2020 New YAP state committee members

The Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals State Committee has welcomed new members John and Sarah Bolte of Tiffin, Nick and Bailey Elchinger of Malinta, Jaclyn Krymowski of Homerville and Jonathan and Alyssa Zucker of Marion.

The committee is composed of eight members or couples who suggest, develop and conduct activities that provide opportunities for young farmers and ag professionals to be more involved in Ohio Farm Bureau programs. Duties include planning the yearly YAP winter leadership conference and hosting Young Agricultural Professionals in a variety of in- and out-of-state events.

Committee members are selected based on Farm Bureau involvement, leadership potential and community service. Four new couples or individuals are appointed each year.  They join second-year members Megan and Tyrone Brannon of Stone Creek, Jess and Adam Campbell of Waynesville, Hannah Jarvis of Homeworth and Kameron Rinehart of Jeffersonville.

John and Sarah Bolte are starting their own farming operation in Seneca County, raising corn and soybeans. They have grown and sold pumpkins since 2017 at a roadside farm stand. Additionally, they renovated their historic bank barn and began hosting weddings there this year. John is head trader for Seneca Trading LLC, a grain and commodity trading company, and Sarah is finance director for Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber. John is a member of Ohio AgriBusiness Association, serving on the Membership Committee and Grain and Feed Task Force. He is a graduate of Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER leadership institute Class XI. Sarah served on the Cultivating a Cure fundraiser planning committee in 2019. 

Nick and Bailey Elchinger row crop farm and bale hay and straw in Henry County. Bailey is a regional director with StoneX in Bowling Green where she assists farmers and grain elevators with commodity price risk management. Bailey is a past Discussion Meet finalist, serves on the Ohio AgriBusiness Association Grain and Feed Committee and leads in the 4-H program. The Elchingers are involved in Sacred Heart Church and are the parents of two children.

Jaclyn Krymowski of Medina County is the calf care supervisor for STgenetics’ Ohio Heifer Center facility. She also is a freelance agricultural writer and has a blog. She has been involved with the dairy industry since college and with goats since childhood. She has a small herd of about 10 registered Alpine and Nubian dairy goats, using the milk to make soap and fudge. In addition, she is a Franklin County 4-H adviser and serves on the Franklin County 4-H Horse Advisory Committee. This year, she was a first-time 4-H goat judge in Holmes County. 

Jonathan and Alyssa Zucker of Marion County farm with Jonathan’s grandfather on their family corn, soybean, and sweet corn operation. Alyssa works at Stansbery Seed and Service as a bookkeeper. Alyssa and Jonathan also are actively involved in her family’s farm. Jonathan is a graduate of AgriPOWER Institute Class X, a 2020 Murray Lincoln award winner and is an elected member of the Marion County Republican Central Committee. They are active participants in Marion County Farm Bureau and are members of Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers and Ohio Soybean Association. They are involved with Marion Christian Center and Buckeye Ridge Habitat for Humanity.

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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