Menu

by Annie Cunningham

Once again members of Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) can hold their heads high. For the 35^th consecutive year, OFBF has reached total membership gain reaching 214,252, an increase of 238, according to Mike Fearon, OFBF’s director of membership activities.

"We also are pleased to announce active farmer gain," Fearon said. "It’s been a long, hard campaign, but our volunteers never gave up. They were troopers – going door-to-door soliciting members. The hard work of our volunteers, OFBF staff, and our partners at Nationwide has made this membership campaign a success."

Fifty-six of Ohio’s 88 counties have accomplished overall membership gain and 69 counties have achieved farmer gain. Those numbers are expected to increase by the end of the membership recruiting season.

John C. "Jack" Fisher, executive vice president of OFBF, said, "Ohio Farm Bureau is successful because of the efforts of our volunteers – we can’t thank them enough. Their hard and diligent work shows they believe in what Farm Bureau can do."

OFBF volunteers were given the chance to win 10 $200 cash awards by signing new members. For every member volunteers signed between March 30 and April 30, they would receive one ticket for the May 3 drawing. The 10 winners were Shawn Britt, Crawford County; Howard Dickman, Auglaize County; Clarence Fackler, Richland County; Lucille Huston, Columbiana County; Miriam Mikesell, Coshocton County; Kerry Oberlitner, Hardin County; Sandee Smith, Trumbull County; Steve Spoerr, Richland County; Jim Vasileff, Geauga County; and David Woodring, Ashtabula County. There were 365 tickets in the drawing.

"This contest was a token of our thanks to the volunteers. Their effort this year was outstanding, and (OFBF) wanted to show its appreciation," Fearon said.