Ohio Farm Bureau’s Issue Advisory Teams spent the day in Massillon June 14 engaging with peers on interests and issues pertaining to Farm Bureau policy during the 2018 Trends and Issues Conference.

Dr. Douglas Jackson-Smith from Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, kicked off the event at the R.G. Drage Career Technical Center in Stark County with an overview of the university’s work on water quality research.

Members then boarded buses and toured K.W. Zellers and Son produce farm, RJ Matthews (PBS Animal Health) and 3-D Meats, a meat processor and retail store, before spending the afternoon in policy discussion committee meetings upon returning to the career center.  

The teams are organized around the following topic areas:

  • Animal Agriculture
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Farm Policy, Business Development and Sustainability
  • Food Supply Chain and Specialty Crops
  • Transportation and Energy
  • Workforce Development and Education
  • Young Farmers

Advisory teams will continue to meet throughout the year on various policy issues. Team members review, research, discuss, draft and recommend new policies, programming and/or activities addressing their specific interest areas.

Team members will actively share their work with their county Farm Bureau president and board of trustees. Their input could be used by county Farm Bureaus to initiate programs at local, multicounty and state levels.

Online Extras

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
Suggested Tags: