Profiles Volunteer Robert Russell, 71, has served Champaign County Farm Bureau for many years now. He has been on the county board, a delegate to the OFBF annual meeting, on the state and county policy development committee, worked the membership campaign and was the government affairs chairman. "Ohio Farm Bureau is a pillar of the community," Russell said. "Farm Bureau is a vehicle for farmers to carry their concerns and get things accomplished through the local, state and federal governments. One recent victory that stands out in my mind is defeating the local Darby Refuge. A group wanted to take the land around the Little Darby Creek and turn it into a wildlife refuge, but we (Farm Bureau) fought to keep the land in farming and won." Russell has turned most of the family’s farming responsibilities to his son, but he continues to help in the production of corn, soybeans and wheat. They also raise a small herd of Angus cattle. Russell just retired as treasurer of the Champaign Land Preservation group. He also was on the Mad River Steering Committee, and he currently serves as a Concord Township Trustee. He and his wife, Mildred, have four children and four grandchildren and reside in Urbana. | |