Together with farmers and the entire agricultural community, Farm Bureau built a steady momentum throughout 2017. An increase in active membership met with policy wins at the Statehouse as Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) reform was passed after years of advocacy work by Farm Bureau members and staff.

Priority Issues

Hundreds visited the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms and learned how farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin are researching and testing voluntary conservation practices to protect water quality — just one of several efforts Farm Bureau and partners have participated in to work on this priority issue for the organization and the state. Farm Bureau members statewide also took steps and worked with community leaders to help combat the ongoing opioid crisis, which touches rural and urban communities across Ohio. Those partnerships culminated in sponsorship of Hope for Ohio: A Teen Forum on the Opioid Crisis in December.

Member Benefits

A slew of new member benefits became available via Member Savings Advantage and other Farm Bureau partnerships. Farm Bureau also established member benefits with Ford and John Deere in 2017.

Community Engagement

County Farm Bureaus continued to do what they do best — work to better local communities. In 2017, eight counties were recognized by American Farm Bureau with seven County Activities of Excellence awards, the most of any state in the country.

As Farm Bureau enters into its 99th year in 2018, it will continue the mission of “working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.” While looking forward to future success, take a look back at even more accomplishments from 2017 through our Year in Review in the upcoming January/February 2018 Our Ohio magazine, mailing the first week of January.

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

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
Ernie Welch's avatar
Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
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
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
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
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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