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October 2011
AFR News & Views, Fall 2011 October 11, 2011
BBC News Covers Oklahoma Drought
American Farmers & Ranchers staff hosted a media tour through drought-stricken southwestern Oklahoma for a news crew from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) program
BBC World News. The media unit was tracing locations along the old Route 66 all the way to California and examining the current economics at various locations through Oklahoma, New
Mexico, Arizona and California.
Read more...
AFR Agent receives Top State 4-H Award October 11, 2011
Heroes come in all forms and sizes. There are super heroes, war heroes, romantic heroines and brave warrior champions.
Read more...
 Suzanne Gilbert
But have you ever known one who was a full-time volunteer, dedicates their life trying to improve the lives of the local youth, spends tireless efforts trying to make new and better opportunities for those around
them, owns two businesses, is a loving wife, mother and friend?
Well, you do, if you know Suzanne Gilbert. If you know Suzanne then you know that volunteering her time and resources to the community is a passion that she is dedicated her fullest to doing. To list the many adjectives that are
used to describe this remarkable woman and all of the numerous boards and committees she’s been a part of over the years would be endless. Whether you know her as the tag agent lady, insurance lady, the lady with the black curly hair and red lipstick, Suzi, Susie Quzie, Poc or Suzanne you still know that it’s the same woman who would give you the shirt off her back or the last dime in her pocket.
Suzanne’s passions are geared towards agriculture, 4-H, FFA helping the local youth achieve success, rodeo and really anything else in the town of Shawnee or Tecumseh that needs a helping hand. She wears many different hats to help achieve all the goals at hand, but she does it with enthusiasm, delight and that contagious smile.
Suzanne is a great leader, teacher and cheerleader. She is a great listener and always has encouraging words. She is the first one to show up and the last one to leave. She is the person behind the scenes and down in the trenches. A tireless advocate and promoter, she is able to make the good feel better and bring out their best efforts. We should all be so dedicated to helping out in our community.
With her infectious smile and big heart, Suzanne is one of the only volunteers I know of that works diligently to give recognition to the many other hard working volunteers. Volunteering is one of the hardest jobs at times that can be the most under appreciated. True volunteers know the job is not done based on recognition or glory, it is done based on generosity.
Suzanne’s noble concept of “giving to the giving” and recognizing the importance of hard work and time that is given freely of others is what sets her apart from the pack.Whether it is her home-made, award winning, no-bake cookies; home-made Christmas baskets she makes for the Pottawatomie County Fair Board members; or working closely with the city to install the IFYR Hall of Fame trophy case at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center, this is one of her most methodical characteristics.
Being involved with the Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show, Suzanne has been known to come early to help set things up, stay late to help tear things down and go home while the rest of the world sleeps. She bakes cookies to thank the other volunteers who were right along beside her helping out the community.
The words “thank you” to such a generous and gracious person just doesn’t seem to do justice to all the appreciation countless people would like to express. The communities, individuals and organizations that she is affiliated with are lucky to be able to call Suzanne Gilbert a hometown hero, some are even luckier to call her a friend.
But I am the luckiest to call her my mom.
Written by Dustie Butner
Scherler's Buy Comanche October 11, 2011
Jeremy and Joey Scherler have purchased the former Betty Sitz Agency in Comanche.
Read more...
 Pictured (L to R): Curtis Liles, AFR Director of Marketing & Agent Relations, Jeremy & Joey Scherler with daughter Jewel
Betty has retired after 22 years as the AFR Insurance agent in Comanche. She has sold her home and moved to Tulsa to be closer to her family. We wish Betty all the best in her retirement and appreciate
her many years of service and dedication to AFR/ Farmers Union. The Scherler’s have been the AFR Insurance agents in Walters since April of 2010. They will keep the same office location and phone numbers as Betty
had for the Comanche office. Jeremy and Joey are both life long residents of the Cotton County area. Jeremy and Joey have been married 16 years and have two daughters, Jorja and Jewel.
The Scherler’s have been involved in agriculture all of their lives. Both of their families came to the area in the early 1900’s and have been farming for over 100 years. The Scherler’s have been farming and ranching on their
own since 1990, in addition to operating a custom harvesting and trucking business. Jeremy and his family have a long term relationship with American Farmers & Ranchers. He participated in the Oklahoma Farmers Union Japanese Student Exchange Program back in the early 1990’s. Jeremy also participated in the Class XII of the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Program during 2005-2006. Jeremy serves on the Nominating Board for Ag Preference and attended Cameron University after graduating from Walters High School.
Barger's Buy Hydro October 11, 2011
Becky Pitzer, an award winning agent for AFR since 1984, has sold her Hydro Insurance Agency to Jessy Barger in Weatherford.
Read more...
 Pictured (L to R): Curtis Liles, AFR Director of Marketing & Agent Relations, Nicole & Jessy Barger, Becky & Jack Pitzer, Terry Detrick, President of AFR
Becky worked for two years for the late Alvin Davis and then purchased the agency from him. She has a total of 29 years in the insurance business, but she is not stopping yet. She will continue to work with Jessy in Weatherford during the transition. Jessy has been an agent for AFR since 2010. He is a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He and his wife, the former Nicole Skinner, a 4th grade teacher in the Weatherford School System, came from long time AFR families. Jessy was raised on a farm in the Lookeba community and graduated from the Lookeba-Sickles High School. Nicole was raised in Weatherford, graduated from Weatherford High School and SWOSU also. Stop by the Weatherford Insurance Agency at 113 North Bradley, across from Braum's on Bradley to visit with Becky and Jessy. Becky and Jack Pitzer recently held a customer appreciation dinner at the Hydro Senior Citizens Center to announce the sale of the Hydro Insurance Agency and to introduce everyone to Jessy and Nicole Barger.
September 2011
AFR Announces the 2011 Fall Conference & Excursion September 7, 2011
2011 Fall Conference Registration & Agenda
An AFR Fall Conference & Excursion is being planned by the AFR Women's Committee. This popular annual event has caught the attention of many spouses so the ladies have decided to extend the opprotunity to their husbands.
Read more...
The event is scheduled for October 14-16 with stops in the Oklahoma City, Norman, Shawnee and El Reno areas. For the full agenda and registration form, use the links below:
2011 Fall Conference Registration Form
2011 Fall Conference Agenda
AFR Insurance Gameday Sponsor Interview September 3, 2011
August 2011
The AFR News & Views Insider, Volume 3, Issue 2 August 15, 2011
House and Senate members selected for Water Committee
State legislative leaders announced full membership of the Joint Legislative Water Committee, which will work on long-range water policy recommendations for Oklahoma.
View Full Newsletter
The AFR News & Views Insider, Volume 3, Issue 1 August 8, 2011
"Boots On The Ground" Area Meetings
Five meeting locations have been scheduled for this years' August kick-off of local/county meetings. "Boots on the Ground" is our theme for this meeting and engaging our membership in involvement. Everyone is encouraged to be View Full Newsletter
July 2011
Former OFU Board Member & Agent Vincent Coffey Passes Away July 22, 2011
Vincent Lee Coffey of Prague, Oklahoma, passed away in Oklahoma City on July 21, 2011, at the age of 89. He grew up and farmed in the Bethel Community.Read more...
 Vincent Lee Coffey
Vincent was a graduate of Hinton High School. On July 17, 1969, he married Juanita Thompson of Prague. They shared 42 years of marriage and raising their families. Vincent was baptized at an early age at Bethel Methodist Church, west of Hinton. Later, he was a very active member in both the Hinton and Prague Methodist Churches. He was one of the first Lay Leaders for the Emmaus Walk in Oklahoma. Vincent also taught Sunday School and served on many boards and committees within the church.
