Menu

Approximately 200 county Farm Bureau leaders traveled to Columbus to participate in 2002 Ag Day at the Capitol.

Those attending heard a welcome from Terry McClure, OFBF president, at the Vern Riffe Center in downtown Columbus. Guest speakers were Bob Stallman, AFBF president, and Ohio House Speaker Rep. Larry Householder, R-Glenford.

Stallman reported on issues being addressed by American Farm Bureau staff; he also participated in a news conference during the morning. Householder commended the Farm Bureau members for the way they keep state legislators informed on issues impacting agriculture.

The county leaders also heard an update on five key Ohio issues from OFBF Government Affairs Vice President Keith Stimpert: agriculture security areas, ethanol production, credible data, animal cruelty and eminent domain.

During lunch, the leaders discussed priority issues with their Ohio legislators and their staff. Later the FB members attended briefings from staff of various state departments – Ohio Attorney General’s Office, agriculture, development, education, health, natural resources, taxation and transportation departments, the EPA and PUCO.

CAPTIONS:

1. Ohio House Speaker Rep. Larry Householder, R-Glenford, at lectern, addresses county Farm Bureau leaders attending Ag Day at the Capitol in the Vern Riffe Center in Columbus.

2. Sen. Scott Oelslager, left, R-Canton, visits with OFBF board member Jeff Zellers during lunch.

3. AFBF Presidnet Bob Stallman answers reporters' questions during a news conference at Ag Day at the Capitol. Reporters from various agricultural and other news outlets attended the news conference to hear from the Columbus Tex., farmer.

4. After the legislative briefing and lunch with lawmakers, Farm Bureau members attended informational sessions with officials from various state agencies. Here members meet with officials from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.