Oklahoma Farm Bureau Capitol Camp Encourages Students to Explore Public Policy

To increase youth awareness of state government and agriculture advocacy, Oklahoma Farm Bureau hosted Capitol Camp, a two-day mock legislative experience held for the first time in 2022.

At Capitol Camp 2023, 70 Oklahoma 4-H and FFA members were selected for the program and began preparation with a series of online trainings on how to create legislation. They were encouraged to choose topics that they were personally interested in, because those were the issues discussed at Capitol Camp. After completing them, students submitted their legislation to Oklahoma Farm Bureau staff, who developed it into a pamphlet.

For two days at the Oklahoma Capitol, students worked together on mock legislation enacted in the chambers of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. They proposed bills, ran them through committee, brought them to the floor of the chamber, debated policies, and voted on the legislation as members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives would.

Many students have shared how incredibly influential Capitol Camp has been in opening their eyes to the politics of their state and country. One student’s idea was signed into law during the 2023 legislative session. The bill would create a text message system that would alert Oklahomans if an inmate escapes from a nearby prison. The bill was proposed because of a traumatic experience of a family member who was kidnapped by escaped convicts.

The bill caught the attention of state Representative Anthony Moore, who led the way in passing the bill. He called it the “Orange Alert” bill, and it passed by wide margins in both the Oklahoma House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau has long supported youth agriculture in the state, from the local level with our county Farm Bureaus to the state level through sponsorships and programs at 4-H and FFA events,” said Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel. “The youth legislative experience was a great opportunity to continue the organization’s support of youth development while also bringing attention to agriculture and rural-focused advocacy and policy.”

Capitol Camp quickly gained popularity among Oklahoma state legislators and leaders. Many of them attended the event, noting that they were impressed to see students actively interested in public policy. It was also a great opportunity for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau to connect with state officials during the summer months.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau looks forward to using student feedback to continue to encourage youth engagement in politics in their state. To hear from students who attended Capitol Camp 2024, watch this video.

New Horizon Award

Capitol Camp won Oklahoma Farm Bureau the 2024 New Horizon Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The award, which honors state Farm Bureaus with the most innovative new programs, is presented annually at the AFBF convention.