Nick and Bailey Elchinger

Young Agricultural Professionals State Committee members Nick and Bailey Elchinger were both raised in agriculture and now are raising their two young daughters, Parker Jo and Chloe, the same. On their Henry County farm, they produce corn, soybeans and wheat along with baling both hay and straw commercially. Bailey also works off the farm for StoneX in Bowling Green, helping farmers, grain elevators and livestock producers mitigate the risks they face regarding commodity prices.

Nick was born and raised in northwest Ohio on a small family farm where he learned to love farming alongside his grandfather, father and brother. Bailey was born and raised on a small family hog farm in southern Michigan. She began her Ohio Farm Bureau journey right after college and got involved with the Henry County Farm Bureau board of trustees. In addition to her many volunteer activities, she also was the state Discussion Meet winner in 2013.

“My parents and grandparents are very active and involved Farm Bureau members,” she said. “It was natural for me to be a member in college and that evolved when I moved to Ohio.”

As new state committee members, she and Nick are heavily involved in all aspects of planning the 2022 Young Ag Professionals Winter Leadership Experience, a statewide conference taking place Jan. 28-29 in Cincinnati. Bailey has a special focus on entertainment, and Nick is helping coordinate the conference partners showcase and networking event. In addition, Bailey is serving as YAP committee secretary.

“We have met people inside our county as well as outside our county. Without Farm Bureau, we likely would not have met them,” Nick said.

Part of their focus on the state committee is to increase involvement of young ag professionals at all levels of Farm Bureau. They are working to increase awareness of Farm Bureau and bridge the gap between ag programs in high schools in the state, all the way to more seasoned veterans in agriculture in Ohio.
“We both really value our membership in Farm Bureau and the things Farm Bureau does for us and our farm. We really value our membership and we want to convey that value to others,” Bailey said.

2022 Conference

Registration for the 2022 YAP Winter Leadership Conference opens Oct. 13. Visit experienceyap.com for more information.

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
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