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Lake County Farm Bureau held its 2022 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, Community Building, 1301 Mentor Ave, Painesville, Ohio.

The evening began with a Social Hour for Farm Bureau members, elected officials, and candidates for the November 2022 election. Our Clam Baker Dinner was catered by Rockway Catering. Attendees enjoyed baked chicken, clams, and more. County board trustees and local businesses also donated Chinese Auction items. The raffle proceeds go to the Farm Bureau scholarship fund.

There were 47 in attendance at the 2022 Annual Meeting. County President Steve Ohmes presided over the event. Board trustees were voted on and elected for 2-year terms. Those elected are Ted Clutter, Steve Lucic, Steve Ohmes, Ryan Wheeler and Donald Jacobson.  Brad Bly and Ryan Wheeler were elected to serve as delegates to the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in 2023.  

Farm Bureau members voted on the policies that guide the county Farm Bureau and established member positions for proposals to Ohio Farm Bureau, which will be voted on at the 2022 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in December.  Policy positions included agriculture’s role in funding for county Ag programs, woodland management, agricultural education programs, land conservation, standardized software diagnostic codes for agricultural equipment, and more. 

Several code changes were presented and all passed, including a dues increase to $100 effective Dec. 1, 2022.

Scholarship recipients

Anya Demshar, Paige Lucic and Julia Bystrom were acknowledged as the 2022 Lake County Farm Bureau scholarship recipients. All were represented by their parents since classes have started already.

Distinguished Service Award

Marie Morris was recognized with the Distinguished Service to Ag award for her 32 years of service as an office administrator for the Lake County Farm Bureau.  This award honors deserving individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Lake County Farm Bureau and agriculture, our community and is a great example of an individual, farm, or business that fulfills the Farm Bureau mission of advancing agriculture and strengthening our communities. 

Lake County Organization Director, Mandy Orahood recognized the Lake County Farm Bureau board of trustees, action team leaders and membership coordinators for their 2022 accomplishments and thanked them all for their commitment to the Lake County Farm Bureau.  Orahood shared the value of Farm Bureau and what membership means to the organization and the future of agriculture.

The annual meeting was also a celebration of the work our members, volunteers and staff put into representing our Mission Statement: “Working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.”