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For Laura Wood, being an OFBF member is a tradition that traces back to her father in Forest, Ohio. But this year was the first time since Wood has been a member that she has been to national government and AFBF offices in Washington, D.C.

Wood and 27 others traveled to the nation's capital Jan. 24-26 as part of the third annual Key Farmer trip. The purpose of the trip is to teach farmers about national public policy development and implementation and how it impacts the agriculture industry. OFBF county leaders invited farmers such as Wood to go on the information trip based on their contributions to agriculture.

"I liked learning first-hand about what happens in D.C. because so many rumors go around," Wood said.

She added that it was important for her to come face-to-face with congressional staff and AFBF public policy staff.

"It was good to sit down with AFBF and learn how they go about things," she said, adding that many in Wyandot County and the state are interested in what will happen with the 2007 Farm Bill and animal I.D. issues.

Wayne County farmer Matt Stoll called the tour "really enlightening."

"We learned how government really works," he said. "I understand now why compromises are made in legislation. On CNN you see headlines of stories, but we got to see the whole picture."

AFBF Executive Director of Public Policy Mark Maslyn explained how the D.C. office gets things done and the issues AFBF has picked as priorities for 2007.

Ohio farmers also spoke with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator Jim Gulliford about how the agency works with agriculture. The group met with staff members for the House Committee on Agriculture and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Connor, as well as Roger Conway of the Economic Research Service who addressed energy issues.

They also toured the European Union building where they learned about European farm policy.