Highland County Farm Bureau

The Highland County Farm Bureau hosted its 2022 policy development meeting April 11 at the Commissioners Administration Building in Hillsboro. The purpose of this grassroots policy proposal process is to hear from our members and community leaders on issues Farm Bureau should address. Attendees are encouraged to address new issues they confront on a regular basis that need some light shed on them. These issues can pertain to the organization on the local, state and national levels. 

Highland Co Policy Development 2022For those who aren’t familiar with grassroots or Farm Bureau’s policy development process, it all starts right here in our communities. Our county Farm Bureau hosts this meeting with local officials, leaders and farmers. From all of this input, the local policy development committee reviews current policy and adds new policies based on member and community input. Do you have a suggestion? Please email your suggestion to [email protected] for the committee to review. Each of the proposed policies are voted on at our county annual meeting in the fall.

From there, the county proposals are submitted to Ohio Farm Bureau. A state policy development committee of policy staff, Farm Bureau members, state trustees and field staff is created through nominations from the county Farm Bureaus. Prior year’s topics included broadband, forestry, meat inspection, state and county emergency coordination, agricultural conservation, climate change and sustainable farming.

Through sharing and explaining, research and compromise, the committees come up with strong policy recommendations for Farm Bureau member delegates to discuss and vote on in December at the state annual meeting. National policies adopted at the annual meeting will then be escalated to the American Farm Bureau, where members throughout the nation will vote and set national policy.

Participants on Monday included local representation from the Highland County Farm Bureau board, former board trustees, a county commissioner, commissioner candidates, Farm Service Agency, OSU Extension, Highland County Soil & Water Conservation District, EMA director, Highland County Auditor, Board of Health, County Treasurer, Highland County Chamber of Commerce and members of Hillsboro DECA chapter.

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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