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A new regional labor organization called Mid American Ag & Hort Services Inc. (MAAHS) , formed by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) and many other agricultural organizations in Ohio and Indiana, was kicked off Oct. 1.

The goal of MAAHS is to improve labor management and compliance with federal and state regulations as they pertain to migrant workers. The organization will also strive to improve the working and earnings environment for Mid-American agricultural employers and workers.

The initial service area is Ohio and Indiana with the option to grow into Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. MAAHS is housed in OFBF’s state office, and John Wargowsky was recently named executive director. Wargowsky joined the OFBF staff in 1983. He served as an organization director in two areas of Ohio, and in 1993 became director of Advisory Councils. In October 2000, he was named director of Business Services which included management duties for the Ohio Fruit Growers Society and the Ohio Vegetable and Potato Growers Association.

Sponsor organizations of MAAHS are OFBF, Ohio Fruit Growers Society, Ohio Vegetable and Potato Growers Association, Indiana Farm Bureau, Ohio Nursery Landscape Association, Ohio Florist Association and Ohio State University Extension Farm Labor Relations Program. Members of these organizations will pay a fee for MAAHS services.

MAAHS will provide an adequate supply of well-trained and motivated workers to its members, while obeying all laws pertaining to recruiting, training, safety and employment. MAAHS believes all agricultural workers must be treated with fairness, respect and dignity and insists all member employers do the same. Services will include education and compliance manuals, newsletters, educational seminars, migrant labor camp construction and licensing assistance and recruiting services. If MAAHS can’t provide what the employer needs, it will offer contracts with other groups to provide the service.

"These services are affordable and available to people. There will be thousands of farmers who will benefit from MAAHS," Wargowsky said. "We are going to provide additional compliance help to make sure they are doing things right."