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by Susie Taylor

Delegates at this year’s Ohio Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting followed the Code Committee’s recommendation and approved a $10 dues increase that will be effective in 2005. This move will change the amount of annual dues counties send to the state Farm Bureau from $36 to $46.

The dues proposal was one of three code changes that had been suggested to the Code Committee. The other two – a 45-day notice of a state board member’s intention to run for president of the board and a reclassification of active members to include those people who work for farm agencies – were not recommended for passage by the committee.

Any code change proposals must be submitted in writing to the code committee 30 days ahead of a potential vote by the delegate body. The state Code Committee must make a recommendation on each proposal. And any proposed change that is acted upon by delegates must be approved by two-thirds of the delegate body in order for it to become effective.

On the dues increase, it was moved to amend the proposal from $10 to $5, but that amendment failed. A standing vote (when delegates stand in place and are counted) was taken, and the $10 proposal passed with a vote of 234 for and 73 against. To meet the two-thirds requirement, at least 218 delegates had to vote in favor of the proposal.

After the vote, OFBF President Terry McClure thanked the delegates and assured them their funds would be spent wisely and effectively to the benefit of Ohio agriculture and Ohio’s farmers.

Despite the Code Committee’s recommendation against the 45-day notice of intention to run for president of the state board of trustees, a motion was made to implement that code change. After a standing vote, the motion failed 67 for and 244 against. Discussion before the vote centered on how delegates can have notice of who is eligible to run for board president. Currently, all 26 board members are eligible. Some concern was raised about what would happen if one person declared his or her intention to run for president and then was defeated in a district race for re-election to the board. No candidates would be eligible and a president could not be elected.

One delegate said he had to declare his intention to run for county commissioner and that such a request would not be unreasonable for Farm Bureau. Another delegate countered that the chair of the county commissioners is chosen by the three commissioners, and voters aren’t notified which of the three would want the position.

During explanation of the proposal for a change in active farmer status, Committee Chair Eric Wolfer said the group was cautious about recommending such a change for fear it would take control of the organization out of the hands of producers.

The Code Committee was comprised of five state board members (Wolfer, Ellen Joslin, Sparky Weilnau, Merlin Wentworth and Jeff Zellers) and five county Farm Bureau members (Patty Debruin, Fairfield; Deb Indoe, Medina; Allen Miller, Washington; Kerry Oberlitner, Hardin; and Dan Westlake, Union). Board President Terry McClure and First Vice President Bob Peterson were ex officio members of the committee.