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by Lynn Snyder

Molly Caren Fisher became the first member of Heartland Agdeavor Association in March 2002, according to the group's executive director Larry Thompson.

"We are especially pleased to have Molly as our first member. By joining with us, she continues to demonstrate her lifelong devotion to the betterment of agriculture," Thompson said.

Fisher has had a long history of support of agriculture. She was raised on an apple orchard in northern Franklin County and is best known for her donation of the 992-acre Molly Caren Agricultural Center, home of the Farm Science Review. "I've always felt a part of farming," she said.

Heartland Agdeavor was launched in September, 2001 and began accepting memberships in March 2002. It is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to enhance farm income through value added businesses that use farm commodities. In turn, association members, if they choose, may participate in investment opportunities in those value added businesses.

"Heartland provides investment opportunities through development or expansion of existing businesses or through start-up businesses," Thompson said.

The group is a joint effort of Ohio Farm Bureau and the Farm Income Enhancement Program at Ohio State.

A clearinghouse for value-added ideas, Heartland brings value to its members by conducting an opportunity analysis on each potential business offering. If warranted feasibility studies are conducted for the worthiest opportunities and completed business plans are developed for the most promising feasibility studies, Thompson said. In addition, the organization puts entrepreneurs in contact with specialists in venture capital to help fund start-up businesses.

1. networking with others that have similar interests;
2. intensively evaluating the most worthy ideas;
3. for the worthiest ideas, providing feasibility studies to determine their economic viability; and

4) putting together business plans based on the best feasibility studies.

The association is a member of the U.S. Agricultural Producers Alliance, whose mission is to enhance the profitability of member organizations and the agricultural producers they represent. As of late last year, the Agricultural Producers Alliance consisted of eight producer alliance organizations representing approximately 3,800 members. Heartland's current projects include ethanol, soy powder from soybeans, compost from dairy waste and soy oil used a preservative in certain industrial applications. In less than a year, Heartland has already brought value-added opportunities for equity investment in excess of $10 million to its members.

Farm Bureau members are eligible to join Heartland. Charter memberships for farmers consist of a one-time $800 fee, payable over three years, and annual dues of $200.

"Members benefit from Heartland because they have the information that might lead to opportunities to invest in agricultural value added businesses," Thompson said. "Our goal is to increase net farm income for our members," he said.

Caption: Heartland Agdeavor Association Executive Director Larry Thompson presents a membership certificate to Molly Caren Fisher, Heartland's first member. Photo by Lynn Snyder.