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One way to define achievement is "knowing what you want and paying the price to get it." Five years ago you told us what you wanted. Three years later you committed to pay for it. Today, your goals have been achieved.

Through the Envisioned Future exercise, Farm Bureau examined what our organization needed to do to serve our members as well in the future as we have in the past. You came up with some very specific answers. Today, that vision is reality.

You wanted Ohio Farm Bureau to have more influence in Washington DC. We now have a full-time director of national affairs to make sure your voice is heard on such issues as farm policy and taxes. We also added a Key Farmer trip to expose influential farmers to Farm Bureau’s work in the nation’s capital.

Another priority from our envisioning exercise was to expand Farm Bureau’s clout in the political process. We have boosted our voter registration, education and motivation efforts with the Ohio Agriculture Votes Web site, election guides, candidate screenings and training schools and helping more farmers get candidates on the farm. This year we crafted "the agricultural agenda" and put it in the hands of those who want to govern our state.

We’ve also enhanced our ability to influence public policy by assisting counties with agricultural ecology programming. Because fewer and fewer people understand the hows, whens and whys of farming, our ag ecology initiatives are helping members better demonstrate how farmers make positive contributions to the economy, environment and quality of life in Ohio.

Yet another of the needs identified in the envisioning process dealt with the administration of your organization. We are improving the efficiency of the state office and county offices through a state-of-the-art database system that cuts time and expense. This new system also means Farm Bureau can better tailor programs and services to your individual needs.

And finally, one of your top priorities was better communications. You now have a communications program to be proud of. Buckeye Farm News and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Web site keep farmers up-to-date on important developments that can help or hurt your business and lifestyle. Ohio Farm and Country is our television program on RFD TV that highlights Ohio agriculture and how Farm Bureau is working to serve farmers’ needs. Our Town Hall Ohio talk radio program allows Farm Bureau to set the agenda for public understanding of government, the environment, society and of course, agriculture.

Because the public needs that exposure, the Our Ohio brand’s magazine, weekly television series and interactive Web site are making agriculture interesting, relevant and accessible to the non-farm public. As their familiarity increases, so does their affinity. You wanted Ohio agriculture to form a partnership with consumers. Our Ohio is delivering it.

One last point I’d like to make. Ohio Farm Bureau conceived, developed and fully implemented these organizational improvements without a corresponding increase in staffing. In 2003 as we began to ramp up the programming you requested, we had 87 full-time employees. Today, we’re operating with 84. Three fewer staff members and a sizable, significant increase in programming speak well of how Farm Bureau is mindful of spending your dollars wisely.

Caption: Jack Fisher recapped goals established and achieved by Farm Bureau members.