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Ohio Farm Bureau’s Issue Advisory Teams provide Farm Bureau members the opportunity to engage with peers on a specific interest or issue at the 2018 OFBF Trends and Issues Conference June 14 in Canton.

During the conference, team members may review, research, discuss, draft and recommend new policies, programming and/or activities addressing an interest area. They actively share their work with their county Farm Bureau president and board of trustees. Their input could be used by county Farm Bureaus to initiate programs at local, multi-county and state levels.

Team members also will spend half the day touring food and meat processing factories to get a better look at issues surrounding that side of the agricultural industry.

Ohio Farm Bureau is currently seeking members for the teams. Each team member will be invited to serve a one-year term, with the voluntary option to continue service for two additional one-year terms. See team descriptions.

Applications are being accepted through Feb. 23, 2018.

Team Focus Areas

• Farm Policy, Business Development and Sustainability
• Food Supply Chain and Specialty Crops
• Transportation and Energy
• Environment
• Workforce
• Animal Agriculture
• Young and Beginning Farmers
• Education

Who should apply

• County Farm Bureau volunteers identified/surfaced by county Farm Bureau leadership and/or the program’s self-nomination process.
• Industry and community stakeholders with special insight, knowledge, skill and expertise that compliment specific team efforts.

Responsibilities

Team members will be asked to identify and explore important issues relating to the team and bring them to the attention of the chairperson and team facilitators for discussion and research. Each team will hold a minimum of three meetings per year:
• An organizational teleconference to set the team agenda and discussion topics for a full team session, held in conjunction with the OFBF Trends and Issues Conference.
• Participation in the 2018 OFBF Trends and Issues Conference in Canton.
• A follow-up session or teleconference to discuss final ideas and OFBF policy development recommendations.

Each member will provide an additional voice in the OFBF policy development process and program development:
• Review current OFBF policy, as well as develop changes, updates and recommendations to the Ohio Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee related to the specific team focus.
• Recommend programs and activities relating to the team focus to Farm Bureau leadership and staff at state, regional and county levels.

Members will suggest ways to involve Farm Bureau members with industry and community stakeholders to enhance relationships, as well as implement organization policies, initiatives and action programs:
• Meet with the county Farm Bureau president, county board of trustees and Public Policy Action Team leader to provide updates following Advisory Team meetings.
• Participate in county Farm Bureau policy development and annual meeting proceedings.
• Suggest ways to involve members and community stakeholders to implement policies adopted at the county and Ohio Farm Bureau annual meetings.

Nomination Application and Deadline

Please use this form to begin the self-nomination process. Additional information and application materials are available by contacting your county Farm Bureau office or contacting Jordan Hoewischer at [email protected], 614-246-8257

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 23, 2018.

Photo caption: The 2017 Trends and Issues Conference participants toured Consolidated Grain and Barge at the Port of Cincinnati.