Adam Sharp

If you’re not changing, you’re not growing. When I started in my new capacity at Ohio Farm Bureau three years ago, it was easy to see that the demographics we serve were evolving. The latest numbers from the 2017 Census of Ohio Agriculture prove that point.

new farmersOne bit of information that stuck out to me was the increase in the number of overall farms. Very few states realized an increase in this category, but Ohio added almost 2,500 from just five years earlier. Even more exciting is the jump of 34,000 new and beginning farmers across our state. Despite a sluggish ag economy and the mounting challenges that come with farming, there is continued optimism for being a part of Ohio agriculture.

Another key takeaway from the census is that there is a broader group of folks in Ohio that have a passion for food production who want to see farmers, and the industry as a whole, advance.

female farmersFemale farmers in Ohio climbed by 25% since 2012, and we have seen a nearly 20% growth in small scale farms, not to mention a whopping 29% increase in organic farms, now valued at $100 million.

As different as all of these groups seem, they all need to be successful in order for all of us to prosper. As it has been for over 100 years, Ohio Farm Bureau will help the agriculture sector work together to build valuable relationships that will benefit everyone involved.

Many of these relationships have already been developed through Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Ag Professionals and AgriPOWER programs. Both are fantastic resources that our members told us they are hungry for, because they draw many different segments of our industry together with the one common goal of a strong and vibrant agriculture community.

Research tells us that more changes are coming and as a general farm organization, we are compelled to care about the dynamics of Ohio agriculture. Ohio Farm Bureau is taking a hard look at what we are currently doing and what we will need to do in the future to make sure our services to our members remain relevant. That’s where you come in.

We are always actively seeking input from our members, which is why we recently launched a two-year project to learn about what they want from their Ohio Farm Bureau when it comes to advocacy, programs, benefits and more. It isn’t by happenstance that we are seeing great energy around the things we are doing today, but as agriculture continues to change we will continue to seek new ways to serve our great industry and those who represent it.
Cover cropsorganic farms

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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