Vincent and Juanita attended OU games and were avid fans. He loved to work. Vincent farmed peanuts, wheat, and hay and was a cattle rancher. He and his wife, Juanita, owned and operated Coffey Insurance Agency in Prague until their retirement. He was vice-president and board member of Oklahoma Farmers Union, vice-president and board member of Oklahoma Peanut Growers Association and was very involved in local community business and civic organizations.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita of the home in Prague; a son; two daughters and their spouses and one daughter-in-law, sister-in-law and numerous grand and great-grandchildren. Interment was at the Hinton Cemetery.
AFR News & Views, Summer 2011 July 21, 2011
Coop Restructure and New Employees Announced
The Farm and Cooperative Organization component of American Farmers & Ranchers, Oklahoma Farmers Union, has recently made changes to the organization structure to streamline operations for management and operation efficiencies.
Read more...
May 2011
AFR Federal Issue Policy Alert May 6, 2011
AFR Federal Issue Policy Alert
Your AFR general farm organization analyzes policy issues that the membership has declared to be important to Oklahoma. In an effort to keep you up to date, the following alerts were prepared, so you may get involved and where appropriate
Read more...
April 2011
Sockey Purchases Roy Perryman Agency April 29, 2011
Steven Sockey has recently purchased the Roy Perryman Agency in Stigler. Read more...
 Steven Sockey
Steven was raised in the Poteau area and graduated from Poteau High School. He later received his BBA in Marketing from Oklahoma State University. He had owned an Allstate Agency in Broken Arrow the previous 2 ˝
years. Steven is married to Lindsey and they have a 1 year old daughter Addison.
The agency is still located at 602 E. Main Street in Stigler and they have the same phone number (918) 967-2511.
Steven enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and attending OSU sporting events. Sounds like he and Roy have a lot in common. Roy will be staying on with the agency until he can get Steven up and running.
We welcome Steven Sockey as the new agent in Stigler for American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company.
Former OFU President Dies April 29, 2011
Funeral services for Jack Kelsey, former Oklahoma Farmers Union President, were May 3, 2011, at Waynoka Northside Church of Christ. Read more...
 Jack Kelsey
Interment was at the Memorial Hill Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Waynoka, LLC.
Jack Kelsey, son of the late J. Burtus and Pearl Estelle (Francis) Kelsey, was born June 15, 1925, on the family farm north of Waynoka, and passed away April 29, 2011, at Enid, Oklahoma, at the age of 85 years, 10 months, and 14 days.
Jack attended Rose Valley and Horace Mann grade schools and graduated from Waynoka High School with the Class of 1943. While in high school he was very active in FFA and received the Junior Master Farmer Degree and the National American Farmer Degree in Kansas City. After graduation, he served in the United States Army in the Philippines. On November 30, 1946, he was united in marriage to Norma Jean Hull at Wellington, Kansas. They made their home on the farm north of Waynoka where they engaged in farming and ranching. He was a member of Northside Church of Christ, where he served as an elder.
When Jack was young, Charles Lindberg established the TAT airport across the road from their farm. This led to a lifelong love of flying. He obtained his pilots’ license and owned several planes during his flying career, which lasted as long as his health permitted. He was also very active and served as president of the Oklahoma Flying Farmers.
In 1964, he was one of five farmers in the United States selected to go to Pakistan on a Fact-Finding Tour. He served 24 years as Board Member of Oklahoma Farmers Union before serving as President. He also served as Vice President of National Farmers Union. He resigned both positions in 1991. He was also very active in the International Federation of Agriculture Producers, and in that capacity traveled to at least 25 countries.
An accomplishment ranking high on his list of accomplishments was his work on the Credit Bill of 1987, which he called the “Farmers Union’s Farm Credit Bill because “most of it has ‘our’ (Farmers Union) language in it.” He cited the bill as having “saved many farmers from losing their farms.” Another highlight was the move of Oklahoma Farmers Union to a new building in western Oklahoma City in 1989.
