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Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s 2006 officer team was elected during the group’ s convention. Bob Peterson of Sabina was re-elected president. Jeff Zellers of Hartville is the new first vice president and Brent Porteus of Coshocton is the new treasurer.

Peterson has served as OFBF president since 2004. He also is a member of the board of directors for the American Farm Bureau Federation. He farms with his father and brother, producing corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and hogs.

The Zellers' family grows a variety of vegetables and also produces greenhouse and bedding plants. He has held numerous leadership positions within the organization at the county, state and national level.

Porteus, who farms with his father and brother, produces crops and beef cattle. He is chairman of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program board and has been in leadership positions with the Ohio and National Corn Growers Associations.

OFBF’s former vice president, Sparky Weilnau of Milan, retired from the position. Weilnau was re-elected to the board of trustees to represent Cuyahoga, Erie, Huron and Lorain counties.

Patty DeBruin of Millersport is the new Southeast Women’s Trustee and will represent 22 Ohio counties. She is a 10-year member of the Fairfield County Farm Bureau where she served as president; she also chaired the promotion and education and information committees and was active with the government affairs committee. She and her husband, Steve, raise stocker beef cattle. She also assists in her husband’s veterinary practice.

Debruin fills the position previously held by Vicki McConnell of Zanesville who retired from the state board.

Five other state trustees were elected to serve three-year terms. They were Steve Hess (Champaign, Clark, Darke and Miami counties), Randy Leis (Butler, Hamilton, Montgomery and Preble), Bill Lowe (Delaware, Franklin, Madison and Union), Bob Slicker (Ashland, Summit, Medina and Wayne) and Merlin Wentworth (Belmont, Monroe, Noble and Washington).