2022 YAP Conference Ohio

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall will be the keynote speaker at Ohio Farm Bureau’s 2022 Young Ag Professionals Winter Leadership Experience. The event, coming up Jan. 28 and 29, is open to young agriculturalists interested in building leadership skills, networking with agricultural leaders and making a difference in their communities.

“We are pleased to announce that Mr. Zippy Duvall, president of American Farm Bureau, will be the keynote speaker for the 2022 Winter Leadership Experience,” said YAP State Committee Chaircouple Megan and Tyrone Brannon. “Mr. Duvall is the face, voice and heart of American Farm Bureau. He is an inspirational speaker, speaking to an audience, not just at them. Further, as a third-generation farmer, he has lived where each one of us young farmers live and can give true wisdom from his own life experience. We are very excited to see how he energizes and encourages the young ag professionals who attend the conference in January.”

Zippy Duvall
Duvall

Duvall has served as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation since 2016. The Georgia farmer owns a beef cow herd, raises broiler chickens and grows his own hay, all while continuing to restore the land he inherited.

Through his leadership as AFBF president, Duvall has helped to shape a new farm bill, defeat misguided regulations, shepherd new trade agreements and ensure farmers and ranchers are supported through natural disasters and the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to being elected AFBF president, he was president of the Georgia Farm Bureau and served on the AFBF board of directors.

Conference details

The conference will take place at Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati. Attendees must be Farm Bureau members, and programming is geared for young adults ages 18-35. It will feature 24 educational learning sessions that include topics from niche farm markets to international ag opportunities, plus eight engaging extended learning sessions and innovative tours.

The Farm Bureau Discussion Meet finals also will be held during the conference. Participants’ subject matter knowledge, problem-solving abilities and personal and small group communications skills will be tested. The winner will compete at the national level during the American Farm Bureau convention in 2023..

Nationwide is heritage sponsor of the conference, and Farm Credit Mid-America is platinum sponsor.

Registration will open in October. To find out more about the event, visit experienceYAP.com.

Farm Bureau’s mission is working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities. Learn more at ofbf.org.

 

This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions about the event as well as sponsorship opportunities should be directed to Kelsey Turner, Ohio Farm Bureau leadership development program specialist, 614-246-8218 or [email protected].

Editors: A high-resolution photo of Mr. Duvall is available for download. Please credit American Farm Bureau Federation.

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
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.
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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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