Jack also served as Woods County Farmers Union President; President and Director of Woods County Cattlemen’s Association; Woods County Chamber of Commerce and Waynoka Chamber of Commerce. Jack and Jean lived most of their life in Waynoka except for 8 years in Bethany before recently moving to Enid. While living in Waynoka, Jack served as Mayor for five years. He also served as chairman of the Waynoka Industrial Board and the Mental Health Authority for 8 years.
Besides his parents, Jack was preceded in death by two brothers, Roscoe Kelsey and Roland Kelsey. Jack is survived by his wife, Jean, of Enid; his son, Jeff Kelsey, of Savannah, Georgia; his granddaughter, Rachael Kelsey; other relatives and many friends. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to Search Television Ministry.
The AFR News & Views Insider, Volume 2, Issue 2 April 29, 2011
Oklahoma Lawmakers Are At Work
The state legislature is nearing the home-stretch as they wrap-up this legislative session utilizing a new conference process to resolve differences in House-Senate passed bills. For the first time conference committees will officially meet.
View Full Newsletter
Redlands Community College Livestock Judging Results April 25, 2011
Redlands Community College Livestock Judging Results
For the results of the Livestock Judging click on the links below.Read more...
January 2011
2010 Ag & Historic Conference January 1, 2011
View the picture gallery for the 2010 Ag Historic Conference. View Gallery...
August 2010
AFR Selects Content Management Products from Interactive Intelligence August 24, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS & OKLAHOMA CITY -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company (AFR) has purchased content management products from Interactive Intelligence (Nasdaq: ININ) to help it increase efficiencies and improve customer service, according to AFR’s chief operating officer, Ken Branham. Read more...
“The Interactive Intelligence content management products will help us reduce processing errors and respond faster to policy and claims questions,” Branham said. “We’ll also use the products to give our state-wide agents real-time claims and policy information. Since our underwriting information isn’t in our computer systems, we’ve historically been very dependent on paper files. Now the files are available at the touch of a button, making our work processes instant and more efficient.”
AFR is deploying the Interactive Intelligence AcroSoft Documents and AcroSoft ScanPlus products to support its claims and policy departments. These products are being rolled out company-wide and will be used by more than 170 AFR employees when deployment is complete.
The Interactive Intelligence AcroSoft Documents and AcroSoft ScanPlus products are part of the company’s comprehensive content management solution designed to streamline insurance processes by digitizing documents into electronic format for more effective storage, access, and routing.
Prior to selecting the Interactive Intelligence products, AFR reviewed several other vendor solutions, including ImageRight and FileNet. “In comparison to the other solutions we reviewed, Interactive Intelligence offered a greater focus on the insurance industry, along with products that were easy to use, quick to deploy, and demonstrated a lower total cost-of-ownership,” Branham said.
As a result of the deployment, AFR also anticipates additional cost savings associated with reduced infrastructure when the company moves to its new headquarters location early next year. “The Interactive Intelligence deployment will enable us to eliminate about 20,000 square feet of office space we currently require to store our paper files,” Branham said.
The return-on-investment of the Interactive Intelligence deployment has already shown positive results. “The unique Interactive Intelligence AcroSoft ‘Live in Five’ deployment and training program made good on its promise of getting us up and running in five days or less,” Branham said. “Put simply, Interactive Intelligence’s knowledge of workflows for the insurance industry has enabled us to deploy faster for a faster ROI.”
Currently, AFR is using the Interactive Intelligence AcroSoft products to electronically scan and index about 10,000 files per week. It expects to complete deployment later this year.
In addition to content management products, Interactive Intelligence offers insurance companies comprehensive solutions for contact center automation, enterprise IP telephony, and business process automation. The company also maintains dedicated development, sales, marketing, and support teams focused on providing tailored solutions for the insurance industry.
For more information about Interactive Intelligence products and services for insurance companies, visit: http://www.inin.com/ProductSolutions/Pages/Solutions-for-Insurance.aspx.
SOURCE: Interactive Intelligence Inc.
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