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Brent Porteus of Coshocton and Steve Hirsch of Chillicothe have been named to new leadership positions within Ohio Farm Bureau. In a special election, Porteus was selected as the organization's first vice president and Hirsch as treasurer. The elections came after Jeff Zellers stepped down from his position as first vice president and District 9 trustee to join the Nationwide board of directors (See sidebar).

Porteus, formerly the organization's treasurer, will fill OFBF's second highest elected position for the remainder of a one-year term. He also serves as a state trustee where he represents members from Coshocton, Holmes, Knox and Licking counties.

Porteus and his wife, Debbie, are the parents of two children. He farms with his father, brother and daughters producing crops and beef cattle. He is a 32-year member of Farm Bureau and a graduate of Ohio State University where he majored in agricultural economics. He is a past president of the Ohio Corn Growers Association and past chairman of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program. Additionally, he is involved with the River View School Board, 4-H, FFA Alumni and the Presbyterian Church of Coshocton.

As treasurer, Hirsch will serve in OFBF's third highest elected position for the remainder of a one-year term. He will continue to represent Farm Bureau members from Fairfield, Hocking, Pickaway and Ross counties as a state trustee.

Hirsch, a graduate of the University of Dayton with a degree in business administration, farms with his father and cousin. They raise apples, peaches, grapes, strawberries, raspberries and other produce. They also operate an on-farm retail market and a cider processing facility. Hirsch and his wife, Kimberly, are the parents of three children.