bureau announced that counties would be holding queen contests throughout the..Read More
Associated Women of OKFB holds first leadership training school
The first Farm Bureau Associated Women’s Training School was held at Camp Redlands near Stillwater, August 24-26. Seventeen Farm Bureau..Read More
JFB affiliates with National Rural Youth of AFBF
In October 1948, the Oklahoma Junior Farm Bureau affiliated with the National Rural Youth of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
OFBMIC reports all investments returned to owners
On Oct. 15, 1948, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company reported that the company had returned all investments to..Read More