By Jess Campbell, AgriPOWER Class IX participant

I was standing on a farm in the mighty Potomac River basin that was, at one time, owned by the father of this country when it struck me how steadfast this profession of agriculture is. While we observed Mt. Vernon and George Washington’s innovative wheat operation, grazing sheep and fish harvested from the river at our backs, it was hard to not think about the fact that the livelihood of farming has remained viable and at its core the same for the past 250 years since George himself was standing there. When you think of other colonial professions such as a blacksmith, cobbler and wigmaker, it leads one to wonder how we as farmers got so lucky as to not find ourselves extinct as well in today’s era of fast paced change.

I think largely, we can thank George Washington himself. He is remembered by history as a general and first president; however, he thought of himself first and foremost as a farmer. This is a similarity a lot of our AgriPOWER class shares as well. They are also a firefighter or banker but their heart and soul is tied into the land, animals and agriculture. While at Mt. Vernon I couldn’t help but think it was Washington’s lifelong passion for agriculture and progress in that industry that influenced policies he established at our nation’s infancy that allow us to farm today.

Our journey to D.C. at its core was an exercise in all that is right in democracy and one that perhaps Washington himself would be proud of. We were telling our personal farm story and marrying our passions with those key issues developed from our peers. Policy made on both a statewide and nationwide grassroots Farm Bureau program to promote and protect our agricultural interests was communicated with our legislators and stories from our farms added life to them. This exercise in democracy seems like one that even our founding father would be proud of by taking a pulse of our peers and taking action to tell their story.

We were briefed on the issues by OFBF and AFBF and had a chance to get a congressional update from Rep. Bob Gibbs to get a more solid background before we headed for Capitol Hill. We got the chance to speak to our legislators and ensure they heard key issues from their constituents and how the decisions mandated 500 miles from our farm affected us every day at the barnyard. We also got the opportunity to visit the New Zealand embassy to learn about a nation that is based on exports and had a nighttime tour of the monuments.

My large takeaway from the trip was that George Washington founded us a United States of Agriculture and that Ohio and American Farm Bureaus are bringing us to D.C. to ensure future generations of farmers have the same opportunities as we do today.

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: