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Several years ago during focus group meetings, members of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation told the state board of trustees and staff they wanted enhanced communication. That direction brought about a revamped Buckeye Farm News that focused on bringing news to active Farm Bureau members and a new magazine called Our Ohio that told agriculture’s story to all OFBF members, including those not actively engaged in farming.

That work being done on behalf of OFBF members was recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation at this year’s public relations conference in Bismark, N.D.

Our Ohio was named the top state Farm Bureau magazine in the nation. The judges spoke highly of Our Ohio's content, design and photography and said that OFBF is "accomplishing its mission with every issue."

Ohio Farm Bureau staff also won two individual awards and received honorable mention in three categories. Pat Petzel won the Best Feature Story award for "Yogurtnomics," which was published in the March/April 2003 issue of Our Ohio. Annie Cunningham won the Best News Story award for "Drug producers target rural Ohio," which was published in the March 10, 2003, Buckeye Farm News.

Honorable Mention recognition was given to OFBF Executive Vice President Jack Fisher and OFBF Director of Corporate Communications Joe Cornely for Fisher's commentaries from both publications. His editorials were recognized in both Best Single Editorial and Best Editorial Series categories. OFBF also received Honorable Mention in the Best Media Relations Campaign category for our drought awareness work in the summer of 2002.

"We’re excited to have received these awards, but the most important thing about the recognition is that our information efforts on behalf of our members is being held up for the rest of the country to see," according to Kurt Ely, OFBF vice president of Information, Education and Community Services. "Our members told us they wanted these kinds of communication pieces, and the American Farm Bureau has said they’re the best in the country. That is a positive reflection on our whole organization, but mostly on our members. We’re proud of that."