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Hello everyone! We are the Zuckers, and we farm in Marion and Wyandot counties. Jonathan is a 7th generation farmer working in partnership with his grandfather, Roy Loudenslager. They produce corn, soybeans, and sweet corn in Marion County. Alyssa keeps books for Stansbery Seed and Service and Tactical Ag. Stansbery Seed and Service is an agricultural support company specializing in custom fertilizer and chemical application and seed sales, and Tactical Agriculture is an aerial application company. Alyssa’s family’s farm is in Wyandot County where they raise cattle, sheep, chickens, hay, corn, soybeans and wheat. We have a desire to learn and improve farming and management practices and have been blessed with a great legacy that we want to see passed down for generations to come. 

Farm Bureau is a true grassroots organization which inspires members to build a stronger community: both town and country. We are proud to be a part of this organization and have been members of Ohio Farm Bureau for 13 years. Currently we are in the last year of our term on the YAP State Committee and serve as the co-chairs. 

Opportunities offered while serving on the YAP State Committee

Traveling and the networking that goes along with it are some of our favorite parts of serving on the YAP State Committee. We have been given the chance to go to Atlanta for the American Farm Bureau Convention and Louisville for the National Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference, where we were able to network with farmers from all over the country. Being able to talk with peers about how they farm in other parts of the country is a great way to learn. Ask why and you might just find new ways to do things. We are currently preparing to go to Washington, D.C. in a couple of weeks, where we will gather with other Young Agricultural Professionals members and meet with lawmakers to lobby for the agricultural community.

This summer we had the opportunity to spend an evening with campers from the ExploreAg program, where we were able to network and share our career stories. ExploreAg is an ag literacy and workforce development program which offers free week and day-long immersion programs for high school students.

We were recently invited to a multicounty Young Ag Professionals kick-off event for Jackson-Vinton, Pike, and Scioto County Farm Bureaus. The event was designed to engage and increase membership of YAP members in these counties. There was pizza, axe throwing, and networking. This was a great opportunity to talk with YAP members to see what is happening now and gauge future needs.

We have also had the opportunity to attend OFBF Board of Trustees meetings. This is a great way to see how the organization is run and to meet the trustees and staff. 

Currently we are in the midst of planning the Winter Leadership Experience. With a new location and a diverse set of speakers and sessions, we are excited for the direction of this year’s conference. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming months!

What is something you are involved in right now?

I was recently elected to my second term on the Ohio Republican State Central Committee as the 26th District Committeeman. The Republican State Central Committee is the governing body of the Ohio Republican Party and manages party operations throughout the state. This gives me a platform to advocate for agriculture to 65 other committee members throughout the state.

Who is your mentor?

I have been elected to serve as Marion County Farm Bureau president for the upcoming year. I’m excited to have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of my grandmother, Judy Loudenslager. She instilled the passion for Farm Bureau in my life. I remember her taking my brothers and me along to help out at events from a young age. The pancake breakfast was probably my favorite because I got to well… eat all the pancakes I could. As we got older we became more involved. In 2009 we helped by informing voters on Issue 2, which created the Livestock Care Standards Board. When she was elected to the state board, she would take us to meetings and fully immerse us into the culture of Farm Bureau. She taught me to lead by example, show up, to always see the best in someone, and when cooking to always double the butter and probably the sugar, too. 

Tell us a joke or funny story

Q. What do you get when you cross a farmer and some trendy headphones? 

A. Beets by Dre. 

Q. What kinds of pigs know karate? 

A. Pork chops.

Share a favorite recipe

Oatmeal Cake – From the kitchen of Judy Loudenslager

Cake:

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1 cup quick oats

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon or to taste

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tsp vanilla extract or to taste

Topping:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup evaporated milk

Directions

Pour boiling water over oatmeal and let stand for 20 minutes. In another bowl cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, flour, soda, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Stir in oats, spread batter in a greased and floured 9×13 pan and bake for 45 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.

Topping:

Melt butter and add remaining ingredients, spread over baked cake and return to the oven for 10-12 minutes.