OKLAHOMA BEEF COUNCIL

Melody varner, Vice-Chariman 

bristow

Since 1974, Melody Varner with her husband, Sam, have worked to meet the ever changing needs of cattlemen and cattle buyers through their company, Varner and Varner, an livestock dealer firm based in Bristow, Oklahoma.  In addition to owning and managing Varner and Varner, Melody is also heavily involved in the Varner family sale barn, Mid-America Stockyards.  Melody and Sam have proudly raised their two children, Pokey and Skye, in the cattle business, as well–naturally engraining the skills, values and hard work ethic of Oklahoma agriculture.  Outside of the business, the Varner's stay busy keeping up with their children and grandchildren. Sam and Melody have five granddaughters who are actively involved in the family business, as well as, showing sheep and pigs in 4-H and FFA, and playing sports.  

Melody believes the checkoff program is vitally important to the longevity and sustainability of the beef industry.  In a world of false information and fad "health trends" people in the cattle business need to be united in their effort to protect our industry and stand up against misinformation and inaccurate data that is used against the beef industry in an effort to stop production ag in the United States.      

Leanne Van Der Laan-Robison, Secretary-Treasurer
Cushing

Leanne Van der Laan is a fourth generation dairy farmer. Leanne graduated Oklahoma State with a degree in Animal Science and Agribusiness in 2018.  While attending Oklahoma State, her parents sold out of their half of their 5000 cow dairy. Upon graduation she took their 60 cows that stemmed off of   4-H and FFA projects and began her own dairy where she is currently milking 150 head of registered Ayrshires and Holsteins.

Leanne is heavily involved with her roots in the dairy industry, having served on the youth committee and is serving currently on the Classification Committee for the US Ayrshire Association. She is a voting delegate for COBA Select sires. Leanne is also a member of Dairy Farmers of America, Holstein USA, US Ayrshire Association, and American Farmers and Ranchers. While attending Oklahoma State University she was a member of the Dairy Judging Team and has had the honor of judging professionally in Oklahoma as well as Kansas. 

Leanne believes one of the most important aspects of the beef checkoff is helping dietitians understand the benefits of beef and communicating those benefits to families. 

Russell Boles, Director

Watson

Russell Boles comes from a long line of agriculturists. The Boles family farmed in Missouri for years, and Russell is the second generation to ranch here in Oklahoma. Russell and his wife Tonya run stockers in southeast Oklahoma. Russell and Tonya are raising their five kids on the ranch near Watson, Oklahoma.

Russell has an associate degree from Crowder College and works for Consumers Supply distributing feed additives. He holds an Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association seat on the Oklahoma Beef Council board of directors. He has also served as a director and vice president for OCA representing southeast Oklahoma. He is a trustee on the board for his church, Octavia Baptist Church and serves on his local school board. He was also a member of the Cattlemen’s Leadership Academy and Young Cattlemen’s College.   

Russell believes in the Beef Checkoff because the promotion efforts have brought so much value to beef products. He also appreciates checkoff efforts to monitor the press and provide corrections to misinformation about beef products and how beef is raised.    

His favorite cut of beef is the ribeye.

Nikki Callison, Director

Ada

Nikki Callison is a fourth-generation rancher who operates near Ada, Oklahoma, with her husband Roger, a third-generation rancher. They’ve run a cow-calf and stocker operation since 1999. The Callisons also sell beef direct to consumers across the US through their website, callisonranchbeef.com and a retail point on their ranch south of Ada. Nikki and Roger have three grown children and two young granddaughters.   

Before returning to ranch life, Nikki taught school in Plano, Texas. She has a Bachelor of Arts in History and minor in English Education. She is also a professional photographer and entrepreneur. Nikki has received the honors of Plano TX ISD Beginning Teacher of the Year and Cowboys and Indians Magazine Award-winning Photographer. She also completed the Spartan Race Trifecta.   

In addition to holding one of the Oklahoma Cattlewomen’s seats on the Oklahoma Beef Council board, Nikki has served on the Oklahoma Beef Task Force, Oklahoma Cattlewomen's Association officer, and as a NCBA Convention 2021 Social Media Influencer. She is active as a member of Team Beef Oklahoma and the Masters of Beef Advocacy program.   

