Reflections of the Panhandle-Mickey Coats, Class XXI
Leadership Oklahoma Class XXI recently spent a weekend in Guymon, Oklahoma experiencing the rural hospitality of those who live “up state”. We were told that everyone else lives “down state”.
The weekend began with a Wednesday bus trip that originated in Tulsa. Classmate, Joe Weaver, was able to provide BOB (Big Orange Bus from OSU) for our use. Approximately 30 of us took advantage of this mode of transportation, supported by beverage masters Matt Mollman and Scott Chapman. After picking up additional classmates in OKC, the bus headed to a gypsum mine near Mooreland. This mine is owned by one of our classmates, Russ Harrison. BOB was driven all over the mine area, where we saw the largest rock crushing machine in the U.S and also witnessed a rock wall being blown up with dynamite! The tour culminated with a visit to the plant that converts the gypsum into usable products for drywall and plaster. Dinner in Mooreland was arranged by classmate Mark Faulkenberry and Neal Williams, representing a western Oklahoma economic cooperative association. The towns in this area have grouped together to attract businesses and promote economic development. It was exciting to hear that they are starting to have success.
Early Thursday morning, most of us elected to take a tour of the Black Mesa area. Our tour guides were Melyn Johnson and local rancher, Jane Apple. We learned that most of the large ranches were handed down within each family, often with three generations working them. This was No Man’s Land before statehood. Texas joined the United States but did not want this area because of slavery issues. There aren’t many trees, but that is good because “they just spoil the view”. This is great land for farming because of the large aquifer underground used for irrigation.
But, with the increase in natural gas prices, costs have squeezed profit margins. The other cash product is cattle, and we saw lots of cattle. That morning we drove BOB to Black Mesa, we saw carvings in rock walls near the original Santa Fe Trail that dated back to the 1500’s, we saw dinosaur tracks, and we stood at the intersection of three states. Can you name them?
Lunch was provided in Kenton, Oklahoma, a town of 19 people. Mrs. Apple’s 95-year-old mother spoke to us about the early years in the panhandle when she lived in a small stone house. She told stories about the dust bowl and how they coped with this problem. These are proud, self-sufficient people that are the backbone of America. Their entertainment is to go to church on Sunday and to attend meetings in the community center on Saturday nights.
The weekend’s topics were agriculture and immigration issues. Friday was devoted to agricultural topics. Terry Peach, the OK. Secretary of Agriculture gave us an overview of what this industry means to our state. Representatives from the Pork Council, Wheat Commission, and USDA also shared issues with us. The three far western counties are some of the most prolific producers of wheat and cattle in the country. There is a shortage of workers for the ranchers, farmers and hog operations now. The cost of natural gas to pump the water for irrigation is very high and prevents some from irrigating all their land. The workforce is now coming from Mexico and Guatemala – but still not enough and is being affected by HB 1804 (more on this later). It was disturbing to learn that the U.S is now importing approximately 50% of our food needs. A third world country is one that imports over 50% of its food needs!
The day included a tour of a cattle feedlot, a family farm/ranch, and complete tour of the Seaboard Plant (hog processing operation). It was truly eye opening to see how many head of cattle are in these feedlot operations and how quickly they are grown. It is a science, but susceptible to disease and weather disruptions. The most unique tour we have taken all year was the tour of the hog plant. Every day Monday through Friday, 17,000 hogs per day are slaughtered and processed. Approximately 2,000 people work two shifts per day – mostly Mexicans and Guatemalans. Every part of the hog is utilized in some way. The assembly line process was very efficient, but also labor-intensive. Some of us will not soon forget the smells from this place! In Guymon, a town of 14,000 people, this plant has a major economic impact on the region. Later that evening we had dinner at “Draper’s Headquarters”, a large barn that housed a collection of everything old that one could think of. It was interesting to browse and see things that we remembered as little kids.
Saturday’s discussions centered on immigration issues and the impact of HB 1804. Speakers included Rep. Gus Blackwell, Mike Bostic from the OEDA, a representative from Seaboard, our classmate, Joel-Lyn McCormick, and Teri Mora, from the Governor’s Hispanic Advisory Council. Most of us are from metropolitan areas and have only heard primarily of the negative aspects of the immigration issues. In Texas County, 39% of the population is Hispanic and they provide much of the labor for the processing plant, cattle operations, and farming. We hear of the negatives to society on this issue, but in western Oklahoma the poverty level is below the state average, the issuance of food stamps is below the average, and welfare dollars spent there are also less. The case can be made that they actually create a positive economic impact for the region. HB 1804 is causing many to move across the borders into Kansas and Texas–thus reducing the available workforce. We learned that most locals would not perform the manual labor required in these industries, but immigrants will. If our state continues to be viewed as being difficult for these types of industries, we will lose these plants to other states.
Ms. Mora presented the side of the immigrants–from health care to education. Most immigrants do have health care, provided by the companies they work for. Issues arise when their children may not have the same name. Health care providers will not pay in these cases. She also felt it was wrong to deny students the ability to get education grants if they are not citizens. Some of these students have been in school in the U.S for more than 10 years and may be class valedictorians, but are denied scholarships. As she said, “they have done nothing wrong and have earned the scholarships”. We once were “the land of the free with opportunity for all”. We certainly could see both sides of this issue.
The weekend concluded with colorful folk dances by local Hispanic high school students. This dancing was proudly performed and gave these students a sense of pride and confidence in their heritage. Many will go on to college and continue with their dancing. Class XXI gained a new knowledge of “up state” Oklahoma and its unique heritage that began before statehood. I believe that we will be more supportive of incentives for the agricultural industry in this state.