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Melinda Witten of Beverly has been named senior director, leadership development for Ohio Farm Bureau. She will manage the leadership development team that operates AgriPOWER, Young Ag Professionals, Youth Pathways, Ag Literacy programs, other leadership development activities and plans and manages events.
Witten interned with Farm Bureau while attending Ohio State University. Upon graduation in 2007, she joined the staff as an organization director serving farmers in three counties. She later served as field staff training specialist and then director of leadership programming. She and her husband, Scott, are a part of Witten Farms, a produce, farm market and greenhouse enterprise. They are active members of the St. Bernard Catholic Church. They are the parents of two children.
Witten’s newly created position is a part of OFBF Executive Vice President Adam Sharp’s actions to realign staff teams and departments around key strategic plan areas of advocacy, membership, communications, financial strength, strategic partnerships and organizational excellence. The process began shortly after Sharp was named OFBF executive vice president in 2016. Witten will work in the newly created strategic partnerships department.
Ohio Farm Bureau is the state’s largest and most inclusive farm and food membership organization. Its mission is working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.
This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Joe Cornely, 614-246-8230.
Editors: A high resolution photo of Ms. Witten is available to accompany this story.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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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