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.”

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
Suggested Tags: