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An important part of each year’s annual meeting is the presentation of Distinguished Service Awards to people who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture and to Farm Bureau. This year, Jim Patterson, his wife, Nancy, and Sen. Doug White were the honorees.

Jim Patterson has been an advocate for farmers since the 1960s. He served as past president of the Ohio Farm Bureau, past president of the Ohio Fruit Growers Society and chairman of the Ohio State University board of trustees. Currently he serves on the board of directors for Nationwide Insurance and Nationwide Financial Services. He is a member of the USDA fruit and vegetable industry advisory committee and operates Patterson Fruit Farm with his wife. His involvement in agriculture has provided sound leadership for farmers in a variety of areas.

Nancy Patterson is a long-time advocate for agricultural education. She has served on the Ohio 4-H Foundation board of directors and the Ohio Farmland Preservation Task Force. She is well known for her commitment to democracy and good government and served as the agriculture coalition co-chairman of the Bush/Cheney Ohio Steering Committee with her husband. Her many achievements have been a benefit to both agriculture and the community.

White is president of the Ohio Senate and represents District 14. He is the former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He also was a state representative and county commissioner. He and his wife, Shirley, own and operate an 800-acre crop and livestock farm. By thinking with the common sense of a farmer, White has been a champion of farm issues and a strong voice for agriculture throughout his career.

Caption: Distinguished Service Award winners, l to r, Doug White, Nancy Patterson and Jim Patterson each gave credit for their successes to the support they received from family and friends.