Rick Shelby of Webbers Falls has completed his term on the 2025 American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) Policy Committee.

The committee convened for the final time Feb. 21 in Norman to discuss proposed changes and additions to the organization’s policy. The committee also met in November 2024 and January 2025.

Each year, AFR selects policy committee members from across Oklahoma. The appointed individuals are an accomplished and diverse group representing the broadest spectrum possible of the general AFR Cooperative membership.

Shelby is a third-generation farmer from Webbers Falls known for his watermelons, cantaloupe and sweet corn.

Although now semi-retired, he still grows wheat, soybeans, grain sorghum, hay and millet in the Webbers Falls bottoms. He also has a small commercial cattle herd.

He and his wife, Peggy, have been married 50 years. They have three sons and eight grandchildren. Shelby enjoys supporting his grandchildren in their activities, including football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, tennis and dance.

Committee members play an integral role in policy development. Policies created or altered during the committee meetings and then adopted by delegates during the organization’s annual state convention govern AFR legislative efforts through the next year.

“The AFR policy process is a model of grassroots legislative efforts in action,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh.

“Because many of our policies originate from resolutions crafted in our local and county organizations; AFR members know their voices are heard at the state and national level.”

Topics of this year’s policy discussion included the upcoming Farm Bill’s farm programs and conservation incentives, rural utilities and broadband, eminent domain relating to environmental preservation, truth-inlabeling standards, dysfunction in America’s fed cattle markets, antitrust enforcement in agriculture, the “right to repair,” and foreign ownership of land.

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.