Membership growth for 36 consecutive years
by Lynn Snyder The plans to achieve another year of membership growth in 2003 were made nearly one year ago. Ohio Farm Bureau Director of Membership Activities Mike Fearon, Vice President of Field Services Jeff Watkins, the Regional Supervisors – Kent Fisher, Paul Lyons and Ken Walter – and other staff members put their heads together to come up with the ideas and incentives for OFBF members and Nationwide agents that would spur them on during the campaign.
Those plans were put into place in the counties and blossomed into a successful campaign. Approximately 1,500 member volunteers and 500 agents worked together to help Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) achieve 36 consecutive years of growth. At press time, membership stood at NEED NUMBER.
In addition, the organization has achieved a gain in farmer members.
The county campaigns were kicked off in January. On top of that, there were two statewide volunteer work days, one in February and one in March. Working together, 633 volunteers signed 582 members during the two days. Another incentive awarded a day tour of Amish Country to volunteers who signed six members between March 15 and May 15.
"When we get our volunteers out working membership, good things happen," Fearon said. "Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization. Without their efforts, gain would not happen."
The campaign wrapped up two weeks earlier than last year. Fearon said this was possible because of an increase in new member production by both Nationwide agents and Farm Bureau volunteers in months of April and May.
At press time, the following counties have achieved membership gain: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Athens, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Coshocton, Darke, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Greene, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Marion, Medina, Miami, Monroe, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Stark, Tuscarawas, Washington, Wayne.
The farmer gain counties: Ashland, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Geauga , Guernsey, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Holmes, Jackson/Vinton, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Mercer, Monroe, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Perry, Pike, Portage, Putnam, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood.
Silver Plowshare awards are given for achieving 50 new farmer members or 7 percent of a county's 2002 total: Ashland, Athens, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Darke, Delaware, Fayette, Gallia, Harrison, Jackson/Vinton, Jefferson, Lake, Lawrence, Mahoning, Medina, Monroe, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Pike, Perry, Portage, Stark, Summit , Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne
Golden Tractor awards are given to counties that have achieved a 50 member or 7 percent overall gain: Delaware, Medina, Washington.
Delaware County has earned a Super Star award for achieving a 100-member gain. | |