How market consolidation impacts small farms
Nationwide offers tools and coverage to help small farmers remain resilient in a consolidating market.
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Changing leaves signal that deer hunting season is upon us. In the September/October issue of Our Ohio magazine, we take a deep dive into hunting lease options available to both hunters and landowners from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Also in this issue we check in with the Ohio Restaurant Association on how our industry partners have survived not only coming out of the pandemic, but also ongoing supply chain woes and labor shortages across the state and nation. We also talk with Dan Young of Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs about his thoughts on the future of the industry.
Strong rural centers are the backbone of farm communities, and watching many decline over the years is alarming. The comeback story of Bellefontaine, through the ongoing efforts of real estate developer Small Nation, which is owned and operated by those who grew up in or near the county, is an inspiring blueprint for villages and cities across the state. Their holistic work with local entrepreneurs is lifting Logan County in more ways than one.
In September/October we also meet the 2022 ag teacher of the year Barrett Zimmerman, who was awarded the Golden Owl Award, sponsored by Nationwide, at the state FFA conference earlier this year. In this issue we also learn the story of the Morgan family in Champaign County, whose use of Nationwide’s Land As Your Legacy program gave them peace of mind when they needed it the most.
With early voting beginning Oct. 1, Executive Vice President Adam Sharp’s Across the Table column talks about the importance of voting for and retaining “consistent” justices on the Ohio Supreme Court. We also have a story on testimony Sharp and others gave at a joint hearing of the Ohio House and Ohio Senate ag committees on the importance of the Ohio State Fair and Ohio Expo Center to ag youth in the state.
Other items of interest in this issue include a Farm Science Review preview in the latest OSU Impact from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, as well as reader favorites — autumn recipes and Grow and Know events.
These are just some of what members will find in the latest issue of Our Ohio magazine, a benefit of Farm Bureau membership and Our Ohio supporters. A digital edition is also available.
Photo by Dave Liggett
To grow a network and gain perspective and knowledge in the industry through personal and professional development has been invaluable. Every day I learn and grow.
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.
Farm Bureau is what really got the word out. It’s been one of their goals to get this done.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
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.
Featured Articles
New farmer expansion grant helps grow ag business
Like many small farmers, Julianne McCormick isn’t afraid to jump into new opportunities that can expand her income.
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Where are they now?
Take a walk down memory lane with some of our Young Agricultural Professionals contest winners from years past.
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Strategies to position your small farm for the future
Diversification has emerged as one of the most effective strategies for small farms to address the challenges of market uncertainties.
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The future is now for Clover Valley Farm
Winners of the 2025 Growing Tomorrow Grant, Nathan and Jill Parrimans’ small, regenerative family farm is dedicated to sustainable agriculture, community engagement and rural revitalization.
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Rebuilding the buzz in Ohio’s farm country
Farmer-beekeeper collaborations are essential for maintaining healthy bee populations and ensuring successful crop pollination.
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May/June 2026 Our Ohio magazine
Small Farms, Big Ventures is the central theme of the May/June Our Ohio magazine. Farm operation diversification can take many forms; finding different avenues for ag income isn’t for the faint of heart.
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Top 10 rules for a successful farm, life balance
Montgomery County Farm Bureau member Michael Kilpatrick, owner and operator of The Farm on Central in Carlisle, Ohio, speaks frequently on the topic of farmer burnout.
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How have you diversified your farming income?
Faced with the evolving demands of modern agriculture, Ohio’s small farms are finding diversification success through innovation and expansion, creating sustainable futures for their operations.
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Data centers, brownfield remediation top-of-mind for members
Farmland should be seen as a national resource is a view encapsulated in Farm Bureau’s recent policy supporting the creation of a national farmland preservation strategy.
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