Photos by Dave Goreauger-grain-into-bin-for-storage
This is the final installment of a glimpse into the realities of farm life through the eyes of Union County Farm Bureau member Ron Burns and his fiancée, Melissa Downerd. The corn harvest, livestock care and a special moment between the couple are captured in a last look at “a year in the life” of a family farm.

organic-corn-after-ran-thru-combine

The last of the crops are harvested in late October, early November as Burns and Downerd prepare for winter. ronburns1

Organic corn is harvested through the combine. setting-up-grain-auger-to-load-bin-with-corn

Then Burns sets up the grain auger to load the bin with corn. beef-holsteins-enjoying-the-cool-weather

In the meantime Downerd keeps watch over her beef Holstein herd, which she will raise to their market weight of 600 pounds.interestingbirds

Guinea hens scavenge for bugs around the farm and eat excess feed in the cattle pen. jack-willis-the-goat-2

Keeping a watch over all the activity at the Burns/Downerd farm is the farmyard patriarch Jack Willis, a goat.image1

Ron and Melissa were engaged as we documented life on the farm through 2016. They are preparing for a June 2018 wedding.

Growing our Generation
Having opportunities to attend leadership institutes, advocate for rural Ohioans on the state and national level, facilitate young ag professionals events, and serve in a variety of leadership positions have helped my skills grow exponentially.
Sara Tallmadge's avatar
Sara Tallmadge

Ashland County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Business Solutions
Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Business Solutions
Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
Farming for Good
I was gifted the great opportunity through an Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Youth Pathways grant to run a series of summer camps here. That really expanded my vision of what ‘grow, maintain, sustain and explain’ could actually be.
Jim Bruner's avatar
Jim Bruner

Mezzacello Urban Farms

Farming for Good
Leadership development
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Advocacy
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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