2018-CORE-Tour-Map
2016-2018 CORE Tour – The dots represent the homes and farms of the more than 800 members who welcomed me into their communities.

When I was hired a couple years ago, I made a promise to you and your fellow members. I would listen to what you want from your organization. The map you’re looking at is my proof of performance.

As the new CEO for this sizeable, diverse, important organization, my top priority was to connect with our grassroots, because to do my job, I had to know what you want Farm Bureau to be and do. Polls and surveys were helpful but weren’t going to fully cut it. So, I hit the road. My CORE Tour (County Outreach, Research, Engagement) was an incredible experience.

Some stats: 13,759 miles of interstates, state routes, city streets and township roads. More than 500 hours of travel and conversations. Visits with 832 members, who each hand-placed a dot on the map showing where they live. Two- to four-hour chats in homes, farm shops, diners, conference rooms and backyards. I heard from women and men, full- and part-time farmers, operators big and small, veteran and beginning farmers, ag suppliers and buyers and producers of diverse crops and livestock. adam-3

I got the conversation rolling at every meeting with the same four basic questions about Farm Bureau: What do you like and want us to keep doing? What do we do O.K. but could be doing better and how? What are we not doing that we should be? What should we stop doing?

The thoughts, ideas, wishes and suggestions I gathered would fill this magazine several times over. But I learned that regardless of gender, age, location or enterprise, members have six common priorities: They want Farm Bureau to be a strong advocate, an effective communicator,  build strategic partnerships, grow and engage members, be financially sound and excel by every measurement. We’re already on it.

Our strategic plan through the year 2020 focuses our organization on those six essential mandates, lays out our steps to attain them and establishes how we will measure success. I’m confident your Farm Bureau will evolve in a way that makes you proud. Mostly, because it was you who mapped out what we should be.

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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