As Gov. Mike DeWine laid out orders for Ohio’s county and independent fairs to operate amid COVID-19, his goal was to try to provide an outlet for young people who participate in 4-H and FFA to do so safely during the pandemic.

On Wednesday, the governor held a call with county fair board members from across Ohio to ask them to maintain those rules in order for fairs to remain open.

“What we have unfortunately started to see is some fairs that were not following the guidelines we provided,” DeWine said, noting that 19 coronavirus cases have come from a single county fair. “The reason we provided extra money to each county fair was to help them to be able to provide safety. We want these fairs to continue, but they have to follow the rules and what the local health department says.”

The governor also has issued a statewide mask order, which goes into effect July 23 at 6 p.m.

“With the new order put in place, everyone on the fairgrounds is going to have to have a mask on and following the other protocols we have in place,” DeWine said. “We do not want to be in a position to close fairs, but fair boards will have to own their own fair and work with their local health department.”

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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