2019 ExploreAg

Education, fun and friendship were all on the agenda for the 2019 ExploreAg camps. Dozens of high school students from across Ohio participated in the second annual STEM-based ExploreAg camps, which are sponsored through Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation’s Fisher Fund.

Students were introduced to various aspects of agriculture, food science, environmental sciences and more through hands-on learning. The weeklong camps took place on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio State’s Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster and Central State University in Wiberforce. The number of camps doubled this year to four with about two dozen students attending each camp to learn about food science, precision agriculture, animal science, natural resources, management skills, technology and agricultural business.

The students met industry leaders both in the classroom and on site at their businesses and farms to learn about various careers in related fields as well as the latest cutting-edge research. They also learned from experts about the importance of being active in their field of interest. The students visited a wide variety of places, including Bob Evans and Dole Foods, BioHio Research Facility, Mohican River environmental lab, Coalescence, Ohio State’s engineering and veterinary schools, John Deere and Select Sires.

Sponsors for this year’s camps included Nationwide, Bob Evans, Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, Farm Credit Mid-America, Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives and county Farm Bureaus.

The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
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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