This year’s Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Golf Invitational was one for the record books. A record 206 golfers teed off June 25 at The Country Club at Muirfield Village, raising more than $87,000 for foundation scholarships, grants and programs that enhance agricultural communities. The event raised almost $20,000 more than the previous year.

Fifty-two teams split between two flights competed against each other for low score and closest to average and individually for closest to the pin, longest drive and longest putt. Those who wanted to support the foundation but weren’t golfers attended a drink mixology class and joined the golfers for dinner. Nationwide was the invitational’s main sponsor.

2018-foundation-golf-strickler_webDuring dinner, two life-long supporters of the agricultural community were honored. Virgil Strickler has served as the longest-running general manager in the history of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair and was inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame last year.

2018-foundation-golf-irwin_webAlso honored was Jim Irwin, employee benefits consultant andaccount manager for CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services of Ohio, Inc. Irwin, who is retiring this month, has been involved with Ohio Farm Bureau since 1971.

Also featured was Jefferson County’s ChickQuest program, which received a $3,000 Foundation Action & Awareness grant to help it increase the number of third grade students learning about the life cycle of an embryonic chicken egg through scienOur 'Chicken Whisperers' at Wells Academy who were a huge help to the teachers (left to right)- Alivia Casinelli, Lucy Jo Saccoccia, Kylie Davidce, technology, engineering and math skills. Twice a year the foundation awards Agriculture Action & Awareness grants to small, community based service groups. This past grant cycle, $21,500 was awarded to eight organizations, of which five were county Farm Bureaus. The fall grant cycle opens July 1.

Foundation scholarship recipient Todd Peterson, an Ohio State University student majoring in agribusiness and applied economics, also was featured during the dinner. The foundation annually recognizes Ohio students for their academic effort, community engagement and career interests that link agriculture to community 2018-foundation-golf-peterson_webservice, education or scientific research. In the last round of funding, $34,000 was awarded to students who applied through the Darwin Bryan Scholarship Fund, the Women’s Leadership in Agriculture Scholarship Program, Foundation Scholar Award, Cindy Hollingshead Scholarship Fund, Jack Fisher Scholarship Fund and the Kenny Walter Scholarship Fund. The next foundation golf outing will take place June 24, 2019 at the Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville.

Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation’s next major event is Cultivating a Cure on Aug. 19 at Clardale Farms with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall the featured speaker. Learn more at cultivatingacure.org

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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