2018 membership campaign

The 2018 membership campaign was one of transition.

Ohio Farm Bureau ended the campaign at 62,325 active members, which was short of the overall goal. However, 28 counties achieved a 5 percent active gain and 39 counties achieved active member gain, said Paul Lyons, OFBF senior director of membership, and there are many positives to build upon for 2019.

A Step Up For Membership campaign was launched for the 2018 effort. Additional social media outreach and a billboard in Marion County were used as new ways to reach and engage prospects and volunteers in communicating the value of membership.

Also, 2018 saw an increase in volunteer participation, Lyons said, as 1,469 volunteers signed at least one member, which was an increase of over 300 volunteers participating in the campaign from 2017. More than 100 volunteers became members of the Ambassador Club, by signing 10 or more new members and a total 7,775 new members, winbacks and renewals were signed by volunteers.

Awards

The following volunteers earned the Murray Lincoln Award by signing 50 or more new or winback members:
Susan Shoup, Wayne County – 73
John Fitzpatrick, Wayne County – 63
Rebecca Vincent, Stark County – 60
Carmen Mengon, Belmont County – 54
Ervin Raber, Holmes County – 54
Julie Tripp, Jackson-Vinton County – 52
Anthony Booth, Wayne County – 51
Rita Myers, Lucas County – 51

“We had a tremendous effort made by our volunteers, county office staff and organization directors. The 2018 campaign is in the history books. Now we celebrate our accomplishments and begin to evaluate how we can get better to meet our goals in the future. The 2019 membership campaign has begun,” Lyons said.

Photo caption: OFBF Executive Vice President Adam Sharp; Lyons; OFBF Director, Member Services John Marihugh

Ohio Farm Bureau membership

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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