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A grassroots effort to strengthen the Ohio Farm Bureau is close to accomplishing its goal.

Formed last year, the Enhancing the Vision task force was charged with providing a guideline for the future of Farm Bureau. It was made up of 22 county Farm Bureau leaders – one from each trustee district – and six OFBF trustees. It has examined the relationships between the state and county organizations, their governance, structure, programming, membership criteria and finances. It will now make recommendations on how the organization should position itself to continue its success.

When OFBF President Bob Peterson announced the task force last year, he said "successful farms and businesses don't stand still. Neither do successful organizations." The group has since then based its discussions on the concept that "the things that got us here, will not get us there."

The farmers approached their task with five goals in mind: better serving the needs of future OFBF members, developing a vision for membership, promoting volunteerism in Farm Bureau, improving the organization's efficiency and ensuring responsibility and accountability in the governance of the organization.

The task force concluded its meetings at a two-day gathering in March. It is in the process of developing a draft report of its recommendations that will be finalized this summer. The report will be presented to the OFBF board of trustees in October.

While the task force has considered many possible changes, it never strayed from the idea that OFBF should be a grassroots organization that advances the interest of Ohio's farmers. It said that OFBF's vision of forging a partnership between farmers and consumers would remain accurate into the future.

OFBF First Vice President Brent Porteus, chairman

OFBF President Bob Peterson, ex-officio member

State Trustees Kim Davis, Judy Loudenslager, Keith Truckor, Sparky Weilnau, Merlin Wentworth

County Farm Bureau representatives are Jeanne Barbee, Franklin County; Richard Barrett, Hardin; Parmelia Boyer, Sandusky; Andy Caldwell, Highland; Dan Corcoran, Pike; Drew Eckert, Richland; Troy Ernest, Allen; Kevin Fall, Butler; Sherry Finney, Jefferson; Kurt Heyman, Erie; Glenn Lackey, Athens; Art Langerman, Morgan; Scott Metzger, Pickaway; Bill Moody, Knox; Paul Morrison, Darke; Roger Rhude, Warren; Bob Sage, Geauga; Matt Slicker, Wayne; Dusty Sonnenberg, Henry; Wanda Stratton, Belmont; Jenifer Weaver, Mahoning; Matt Wilson, Logan and Jeff Zellers, Stark