Editor’s Note: The following letter was sent to Stark County Farm Bureau members:

The Stark County Farm Bureau is asking voters to oppose the Stark Parks levy (Issue 20) on the March 17 ballot. Our concerns remain the same as last fall that the park district has not backed down from taking farmland for trails. We have been working with Ohio lawmakers to pass legislation that will either take away or allow another level of approval by an elected official before eminent domain can be utilized. Private property rights is at the core of our organization, and we will never be willing to accept the taking of land for recreational use.

We also have concerns with the parks’ 25-year plan. Stark Parks held public meetings and gathered input from those in attendance. The concerns voiced by taxpayers were flat out ignored. Bottom line, they want to continue to expand the parks throughout the county but at additional costs to the taxpayer. The renewal levy will give them roughly $7 million of our tax dollars to support their current programming and park/trail system but that will not be enough if they continue to expand. They are going to keep coming back to voters for more money if they want to push expansion. A more thought out approach would be a plan that would address current needs for upkeep and management of their grounds that will benefit all Stark County citizens. Just writing a blank check to an unelected organization is very dangerous and we must keep their feet to the fire when it comes to spending our tax dollars.

Stark Parks also needs to be a good neighbor when it comes to existing trails/parks. Noxious weeds are a major problem for farmers and we have asked them to come up with a plan for this costly issue. There is currently no such plan. They could unknowingly be spreading noxious weeds across the county just by mowing their parks/trails, which is why there needs to be a plan in place that they can adhere too.

Voting ‘No’ on the levy at this point is the only way to have checks and balances on an organization that does not want to listen to the public. They are not elected officials and they do not have to be accountable to the taxpayer, so they do not fear losing their spot on the board, plain and simple.

We do not want to see Stark Parks in the situation they are facing but they need to understand how we got here. You have to ask yourself where we would be at this point if they would work with the community instead of forcing their plans on us. Things would certainly be different. We hope that Stark Parks can see that they need to change their ways and work with all the taxpayers, not just the few that support them, no matter what the outcome is on March 17.

Regards,

William Brown, III
President
Stark County Farm Bureau

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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