More to OFBF Business Services Department Than Meets the EyeSometimes, the ability to wear more than one hat at the same time can be a good thing. Staff members who work in Ohio Farm Bureau’s Business Services Department know the feeling of representing more than one organization at the same time as they hold positions with OFBF and with organizations that contract with Farm Bureau for administrative services. Eight staff members within the department fulfill different roles with Ohio Farm Bureau and serve in an administrative fashion for 14 other agricultural organizations. "We really have a unique situation," according to Mike Pullins, OFBF vice president of business services and commodity relations. "Our contract relationships and our Farm Bureau connection give us an efficiency and effectiveness that is hard to duplicate elsewhere." Who’s Who? In addition to his role as head of the department, Pullins also provides assistance to the American Berry Co-Op and the Ohio Wheat Growers Association. Dale Arnold is director of energy services for Ohio Farm Bureau and executive director of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association and the Ohio Land Improvement Contractors Association. Jim Chakeres is director of market and risk management for OFBF as well as executive director for the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and Ohio Lamb Marketing Program. Tom Sachs is Farm Bureau’s director of specialty crops as well as executive director of the Ohio Fruit Growers Society (OFGS), Ohio Apple Marketing Program and Ohio Vegetable and Potato Growers Association (OVPGA). He also serves as director of the Ohio Vegetable and Small Fruit Research and Development Program and organizes the annual Ohio Fruit and Vegetable Growers Congress. Larry Thompson is executive director of Heartland Agdeavor Association, a relatively new organization that allows farmers, businesses, associations and educational institutions to work together to develop value-added agricultural products. John Wargowsky serves as Farm Bureau’s labor relations specialist and is executive director of Mid American Ag and Hort Services (MAAHS), also a relatively new organization that focuses on helping agricultural employers meet labor standards. Dave White is OFBF’s director of commodity relations and executive director of the Ohio Livestock Coalition. Pullins, Arnold and Chakeres also play a role in the Ohio Farm Bureau Development Corporation. A Good Thing "We find ourselves, so often, representing several organizations on the same side of an issue," Pullins explained. "There’s a definite synergy that we’ve cultivated with the way our different roles mesh. The way our department works shows that one plus one sometimes equals three." Wargowsky gave an example of that synergy by using a situation that occurred while he served the state’s specialty crop growers who were members of the fruit and vegetable growers’ groups who were concerned about Ohio’s Uniform Food Safety Code. "The positions of OFGS, OVPGA and OFBF were consistent, and I could speak on behalf of all three organizations throughout the (corrective legislation) process. OFGS and OVPGA were perceived as closely connected to the technical aspects of the issue while OFBF brought clout as the key farm organization. The ability for me to wear three hats was efficient and effective." Getting Better "We’ve got some definite goals as we move into the future," Pullins said. "Our ability to work through Farm Bureau’s structure on behalf of another membership organization helps Farm Bureau to continue to foster and nurture cooperation among all Ohio agricultural and commodity organizations." Other department goals include:
"We’re really excited about the role our staff plays within Farm Bureau and with so many other organizations," Pullins said. "Representing producers is what we do best. We want to continue to help Farm Bureau be a voice for all of agriculture." | |