Farmer’s Guide to Trucking Regulations available to Ohio Farm Bureau members
The guide includes a farm driver checklist, overview of state and federal regulations and exemptions, CDL qualifications and more.
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Welcome to Wyandot County Farm Bureau’s member spotlight blog! Every month, Wyandot County Farm Bureau will feature a spotlight blog on a board member so you can get to know him or her a little better.
Our monthly spotlight blog features Wyandot County Farm Bureau’s board trustee, Larry Hawkins, who is originally from Upper Sandusky. Larry graduated from Upper Sandusky High School and still lives locally. Larry also has an associates of applied business management degree. He is active in the Transfiguration of our Lord Catholic Church and is a firefighter/EMT at the Pitt Township Fire Department.
What and where do you farm (or work for an agribusiness)?
I am an elevator operator/ safety coordinator at Nevada Grain.
How long have you been in this job?
I have been in agriculture professionally for nine years.
Why did you choose to work here?
I started out seasonally and grew from there.
What do you love about this job?
I love that it is constantly changing; always something new to learn.
Why do you think it’s important to know where your food comes from?
Food is something we rely on to survive. It seems like common sense to want to know where it comes from, in my opinion.
What is the biggest challenge facing agriculture?
Stiffer regulations, stagnant prices, and a loss of interest from the next generation.
Why are you a Farm Bureau member? What do you see as the biggest benefit?
Because I feel it directly impacts my life through my career.
What is your favorite Farm Bureau event or activity?
I like the annual meeting and our Young Ag Professionals meetups when speakers are brought in to talk.
Life Outside of Farm Bureau
What are your hobbies besides farming?
I like to be outdoors, hunting and fishing, riding bikes or taking a ride on the motorcycle. I also like to jog and go for walks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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.
Featured Articles
Growing our Generation: Grassroots advocacy
Ohio Farm Bureau provides opportunities, platforms and resources to help you develop your voice in the industry and give farmers a seat at the table with leaders and legislators.
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Farm Bureau welcomes summer ethanol blend waiver
The emergency fuel waiver to allow the sale of summer gasoline blends containing 15% ethanol will lengthen the period during which Americans can continue buying E15 from June 1 to Sept. 15.
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Ohio Farm Bureau introduces Small-Scale Food Business Guide
The Small-Scale Food Business Guide covers federal and state regulations for selling food products such as raw meat, dairy, eggs, baked goods, cottage foods, fruits and vegetables, honey and more.
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Cashing in the direct-to-consumer food sales boom
New resources and technology are broadening the different types of sales tools and strategies available to farmers.
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DeWine announces statewide open enrollment for H2Ohio Agricultural Incentive Program
ODA will enroll 500,000 acres into the program for a two-week sign-up period, beginning April 22, 2024, through May 6, 2024. Contact local SWCD offices to apply.
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Share named ExploreAg and Youth Development Specialist
Katie Share of Columbus has been named ExploreAg and Youth Development Specialist for Ohio Farm Bureau.
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Klopfenstein named Young Ag Professional and Ag Literacy Program Specialist
Mary Klopfenstein of Delphos has been named Young Ag Professional and Ag Literacy Program Specialist for Ohio Farm Bureau.
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Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan now offered to all sole proprietors
The plan has been updated to give sole proprietors access to more rate stability and a smart solution that offers potential savings on health care.
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Ohioans can compete for ag business startup funds
The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online by June 15 for the 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.
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