Shelby County’s Spotlight Member is board member, and communications chair Raci Zimpfer of Anna. Raci and her husband, Tim, joined his family farm, Zimpfer Farms, LLC, 15 years ago. The family raises corn, soybeans and wheat in Shelby County, Ohio.  She also is a self-employed Marketing Consultant providing graphic design, website development and social media marketing for area businesses.

Raci became involved with the Shelby County Farm Bureau when she was asked to join a committee that would use her communication skills for the board’s marketing efforts and soon after, she was asked to join the Farm Bureau board. During her time with Farm Bureau, she has worked on many projects like last year’s Farm to Table Dinner, safety projects, and membership.

Raci believes that volunteering and giving back to the community are important. She has found that in Farm Bureau. “I think it is important for farmers and families to share what they do and why they do it. Farm Bureau is a great way to network and interact with other farmers. Learning and sharing with others is one of the greatest forms of growing and advancing.”

Raci thinks the agriculture industry will face the ever-increasing motto of “Doing More, with Less” in the future.  With the rising costs, fewer returns, fewer acres, and increased risk, farmers are faced with some decisions in the future. Raci said, “In 20 years there will be a great deal of turnover in land and operations. Farmers will age out of the operation, increasing land sales. There will continue to be more innovations to make operations run more efficiently.”

As a woman in agriculture, she said, “Like our counterparts, we juggle many hats, work long hours and have a love for our families and the land that we raise them on.” Raci enjoys farming for many reasons. “Farming is both something we have grown up with and couldn’t imagine not doing. We enjoy working on the land and sharing that with our children.”

Thank you for all your time, Raci!

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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