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Eagle City - 2006 Blaine County Ag Hall of Fame Kenneth Cox farms in Eagle City area where he graduated from high school before obtaining a degree from SWOSU. He has taught and was 'teacher of the year' at Carter and Canton. A 50-year farmer, he grows wheat, alfalfa and has a mixed-breed cow/calf herd. Kenneth utilizes minimum till to conserve fuel and also to control water and wind erosion. Terracing, sprigging Bermuda grass in water channels and removing cedar trees are other measures Cox uses. He was Indian Soil Conservation farmer of the year in 1987. Cox enjoys preparing Sunday lunch for the family and also driving through rural areas to see what methods other farmers are implementing. He and his wife, Twillah, married in August, 1956. Their daughter and son-in-law are Shaun and Carl VanMeter. The Coxes have two married grandchildren, Matt & Kayce Thompson and Kassandra and Jeremy DuBose, grandson Braxton Thompson.
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Roy Till is a 50-year Mason and a 58-year farmer. He attended Greenfield High School, then served in the U.S. Navy for two and three-fourths years. Roy and his wife, Doris, were married in September, 1947. Their family includes Douglas & Sarah Till and children Toby Till & Suzanne Jewett; Bruce & Rosey Till and son Ryan; Carol & Dennis Fisher and sons Curtis Fisher, Clayton & Tara Fisher; Kevin & Lesley Fisher, who have twins Dillon & Damon Fisher. Though describing himself as "semi-retired', Roy continues to be involved with his wheat, alfalfa, Bermuda grass and stocker/feeder cattle operations. He is a member of the Greenfield First Baptist Church. |
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Okeene - 2006 Blaine County Ag Hall of Fame Mary Agnes Nault is a life long farmer. She graduated from high school in Okeene and went to business college for a year. She and her late husband, George, married in May 1953. Current crops include wheat and grass pasture and has participated with her brother in a farm production in Colorado. She helped her late husband with their cattle herds and now assists her sons with their Angus cow/calf operation. The Naults have a comprehensive conservation plan with NRCS, including terraces, waterways, conservation tillage and pasture management. Being able to work with my family and share this opportunity to farm with them and for all of us to share in this honor is what Mamie says gives her the most pride. She was president of St. Anthony's Catholic Church Altar Society for four years, and has held other offices for 20 years; secretary-treasurer for Church Women United, secretary for Okeene Band Boosters, a 4-H leader, and Okeene VFW |
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Geary - 2006 Blaine County Ag Hall of Fame Billy Maib was also honored in 1985 as 'farmer of the year'. He has farmed for 44 years in the Geary area. Billy grows wheat, alfalfa and hay grazer hay; maintains stocker cows and calves; and is trying no-till on some sandy soils. Conservation measures include maintaining terraces, spillways, building erosion control dams with drawdown pipes to control washes and minimum tillage to control wind erosion. He and his wife, Patty, were married in 1959. Their children include Jeff & Barbara Maib, Ricky & Margaret Maib, Diane Goodwin, Marie Niemeyer & Vanessa & Carlos Barron, and include eleven grandchildren. He is an active member of Geary First United Methodist Church and has served on the Blaine County Excise and Equalization Board. |
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Canton - 2006 Blaine County Ag Hall of Fame Mamie Masonhall was born on a farm & has always lived on a farm. She currently farms her grandparents place and the farm that belonged to the parents of her deceased husband, Glen Ray Masonhall. The Masonhalls raised wheat, love grass, Bermuda grass and alfalfa. Their cow/calf herd was originally mixed breeds and then became mostly Hereford and now is registered Angus. In the past they also sold Grade A eggs, milk and cream and raised hogs. In recent years they used minimum tillage methods and currently 100 percent no-tillage farm methods. She is a member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's and American Angus Assns. Conservation practices include contour terraces, eradicating cedars, taking marginal land out of production, planting Bermuda grass, love grass and building ponds. Farming heritage is what has given her the most pride. |
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Watonga - 2006 Blaine County Farmer/Rancher of the Year Roy Plummer has been farming 21 years in the Watonga Area and grows wheat, rye and maintains acres for his Maine-Anjou Angus crossbreed herd that includes cow/calf and stocker/feeder operations. Roy graduated from Watonga High School and attended OSU. At the 1981 National 4H Congress he was one of six national petroleum power winners. He and his wife, Sherrie, were married in December, 1991. Their sons are Matthew and Mason. In his operations he uses artificial insemination. We have used the state cost-share program for cedar and brush management and grass planting and use the EQIP programs for cross-fencing pastures & for water source development. Plummer supports local 4H and FFA activities and has been Watonga Soccer Club president and is past Cimarron Soccer District president, in addition to serving as a Little League baseball district vice president. The Plummers attend Watonga Christian Church. He enjoys coaching children's sports team, hunting and fishing. |
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Okeene - 2006 Blaine County Farmer/Rancher of the Year Kennan Geis has farmed in the Okeene area for 25 years. A 1976 Okeene graduate, he also graduated in 1979 from Oklahoma State Tech, Okmulgee, in diesel mechanics. Geis' crops include soybeans, milo, wheat, oats, and alfalfa, in addition to maintaining pasture for his mixed beef herd, which included cow/calf pairs and stockers/feeders. He likes using organic and bio dynamic practices, including crop rotation and such soil builders as Austrian winter peas. He and his wife, Brenda met at Zion Baptist Church and married in November, 1994. Their children are Crystal, Carrie, Charity and Chloe. He is a trustee and usher in the church and also is a past president and board member with Farmers Elevator Co. He utilizes crop rotation, water ways maintenance, terrace, burning and organic fertilizers. When not farming, Geis enjoys on-line simulated car racing. |
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Geary - 2006 Blaine County Farmer/Rancher of the Year Darryl Hicks has been ranching for 19 years. He graduated from Geary High School where he met his wife, Mary. He raises tritcale and vetch for hay and pasture, along with maintaining Bermuda grass, plains bluestem, native bluestem, love grass, wheat, rye and alfalfa. His cattle herd consists of Angus & Hereford and Angus crossbreeds, both cow/calf pairs and stocker/feeder cattle. He has been a member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Assn. and enjoys team roping, ranch rodeo competition and golf. The Hicks have two children, Lane and Tucker. He donates to various community activities; helps with Geary wrestling tournaments, gives time to the Watonga golf team and has taught several youths to rope while providing a drug and alcohol-free environment. His conservation measures include rotational grazing, keeping her numbers down to avoid over grazing and erosion, low-till farming to minimize wind-water erosion and participating in a conservation plan. |
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Canton - 2006 Blaine County Farmer/Rancher of the Year Lonnie Kephart and his wife, Lucille, have farmed together west of Canton wince they married in April, 1947. They raise wheat, feed crops and keep up grassland for their commercial cow/calf pairs and stocker steers and heifers. Lonnie states he most enjoyed working with the cattle. He utilizes minimum tillage practices for conservation purposes. He is a USG retiree and is a member of Canton Christian Church and the American Legion. The Kepharts' children include Lanna & Jim Chaloupek, Lanita and Dale Davis, Wayne and Cheryle Kephart and Neal Kephart. Grandchildren are Tina and Tricia Chaloupek; Josh, Lani and Katrina Davis, and Brook Kephart. The Kepharts' favorite past-time is 'enjoying family'. |
