Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Agricultural News and Information

Oakley honored with Excellence in Leadership Award by Farm Bureau

Jackson – Mr. Warren Oakley of Starkville, MS, was awarded Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Leadership Award at the organization’s annual meeting in Jackson on December 4.

Mr. Oakley has been involved in agriculture all his life. He was raised on a farm in Oktibbeha County and he took over the farm after the death of his father. He was in the dairy business for more than 50 years until he retired in his 70s.

“I joined Farm Bureau in 1946. During that period of time, I was a member of the ag club,” said Oakley. “A bunch of farmers would get together and have a discussion of agricultural issues and things that they could do on the farm.”

Mr. Oakley raised Ayshire dairy cows and was very active in the National Ayshire Association. At one time he was on the National Board of Directors.

He always worked very closely with the MSU Extension Service.

“I was always glad for the Extension folks to come out here and look at the things I was doing,” said Oakley. “I feel like I was paying them back for what they had done for me.”

Farm Bureau President Randy Knight said of Mr. Oakley, “He has certainly been an inspiration for all Mississippi farmers. Anyone that can do all the things that he has done in his lifetime and still have time to volunteer his knowledge to younger farmers is worthy of recognition.”

“Farm Bureau is a great organization of farmers,” said Oakley. “It’s the leader in developing information not only for agriculture but for some other activities that are of interest to farmers.

He says this award is going to have a special place in his life. “Let me put it this way, I am going to put my Purple Heart first, but second is going to be this award,” Oakley said.

The Excellence in Leadership Award was established to recognize volunteer leaders of Farm Bureau who have made a significant contribution to Farm Bureau and agriculture in Mississippi. Their contributions have been performed as a result of unselfish effort to strengthen Farm Bureau and to enhance rural life in Mississippi.

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The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general farm organization with more than 197,000 member-families statewide.  There are Farm Bureaus in all 82 counties in Mississippi where agriculture comprises a fundamental part of Mississippi 's economy.  Headquartered in Jackson , the federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of the government.  For more information about Farm Bureau, visit our website at www.msfb.org.