AgriPOWER

Seventeen select leaders and advocates recently graduated from Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER Institute Class XI. The intensive, yearlong leadership training program was launched in 2008 to help farmers and agricultural professionals gain influence over public policy issues that impact their businesses.

Class XI graduates are John Bolte of Tiffin, Jon Brookbank of North Ridgeville, Ashley Brucker of Columbus, Lauren Fehlan of Troy, Kelli Hartman of Wilmington, Josh Ison of Moscow, Kenzie Johnston of Richwood, Richard Maxwell of Glenford, Matt McFadden of Wilmington, Kayla Miller of Archbold, Jared Persinger of Washington Court House, Ashley Phillips of Warsaw, Devin Trout of Columbus, Vince Untied of Newark, Vicki Vance of Gambier, Kevin Ward of Upper Sandusky and Emmalee Wince of Salem.

During the yearlong leadership training program, AgriPOWER participants developed key skills to help them become better leaders and advocates for the agricultural industry, including spokesperson and media training, etiquette training, social networking and communications. Two of the sessions took place in Washington, D.C. and Louisiana. 

“These graduates were already leaders in their communities and various organizations, and now AgriPOWER has given them the tools and network to continue to grow and to lead at a higher level,” said Melinda Witten, AgriPOWER coordinator.

In addition to Ohio Farm Bureau, AgriPOWER XI partners include Cargill, American Farmland Trust, Franklin County Farm Bureau, Clinton, Coshocton, Delaware, Fayette, Fulton, Knox County Farm Bureaus, Southern Ohio Ag and Community Development Fund, Ohio State University Delaware Extension, OFB Foundation, Ohio Soybean Council and the OFBF Water Quality Grant Program.

To learn more about the AgriPOWER program, visit ofbf.org/agripower.

This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Ty Higgins, 614-246-8231 or [email protected].

 

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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