Farmer’s Guide to Trucking Regulations available to Ohio Farm Bureau members
The guide includes a farm driver checklist, overview of state and federal regulations and exemptions, CDL qualifications and more.
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By Jacob Hoelscher, AgriPOWER Class X participant
In our generation we have seen the farm population of America dwindle from 3 percent to less than 1 percent, the birth of Roundup ready technology and the consolidation of the pork, poultry and dairy industry. Due to these changes of practices and size of farming operations, a schism has formed between the public and our industry. With less of America having a personal tie to the food they consume, advocacy is more important now than ever, especially with much of the population yearning for this connection. The voice to portray this advocacy begins with the grassroots movement that is Farm Bureau and was the headline of our first session.
As a member of the 10th class of Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER, we have begun to take the steps to find out how we, as leaders of our industry can utilize our strengths to advocate and lead. Workshops highlighting our strengths and emotional intelligence were led spectacularly by Elise Stoddard of AFBF. We were given a tour of the Nationwide and Farm Bureau connection and were given the opportunity to practice public speaking amongst our peers. Personally, my favorite session was the after hour “Suite Time,” where our group was able to network and get to know each other individually. I look forward to the next couple of months to see how what we learned, and will learn, will continue to influence our ability to lead going forward.
While only one session deep into AgriPower X, it is my belief that our group of 17 Young Ag Professionals has already begun to shape our local communities and will continue to do so on larger platforms.
Lastly, I would like to thank Melinda Witten for leading our class, as she has done for many of the classes before us and for the Ohio Farm Bureau in making this amazing class available.
Another AgriPOWER Class X blog
Laramie Wells discusses Farm Bureau’s roots.
Photo caption
Bottom row (l to r): Amy Hamilton, Megan Dresbach, Trish Preston, Katie Esselburn, Amanda Hill,
Middle row (l to r): Sarah Ison, Ashley Rose, Laramie Wells, Jonathan Zucker, Bailey Morrell
Top row (l to r): Lindsay Walls, Aubrey Fowler-Shaw, Jacob Hoelscher, Vicky Popp, Kayla Finton, Doug Franz, Sara Tallmadge
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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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