Nikki has served on the board of TLC – a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with disabilities – as a 4-H leader and volunteer, as a motivational speaker and serves her local church.   

Nikki is passionate about the beef checkoff because of programs that bridge the informational and educational gap between beef producers and individuals removed from agriculture. She also believes in teaching the facts about beef nutrition, land sustainability and the benefits of eating beef.

Nikki’s favorite cut of steak to eat is the ribeye with its marbling and flavor. Her favorite cut of beef to prepare is a chuck roast because it is super versatile and feeds the whole family.

Chuck Coffey, Director

SPRINGER

Chuck Coffey is a fifth-generation rancher who grew up on a ranch in the hill country of Harper, Texas. He proudly earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in range science from Texas A&M University, where he met his wife, Ruth. They have three children, all of whom attend Oklahoma State University.

Chuck taught agriculture at Murray State College in Tishomingo, eventually chairing the department there, until he joined the Noble Research Institute as a pasture and range consultant in 1993, serving there until his retirement. He has served as the Chairman of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, President Oklahoma Society for Range Management and a Director for the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association.  Chuck and his family are also NCBA Region IV Environmental Stewardship Award winners.      

Chuck is extremely passionate about ranching and feels blessed to be able to work on the ranch every day, especially after a serious horseback-riding accident that threatened to leave him paralyzed before several surgeries and months and months of rehabilitation. With a wealth of activities on and off the ranch at any given time, Chuck said he has learned that “staying busy keeps you young.”

Jordan Davis-Cook, Director

Cordell

Jordan Davis-Cook is a third-generation cattle rancher living in Cordell, Oklahoma where she and her husband, Nocona, and their two boys raise registered Angus cattle and stocker cattle. She was raised in the seedstock industry where she and her family, Davis Angus, raise high-quality animals that her family sells at their annual production sale.    

 She has a Business Administration degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.  Jordan has been very active in agriculture leadership positions serving as co-chair of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers, Washita County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers, co-chair of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Leadership Academy (2016), Washita County Fair Board (Secretary), Oklahoma Angus Association Southwest District Director, Oklahoma Angus Association Queen Committee Chairman and the American Angus Association Beef Leaders Institute Class.  She is also an Oklahoma Farm Bureau Achievement Award recipient.    

 With the average American at least three generations removed from farming and ranching, Jordan believes the support the Oklahoma Beef Council provides to the Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom program because it is a great way to connect with kids and help teach them about beef production and the nutritional benefits of beef.   

 Her favorite cut of beef is the rib-eye.   

JESS KANE, Director
Bartlesville

Jess Kane is a fifth-generation rancher. His family has been farming and ranching since his Great-Great-Grandfather, James Roach Kane, claimed his Union Army near Greensburg, Kansas in 1885. Five generations later, his family still owns and operates the original homestead.

Jess and his brother Richard are partners in Clover Leaf Cattle Co., LLC. Their primary operation is growing stocker cattle on native grass in Washington and Rogers counties in Oklahoma and in Kiowa County, Kansas.

Jess and his wife, Ashley, also partner on a cow herd in Southwest Oklahoma. Jess’ is also practicing attorney and a partner in a law firm with offices in Bartlesville and Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Jess practices includes real estate, oil and gas, agriculture law and general civil litigation. He is also a graduate of the Ranch Management program at Texas Christian University. Being active in the community and in the cattle community is a passion for Jess. He was a member of the Cattlemen’s Leadership Academy and served as the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) Northeast District Director and Northeast Vice-President.  Within his community, he has served in multiple roles including Richard Kane YMCA (President), Bartlesville Rotary Club (President), Bartlesville Area Chamber of Commerce (Director), Cherokee Area Council, Boy Scouts of America (Director) and Hopestone Cancer Support Center (Director).  Jess and his wife Ashley are raising the six generation of future Kane ranchers, daughter Samantha and son Robert.

His favorite cut of beef is the T-bone because it “give you the best of both worlds and leaves you with something to share with your dog.” 

BRETT MORRIS, Director
Ninnekah