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Buckeye Farm News interviewed two members who have achieved considerable success in the membership campaign. Sandi Lang, Scioto County and Wayne Arnold, Summit County, were members of the 2005 Ambassador Club, meaning they sold at least 10 new memberships last year. Both have been membership chairmen as well. They offered some tips for membership workers.

Sandi Lang
Lang said the key to selling memberships is to believe in Farm Bureau. "You have to believe in Farm Bureau yourself and what it stands for," she said. She said being familiar with Farm Bureau activities and benefits helps sell the organization. She said her participation in Farm Bureau, through Leadership Conference and being an annual meeting delegate, and having a mentor (hers is Dewey Kennedy, from Perry County) has helped her learn more about the organization and its programs.

She said for the cost of her yearly dues, Farm Bureau is a bargain. She said in her area, the prescription drug benefit is a big selling point, as is the $1,500 reward program. She also touts the many activities her county Farm Bureau is involved in, letting prospective members know that Farm Bureau is active in local activities, especially Agriculture in the Classroom and Food Check-out Day.

She sells memberships with personal visits. She focuses on political leaders in her community, as well as businesses. She emphasizes to potential members that you don’t need to be a farmer to join. One unique program her county implemented with success was a dues contest at the annual meeting: If anyone paid their dues at the meeting, they were entered into a drawing to get their dues free.

Lang summed up membership work this way: Passion. "Without passion, you sound like a telemarketer."

Wayne Arnold
Arnold said one of his most successful techniques was to set up in a local feed store. The owners were members and allowed him to sell Farm Bureau memberships at their location for a couple of Saturdays. The owners themselves even sold memberships, too.

He said he stresses the Nationwide Insurance discount and the Accidental Death and Specific Loss policy. He said he broadens his prospective member list beyond farmers to landscapers, veterinarians, tree farmers and nursery owners. "Some of the guys get to the coffee shop and talk to everyone there. Everyone has their little niche," he said. He also mentioned other prospect ideas such as landowners who participate in CAUV and ag districts, fair board members, seed companies and real estate agents. He said there’s "No limit to who you can get. Whether you can get active or nonactive. They all count."

He said membership work is a lot of fun. "I enjoy talking to people. That’s what it takes." He set a lofty goal for Summit County and himself this year. "I only have five members so far. I hope the whole county would be done before kick off this year. Last year we were third or fourth in the state."

Members can win by paying their dues
Ohio Farm Bureau has introduced another member renewal contest for 2006. Members who renew by Feb. 28 will be entered in a drawing for a choice of one of the following award packages:

• Four tickets for an Ohio amusement park

• $200 tool package shopping spree with Grainger Industrial Supply

• $200 Speedway prepaid gas card

Contest entries were mailed with the third dues notices. A total of five winners will be chosen.

Two other contests were held for members who renewed their dues, based on the first and second dues notices. Both contests awarded prepaid gas cards. Winners were Larry Boysel, Clark; Brian Nagel, Knox; Veneat Vest, Hamilton; Donald Brennan, Champaign; Mark Miller, Cuyahoga; Daniel Mielke, Erie; Kathleen Latham, Lorain; Harold Abner, Huron; John Dayton, Fairfield; Terrance Koontz, Medina; Christopher Smalley, Pike; and Thomas Wharton, Muskingum.

The contests are a new incentive Farm Bureau created to help jump-start the membership campaign. OFBF director of membership Mike Fearon said with counties kicking off their campaigns this month, he expects the momentum to continue.