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At the end of the membership campaign, Ohio Farm Bureau recognizes the top membership signer from each of the three regions. This year, Dewey Kennedy, Perry County, Pioneer Region; Lou Robinson, Lawrence County, River Valley Region; and Phyllis Garn, Ottawa County, Buckeye Region; combined to sign 145 new members.

"Ohio has what is probably the strongest membership campaign of all the state Farm Bureaus. Our volunteers sign thousands of members annually," said Jeff Watkins, OFBF vice president of field services. "County Farm Bureaus benefit from the tremendous participation we have in our campaigns. Many of these dedicated membership workers go on to hold other leadership positions within the organization."

Kennedy said his secret for signing so many new members is he lives Farm Bureau everyday and works membership year round, not just during the membership campaign. "You have to live it (Farm Bureau) everyday. I ALWAYS have my Farm Bureau hat – everyday; I even have a nice white one that I wear to church," Kennedy said.

Kennedy and his wife, Jeannie, reside in Thornville, and raise cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. He currently serves as vice president of Perry County Farm Bureau.

Robinson said people have to know you’re speaking from the heart and that if they become members, they’re only helping themselves. "I really relate to them from the heart and let them know I’m trying to help them. People look at me differently because I work in a Nationwide Insurance office, but once I tell them I don’t work on commission, they’re more likely to join. I tell them, ‘I’m helping you help yourself.’" Robinson said. "Whether a farmer will save on his workman’s compensation or an associate will save $400 on their insurance bill, being a Farm Bureau member benefits everyone."

When she started as membership chairman 13 years ago, there were 498 Lawrence County Farm Bureau members, since then they have gained more than 100 each year.

Robinson and her husband, Rondal, reside in Ironton. They have three children and four grandchildren. She works for a local Nationwide Insurance office.

Garn said the long list of member benefits Farm Bureau offers is her biggest seller. She’s been membership chairman for 18 years, and she said her secret is face-to-face contact. "Whether I’m trying to sign an active or an associate member, I simply talk to them face-to-face. I don’t believe in phone calls to sign new members," Garn said. "You have to go out and visit people to let them know what you’re all about and how being a member will benefit them."

Garn and her husband, Ivan, live in Oak Harbor and have three children and nine grandchildren. They raise soybeans, rye and wheat. She was recently elected to a three-year term on the Ottawa County Farm Bureau board.

Kennedy and Robinson agreed the best way to get a person to join after he’s already said, "No." is to give them all the facts, don’t pressure them, leave them with a good feeling about you and Farm Bureau and then go back to them in a couple of days. "Nine times out of 10, after they think it over, they’ll join," Kennedy said.

Kennedy recalled his toughest sale in the many years he’s worked as membership chairman. "I was talking to a full-time farmer, and he said he didn’t have enough money to join, and he couldn’t even afford the daily newspaper. After I told him about all the money-saving benefits to Farm Bureau and really gave him all the information, he still said, ‘No.’ So I told him I wanted him to save $1 a week for the next year, and I was going to be back to talk to him," Kennedy said. "Sure enough, I went back to him the next year, he said he saved, and he was going to join for a year to see if it was worth it to him. Wouldn’t you know, he’s been a member ever since. One dollar a week is not much when you look at what you get for it."

Garn said she puts so much effort into Farm Bureau because it enhances the lives of her family and friends. "Farmers need to get together to better our lives. The more members we have, the better chance we have to get our goals accomplished," she said. "We’re in a farming community and to have everyone working on the same team is important."

All three of the membership chairmen believe representation at the local, state and national level is one of the most important benefits in being members. They named CAUV, elimination of the personal property tax and the current farm bill as highlights of Farm Bureau’s legislative victories.

Besides representation, all believe the member benefits provided by OFBF are an important reason to be a member. Nationwide Insurance topped their list of valuable benefits, with Dodge, Sherwin Williams, Universal Rx and discounts to amusement parks rounding out the top five. Robinson noted that local businesses, such as an optometrist and a florist, offer benefits to Lawrence County members. She said those benefits also help them during the membership campaign.

More than anything, Kennedy, Robinson and Garn said it’s simply being a member of Farm Bureau that is the most rewarding to them. Garn summed it up when she said, "It’s always good food, fellowship and fun. Being associated with Farm Bureau is something to be proud of, and I would do more to aid the organization that I believe so highly in and that works so hard on my behalf. People at Farm Bureau whether they’re from my county or another, are like family," she said.