NORMAN, Okla. — American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) honored two state legislators at the 115th Annual AFR/OFU State Convention. Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Dale, and Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, received the 2020 AFR/OFU Legislative Advocate Award. The awards were presented by AFR/OFU Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh at the convention banquet Feb. 15.
The AFR/OFU Legislative Advocate Award is presented to state leaders that advocate for AFR/OFU Cooperative policies and work hard on issues that are important to the AFR/OFU membership during each state legislative session. Kerbs and Hall were recognized for their work during the 2019 legislative session.
“The 2019 legislative session saw success on many tough issues facing agriculture and rural Oklahoma,” said AFR/ OFU Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “We applaud the leadership of all our legislators and their service to Oklahoma. Dell Kerbs and Chuck Hall are two legislators that went above and beyond in 2019 and we’re pleased to be able to honor them with this award.”
Hall represents Oklahoma Senate District 20. In 2019, he served as vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; he was also a member of the Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee. He is a fourth-generation descendant of a pioneer family, settling in Perry during the Cherokee Strip Land Run in 1893, and the third generation of a banking legacy that spans more than 150 years. He is a long-time AFR/OFU member.
Kerbs represents Oklahoma House District 26. In 2019 he served as chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. He is a small business owner who is heavily involved in local civic activities. He is an AFR/OFU member.
AFR/OFU Cooperative is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR/OFU 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/OFU principles.
–Laici Neumann, AFR