Profiles Staff Larry Gearhardt has returned to Ohio Farm Bureau after a two-year hiatus. Gearhardt originally came to OFBF in 1990 as legislative analyst. He returned this summer as the director of local affairs. He works with organization directors and county public affairs committees to plan and carry out Farm Bureau public affairs programs at the local level. He also works with members of the Ohio General Assembly on issues related to local concerns and maintains contact with state and regional government agencies, departments and organizations. "Working for Farm Bureau gives me the opportunity to do two things that I love – promoting agricultural policy at the Ohio statehouse and working on member issues out in the counties. Ohio Farm Bureau is the best thing going for Ohio’s farmers, and it is my goal to continue to give them quality service," Gearhardt said. Prior to coming to OFBF, he was the president of AgPro, Inc. from January 2000 to June 2002. He was also an attorney for Dungan and Lefevre from 1979 to 1989. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wittenberg University and a law degree from the University of Toledo. Gearhardt is a 20-year member of OFBF and was vice president of Miami County Farm Bureau and a delegate to OFBF’s annual meeting. He raises corn, beans, wheat and hay on his Miami County farm. He is a member of the Covington Optimist Club, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Covington and the Covington Eagles Gearhardt and his wife, Michelle, have a daughter, Ashley. | |