Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation’s ExploreAg program kicked off in June with 43 high school students from across the state learning about the rewarding careers available in the food, fuel and fiber industries. John Gilbert and Ansley Kozarec of Montgomery County were among the participants.

ExploreAg is a signature project of the foundation’s Fisher Fund, named after former Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Jack Fisher. The foundation has committed $125,000 to the first two years of ExploreAg, which introduces students to the many career opportunities that are in high demand in the agriculture industry.

The students stayed a week on Ohio State University’s main campus or at its Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster where they learned from experts about what the agriculture careers of today and tomorrow look like. The students, who are considering careers in science, technology or engineering, visited college labs, farm fields and factories. Subject matter included food science, precision agriculture, animal sciences, natural resources, management skills, technology and agricultural business.

“We believe that the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation can serve as a significant catalyst to attract young people to careers in agriculture,” said Chris Baker, Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation’s executive director. “By funding programs like ExploreAg, we hope to connect the younger generation’s passions for science and technology with the tremendous career opportunities that exist in food and agriculture.”

Participants in the two ExploreAg camps were Jessie Abke of Shelby County; Desirae Allen, Matthew Byler, Lorenzo Szewczyk, Colby Turon and Mattie Wakefield of Trumbull County; Meghan Bhanoo, Francesca Carlo and Jenna Lusk of Cuyahoga County; Cale Bible of Coshocton County; Amina Blount, Evers Brandt, Turner Burns, Aurius Calloway, Gabriela Gant, Luke Jackson and Brianna Pecourt of Franklin County; Graham Carson and Gabe Pickerill of Fayette County; Anna Cox of Tuscarawas County; Anya Demshar of Lake County; Caleb Durheim and Garrett Harsh of Delaware County; Clarence Durliat and Josiah McKeown of Hancock County; Cassian Filbrun, Madeline Kellogg and Mason Weber of Ashland County; John Gilbert and Ansley Kozarec of Montgomery County; Maci Haitz of Brown County; Von Herron of Columbiana County; Grant Heuing of Mercer County; Sam Hoffman, Korin Johnson, Keegan Lilly and Kora Lilly of Fairfield County; Eliza Jones of Butler County; Victoria Nash and Bryce Schott of Knox County; Sydney Steinke of Auglaize County; Dean Wolfe of Union County, and Zach Zwiebel of Allen County.

For more information about the ExploreAg program, visit ExploreAg.org.

The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
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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