Each year, each county has the opportunity to recognize an outstanding county member at the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in December. The member is selected for the work he or she puts in to make the county Farm Bureau as great as it is. This could be someone who has done great work this past year, or someone who has done great work over a lifetime.

This year, the Member of Distinction selected from Ashtabula County is David Marrison.  David was born and raised on a 465-acre dairy farm in Ashtabula County. Growing up with parents who were very active in Farm Bureau allowed David to see the importance of grassroots involvement. Marrison has worked as an Agricultural & Natural Resources Extension Educator for OSU Extension since 1997. He served in Ashtabula County from 1997-2018 and recently started working in Coshocton County.  David is an associate professor and is the co-leader of OSU Extension’s Ohio Ag Manager Team.

David has been involved in the policy development process throughout the years, working closely with Farm Bureau and elected officials on issues affecting agriculture and the community. He was always willing to speak at Farm Bureau seminars, especially on farm management, farm succession planning and tax management.

It’s members like these that make county Farm Bureaus across the state amazing and collectively make the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation successful.

Thank you David for your dedication and support of Farm Bureau and agriculture.

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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