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by Annie Cunningham

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmer and Rancher Committee traveled to Ohio Nov. 9 to 11 for its annual mid-year planning session.

Each year the committee chooses its meeting place by traveling to the home state of the chair of the committee for its annual mid-year planning session, and because Gary Baldosser, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) region 6 trustee, of Republic in Seneca County, is the chair of the committee, the group met in Toledo.

Besides meeting and planning, the 14 AFBF young couples and singles visited many of the area’s top tour sites. The group met with Dodge in Detroit to discuss Dodge and Young Farmer cooperatives and learned more about the Dodge business.

During Friday’s dinner at Cousino’s Navy Bistro, Jack Fisher, OFBF executive vice president, told the group about Ohio Farm Bureau and its role in Ohio agriculture. OFBF President Terry McClure also spoke about his role in Farm Bureau and the diversity of Ohio agriculture. He told them about Ohio’s varied production and how much agricultural revenue is generated in the state.

The Young Farmers learned about the history and settlement of Ohio through a tour led by Johnny Appleseed, a.k.a. Ken Hammontree. He also told them about the strong Native American history of the state.

Tracee Swank, president of Lucas County Farm Bureau, led the group on a tour of The Andersons. The group watched grain being loaded onto a barge and saw the GMO testing process.

The committee also visited COSI Toledo. Members were given a first-hand look at COSI on Wheels and were able to partake in some of the hands-on demonstrations.

"The tour through The Anderson’s impressed the group," said Darrell Rubel, OFBF director of young leader programs. "They also were wowed by the partnership Ohio Farm Bureau and COSI have through COSI on Wheels. They were really interested in how Farm Bureau is able to reach so many through this program and how Farm Bureau volunteers get involved."

Ed Lamalie. OFBF trustee, and his wife, Laura, joined the committee on the tours through the state. Jeremy Harrison, OFBF organization director of Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties, was instrumental in planning the tour circuit.