Ohio Farm Bureau hosts statewide CAUV update webinar
The Statewide CAUV Update Webinar explained more about the recent changes in CAUV and what could be next for the program. Watch the recording.
Read MoreMy doctor, lawyer and accountant have two things in common with my electrician, mechanic and plumber. They’re really good at their jobs, and they’re not cheap.
Roughly speaking, $100 gets me 15 minutes with my doc, a half hour with my lawyer and an hour with my accountant. My contractors tend to be comparably priced, although I’ve learned it costs less if I just hire a pro right from the start instead of calling them after my ill-advised attempts to DIY.
I’m not complaining about what they charge. I’m not a medical, legal or accounting expert. And while I can eventually knock off the occasional repair around the house, I’d rather spend what free time I have doing something fun with the family. To me, having reliable help is invaluable. Which leads me to wonder, how do I put a value on a Farm Bureau membership?
So much of what Farm Bureau does is hard to put a price tag on. So I tried analyzing my membership the way I measure other professional services: What do I get and how much does it cost?
Part of what you get for your dues is a staff of professionals at your county, Ohio and American Farm Bureaus, who every day take care of things you can’t do by yourself or don’t have time to handle. To guesstimate what that’s worth, I did a little research and some “back of the envelope” math.
The government fits every job in America into one of 22 classification codes. I found 14 codes that describe jobs being done by your staff, ranging from administrative assistant to attorney. The codes also give the average hourly wage for each job. So by my loose calculation, the value of the work being done by your staff is roughly $572 per hour.
Sometimes they’re helping you with your specific problem. But most of the time, they’re doing what Farm Bureau does best: working collectively for all members. My co-workers spend most of their time carrying out the policies and priorities you’ve assigned, things like taxes, community and economic development, property rights, leadership development, the environment, public relations, trade, supporting young farmers and youth, energy, health insurance, farm and food regulations, drug abuse, immigration, workforce development, wildlife management, product and service discounts, agritourism, philanthropy and more.
To make that a bit more tangible, last year we saved rural landowners in about half the state more than $15 million in property taxes, with similar savings for the other half coming in the next two years. We reduced members’ legal and consulting fees by some $4 million. Members who used our top four benefit programs for vehicles, food and consumer goods, travel and workshop gear saved almost $2 million. Granted, not every member benefits equally every time, but some more off-the-cuff math says just these few Farm Bureau accomplishments averaged $140 of savings per member.
Whether your metric is affecting public policy or getting a deal on a pizza, the math is simple. For less than $100 a year, you’re getting your money’s worth with a Farm Bureau membership. Many times over.
Eight-plus hours a day for most of 52 weeks a year, Farm Bureau staff provide you with valuable professional services, either individually or collectively. Their work supports your volunteer efforts to advance agriculture and strengthen communities. Here’s a list of the types of professional services* you get from Farm Bureau:
*Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics National Occupational Employment report
The Statewide CAUV Update Webinar explained more about the recent changes in CAUV and what could be next for the program. Watch the recording.
Read MoreThe guide includes a farm driver checklist, overview of state and federal regulations and exemptions, CDL qualifications and more.
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Scholarships are available to students pursuing degrees in agriculture-related fields or that support the agriculture industry.
Read MoreHundreds of Ohio businesses and sole proprietors are raving about Ohio Farm Bureau’s Health Benefits plan with lower, predictable costs and easy enrollment and administration options.
Read MoreAgriPOWER Class XIV spent a few days in March in Medina and Wayne counties learning more about northern Ohio agriculture from leaders in Ohio Farm Bureau.
Read MoreLeading Ohio Farm Bureau’s 2024 YAP State Committee are Luke and Kayla Durbin of Coshocton County, Tim and Sarah Terrill of Montgomery County and Carly Fitz of Perry County.
Read MoreFarming is a very rewarding occupation, but it can come with hazardous territory if there are not proper training protocols in place.
Read MoreOhio Farm Bureau’s farmer leaders plus members of the media and select Farm Bureau staff are at the nation’s capital March. 12-14, 2024 for the annual County Presidents Trip to Washington, D.C.
Read MoreThe SEC voted on its final climate disclosure rule and removed the Scope 3 reporting requirement, which would have required public companies to report the greenhouse gas emissions of their supply chain.
Read MoreThis position is created for an active Young Ag Professional member who has a passion for fundraising and is interested in further developing their leadership skills. Apply by May 3.
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