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By Seth Teter

A special committee created during last year's leadership conference has begun asking a lot of questions as it considers the future of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF).

"If today we were going to form the Ohio Farm Bureau, what would it look like and how would it serve our members?" asked OFBF Vice President Jeff Zellers, who serves as chairman of the Enhancing the Vision task force.

The group is comprised of 22 county farm bureau leaders from various age groups and types of farming operations as well as six state board members. They are taking a look at the way OFBF operates and where improvements can be made. So far the group has discussed issues such as the needs of "tomorrow's member," membership criteria, volunteerism, developing new leaders and improving efficiency.

The task force is to make recommendations to the state board in October, but Zellers noted that doing this job right is more important than a timeline. He said each group member must act as a "vice president in charge of revolution." The quote is a reference to Farm Bureau's first-ever executive secretary Murray Lincoln who said every organization needs somebody to challenge the status quo.

One of the first assignments for the group was to develop a list of the worst things that could happen to OFBF. The list of nearly two dozen responses included forgetting the grassroots, losing contact with consumers, failing to develop leaders and a communication breakdown between the state and county offices.

OFBF Executive Vice President Jack Fisher told task force members that Farm Bureau's strength is in its grassroots and asked them to consider how it can remain a viable volunteer organization. When the committee was announced last year, Fisher commented on the changing dynamics of volunteerism.

"The solution doesn’t come from seeking more participants who fit the Farm Bureau mold," he said. "The solution lies in molding Farm Bureau to make it fit more people."

The group agreed that someone who gave as little as 15 minutes of time to the organization could be a valuable volunteer because that effort may have resulted in numerous e-mails to legislators.

In a final two-day meeting before the group makes recommendations, it will consider OFBF's staff and financial resources.

Zellers complimented task force members on their willingness to engage in a difficult discussion but told them their work has only begun.

"We've had some great discussion. We've asked a lot of questions," he said. "It's not going to get any easier because we have to start coming up with answers."

Caption: Known as the Father of Farm Bureau, Murray Lincoln often said the organization should have a "vice president in charge of revolution," a charge issued to each member of the Enhancing the Vision task force.