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Residents in rural Ohio are familiar with the challenges that come without access to broadband services, but those areas have now been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. With schools, restaurants and libraries closed simultaneously, rural residents have been cut off from the only hot spots to which they have access. Many schools had to send home paper packets with their students at the close of school and have not had any face-to-face interaction with them since, which could cause rural students to lag behind the rest of the state.

Broadband access has been a priority issue for Farm Bureau the past several years, and the organization continues to advocate for it during this pandemic.

To help highlight the challenges, the Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Ohio University, Athens County Economic Development Council and the Appalachian Regional Commission conducted a study of eight counties in southeast Ohio in November 2019. The study found 80% to 90% of the “rural expanses” (less than 20 households per square mile) had no access to broadband. The study highlighted two census blocks in Meigs County where one household in each block had access to broadband, so the Federal Communications Commission lists the entire block as served by broadband. This listing consequently makes these blocks ineligible for federal grants to expand access.

State Reps. Rick Carfagna and Michael O’Brien introduced House Bill 13 to help tackle the issue of broadband access in Ohio. The bill would create the Residential Broadband Expansion Program, allowing broadband providers to apply to the State of Ohio for a grant. The bill defines unserved and underserved areas of eligibility and gives preference to unserved areas. Farm Bureau has been engaged in the process and will continue to advocate for the least populated areas to be served since it is often not economically feasible for broadband providers to reach them.

Farm Bureau also continues to push federal leaders to address the inaccurate mapping of broadband access and recognize that more resources and creative solutions are needed to bring accessible broadband to all corners of the state. Ohio Farm Bureau is asking for a more coordinated effort between the state and federal government.

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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