Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans now available
Members have three ways to apply: contacting a certified agent, calling 833-468-4280 or visiting ohiofarmbureauhealthplans.org.
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Joe Everett of Sidney is the winner of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Agriculture Award for 2021. The award recognizes successful young agricultural professionals who are actively contributing and growing through their involvement with Farm Bureau and agriculture.
Everett works with his father, uncle and cousin on the family cash grain operation where they raise corn and soybeans on more than 3,500 acres. He is a key contributor to the farm’s marketing, crop inputs strategy and seed selection, planning, shop maintenance and machinery repairs, and grain hauling.
“From as far back as I can remember, agriculture has always been a big part of my life. I believe you do not choose the farm life, it chooses you and over the years, that love for farming continued to grow inside my heart. Whether it was through the years of 4-H, FFA, Junior Fair Board, and listening in on my dad’s Farm Bureau Council when they would have their meetings at our house, being on the farm was always the dream I wanted when I grew up,” he said.
Everett has been a member of the Shelby County Farm Bureau since 2017 where he has served as a delegate to the Ohio Farm Bureau annual meeting and is a current member of the state Policy Development Committee. He is a member of his rural electric cooperative board, Farmer Veteran Coalition, Sidney American Legion, Homegrown by Heroes and the Troy City Schools Lunch Buddies Program.
Everett earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bluffton University and served six years in the U.S. Navy where he deployed on two different tours and completed two Naval Schools in Electronics and High Frequency Communications. He and his wife are the parents of two children.
As the 2021 winner, he receives expense-paid trips to the 2022 Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience and the 2021 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, a media package, a $3,000 prize of choice, and he will represent Ohio at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Atlanta in January. Prizes are courtesy of Farm Credit Mid-America, Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau.
The Excellence in Agriculture contest is a part of the Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals program. Program participants are ages 18 to 35, single or married, who are interested in improving the business of agriculture, learning new ideas and developing leadership skills.
ONLINE EXTRA
This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Ty Higgins, 614-246-8231 or [email protected].
Editors: A high-resolution photo of Mr. Everett is available for download.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
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.
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.
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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