2020 Ohio Farm Bureau annual meeting

For the first time in its more than 100 year history, Ohio Farm Bureau’s annual meeting will largely be held remotely across the state Dec. 7-11, 2020.

“We know for so many of our members the annual meeting is much more than just a meeting. It’s a celebration of our organization,” said Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president. “This year will be much different than our delegates and members have enjoyed over the past century, but like many things happening this year, we had to adapt to today’s challenges.”

The yearly face-to-face gathering of members from all around Ohio is prohibited by orders from the Ohio Department of Health limiting indoor gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this first-of-its-kind annual meeting is free to attend and allows members to get involved as much as they choose from the comfort of their home, physically together with other delegates from their county or while they are working on the farm.

The new format will enable many Ohio Farm Bureau delegates to join together in small groups throughout Ohio and connect with other delegates around the state through a virtual platform as they vote on policies and leadership.

This year’s remote experience also will recognize the organization’s exciting accomplishments and will give even more Farm Bureau members an opportunity to take part in the programs.

Delegate and Business Sessions

The major components of the annual meeting, the delegate and business sessions, will take place Dec. 11, with the organization focusing on presentations of awards and recognition online earlier in the week .

“While the delegate and business sessions will be done remotely through secured systems, we will work hard to have full engagement with everyone involved through this crucial democratic process for our organization,” said Ohio Farm Bureau President Frank Burkett. “Even though this approach is not meant to be the new normal, Ohio Farm Bureau looks forward to a successful 2020 annual meeting, and our membership will be stronger on the other side of these adverse times.”

To participate

Use this link to access the comprehensive annual meeting website.

Agenda highlights

Those interested in attending the 2020 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting can do so remotely beginning with addresses from Ohio Farm Bureau and Nationwide to kick off a weeklong OFBF Member Celebration beginning Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

Other points of interest throughout the week will include state board trustee elections, delegate sessions from various regions of the state, recognition of county award winners and Young Ag Professionals awards. Distinguished Service Award winners Tim Corcoran, Yvonne Lesicko and Becky Cropper also will be honored Thursday at 7 p.m.

The business portion of the annual meeting will take place Dec. 11 and will be available live for anyone who wishes to attend.

Nationwide is offering a special webinar Succession Planning Through Family Harmony Tuesday at 7 p.m.

To participate

Use this link to access the comprehensive annual meeting website.

ONLINE EXTRA

Join us on Facebook each evening to participate live with our Celebration of Members.

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
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