Camille Klick

From Tuesday, Sept. 28 to Thursday, Sept. 30, our AgriPOWER class went to Washington, D.C. to get a different perspective of agriculture on the national level, for our third of seven total sessions.

This trip wasn’t only AgriPOWER, but also almost all of Ohio’s Farm Bureau county board presidents or vice presidents, a group of Young Ag Professionals, and Ohio Farm Bureau staff totaling in around 108 people, which was the largest in-person meeting just about everyone who spoke to us has had since COVID began.

AgriPOWER Class XII members and OFBF President Bill Patterson

We flew out on Tuesday where we hit the ground running having some policy briefing about topics that are currently on farmers’ minds. Climate change, taxes and rural broadband were the major three we touched on. We had speakers on each topic explaining more about them and why they are important. This was an important part for me, since I have much to learn about ag policy and how it affects farmers on an everyday basis.

We then split into groups based on our districts and planned out our congressional visits for Wednesday. Tuesday evening, we were also able to have a delicious large group dinner at Hill Country BBQ and a beautiful night tour of the D.C. monuments.

On Wednesday we started the morning with a video call breakfast with Sen. Sherrod Brown listening to his opinions on current farm-related topics. Then we all split up by district and had congressional visits with our congressmen and women. Bob Gibbs is the congressman for District 7 which I am in, and there were 12 of us who met with him. We spoke on these issues: Rural broadband is such a problem for some in especially southern Ohio with children who need the internet access for school. Climate change is being strongly blamed on farmers when things like transportation and electricity are much larger impacts than any type of farming practices. Also, how much the elimination of the stepped-up basis would negatively impact so many family farms in Ohio.

Afterward we all attended the 2021 Farm Forum that Bob Gibbs hosted where many other congressmen came and gave their input on the same issues and what they are doing to fix/implement policies that can help farmers.

On Thursday we had an in-person breakfast with Sen. Rob Portman, also listening to his opinions on current farm-related topics. We then went to see Arlington National Cemetery before heading home.

This was an exceptionally educational trip for all of us rather new or old to Farm Bureau. My biggest takeaway was learning more in-depth about some of these political issues and also networking with fellow ag professionals to better ourselves as individuals and farmers. Thank you, Ohio Farm Bureau, for putting on an amazing trip and allowing us to be a part of it! I am looking forward to the rest of our sessions to become a better advocate for the industry I am most passionate about.

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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