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OFBF sets membership gain for 38 ^th consecutive year

The streak stays alive. For the 38 ^th consecutive year, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) has achieved a gain in membership. As of June 1, Farm Bureau’s membership was 224,408, or 845 more members than last year, according to Mike Fearon, director of membership activities.

"We’re doing good things in Ohio Farm Bureau and people recognize that and want to renew their membership and it makes it pretty easy to sell a new membership to folks," Fearon said.

Jack Fisher, OFBF’s executive vice president, praised volunteers, Nationwide Insurance agents and Farm Bureau staff for their hard work during the membership drive.

"Achieving 38 years of membership gain is something to be proud of. It shows that our members are happy with our goals and accomplishments," Fisher said.

Fearon thanked Nationwide for its efforts to attract new members.

"Nationwide is huge in our membership efforts," he said. "Nationwide agents signed up over 30,000 new members, which is just a phenomenal number."

OFBF’s official membership total won’t be finalized until Aug. 31. Renewals received after June 1 will be added to this year’s membership total, but new memberships will be counted for the 2006 year.

As of June 1, OFBF was just 174 members away from farmer gain, Fearon said.

At press time, the following counties had obtained county gain: Adams, Allen, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson/Vinton, Knox, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Marion, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Washington, Warren, Wayne, Williams, Wood and Wyandot.

The farmer gain counties: Adams, Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson/Vinton, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Union, Washington, Warren, Wayne, Wood and Wyandot.

Golden tractor awards, given to counties that had a 50 member or 7 percent overall gain, went to Ashtabula, Clermont, Delaware, Franklin, Knox, Lake, Licking, Marion, Pickaway, Portage, Trumbull, Warren, Washington and Wayne.

Super star awards, given to counties with 100-member gain, went to Ashtabula, Licking, Franklin, Stark, Trumbull and Warren.