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 Hardin County Farm Bureau’s member spotlight blog! Every month, Hardin 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 Hardin County Farm Bureau’s board president, Shelby Brammell, who is originally from Marion. Shelby graduated from Ridgedale High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. She is married and has three children. Shelby is active in the Kenton Christian Missionary Alliance through several Children’s Ministry programs.
Meet Shelby Brammell
What and where do you farm (or work for an agribusiness)?
While we have raised crops, hay, straw, cattle, and a variety of other livestock, our current focus is making maple syrup at the Brammell Family Sugar Shack, in Dudley Township. I was an ag teacher for five years before deciding to stay at home on the farm and sell crop insurance through Crossroads Crop Insurance.
How long have you been a farmer?
I have been raising livestock throughout the past 25 years and owned our current farm for 10 years.
Why did you decide to be a farmer (or work in agribusiness)?
We chose to farm because we love this way of life. Few things in life are as rewarding as the work ethic and harvest found within the farm.
What do you love about farming?
I have a love for the land and I love trusting the Lord will always give us the season we need.
Why do you think it’s important to know where your food comes from?
People will be more likely to value our role as farmers if they consider directly where their nourishment comes from. Many positive outcomes will come to fruition when someone values the farmer. Having a direct market to your food, and knowing directly where your food comes from is even better! Relationships are built through direct marketing and relationships make people more confident in agriculture!
Why are you a Farm Bureau member? What do you see as the biggest benefit?
Farm Bureau helps share the farmer’s story from the field to the table, at the local, state, and national level through policy development, social media, and events. Farm Bureau also helps farmers grow in knowledge and supports young people with a passion for agriculture in many ways.
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.
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