Modesty and excellence are cornerstones of the Pozderac family and farm in Mount Vernon. Winners of the 2017 Ohio State Fair Market Turkey Show, siblings Maribeth and Milan Pozderac are not ones to brag of their many accomplishments. Third generation Farm Bureau members with a rich history of agriculture in the family, these two have embraced opportunities through 4-H and FFA since they were old enough to walk.

“There is no bigger responsibility than taking care of an animal,” Milan Jr. said as he elaborated on the many benefits that showing and caring for animals has brought to him and his family. Milan now 19, Maribeth, 16 and their older sister Abby, 20, began showing sheep in pee-wee classes, branching out to hogs and turkeys as they grew older.

Pozderacs
The Pozderac family: Maribeth, Milan Jr., KIm, Milan and Abby

“I grew up in agriculture, and I could see all the benefits from it, the lessons I learned, and I wanted that experience for them,” said their mother, Kim. Their house and barn are full of ribbons and trophies from the many classes in which they have competed, including grand and reserve titles at both their local Knox County Fair and the Ohio State Fair.

FFA has been the gateway to many of these experiences for the Pozderac family.

“It helped to teach them the expanse of agriculture, not just corn farming or dairy cows, it’s so much more advanced than that,” said Milan Sr. “These kids got to grow up understanding that, I didn’t. Growing up understanding how big agriculture really is, that’s such an important thing.”

All three children have participated in a wide range of Career Development Events and Supervised Agricultural Experiences through FFA, from soils, to public speaking, job interviews and much more. Their leadership accomplishments also run in the family, with Milan and Abby both serving as state FFA officers and Maribeth, a high school junior, currently serving as her chapter’s vice president.

These dedicated showmen have exhibited commitment to not only their own animals and projects, but also the community as a whole. That was apparent last year when avian influenza swept the state. Instead of exhibiting at the fair and risking infection, Maribeth raised 25 turkeys last year and sold them, donating all of the profits to Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational evangelical Christian International Relief organization.

“FFA has really helped me with my goal setting and always working towards something bigger,” Maribeth said.

Photos submitted by the Pozderac Family and Lyndsey Murphy

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.
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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.
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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