Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER Class IX and Young Ag Professionals group spent an educational three days in Washington, D.C. Sept. 12-14. The purpose of the trip was to share their ideas with members of congress and to learn about international agriculture and how to grow personally and professionally. The trip  included a visit with congressional representatives, meeting with American Farm Bureau staff members for industry and issues updates, a behind-the-scenes look at how Washington really works, networking with other young professionals, and exploring a world view of agriculture during a visit to an embassy.

In addition, some Ohio Farm Bureau staff accompanied attendees on the trip.

Thursday,  Sept. 14:

Day three of the 2017 YAP and AgriPOWER D.C. trip included some exciting opportunities. The day started off with meetings at the United States Department of Agriculture.

AgriPOWER

AgriPOWER 2Attendees met with with Christopher Beyerhelm, acting administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA) at USDA. Discussion included how FSA supports rural jobs, provides support to farmers and ranchers, and preserves water, soil and wildlife, among many other projects. 

AgriPOWER 3

Chuck Bertsch, assistant deputy administrator at Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) provided an overview of trade policy, working with United States commodity groups, and export financing. 

AgriPOWER 4

The trip ended with a fascinating experience at Mount Vernon, the plantation home of George Washington. 

AgriPOWER 5George Washington’s fishing operations brought in food for his enslaved and paid workers, and by selling the surplus, provided additional profits for his estate. AgriPOWER 6

YAP and AgriPOWER attendees toured Pioneer Farm while at Mount Vernon. Washington used this area for testing and implementing progressive farming practices. 

Wednesday,  Sept. 13:

Jack Irvin, OFBF’s senior director of state and national policy, had a chance to catch up with one of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Agricultural Professionals Shelby Gibbs from Shelby County in today’s Farm Bureau in a Flash from Washington, D.C.


AgriPOWER 7

Ohio Rep. Bob Gibbs, District 7, kicked off the morning before attendees traveled to their congressional visits.  

AgriPOWER 8

Ohio Farm Bureau visited the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, D.C. Some of the major commodities in New Zealand are sheep, beef and dairy cattle, apples, kiwifruit, wine grapes, barley, wheat, and fisheries.

AgriPOWER 9

Janine Collier of the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, D.C. shows Ohio some love in her presentation!
AgriPOWER 10

OFBF Executive Vice President, Adam Sharp, addresses YAP and AgriPOWER attendees at the New Zealand Embassy.

AgriPOWER 11

YAP and AgriPOWER attendees at the U.S. Capitol building.

AgriPOWER 12

(left to right) OFBF Executive Vice President, Adam Sharp, and YAP attendees Nicole Steiner and Candace Lease visit with legislative assistant, Mark Galey of Congressman Jim Renacci’s office. Immigration was a topic of discussion during this congressional visit.

AgriPOWER 13

Ohio Congressman Bill Johnson, District 6, took time to visit with YAP and AgriPOWER attendees.

AgriPOWER 14

Attendees were able to participate in a Senate Ag Committee hearing featuring Joe Shultz, democratic staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture and Matt Erickson, chief economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture. 

Tuesday, Sept. 12:

The OFBF Young Ag Professionals and Class IX hit the ground running Tuesday morning with briefings from American Farm Bureau staff members. Topics included: farm bill, immigration reform, regulatory reform and tax reform.

AgriPOWER 15

American Farm Bureau Director of Grassroots Program Development, Jordan Craig, executes an advocacy preparation course with Ohio Farm Bureau. 

AgriPOWER 16

Attendees had the opportunity to tour the American Farm Bureau headquarters and visit the rooftop patio for a photo-op. 

AgriPOWER 17

Checking out the executive board room (with an amazing view of the Washington Monument!) was a hit for attendees. This is where the American Farm Bureau board of directors meets.

AgriPOWER 17

Day 1 concluded with dinner at Gadsby’s Tavern. Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Monroe all frequently dined here. During dinner, attendees were entertained by stories of those times.

U.S. Senate Updates from the trip will be shared here, or follow on the OFBF Facebook page

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
Ernie Welch's avatar
Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
Suggested Tags: