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by Annie Cunningham

Members who have attended the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) annual meeting in years past will notice some minor changes this year. The meeting, set Dec. 3 to 5 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, has undergone some scheduling changes and will feature new activities. Changes are a result of previous participant surveys, which relayed the desire to be fiscally responsible and take the delegates’ time commitments into consideration.

Registration for the meeting will open at noon on Wednesday, and rooms will be available for check-in. Hospitality Corner (trade show) will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Union Ballroom and foyer. A special activity this year will be a mini health fair sponsored by Nationwide Health Plans. The fair will offer blood pressure screenings, flu shots, disease prevention information and other tests. There may be a nominal fee for the flu shots.

The Hospitality Corner will host more than 30 different exhibits, including an Ohio Bicentennial exhibit. Bicentennial barn painter Scott Hagan will be on hand to sign copies of the Ohio's Bicentennial Barns book. The books make great Christmas gifts, especially when autographed. Pictures of each county’s bicentennial barn will be displayed. Counties will be provided their respective pictures at the end of the meeting to take back to the county and use as a membership recognition gift, fund-raiser or as a fixture at the county Farm Bureau office.

Also Kate Klimo (whose pen name is Bonnie Worth), author of "Oh Say Can You Seed?" which won the 2003 Ohio Farm Bureau’s Award for Children’s Literature, will sign copies of her book from 2 to 5 p.m.

"Participants have real incentive to come early this year," said Kurt Ely, OFBF vice president of information, education and community services. "They can take advantage of the health screening and book signing opportunities, and then of course, visit with exhibitors in the trade show area."

Another schedule change this year is the pre-policy amendment and change session. It will begin at 3:15 p.m. and run through 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday. This is a time for delegates to have questions answered and receive help drafting recommended policies.

The Discussion Meet finals also have been moved to Wednesday. It will run from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. and will focus on the question, "In what ways can agriculture’s newest advancements be made more attractive to the consumer?"

Following dinner, delegates are invited to "An Evening with Orion Samuelson," host of U.S. Farm Report at 8:30 p.m. After which, the OFBF Board of Trustees will host a reception in Hospitality Corner from 9:30 to 11 p.m.

Back by popular demand this year will be an omelet breakfast seminar sponsored by the Ohio Poultry Association at 7:30 a.m. OFBF trustees and staff will prepare made-to-order omelets for participants. Tickets for the breakfast can be purchased during the meeting Wednesday and prior to the event. Meeting registration also will open at 7:30 a.m. and remain open until 6:30 p.m. The Hospitality Corner reopens Thursday morning from 8 to 11 a.m.

The General Session has been moved up to begin at 9 a.m. The business session will open with President Terry McClure’s address, and be followed by financial, credentials and code committee reports.

At 11:45 p.m. the delegates will break for the Kick-Off Lunch. Klimo will receive OFBF’s Award for Children’s Literature. Participants also will hear from Steve Rasmussen, president and chief operating officer of Nationwide's property and casualty insurance operations and Allied and Farmland Insurance companies and learn the winners of the Discussion Meet, Excellence in Agriculture and Young Farmer and Young Farm Couple competitions. The Ambassador Club will be recognized, and OFBF Executive Vice President John C. "Jack" Fisher will offer his address.

From 2 to 5 p.m. delegates will again take part in the General Session. The Harvest Banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. Here, participants will see the Parade of Presidents and presentations of the Distinguished Service and Agriculture Educator awards.

Trustee Elections will begin at 7:30 a.m. Friday morning. Up for election are the northwest and northeast women’s trustee positions, along with the following trustee districts: 2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 16, 21 and 22.

General Session resumes at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude at 11:45 p.m. Delegates will receive a box lunch for their travel home that afternoon.

"I think we’ve better met our members’ needs with the schedule changes this year," Ely said. "By getting things under way earlier, we are able to get the delegates out of Columbus by noon on Friday and back to the farm at a reasonable hour."

For the first time in nearly a decade, the OFBF Youth annual meeting will be held along with the OFBF annual meeting. It will be Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Union Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. This year’s theme is Nuts About Buckeyes and will feature many fun activities for the youth that center on a celebration of Farm Bureau Youth and Ohio’s Bicentennial.

The day will begin with a welcome from Emily Riedlinger, state youth committee (SYC) chair. SYC will host the youth through 100 years of flight and a "whodunit." At 10 a.m., youth councils will compete in Buckeyes on Stage, which are Spotlight on Safety skits. At 11 a.m. Scott Hagan, Ohio Bicentennial Barn painter, will talk to the group about his experience as the official Ohio barn artist.

After lunch on their own, youth will hear from OFBF staff and see the presentation of awards for the safety skits, Outstanding Youth Council and a salute to youth advisers. The Buckeye Ball and Costume Party will finish out the day. Youth are asked to bring a costume that is easy to put on or change into what may be their favorite Buckeye sports player, Ohio historical figure, TV or movie character, etc.

Admission for the annual meeting will be one snack food, juice or individual serving size item that will be donated to Children’s Hunger Alliance. Also, donations for 1 Life Revolution, an organization that supports children orphaned by AIDS in Zambia, will be accepted.

"The youth are very excited to be back with the adults’ annual meeting. They are looking forward to sharing their year of success for the Outstanding Youth Council Awards, showcasing their dynamic creativity with the Spotlight on Safety presentations, as well as cutting loose with some square dancing," said Darrell Rubel, OFBF director of youth programs and safety. "These young people love being a part of Farm Bureau and are looking forward to sharing their enthusiasm with the adults. This event is very important to our young people and our biggest celebration of the year."

For more information, contact your county Farm Bureau office.

CAPTION: Ellen Joslin, OFBF women’s northwest trustee; Larry Antosch, OFBF director of environmental research; and Sparky Weilnau, OFBF treasurer, prepare omelets for the delegates at the 2002 OFBF annual meeting.