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More than 200 attended OFBF’s Winter Young Farmer Conference held in Dublin earlier this month. Animal visitors from the Columbus Zoo may have sparked the record attendance, but organizer Darrell Rubel thinks the outstanding programs also may have been a draw.

"We heard so many great comments about the workshops that were offered," said Rubel, OFBF director of young leader programs. "But I’m sure the cheetah, leopard and the porcupine made folks sit up and take notice, too."

The two-day "Snowball Safari" at the beginning of March also featured workshops on estate planning, neighbor relations, emergency preparedness, travel safety, computer information and landscaping. A special workshop for women, "Pampering Yourself," gave tips on how to handle stress. Another workshop featured information on agricultural and cultural changes in former Soviet bloc countries in eastern Europe.

Keynote speaker was Stephen Douglas, a humorist and motivational speaker whose topic was "Be Where You Are When You’re There."

Also addressing the young farmers were John C. "Jack" Fisher, OFBF executive vice president; Gary Baldosser, OFBF board member and former AFBF YF committee chair; Dusty Sonnenberg, 2002 AFBF Discussion Meet winner; and Rob and Bobbi Vernon, 2001 OFBF Outstanding Young Farm Couple.

"We were really pleased with how well-received the workshops and speakers were during this year’s winter conference," Rubel said. "The young farmers who attended learned about Farm Bureau and met other young farmers from across the state. We’re fortunate that we not only have great speakers and workshops, but we can provide an opportunity for our young farmers to make new friends for a lifetime."

If you’d like more information about OFBF’s young leaders’ programs, contact your county Farm Bureau or Rubel at 614-677-2435.

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First On The Scene workshop presenter Mary Fleming, left, gives direction to two young farmers on the proper way to deliver the Heimlich Maneuver during the Winter YF Conference in early March in Dublin. (Photo by Lynn Snyder)