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With campaign season in full swing, county Farm Bureaus have been busy this summer meeting with lawmakers to get to know their views and whether they are ag-friendly.

Since June, county Farm Bureaus statewide have been holding screening sessions of candidates running for all open state House and Senate seats, of which there are 35 this year. Those running for the three open congressional seats also are being screened.

The goal is to identify those who are most receptive to agriculture or rural issues, said Marc Armstrong, OFBF’s director of constituent action.

"We want to get to know their views on agriculture and get to know them to develop a relationship," he said. "It’s a way of opening up the lines of communication."

The screening committees usually consist of the county Farm Bureau’s president, government affairs chair and other county members. The committees spend about half an hour with each candidate, asking questions. After the meeting, the committees talk about the candidates and determine who should be given Farm Bureau’s "Friend of Agriculture" designation. Those recommendations are forwarded to the OFBF state board’s Agriculture for Good Government Political Action Committee for final approval. Candidates successful in receiving the recommendation can then use the "Friend of Agriculture" designation in their campaign.

While a member of the Farm Bureau’s government affairs office is present at each meeting, all decisions are made by the screening committee, Armstrong said.

"We’re there to help the committees with procedures and give them sample questions or topics if needed," he said.

Armstrong said many of the candidates this year have been asked their views on renewable fuels, eminent domain, state taxes, livestock industry and education funding.

"The sessions have been very good," he said. "Most candidates are eager to meet with us and get in front of the committees. They’ve been very responsive."