Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans now available
Members have three ways to apply: contacting a certified agent, calling 833-468-4280 or visiting ohiofarmbureauhealthplans.org.
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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.
One 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 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.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
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.
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.
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Be a part of The Ohio Ag-Venture Guide
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Ohio Farm Bureau supports expanded access to E15 on Ohio Turnpike
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Applications open for AgriPOWER Class XVII
Ohio Farm Bureau is accepting applications for AgriPOWER Class XVII, its leadership and advocacy development program. Application deadline is Aug. 1, 2026.
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