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In what may be an unprecedented performance for any state Farm Bureau, Ohio stole the spotlight at the 2002 annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) earlier this month in Reno, Nev.

"I don't think any state has ever experienced such a broad scope of success at any one convention," said Jack Fisher, executive vice president of Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF).

Caption: OFBF President Terry McClure (left accepts congratulations from AFBF President Bob Stallman, OFBF was presented the coveted President's Award in Reno, Nev.

Throughout this issue, you'll read about numerous awards and honors for OFBF and individual members. Congratulations to everyone on an incredible showing!

OFBF received the prestigious President's Award from AFBF. This award is presented annually to the top state Farm Bureau in the nation based on competition between states of similar membership size. States are judged on overall program and membership achievement. This is the third year in a row and ninth of the past 11 years that Ohio has been named the winner of the President's Award for its membership category.

Other President's Awards in different membership categories went to Maine, Montana, New York, Missouri and Tennessee.

OFBF also received the maximum 12 Gold Stars in the Achievement Award competition, which measures performance of state organizations in the categories of membership; commodity marketing; Farm Bureau women’s programs; Young Farmers and Ranchers; information and public relations; state and local government affairs; leadership and organizational development; public policy implementation; political education; policy development; Agriculture in the Classroom; and agricultural promotion and special programs. Ohio’s special program entry was the Land and Living display at the Ohio State Fair.

Gold Stars represent the highest honor in the system and are included in the selection of the President's Award. Ohio was one of only nine states to earn all 12 Gold Stars.

Ohioan National Discussion Meet Winner
Dustin Sonnenberg, Henry County, won a fully loaded 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 pickup truck with a Magnum V10 engine and free registration fees as the winner of the American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet, which took place during the annual meeting in Reno.

Sonnenberg competed in two round robin meets and landed a spot in the sweet sixteen. As the winner of that round, he made the final four competition with eventual contest runners-up Kevin Underwood of Indiana, Pam Williams of Georgia and Kyle Brase of Illinois. Each runner-up received a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond courtesy of Cummins Engine Company Inc.

The Discussion Meet program simulates a committee meeting where active discussion and participation are expected. Participants are evaluated on their ability to exchange ideas and information on a pre-determined topic.

Sonnenberg credited his upbringing on a dairy farm and his career as a high school vocational agriculture teacher for preparing him to compete and win the contest. He and wife, Cheryl, raise dairy steers for freezer beef and help out with Cheryl's parents' cash grain operation.

In the last decade Ohio has accumulated quite a record at the national discussion meet, with two top four finalists and two sweet sixteen finalists. Sonnenberg is the first national winner.

In addition, Kathy Ayers, Ashland County, represented Ohio in the national Young Farmer Achievement Award competition that is designed to recognize young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and who have exhibited superior leadership abilities. Participants were evaluated on a combination of their agriculture operations’ growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside within their communities. The national winners were Joey and Denise Olivier who own and operate a 3,300-acre farm near Lafayette, La., where they raise soybeans, corn, rice, wheat, crawfish and grain sorghum. As Ohio's Outstanding Young Farm Couple, Rob and Bobbi Vernon from Muskingum County also attended the meeting as part of their state prize package.

"Breakthroughs in Biotechnology" Earns Award
Ohio Farm Bureau added another feather in its cap at the annual meeting in Reno when it was recognized for its participation in the Breakthroughs in Biotechnology program. Gale Betterly, state trustee, accepted the Special Achievement Award from American Farm Bureau for its part in promoting the speaker training program. American Farm Bureau's Foundation for Agriculture, with a grant from Philip Morris, started the grassroots consumer education program to give community leaders a better understanding of agricultural uses of biotechnology. OFBF Director of Promotion and Education Pat Petzel said OFBF volunteers have made nearly 30 presentations to more than 534 community leaders, such as Kiwanis, Rotary and Chamber of Commerce groups. A total of 300 Farm Bureau members from 25 states were asked to be involved in training sessions to learn how to present the biotechnology message. Nationally, a total of 82 presentations by members in 14 states reached more than 2,100 people in 2001.

American Farm Bureau Federation recently received word that the Philip Morris Company awarded another $10,000 grant to continue this program in 2002. OFBF staff is preparing to kick off another training session for volunteers and/or staff who are interested in this program.

The first training session will be held Feb. 19 in Columbus for a full day of training, or members may join in a 1 1/2 hour teleconference portion from their own homes. The second training session is a teleconference only on March 18 from 2 to 3 p.m. If you are interested in the training, please contact Petzel by Jan. 28 at 614-249-2428.

Farmer Idea Exchange Winner
Aaron Harnar, Portage County, was Ohio's representative in the 14^th annual Farmer Idea Exchange. "The Harnar Process for Biodiesel Production" was selected for display at this year's AFBF annual meeting. His process is a biological method for producing biodiesel from vegetable or animal oil sources.

The Farmer Idea Exchange is a contest to showcase farmers' ingenuity and creativity. Only 15 ideas were chosen as exhibits at the meeting. Harner was on hand at the meeting to answer questions and meet other Farm Bureau members.

William Russ, Illinois, was the overall Farmer Idea Exchange Winner for his innovative forage wagon. The "Trap Door Forage Wagon" allows farmers to unload silage without stopping. When the bottom of the wagon opens up, the load drops straight down to the pile. According to Russ, the wagon is safe plus saves time and money. Since there is no power takeoff to hook up and no dump box, safety is enhanced. No endgate to open or close means fewer parts to wear out and no chains to break.

As the top winner, Russ was awarded one year's free use of a New Holland TV 140 Bi-directional tractor.