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Ohio Farm Bureau and numerous partners unveiled a new and improved Land and Living exhibit at the 2019 Ohio State Fair, where visitors could experience planting crops in a tractor simulator, shopping in an interactive grocery store, a sow birthing center and families could record their State Fair memories with a free photograph.

Several other important events also took place during the fair:

Hemp Bill Signing: July 30, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 57, which allows Ohio farmers to plant hemp.  The Ohio Department of Agriculture is expected to have rules written in time for farmers to plant the crop in 2020. The new law also legalizes CBD, a derivative of hemp, which has become a popular nutritional supplement.

Ohio Farm Bureau was engaged in the entire lawmaking process.  Following is the statement Farm Bureau issued upon the governor’s action: 

“Industrial hemp will give Ohio farmers another crop option to help them diversify their farms and possibly find another stream of revenue to offset years of declining commodity prices. We are pleased that the state legislature passed and Governor DeWine signed SB 57 and we look forward to working with the Ohio Department of Agriculture as the program begins to take shape.”   ~ Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president

Ohio Department of Agriculture has created a web page to explain the hemp program and gather information from those interested in growing or processing the crop.

Ohio Signature Food Contest Winners: The Ohio Signature Food Contest is co-sponsored by Center for Innovative Food Technology and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and showcases new, innovative products ready to take that next step – actual product development.

Two winners were selected in recognition of their unique product concepts:

• David Brooks of Dublin, Ohio with his New York deli-style cheesecake: A rich, restaurant-quality cheesecake baked in a shortbread crust that incorporates Ohio ingredients – some of the freshest and finest anywhere, including rich, heavy cream and a unique blend of three vanilla extracts.
• Amy Pausch of Alexandria, Ohio with her non-alcoholic shrub beverage: An intense raspberry zero-proof drink with a subtlety sweet caramel flavor that comes from unique ingredients including coconut sugar and a dark balsamic vinegar.

Dean’s Charity Steer Show: Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp was among central Ohio celebrity showman competing in the first ever steer show, organized to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. Sharp’s team raised $25,000. Sharp along with his Miami County 4-Her Sam Sutherly and his crossbred steer, Buttercup won the coveted People’s Choice Award.

Overall, the Dean’s Charity Steer Show, a new event held at the Ohio State Fair, surpassed all expectations and raised more than $146,000 (and counting).

Donations to RMHC will be accepted through Aug. 31. Give online

Ohio Youth Capital Challenge winners: The team of Caleb Durheim, Justin Hill and Samatha Hinton won the 2019 Ohio Youth Capital Challenge. Their public policy topic was biosecurity at Ohio fairs. As winners, they will receive $1,500 in prize money.

Up to 40 delegates were selected for the 2019 challenge. They traveled to  Columbus for Phase One of the challenge which included advocacy training and meeting Ohio legislators. Then delegates worked in their assigned teams during the following months to develop a public policy issue and proposed solution and prepared a presentation for public hearing. Four finalists competed at the state fair. 

Sale of Champions: Ohio Farm Bureau and partners Bob Evans Farms, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, Event Marketing Strategies and Tim and Glenda Huffman & family purchased the champion barrow, exhibited by Elijah Keplinger, from Clark County. Proceeds from the Sale of Champions support junior fair and Youth Reserve Program participants.