Letter to the Editor

I’m writing this letter in response to the advertisements that have been run by the Kirkpatrick Foundation encouraging a no vote on State Question 777, Oklahoma’s Right to Farm.

SQ777, Oklahoma’s Right to Farm, is a state constitutional amendment to protect Oklahoma's family farmers and ranchers, including small, local and organic farms, from unreasonable government interference and attacks by out-of-state special interests. Right to Farm will not overturn agriculture regulations or existing laws. The State Question will not give farmers and ranchers a blank check but ensures reasonable regulations.

Some don’t see the reason for this amendment saying ‘you already have the right to farm’ and ‘what has happened here in our state to affect your right to farm’?

My answer is – yes, I do have the right to farm. As a fourth generation agriculturalist, farming and ranching is our livelihood and feeding and clothing the world is our profession. My family and I take pride in our livelihood, our profession, our animals and our land. Thankfully, nothing major has taken place in the state of Oklahoma that would greatly hinder our profession, but there are several instances in other states that have. With each election and each generation that passes, folks are getting further and further removed from the farm. SQ777 is a preventative measure to protect the agriculture industry and the folks that choose that as a career path. SQ777 will ensure that farmers and ranchers, like me, my children and grandchildren, have access to utilize the latest tools, techniques and technologies; allowing farm families like mine the ability to continue to grow abundant and nutritious food, while using less land and fewer natural resources.

Did you know that 98 percent of Oklahoma farms are family owned and operated? The origin of SQ777 was from the lobbying efforts of grassroots Oklahoma agriculture groups and legislators who appreciate and value agriculture. This state question was authored by Representative Scott Biggs, a cattleman and multi-generation agriculturalist himself.

‘Right to Farm’ will protect the consumer too. When unreasonable regulations are put on farmers and ranchers, the cost of production will go up and that increase will be seen by consumers as well.

Finally, I encourage you to do you a little research. Look up the goals, missions and objectives of the groups opposed to SQ777. One of those groups is the Humans Society of the United States (HSUS). Go to their website and check out the 3Rs: reduce the consumption of meat, refine your diet, remove animal protein from the diet. HSUS is a radical animal rights group that is trying to put animal agriculture out of business and that is my livelihood! I, along with my husband and children, are proud to be the fourth and fifth generation of my family farming and ranching in the Waynoka area. I hope that if my children, nieces and nephews desire it can be their livelihood as well.

Join me in voting YES on SQ777, Oklahoma’s Right to Farm, on Nov. 8.

Sincerely,

Chancey (Redgate) Hanson

Waynoka, Oklahoma