Ohio Farm Bureau members dominated on the national stage with eight County Activities of Excellence awards presented by the American Farm Bureau in 2018, as young ag professionals Rose and Greg Hartschuh took home the 2018 Excellence in Agriculture award after competing at American Farm Bureau’s national competition in January.

Ohio’s county Farm Bureaus also won eight of the 24 County Activities of Excellence awards presented by the American Farm Bureau. The awards celebrate unique, local, volunteer-driven programming and are models of innovation for local program development.

Ohio’s winners and projects:

• Belmont County: Veteran’s Salute

• Butler, Hamilton, Montgomery and Preble counties: Farm Safety IS a Big Deal

• Fayette County: Celebrity Chef Competition

• Jefferson County: ChickQuest

• Lucas County: Nutrient Management Meeting

• Noble County: Ag School Days

• Pike County: Rural Family Safety Day

• Wood County: Crafting Cocktails with Herbs

Finally, Ohio Farm Bureau won the New Horizon Award for innovative programming among Farm Bureaus of similar size from AFBF in 2018. Ohio was recognized for the creation of the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network in the Western Lake Erie Basin–a five year, $1 million partnership with USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service to demonstrate new and current on-farm conservation practices to help improve water quality and nutrient management.

In May, awards for the top Farm Bureau communications specialists in the country were presented at American Farm Bureau’s National Communications Conference. Ohio Farm Bureau picked up top honors in several categories:

  • Best Feature Story, for the Our Ohio magazine story “Drug crisis comes to rural Ohio” written by Kelli Milligan Stammen.
  • Best Single Blog Item, Editorial or Column, for Adam Sharp’s Our Ohio magazine column “Across the Table.
  • Best Promotional or Education Video or Ad, for the Together with Farmers marketing campaign.
  • Best Media Relations Event for Media Day at the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network.

CAPTION: Greg and Rose Hartschuh of Sycamore, center with Ohio Farm Bureau President Frank Burkett III in Nashville, were winners of the American Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture contest.

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