The Trumbull County Farm Bureau held its 2020 Annual Meeting Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 at the Hartford Hill Winery, with 65 in attendance. The meeting was held outside due to COVID-19 restrictions. Attendees were able to participate from their vehicles as well through FM radio broadcasting of the event. 

Local, state and federal candidates were invited to participate in a Candidate’s Minute, either in person or by video, to give a short introduction of themselves and to share what they will do for agriculture and the community, if elected. All in attendance enjoyed the meal served by the winery.

County President Mary Smallsreed, presided over the event. Board trustees were elected for three-year terms: James Allen, Monica Culp, Julianne Holler and Steven Kacerski.  Monica Culp, Melissa Gore-Romine, Mary Smallsreed and Joe Turon were elected to serve as delegates to the Ohio Farm Bureau annual meeting in 2021.  

Farm Bureau members also voted on the public policies that guide the county Farm Bureau and established member positions for proposals to the Ohio Farm Bureau, which will be voted on at the 2020 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in December. Policy positions proposed included inclusion of all types of agriculture, drug and child trafficking, road usage permits, meat processing support, woodland management, mental health in rural Trumbull County and rural Ohio and more.  All of these policies passed.

    

Our guest speaker for the evening was Ty Higgins, OFBF director of media and communications. He talked about water quality, trade, broadband and markets.  He discussed behind-the-scenes at OFBF during the pandemic: COVID-19 impact survey; 10 critical actions during COVID-19; government advocacy; general public education and new media relationships.  It was an amazing presentation, entertaining and well presented. Additional entertainment for the night were the Hartford Hill Winery ducks that loved the guests who shared their dinner with them.

Julianne Holler and Tim McCormick attended the YAP Winter Conference in February and each shared their experience of attending and thanked the board for sponsoring them.

Kibler Dairy was recognized with the Tom Schwartz Environmental Friendly Farmer award. Glenn and Sandee Smith were presented with the OFBF County Member of Distinction award for 2020 for their years of service. Family Farm & Home – Warren; Countryside Veterinary Service; and the Trumbull County Animal Welfare League were all recognized as Partners of the Year for their donation of time, services and location for the county’s first pet clinic held last fall.

Devon Palich, Callae Moody and Julie Smallsreed were acknowledged as the 2020 scholarship recipients.

Ohio Farm Bureau State Trustee Bill Patterson shared the current happenings of the Ohio Farm Bureau and remarks from the OFBF state board. He also thanked Organization Director Mandy Orahood for her dedication to Trumbull County and for all the work she put into pulling this year’s annual meeting together in such a trying year. 

Orahood recognized the Trumbull County Farm Bureau board of trustees, action team leaders and membership coordinator for their 2020 accomplishments and thanked them all for their commitment to the Trumbull County Farm Bureau.  

The annual meeting also was a celebration of the work members, volunteers and staff put into “representing the Farm Bureau in advancing agriculture and strengthening our communities.”

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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