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The OFBF annual meeting affords the organization the opportunity to honor and thank individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Ohio’s agricultural community and to Farm Bureau. Here are the people who were recognized this year:

William Fulton, Troy

Fulton's tenure of service and accomplishment in Ohio agriculture, with emphasis in the fruit and vegetable sector, is well known and respected. He served as president of both the Ohio Vegetable and Potato Growers Association and the Ohio Fruit Growers Society. He was a pioneer in the use of plastic mulches and row covers for the production of fruits and vegetables. He also pioneered the use of center-pivot irrigation systems and trickle irrigation. He freely shared his insights with other Ohio farmers.

Dewey Kennedy, Thornville

Kennedy has been an active member and volunteer since 1950 and began more active service with the Perry County Farm Bureau board of trustees in 1960. He served as Perry County Farm Bureau president from 1961 to 1967 and served on the Ohio Farm Bureau board of trustees from 1967 to 1976. He returned to the Perry County board in 1992 and again served as president the past six years. He has been at or near the top of the membership recruiting campaign every year.

Robert Horton, Columbus

Horton is state extension specialist, 4-H, and associate professor at The Ohio State University. Horton has been an enthusiastic advocate of putting agricultural materials into the hands of teachers and their students. Since the early 1990s, Horton has led presentations or teacher workshops for elementary and junior high teachers. He also was an advisory committee member responsible for the development of the COSI on Wheels, Agriculture Adventures traveling exhibit.

Warren Reed, Convoy

Reed is a farm business planning and analysis consultant from Van Wert County. This is his 51st year in agricultural education. In his current role, he assists area farmers with record keeping, software technology and data analysis. He has taught many young people how to be farmers, business people and leaders in their communities. His humility and giving nature have made him a valuable asset to the community. He is past president of the Ohio Vocational Agriculture Teacher's Association.

Eugene C. Wittmeyer, Columbus

Wittmeyer joined the faculty of Ohio State in 1950 as extension specialist in vegetable crops with responsibilities for the educational program with potatoes. He became a full professor in 1959 and retired in 1984. He participated in the early work on plant analysis as a management tool for potato growers, which involved field demonstrations as well as laboratory work. Since retiring in 1984 he has been an educational adviser to the Ohio Potato Growers Association and Ohio Vegetable and Potato Growers Association.