Oklahoma A&M College's internationally known "Flying Farmers," encouraged and supported by Henry G. Bennett, established the Oklahoma Flying Farmers Association on August 3, 1944, under the leadership of Herb Graham and Ferdie Deering. One of the group's events was an annual "fly-in" that would allow the flying farmers to take their non-flying counterparts up for a view to compare farmlands and consider soil conservation techniques. These flights helped emphasized the importance that farmers adopt such practices. A national organization for flyers was created the next year and an international organization in 1961.